19th October Sangameshwar, India to Morjim, Goa, India
An early start, chai and biscuits. I have lost count of the number of packets of biscuits I have eaten over the last month. Parle G biscuits hit the spot (no pun or mischief intended). During my journey I have consistently cared more for my bike than for myself. My diet has been heavily biased towards the instant, the processed and the packaged. My bike has in contrast been treated with somewhat more care. I have ridden it with mechanical sympathy (like your grandmother might ride a motorcycle). I have checked its oil on an almost daily basis and lavished an uncharacteristic amount of love on this machine.
The weather is cool (20C counts as cool in India) and misty. I ride the first few miles with my visor up....otherwise I am mist blinded.
The miles roll by and still the NH17 provides beautiful scenery. This road is however a little dilapidated. On the tightest switchback comers the surface has been totally carved up, vigilance is required!
You know when you have passed over the state boder into Goa because there are suddenly way too many bars and liquor shops. Goa applies very modest taxes to alcohol in comparison to its neighbour states. As a consequence Maharashtrians indulge in alco-tourism, nipping across the border to indulge in budget booze. As an additional consequence Goa has a drink problem. I have known a number of Goan men who have drunk themselves to death.
I fill up with fuel on the highway just outside Pernem. I know that when I arrive at the beach I don't want to use bottled petrol, sometimes cut with other fuels. I am amazed to discover that Goa suddenly has the cheapest petrol in India. A recent change of state government has meant a few price drops and relatively more price rises... Politics and manipulative Politicians.
Brimming with pukha petrol, I double back along the highway into Pernem, the capital town of the Taluka. My final miles are along a minor road that I know very, very well. The last moments of my journey are surreal. In the past I have travelled this road on a small scooter, Morjim to Pernem, to shop or to joy-ride, it always seemed like quite an outing. On my bike the journey takes few effortless minutes, I have of course slowly become accustomed to doing little but riding.
I arrive at my ultimate destination, the home of Dominic D'Souza. An old friend, who at one time was my housekeeper. I have told no one in India about my journey nor my arrival in India. Come to think of it I told relatively few people full stop about my journey. I pull off the road and through a grove of coconut palms into Dominic's garden. Dominic's mother races out of the house when she hears the alien noise of a large motorcycle. She has no idea who I am. She looks frightened. I swiftly pull my helmet off!
My first actions on arriving in Morjim.... to strip the panniers from my bike. I no longer need them, I can ride my bike naked of burden. And that is that. Time for rest and recuperation (do I now how to remain at rest? possibly not.........)
Morjim Mileometer 25493
An early start, chai and biscuits. I have lost count of the number of packets of biscuits I have eaten over the last month. Parle G biscuits hit the spot (no pun or mischief intended). During my journey I have consistently cared more for my bike than for myself. My diet has been heavily biased towards the instant, the processed and the packaged. My bike has in contrast been treated with somewhat more care. I have ridden it with mechanical sympathy (like your grandmother might ride a motorcycle). I have checked its oil on an almost daily basis and lavished an uncharacteristic amount of love on this machine.
The weather is cool (20C counts as cool in India) and misty. I ride the first few miles with my visor up....otherwise I am mist blinded.
The miles roll by and still the NH17 provides beautiful scenery. This road is however a little dilapidated. On the tightest switchback comers the surface has been totally carved up, vigilance is required!
You know when you have passed over the state boder into Goa because there are suddenly way too many bars and liquor shops. Goa applies very modest taxes to alcohol in comparison to its neighbour states. As a consequence Maharashtrians indulge in alco-tourism, nipping across the border to indulge in budget booze. As an additional consequence Goa has a drink problem. I have known a number of Goan men who have drunk themselves to death.
I fill up with fuel on the highway just outside Pernem. I know that when I arrive at the beach I don't want to use bottled petrol, sometimes cut with other fuels. I am amazed to discover that Goa suddenly has the cheapest petrol in India. A recent change of state government has meant a few price drops and relatively more price rises... Politics and manipulative Politicians.
Brimming with pukha petrol, I double back along the highway into Pernem, the capital town of the Taluka. My final miles are along a minor road that I know very, very well. The last moments of my journey are surreal. In the past I have travelled this road on a small scooter, Morjim to Pernem, to shop or to joy-ride, it always seemed like quite an outing. On my bike the journey takes few effortless minutes, I have of course slowly become accustomed to doing little but riding.
I arrive at my ultimate destination, the home of Dominic D'Souza. An old friend, who at one time was my housekeeper. I have told no one in India about my journey nor my arrival in India. Come to think of it I told relatively few people full stop about my journey. I pull off the road and through a grove of coconut palms into Dominic's garden. Dominic's mother races out of the house when she hears the alien noise of a large motorcycle. She has no idea who I am. She looks frightened. I swiftly pull my helmet off!
My first actions on arriving in Morjim.... to strip the panniers from my bike. I no longer need them, I can ride my bike naked of burden. And that is that. Time for rest and recuperation (do I now how to remain at rest? possibly not.........)
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| Misty Maharashtra Morning |
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| Goa !!! Mandrem beach |
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| Barramundi for dinner |
 |
| Arambol beach |
Morjim Mileometer 25493
This bike is looking great . Thanks for this post
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