Distance walked 276.4km by Pankaj 204.1km by me 56.1 km by Daryl.
Funds raised NZD 4953.84 or INR 247692
I awoke feeling refreshed and healthy and ready to face the day. - which I started on the wrong foot as when Pankaj appeared at 7:45am I said nasty words abut him and Daryl going off to breakfast and leaving me behind. Turns out Pankaj had changed rooms, Daryl was now as crook as a dog and breakfast wasn't provided so would be taken at a restaurant on the way to the start. So I was wrong on every count.
It was a much cooler day - 10 degrees C at 6am and reached a maximum of 27 so walking was much much easier.
The start was about 105km from Nashik so I was looking out for the 100km milepost but somehow missed it. However here is 99.
Within in less than a kilometre of starting we came across a large group of pilgrims, all wearing orange hats on their way Shirdi. We crossed to the other side of the road as we didn't want to get caught up amongst them. We walked along side them for about 5km when they stopped for a break on the outskirts of Ghargaon. We took our first break about 500m further on. The bridge at Ghargaon even had a footpath so crossing the Mula River was no problem at all.
The fuel light was now on in the car but it seemed that getting diesel was not going to be easy. We had passed the last petrol stations on our side of the road at Ghargaon and even when we got to Sangamner the petrol station had run out of diesel.
We took the next break at Bhagwat Mala - quite frankly just a dot on the map with a few dhaba (Indian equivalent of a coffee bar). From here the choice was to either follow the expressway or go onto the old road. The distance both ways was about the same. We went onto the old road where it climb a hill past a temple. Punkaj remembers it well from his days travelling betwen Pune and Nashik when this was a major choke point for the traffic as trucks crawled up the hill on a rather narrow road so even for Indian drivers passing chances would have been few.
We took lunch at a place that wasn't even a dot on the map. Just 2 dhaba next to each other on the side of the road. We stopped at the first but I think it was a bad choice as I took one look at the toilet and decided I could hang on - Indian squat toilet with no water supply - need I say more. Daryl wasn't eating and I just had tea and biscuits, Pankaj and Mr Cricket ate up large but they are used to India.
The walk after Ghargaon was very rural. The villages were tiny and the traffic though light by Indian standards was still heavier than on most rural roads in New Zealand. There were dhaba every 2 or 3 kilometres throughout the day so no problem taking a break. They varied from swank with marriage halls to pretty basic.
We arrived at Gunjalwadi about 2.30pm. The distance had been signposted all day by Dr R.S. Gunjal Institutes.(I think a hospital but I have no idea)
Mr Cricket then drove us to Sangamner. Daryl was looking very poorly and really wanted to go to bed but Pankaj insisted that we did some shopping and went to the hair dresser. I have stopped shaving myself and once a week Pankaj and I go in for a shave and head massage. Sometimes they do the back shoulders and arms as well. It is a very relaxing way to finish a long days walk. We are staying at the guest house at the Sangamner sugar works. It is a very large co-operative plant. I have heard different figures for production but it is millions of kilograms of sugar a year. The local MP in the Maharastra (state) Parliament, Balasheb Thorat has some part in its running and also the adjoining technical institutes with 10,000 pupils and a dairy co-operative. This morning we were taken to meet him and went though the usual formalities. There were about 100 people waiting to talk to him. some wanting to invite him to weddings, but we were whisked to the head of the queue and given a private reception in his office before coming out for the gift of shawls and flowers .
I asked for chicken and rice today for lunch. And that is what I got. Lumps of fried chicken and a bowl of rice - not doing well in explaining simple western food for delicate stomachs to the cooks here.
On a more concerning note Daryl is still unwell and has been taken to see a doctor by Pankaj. They are concerned he has become dehydrated and are giving him IV fluids. I don't think there is any intention to admit him to hospital.
About the route we are walking. It is a bit of a zigzag. From Mumbai to Airoli (midday of day 2) the direction was north east. From there to Dehu Road (day 8) it was south east and then east to Chakan (day 9). From there we have been heading north. On Monday when we walk to the sugar plant we will have reached the half way point. From here to Nashik the direction in northwest, then southwest to Bhiwandi - which is only 2 days walk from Mumbai. From Bhiwandi the route goes north to Wada. If we fall behind we will take a short cut saving one days walk and bypass Bhiwandi.
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
Funds raised NZD 4953.84 or INR 247692
I awoke feeling refreshed and healthy and ready to face the day. - which I started on the wrong foot as when Pankaj appeared at 7:45am I said nasty words abut him and Daryl going off to breakfast and leaving me behind. Turns out Pankaj had changed rooms, Daryl was now as crook as a dog and breakfast wasn't provided so would be taken at a restaurant on the way to the start. So I was wrong on every count.
It was a much cooler day - 10 degrees C at 6am and reached a maximum of 27 so walking was much much easier.
The start was about 105km from Nashik so I was looking out for the 100km milepost but somehow missed it. However here is 99.
Within in less than a kilometre of starting we came across a large group of pilgrims, all wearing orange hats on their way Shirdi. We crossed to the other side of the road as we didn't want to get caught up amongst them. We walked along side them for about 5km when they stopped for a break on the outskirts of Ghargaon. We took our first break about 500m further on. The bridge at Ghargaon even had a footpath so crossing the Mula River was no problem at all.
The fuel light was now on in the car but it seemed that getting diesel was not going to be easy. We had passed the last petrol stations on our side of the road at Ghargaon and even when we got to Sangamner the petrol station had run out of diesel.
We took the next break at Bhagwat Mala - quite frankly just a dot on the map with a few dhaba (Indian equivalent of a coffee bar). From here the choice was to either follow the expressway or go onto the old road. The distance both ways was about the same. We went onto the old road where it climb a hill past a temple. Punkaj remembers it well from his days travelling betwen Pune and Nashik when this was a major choke point for the traffic as trucks crawled up the hill on a rather narrow road so even for Indian drivers passing chances would have been few.
We took lunch at a place that wasn't even a dot on the map. Just 2 dhaba next to each other on the side of the road. We stopped at the first but I think it was a bad choice as I took one look at the toilet and decided I could hang on - Indian squat toilet with no water supply - need I say more. Daryl wasn't eating and I just had tea and biscuits, Pankaj and Mr Cricket ate up large but they are used to India.
The walk after Ghargaon was very rural. The villages were tiny and the traffic though light by Indian standards was still heavier than on most rural roads in New Zealand. There were dhaba every 2 or 3 kilometres throughout the day so no problem taking a break. They varied from swank with marriage halls to pretty basic.
 |
| Chaff stored in stooks for feeding cattle |
 |
| Two cattle with birds on their backs and a goat |
We arrived at Gunjalwadi about 2.30pm. The distance had been signposted all day by Dr R.S. Gunjal Institutes.(I think a hospital but I have no idea)
Mr Cricket then drove us to Sangamner. Daryl was looking very poorly and really wanted to go to bed but Pankaj insisted that we did some shopping and went to the hair dresser. I have stopped shaving myself and once a week Pankaj and I go in for a shave and head massage. Sometimes they do the back shoulders and arms as well. It is a very relaxing way to finish a long days walk. We are staying at the guest house at the Sangamner sugar works. It is a very large co-operative plant. I have heard different figures for production but it is millions of kilograms of sugar a year. The local MP in the Maharastra (state) Parliament, Balasheb Thorat has some part in its running and also the adjoining technical institutes with 10,000 pupils and a dairy co-operative. This morning we were taken to meet him and went though the usual formalities. There were about 100 people waiting to talk to him. some wanting to invite him to weddings, but we were whisked to the head of the queue and given a private reception in his office before coming out for the gift of shawls and flowers .
I asked for chicken and rice today for lunch. And that is what I got. Lumps of fried chicken and a bowl of rice - not doing well in explaining simple western food for delicate stomachs to the cooks here.
On a more concerning note Daryl is still unwell and has been taken to see a doctor by Pankaj. They are concerned he has become dehydrated and are giving him IV fluids. I don't think there is any intention to admit him to hospital.
About the route we are walking. It is a bit of a zigzag. From Mumbai to Airoli (midday of day 2) the direction was north east. From there to Dehu Road (day 8) it was south east and then east to Chakan (day 9). From there we have been heading north. On Monday when we walk to the sugar plant we will have reached the half way point. From here to Nashik the direction in northwest, then southwest to Bhiwandi - which is only 2 days walk from Mumbai. From Bhiwandi the route goes north to Wada. If we fall behind we will take a short cut saving one days walk and bypass Bhiwandi.
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
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