Day 4 Reached Sathyamangalam fully wet after 150 km

The lodge I stayed was right next to highway but there was no hotels in vicinity. Last night had to be satisfied with something like rice balls made in small shop. Today went to see if I can get some tea @ 6.30 AM as having got up early as usual I was feeling like having something.

There was a tea shop open and I asked for a cup. I told him I cannot tolerate hot tea and having sensation problem and no firmness in hand. Tea cup slipped out of my cup over the counter and he said GET LOST, but not in loud voice. I offered to pay which he declined. Normally I never get out of home without warm bath as it activates the muscles and makes them cooperate. Here leave alone warm bath, even cup of tea remains elusive.

I got my trike ready as early as possible and pushed off around seven. It was already 6 km on meter when highway sign said time is 7.15AM. I had a reason for happiness as yesterday I had used up more power and my planning was appeared not credible. When I found I had used only 1.5 Ah which was much within limits, there was reasons to be happy.

There was clouds in sky and rain did not imminent though there was some sprinkling. I was able to ride pretty fast and by 8.30 I was in a decent hotel in Karur, on the road to Erode. I was happy about 30 km done till then and leisurely resumed the journey. There was no sign in National Highway in Karur. Just by instinct, I took service road only to find the Erode road junction in that. If I had continued in National Highway, I should have turned back. Missing road signs and most of the road signs in Tamil is big problem over here.

The state highway after Karur was passing thru rural area and was full of greenery. The crops appeared mixed without dominance of any and it was really enjoyable ride. Today my hydration sac was in place and so drift irrigation of my body can take place every now & then. The video clip uploaded shows I am tasking a sip of water.http://is.gd/ezIEO.

I mounted the drift camera on front mount and started taking videos. Later I found that lens direction had not been changed and so we have watch those videos by tilting our head 90 degress. It is not difficult to watch that as most that was recorded was empty road. If you have time watch this http://is.gd/ezOUK otherwise condensed version will do http://is.gd/ezNdN. I charged two sets of batteries for drift camera and GPS and hope it will last till evening. This juggling will continue for some more days.

After 65 km and 16 Ah consumption, I was looking for a place to charge batteries. By coincidence, Singh brothers on a auto happened to be passing by and started to enquire my ideas and intentions. They offered to help when I told them my poor Tamil and first place we went together had power shutdown. Then they asked me to follow another 2 km and took me a Indianoil petrol pump. So my batteries to hooked up to dynamo and electrons flow to my battery started soon without waiting and continued for 60 minutes from dynamo till power is restored.

I had not planned oiling the chain for about a week but having met some rain, I see the necessity for oiling it. The sewing machine oil which is preferred one is not available everywhere & stopping in petrol pump do not solve this kind of the problem.

Left the petrol pump around 1.30 PM and was keen to cover distance. Reached Erode around 2.15 and had to go into the town to cross it. People was tolereant of trike & so crossing the town amidst heavy traffic did not pose any problem. Did not see good hotel in convenient place and had some fruits from roadside shop and continued.

I started observing unusual fall in voltage considering distance traveled and about 10 km before Gobichettipalyam decided to get some charge as voltage was hovering around 34 V but latter realized it happened because I had switched only one battery and that gave beautiful performance carrying me 45 km all alone. Anyway charged that battery for half hour since I had already got off the trike and asked for power. Sathyamangalam was still 35 km away & I was keen to reach it.

I wanted to reach Sathyamangalam tonite so that I will be fresh for climbing the ghat road tomorrow. Since I am all alone unlike backup team with me in Shiradi, it will be better to be fresh.

I had a look @ time while passing Gobi and it was 4.50 PM and thought it is too early to stop and can easily reach Sathyamangalam before it becomes dark. I was doing good progress but suddenly it started to rain. I waited for a while and later quickly put on the raincoat and covered the luggage and started pedaling. Everything including my cycle analyst meter was covered and there was no problem I encountered in trail runs around home when it rained started .

There was heavy rain for about twenty minutes which stopped as soon as I reached Sathyamangalam. Finally got hold a room after three futile attempts and this marwari owner wanted the customer but had no secure place to put the trike in. All the three lodges I stayed past three nights had rooms upstairs. Then after half hour he suggested to go to Zia lodge close by. I declined as tiredness had got over me. I can keep moving as long as I want but once stopped, find it very difficult to resume. There was no lights in front of my trike was another reason. So I asked him somehow to find a secure place. So I got into room @ 8 PM & finally we put it in a studio upstairs after folding it.

As I was wet for about two hours, had got used to that. So had some chapathi first as there are few people here take meals during night and tiffin is served in most hotels. So it was a day without morning tea, no meals and only chapathi @ night with 150 km in between. The track is uploaded to everytrail site and you can see by clicking this http://is.gd/ezHEP.