Eventhough my toe was not completely recovered I was anxious to get back on the road. I had to rip off the doctor’s dressing on my foot and improvise something more modest to allow me to get my shoe on.
It was a fairly easy 95 kms. into Uttar Pradesh to Saharanpur.
It was a bit of a hassle finding a hotel here, either unsatisfactory for the price, or they were full, or they wouldn’t allow bicycle (and had no safe place) or they didn’t have wi-fi. Eventually found a place for 1400rs. The water wasn’t hot enough, the promised wi-fi didn’t reach the room but it was clean and quiet. I could have done without the a.c. but it is there. I found these delicious street food items. One is a kind of sweet potato, the blackish one I think might grow in water. I might be wrong about that. They are both mixed in this masala and are super delicious.
After these snacks I immediately searched out a bar. Rishikesh is entirely vegetarian and Vimal’s home is strictly non-alcoholic. I didn’t mind at all but after 4 days of that, being a connoisseur of low life, I find myself enjoying beers in the dark, smoky, noisy atmosphere of the Indian bar.
I find myself headed home now. I cannot do more in the hills with my foot/toe condition. I hope I can continue in the flats with a gradual improvement. I guess tomorrow sometime I will be in Haryana, then Punjab and Rajasthan. It is still a long way to Mumbai and Goa and my next day’s route is debated until a.m. departure.
I really enjoyed my stay in Rishikesh. A Chinese-Nepali marriage is not easy but they can do it. I am very impressed by Vimal as a bright, mature totally authentic, sincere man who is a real master of yoga and a gifted teacher. Anyone interested in yoga is lucky to find him. I wish him, his beautiful wife Lin, and adorable little baby Vihaan the best and thank them for their unfussed hospitality.
