Cyclinginging

Cycling day to day with an early start of about 6:30 to 7 and winding down around 5 to 6 has flowed seamlessly into one another. The semi planned out route from South to North India is only looked at in these day to day portions and so in this way nothing seems too overwhelming or too much.
Although thoughts tend to wander here and there while pedaling through villages or on the highway, the length of day is really the only foresight.
Sitting now in Hampi, a historical heritage site, with a couple days of rest after some days of a 100 plus kilometer rides feels nice a reflective. The air is not as dry in the plain here with rice paddies and small lakes with a light breeze that cools the skin in the baking heat of the sun.
I feel peaceful in this moment.

Enjoy these reflections if you would like:)

While cycling on a national highway heading to Belur we stopped on a village to filter some water (nedu in Karnataka language).  There was a marriage celebration going on where everyone from the village and maybe neighboring areas were dressed up and enjoying. When arriving or passing through different places we are often greeted by many curious people circling around, looking and asking questions.
Filtering water is quite the show as many people have never seen this contraption. People young and old all surround as we sit and filter... sweat often accumulating with each forceful pump. Sometimes people want to try and pump and so we gratefully show them how and share the work:)
It is neat to hear our story being passed around the people as we catch glimpses of words such as Kanniyakumari (where we started the journey) and cycle. All the while we are being asked questions like, what is your name? What is your native place? What are you doing here? Don't you get tired cycling so much? What does your father do? What is your father's name? All of these questions are recited in broken English with our response being simple and easy to understand.
Are you married or do you have a husband are also common questions but this time following this question a young man asked "what do you look for in a boy?"
Erin and I chuckled a bit at this question and upon answering the young man next to the other promptly hushed the crowd to be able to hear more clearly. This was quite funny haha as if our response was of deep importance.  With the people listening with attentive curiosity we said, they have to be kind and respectful.. of themselves and of others, see the equality between men and women, if they like to cook that is great and they have to like to dance and be silly :)

There is not much chance of going through an area without being seen haha
This becomes more apparent when there is a space of distance between Erin and I as we cycle into or through a new place. Without even a word being shared aside from a hello and/or smile we are instantly pointed in the direction of one another. For example upon entering into Chitadurga Erin was a bit ahead and so I continued straight into the city. Right away I heard shouting from behind. Turning around to see what was being said a man pointed back towards a hotel across the street with Erin's cycle leaned up against the post. :)

We are blessed to sense hunger and feel excited in anticipation for a simple meal of idly or dosa found very frequently on the roadsides. Stopping midmorning for idly at a hotel shack we were given each a metal plate with three pods of idly and creamy coconut chutney. Often times somber is occapanied with this meal as well and so Erin injured about getting some if it was avaliable. Promptly without hesitation the women grabbed a cup and walked over to a nearby shack. Soon after she came back with a cup full of somber dividing it between our plates completing the meal. This simple act stood out as there was no need for extra thanks or recognition. People going out of their way to help one another is just the norm and seen as no big deal.

Below are some pictures of Hampi, our stay with families, and roadside stops:)