This is one of those questions I receive from cycling enthusiasts as well as from general public when we discuss about my 2200 KM solo bicycle ride from Chennai to Delhi. To be frank, I didn't do any planning on where I am going to stay during night but I have fixed myself a daily budget to spend including food, stay and all. Then how did I figure out where to stay at night during long distance cycling on Indian highways?
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| Sri Chengalamma Temple, Sullurpeta |
Starting from a Lord Ganesha temple here at Ramapuram, Chennai, I have done with the dharshan by breaking a coconut and just took off without turning back. If I would have turned back for a sight then definitely I would have seen my parents face and might not had the courage to pedal more to reach my destination.
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| A selfie with parents just before kick off, Ramapuram |
It was of course an emotional moment to just spend few minutes with parents in a temple and bid farewell to kick start my epic cycling journey. Once after reaching a few kilometers from the starting point at 12:45 PM, I stopped under a tree shade to sit down and rest for few minutes which is opposite to Koyambedu Bus Terminus, Chennai.
At around, 3 PM I reached Gummudipoondi where I stopped for lunch after several stops in between this distance. There was a fast food shop where I had Vegetable fried rice for lunch and a tailoring shop was present to its right. The tailor shop owner (name unknown) gave me positive vibes with this beautifully crafted words boosted me that this is certainly possible as he reasoned that he have seen many people attempting similar cycling expedition through that place.
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| Tailor gentleman at Gummudipoondi, opposite to post office |
This tailor man is the gentleman who also helped with creating the display board for my journey and given me a vital hint about where to stay for that night. Day 1, I had no questions in my mind rather just one thing that I must keep pedaling daily to get to Delhi.
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| My stuff inside the Temple |
The invaluable tip that he gave me that day was that to stay for the night at Sri Chengalamma Temple, Sullurpeta, Andhra Pradesh. It is such a huge temple where they will allow people to stay at night in the open area within the temple walls. After continuous pedaling by day light and also during the dark evening without any safety gears, I had reached the temple and figured out a safe spot to stay in there for the night and refresh myself as well.
"FEEL THE FEAR and DO IT ANYWAY".
Author's Note
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