Distance walked 207.4km by Pankaj 159.1km by Mike 36.1km by Daryl
Funds raised NZD4531.22 or INR226561 (plus about INR8000 to be banked)
Once again there were issues with traffic getting out of Pune and it was 9.15m before we reached Chakan. It was another bright clear day showing every sign of becoming too hot. Daryl wondered why we were setting such a cracking pace and we explained that the objective was to get as much done as possible before it got hot.
The first challenge of the day was the Bhama River. The old bridge was still there and the intention was to use it but once we saw the new bridge it had a footpath on the right side so we used that. Daryl got a blister so we stopped after crossing the river to allow him to dress it. The blister on my right foot is back as well. While Daryl was dressing his foot we had cane sugar juice with lemon and ginger - very tasty.
There were a few kilometres of rural area before Shiroli was reached 8km into the days walk. From there it was past the toll booth - and a decent gap for pedestrians this time rather than having to compete with motorcycles. Shortly after the toll booth as a photo stop so the local MP could be photographed giving money.
The bridge over the Bhima River was narrow but just wide enough for us to be able cross competing with traffic as congestion was fairly bad and the traffic slow. As we came into Rajgurunagar the two shifts at the high school were swapping and there were masses of teenagers going both to school and away. Although we are fairly close to the west coast of India the rivers are flowing to the south and east and join the sea at the Bay of Bengal.
I was getting hungry by then but we were asked to go on 400m more to the memorial to 3 of the freedom fighters who fought for independence from Britain in the 1920s and 30s. We got to hang a garland around the necks of 1 of the statues each then heaps more photos. I wanted to just eat in the shade there but Pankaj wanted to move because of the crowd of people - almost all school boys - hanging around us. The parents of 1 of the boys owned a Dhaba on the outskirts of Rajgurunagar so we finished up there to eat lunch and have some tea.
From here it was very hot especially in the valley. There was a temple up ahead where we though we could get some shade for rest break but when we got there it was locked so we instead sheltered under some bushes. Amoa Bonthve our support person today arrived with the car soon after and the air conditioning was welcome.
From here the road climbed up through a gorge. The slope wasn't very steep and the climb was only 120m so not exhausting and there was shade at first and then a breeze so the heat wasn't to bad. The corners however were very tight. I felt most at risk not from the traffic coming downhill towards us but cars madly overtaking trucks going up the hill where quite frankly there was never enough visibility for overtaking to be fully safe. Daryl decided to sit out the climb.
Another break was taken at the top of the gorge where I had my first experience of a squat toilet for this trip. It was then another 4km to Peth which all 3 of us walked.
I had asked to go and see Amoa's family farm. On the trip there he took us through the Khed City special development area. It is for large industrial plants and mainly still emply but there were 3 large factories including one which makes snickers bars. First stop was the thousand year old temple at Nimgaon. During the Moghul period a fort was built around the temple to prevent the Moghuls from destroying it, The fort remains. The temple and surrounds have recently been through a major renovation. After visiting the temple and getting a blessing from the priest we were given a formal welcome including fancy head wear.
We then went to the farm. They grow acres of onions as well as some cabbage and sweet corn. There are also 200year old tamarind trees and several other fruit trees. I got a puppy into trouble as it came up to say hello and then got very over excited and wanted to play bitey games.
We stayed the night at a hotel at Rajgurunagar. There was a bit of a problem at checkin as my passport is in the safe. Daryl and I were put in a room together and my snoring kept Daryl awake so he won't be walking tonight.
Donations can be made at https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/school-of-walk in New Zealand or direct to 06-0574-0833554-00 or https://milaap.org/fundraisers/givealittle-schoolofwalk in India
Published on 13 December 2018 to cover activities for 12th and morning of 13th
Funds raised NZD4531.22 or INR226561 (plus about INR8000 to be banked)
Once again there were issues with traffic getting out of Pune and it was 9.15m before we reached Chakan. It was another bright clear day showing every sign of becoming too hot. Daryl wondered why we were setting such a cracking pace and we explained that the objective was to get as much done as possible before it got hot.
There were a few kilometres of rural area before Shiroli was reached 8km into the days walk. From there it was past the toll booth - and a decent gap for pedestrians this time rather than having to compete with motorcycles. Shortly after the toll booth as a photo stop so the local MP could be photographed giving money.
The bridge over the Bhima River was narrow but just wide enough for us to be able cross competing with traffic as congestion was fairly bad and the traffic slow. As we came into Rajgurunagar the two shifts at the high school were swapping and there were masses of teenagers going both to school and away. Although we are fairly close to the west coast of India the rivers are flowing to the south and east and join the sea at the Bay of Bengal.
I was getting hungry by then but we were asked to go on 400m more to the memorial to 3 of the freedom fighters who fought for independence from Britain in the 1920s and 30s. We got to hang a garland around the necks of 1 of the statues each then heaps more photos. I wanted to just eat in the shade there but Pankaj wanted to move because of the crowd of people - almost all school boys - hanging around us. The parents of 1 of the boys owned a Dhaba on the outskirts of Rajgurunagar so we finished up there to eat lunch and have some tea.
From here it was very hot especially in the valley. There was a temple up ahead where we though we could get some shade for rest break but when we got there it was locked so we instead sheltered under some bushes. Amoa Bonthve our support person today arrived with the car soon after and the air conditioning was welcome.
From here the road climbed up through a gorge. The slope wasn't very steep and the climb was only 120m so not exhausting and there was shade at first and then a breeze so the heat wasn't to bad. The corners however were very tight. I felt most at risk not from the traffic coming downhill towards us but cars madly overtaking trucks going up the hill where quite frankly there was never enough visibility for overtaking to be fully safe. Daryl decided to sit out the climb.
Another break was taken at the top of the gorge where I had my first experience of a squat toilet for this trip. It was then another 4km to Peth which all 3 of us walked.
I had asked to go and see Amoa's family farm. On the trip there he took us through the Khed City special development area. It is for large industrial plants and mainly still emply but there were 3 large factories including one which makes snickers bars. First stop was the thousand year old temple at Nimgaon. During the Moghul period a fort was built around the temple to prevent the Moghuls from destroying it, The fort remains. The temple and surrounds have recently been through a major renovation. After visiting the temple and getting a blessing from the priest we were given a formal welcome including fancy head wear.
We then went to the farm. They grow acres of onions as well as some cabbage and sweet corn. There are also 200year old tamarind trees and several other fruit trees. I got a puppy into trouble as it came up to say hello and then got very over excited and wanted to play bitey games.
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| Tamarind Tree |
We stayed the night at a hotel at Rajgurunagar. There was a bit of a problem at checkin as my passport is in the safe. Daryl and I were put in a room together and my snoring kept Daryl awake so he won't be walking tonight.
Donations can be made at https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/school-of-walk in New Zealand or direct to 06-0574-0833554-00 or https://milaap.org/fundraisers/givealittle-schoolofwalk in India
Published on 13 December 2018 to cover activities for 12th and morning of 13th
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