Monday, February 28
Candolim in Goa – Last Rest Day
We visited Panaji, the capital city of Goa today. The taxi driver dropped us off in the town square and we walked around doing a little shopping and checking out the area. The park was pretty and well kept, the shops were touristy and expensive…. but we DID get to go to Bloomingdales… errr ummm, I mean Blooming Dales! Haha!!! J
The park is just across the street from the “department store” and is surrounded on all sides with businesses of all kinds. Here’s the park:
We didn’t visit any other sights in Panaji but did stop on a bridge to watch some fishermen gathering their nets at low tide. The nets are set at low tide, then when the tide comes in so do the fish. When the tide goes out again, the fish are caught in their nets.
Another fisherman out in the water further:
When we arrived back at the hotel it was time for our last lunch at our favorite spot – Café Chocolate. With a name like that who wouldn’t like it? They offer wonderful salads, drinks and desserts… oh and breakfast was wonderful French toast – like no other! They use reverse osmosis water to clean all their foods, veggies etc. so there is no worry about digestive distress. Something I never used to think about at home but now think of it every time I make a decision on what I will eat.
The time has come to get back to reality and prepare our bikes and bags for riding tomorrow. It’s been a wonderful break but I’m looking forward to riding again. The heat will be a big factor in the days to come as the temps are in the mid to upper 90s every day now – and it’s just going to get warmer and warmer as we head south. Tomorrow is a big climb day and the following day is 165 K with hills too! Oh BOY!!! J I’ve begun the countdown… only 16 riding days left and 20 days total before I say farewell to India and hello to my family and friends back home. J
My chain is oiled and cleaned, my tires are pumped, every bolt is tight and my bike is ready for the road ahead. My bags are loaded with snacks, bars and water AND all the repair parts necessary for maintenance along the way if necessary. Our taxi driver yesterday was literally shocked when we told him what we were doing – riding across India. He would ask questions like, how far we were going; how old we were; what we do if we have a flat tire; what we do when we come to a hill; and every answer we gave him he said, “OH MY GOD!” He couldn’t believe that we “rode” our bikes up the hills or that we actually could change a flat tire… haha!!! He was in his late 20s and said he could NEVER do that!!! We laughed!!! He must’ve said “OH MY GOD!!!” 50 times on that ride… J
