Riding the world: About to head east from Varanasi

21/2/13 to 22/2/13

Stayed a couple of days doing Internet stuff.

23/2/13

Headed out towards the river and Boudh. I did get lost at the start though so took longer than expected to get to Baidyeshwar on the river. From there heading along the river I had heard was a good road. But I got about 20km past Gania and came to a gate where they wanted INR1,000 ($20) because I was heading through a sancturary. Once shown to the ranger he said I was already in the park so had to pay. I started a discussion/argument until I heard the words “no problem” out of somebodies mouth about something and so left the office hopped on the bike and rode on into the santurary. I did not go fast if they wanted to chase me. I did worry about other gates, maybe they had radioed ahead that I had not paid. But the other gates where fine they lifted them for me. I did make it into Boudh with out any more problems but definitely would have been better to go the main road instead of river. That said I have no idea of what the main road is like.

24/2/13

Headed up towards Rourkela where it was written there is a waterfall. The road had every culvert being replaced. So took a lot longer than expected. This was not so important when I got there as I could not find out where the waterfall was. So carried on up to Simdega for the night.

25/2/13

The road carried on he same so had no chance of making it to the main road for the night. I also took a wrong road at Ghaghra so headed up to Chatra where I decided to spend the night.

26/2/13

Took a while to get to the main road then easy day all the way to Varanasi. I did find that I had stayed further north of Assi Ghat than I thought. Although still not far.

27/2/13 to 2/3/13

Have discovered I am actually a bit late for the Allahabad part of the Khumb Mela and most of the Sadu's and Baba's are here and the 10^th is Shiva's marriage so it will be big here. I was finding it a lot nicer here for the first day or two but today went for a ride to get Faith looked at and remembered it's more the roads here that I hate. I was clipped again by a Rickshaw, second time in Varanasi and he popped the seam on the pocket of one bag, again. So took that to be fixed.

Nagar Baba's showing their skills

Boat building

Evening over the Ganga

And of course the Leening tample of Varanasi

3/3/13

Went to leave nice and early..... after my morning movement was squirted out I decided to stay another day lol. And of course all was good and solid after...

4/3/13

Headed out early even though I squirted again this morning??? Headed out towards Allahabad via the main road intended to head south and along a more back road to the Khajuraho. I stopped before where I was going to turn off at Aunrai and checked the map. This lead to me realising it was a lot shorter to head past Allahabad and south after Bharawati to Karwi.

I know everyone wants to hear that I had a cough squirt when getting onto the bike after a chi and ended up having to ride all the way to the Allahabad bypass before I found somewhere to have a bush dump. Lol. First one this year.
After a ruff ride down from the main road to Karwi I decided to try and find someone who spoke English so I could ask where had lodges near enough to Khunjuraho to go there as a day ride. Fortunately a nice man who spoke very good English parked next to me while waiting for the train to cross and invited me for a chi. So we had a chat and he said if Mahob would be best or Banda. Heading for there I stopped in Atarra and checked I was on the right road after the Y intersection. Also check the time and realised I would not make it to Mahob and Banda was increasing the distance to the temples for tomorrow. So after a lot of humming and haarrring I decided to stay here tonight.

5/3/13

Headed south to Pana with the thought of stopping at Kalinjar fort on the way but when I saw the 26km sign at the start of a dirt road I decided to carry on. I got to Pana about 10:00 and checked into a hotel. Then went the 50km to Khajuraho which very nice. After a couple of hours there and confusing the local restaurant by saying I don't stay in town. I headed back to Pana for the night.

Where you really looking at the photos??? Did you spot the sex one....

I love the fact that even the bits they could not put in the right place got used in a way they could be seen.

6/3/13

Off early with a big day expected today. I decided to head back to Varanasi the way I intended to come but didn't because I thought it would be bad road and long hard day.... Surprisingly the early part of the road was pretty good. It started getting worse about Mangawan when I headed toward Mirzapur. Unfortunately at Mirzapur I followed the signs to Varanasi instead of asking and so ended up heading along the south of the Ganga instead of the motorway on the north. The road slowly got worse and worse.Then when I saw a bridge I should have crossed but no...Doh I followed the signs and ended up at the wrong end of Varanasi having to fight rush hour traffic on and overheating bike after a very long hard day. So when I got to the hotel and found someone had taken my room that day I ended up having to stay in a more expensive room. Lol And man the first hot shower since, mm since England (oct 2012) was great lufd. (Laying Under Fan Drying)

mmm he did not offer an hourly rate when i checked in?????

7/3/13 to 9/3/13

Have taken the bike in for a service and needed a bit of extra work. Chain and sprocket needed changing also clutch. He tried to say when finished that the piston and rings where gone and needed rebuild so I said how much and he said INR9,000 so I laughed at him and said no thank you. I have spoken to Barry and Nigel in Goa and decided it is probably just the Valves need machining so I'll find somewhere in another town and get her looked at. Have been invited to go and bath in the Ganga for Shiva Atry? (Marriage) tomorrow which should be fun.

I feel sorry for the tour bus loads who come through. I have watched a few go past with almost every person having somebody trying to sell them post cards or other crap.

Bloody Varanasi drivers.

Faith having a granma moment..... Missing teeth

10/3/13

Big day today, up early and put on a little orange cloth to go for a walk with the Nagar Babas to Shiva's temple. Lots of people was a mad day. When got back had a bath in the Ganga. Very enjoyable day.