11th day 121 km to Hospet

Today I could leave the lodge only at 8.30 AM. The road surface was quite good and I was pedaling quite comfortably. Remembered telephone talk with Dinakar yesterday regarding the photo and video coverage. Unfortunately I am not able to pay attention as much as I want to and that was partly due to rain. The camera have been placed in a pouch bag on Vani’s suggestion and that works better. Her other suggestion about the charger in the top bag did not work out. So took camera out and clicked a snap just about to leave Harihara and arch says 116 km to Hospet.

Around 9.30 after I covered about 10 km some villagers stopped me & there I had breakfast in a village hotel – chithranna plus tea. The tea was good and was served in a cup about the size of ounce glass and cost was Rupees Two. Then a grandpa came riding the moped with a baby monkey with him. I asked him if I can take a photo and he agreed. Grandma by then suggested it is better to take a close up & so took another snap.

There was lot of road humps and most of them unmarked. So it was very much nuisance. There was a ditch in the road about 8 inches deep and it can be easily visible for other road users but since I am sitting very low, I was at disadvantage.

There is a long downhill just before Harapanahalli and I was coming down very fast – About 49 kmph, maybe record speed so far followed by a Mangalore registration tanker. They knew I am from Mangalore area as I had loudly asked when they had stopped by roadside - Have you come from Kudla in Tulu and they were thrilled to hear that. I was scared that I may have to climb that distance once again as I could see hills all around on reaching Harapanahalli.

Same thing happened when I approached Hospet. There was hills on all sides but so far eZee pedal assist kit have flattened all hills for me. The mild knee pain continue to haunt me. There is considerable change in the scenery. The paddy fields have given way to other dryland crops and there are lot of hills all around. The road from Harihara to Mariammana Halli was very good compared to Karnataka standards.

Harihara, Harapanahalli, Hagari Bommanahalli and Hospet are all about 40 km apart. To be on the safer side, I topped up the batteries both @ Harapanahalli and Hagari Bommanahalli and data recorded proved my instinct was right. There was chance I was running out of power if I had neglected to so.

The last 20 km ride after Mariammana Halli was worst I have faced so far. SH 25 merged with NH 13 there. It was nightmare. There was absolutely no roads and moreover no road rules apply for those mining trucks which zoom at dangerous speed. I had to ride very carefully as toppling was easy and it will be close encounter of fatal kind. I stopped once when I saw Tungabhadra reservoir on my right side.

There is hump and Hospet is on the other side. There is board that says ghat road is dangerous and again there was no road surface as heavy vehicles have destroyed that. Daylight was fading fast when I entered the lodge and owner gave me 100 Rupee concession for this three bedded room. So I am charged Rupees 200 and this is second time I am getting room rent concession.

Bijapur is 200 km away on NH 13 and looks like there is heavy traffic on the road ahead with plenty of road trains carrying cars and other heavy duty trucks.