When you stay at a cheap hotel, the best thing you are escaping is the want of staying till your checkout time. If you pay for a five star stay, you wouldn’t want spend 10 hours to sleep and check out of there.
Also, a Sunday can be your worst nightmare on a trip should something go wrong. No mechanics, no service centers, and in some places, no open eateries.
The lodge I stayed in last night was one of the cheap hotels, where you wouldn’t think twice before leaving early. I woke up this morning at 9 after a good nights sleep, left by 10, and was on my way. Had a hearty breakfast at a well known place in town – 68 bucks for 2 main courses and an awesome coffee.
The day started super cloudy. The moment I left the eatery, it started raining. I put on my waterproofs and headed towards the highway, to be greeted by the greenest and most remote areas in the country. Remote because of the ‘never seen before’ grasslands I encountered. Typical storybook scenes – grass with cattle grazing, indifferent to anything else. A shepherd, staring with a stick in his hand, staring at me and my bike, as I took pictures. Silence all around. It was breathtaking. Only once every few minutes would a vehicle pass by on this stretch. Other than that, it was pure bliss to be there.
I had to reach visag early this evening to be able to meet a very old friend. But a picture or two never hurt anyone. Stopped by many places, took lots of pictures. The non stop rain put my new backpack to the test, and it turned out fine.
The bike floundered about every now and then – its way of saying – I’m not just a bike, I have feelings too. Take pictures of me as well. And I did.
The roads were small, but there was very little traffic, but the condition of roads wasn’t all that great. I guess proximity to the coastline, and never ending rain does that to all roads.
Crossed plenty of bridges across the many tributaries of Godavari leading into the sea. The sightings were endless, each one better than the other. I was getting hungry.
Stopped by for some fire roasted corn – bhutta. Chatted with a couple of locals there – who couldn’t understand the purpose of my seemingly ‘crazy’ ride. Of course everything was in sign language for the most part.
Reached a town called yanam – a town belonging to french puducherry, yet away by one state from the main puducherry unuon territory. I had seen the map say Yanam, puducherry – but only believed it when I saw PY registered vehicles plying there. That town actually belongs to puducherry, but resides inside Andhra Pradesh. Lot of fresh fish and shrimp vendors, a different kind of population, a different kind of ambience to the whole area. Crossing the bridge over to this town changed the surroundings by more than a bit.
Moved on and reached a place called kakinada. Again, a drastic change. Huge town, maps refused to guide me correctly out of the place, and I gave up and settled myself at a coffee day, for some grub, and to call my friend I was due to meet in the evening at vizag. Realized my phone was at 5% battery with all the data, Bluetooth and location usage, so decided to plug it in to the portable charger. It refused to charge. I changed the charging cable and it still refused to charge. Went back inside coffee day and borrowed a charger to check, and still no charge. Was very frustrating – 5% charge left, and the charging slot on the phone was blown. It wouldn’t survive even standby mode, let alone location services till my destination. Being a Sunday, no Samsung service centers would be open either. Played around a little bit, and realized the CPU was super hot, shut off the phone, waited, and rebooted. Plugged in the portable power bank, and yes, there was the lightning charging indicator. Heaved a sigh of relief and moved on.
After about 50 kms of riding, finally touched the main highway. I had to pick up speed here, but the rain would just not allow it.
On normal late hour driving, your best bet is to follow a fast lorry or highway bus from 50 metres behind, and enjoy them making way for you.When it rains, you just cannot do that. I tried, only to be smothered by rain spray from the tyres, creating a dirty mist on my helmet visor shunning all visibility.
Just had to move on, on my own, using my own judgement. Thankfully, the highway was 6 lanes, so it wasn’t bad staying in my own lane, and minding my own business.
30 kms before my destination, I called my buddy for the address, and arrived there shortly. Vizag is a beautiful place, and EVERYONE knows Hindi, what a relief ! I had no trouble asking around – the gps watch was dead just outside the city, fancy that !
Coming in to a city, on a bike, drenched with dirt and rain, body aching after 400 kms of rough riding, and getting a four star jumbo suite comp’d by my friend who runs the place over a phone call – not shabby !!! It was so needed. Now I don’t care that I won’t have this luxury for the next 7 days. I have it now, I’ll enjoy it !! Had a plate full of golden fried prawns, and a chilled ‘the best’ waiting in the room.
After freshening up, and wolfing down the prawns, had dinner (comp’d as well, thank you !!), met with my friend (the guy who runs this hotel), caught up on old times for a couple of hours, and now going to crash.
Have had a phenomenal trip so far. 1200 kms done in 3 days… 7 more to go. I’m sure they will get better!
Tomorrow – the highlight of this trip begins – Orissa, and it’s jungles !!
