To Kasauli and back

Planning

My son and I have a 5-day cycle tour coming up in September, and we are getting ready for it. So, we decided to cycle to Kasauli, stay there for the night and then cycle back again. There are two routes there and some variations, but we chose the shorter, but more challenging route through Pinjore and Kalka up and wanted to take the longer, smoother, faster route down. For my son, it is all about the downhill.

We wore our strategically cushioned shorts and brightly coloured helmets and both of us had rather heavy backpacks. Our Firefox bicycles were pumped and greased and felt smooth as we started around sunrise. I felt so blessed that I can do this type of adventure with my 13-year-old son. I remember our epic Palampur trek a few years ago. That was scary but good, and we grew closer and also closer to God as we experienced his protection.

Getting lost, traffic and animals

Chandigarh has great cycle tracks, and the roads were empty. Google-aunty as we like to call her, directed us through a field where boys were playing cricket and then we came to a dead-end as the field was closed off with a big fence. That is what happens if we choose walking directions. But, when you choose driving directions, she kept on forcing us to the highway. We backtracked, found a different route asked for directions, came to a hole in the fence and we were back on track.

We started climbing, crossed multiple rivulets, and then my chain came off. Somehow it doubled back on itself and we had a huge struggle to get it rectified. Sweat kept running into my eyes and my son had to help me wipe it off since my hands were black with oil and grease. A prayer was said in between all of this and we were thankful and relieved when we could continue. The last section of this road was so steep that we walked it up.

Through Pinjore and Kalka the traffic was bad. Sometimes a car would stop somewhere while everyone behind them tooted their horns. We sometimes managed to pass left or right. There were cows, construction vehicles, large trucks, and very brave pedestrians, all going about their day. Wherever we went, two foreigners on bicycles, people did a double take.

Two interactions with animals must be mentioned. Ivan and a flying peacock almost collided. (Yes, peacocks can fly) It was just a blur of colour, Ivan ducked and just avoided hitting it. And then there was the bull. We saw it from a distance as it was running around. It went for two girls who managed to escape. The bull watched us with growing interest, as we approached, so we both decided to stop at a safe distance. After a minute where we could not decide what to do, a car came and we were off. The bull just looked perplexed.

The chai and what it caused

We had a long, leisurely rest with some hot chai. We took our backpacks and helmets off. We were already a bit into the mountains, so the weather was pleasant. When we got started again, we made good time as we climbed some steep hills. We took a left turn and passed many factories. At our first mini-break after about 30 minutes my son looked distressed. He forgot his backpack at the tea shop!

I knew it would be too much to ask him to go back or even go back with me. It might have compromised the whole trip, so I asked him to wait for me as I cycled back. I was surprised by how far we came during that 30 minutes. Luckily I found the shop and the bag just where he left it. It turned out to be 10 km extra for me. I didn’t mind it that much and was just glad that we found it since all his clothes for the night and the next day were in it.

But now the serious work started. The last 20 kilometres were very steep. We rested every few minutes. We found a place where we could buy some coke and then I realized we might as well have lunch. We had bread omelettes on the balcony facing the mountain. It was beautiful, but we couldn’t stay long, we needed to get to Kasauli.

Kasauli and pizza

We finally reached The Dew Drops Homestay where we were warmly welcomed by Mr Ankur. We had to boil some water in a kettle a few times to get enough to take baths. When we were clean and had a rest, we walked the remaining two kilometres to Kasauli town to look for a place to eat and maybe get Ivan’s phone fixed. (It started rebooting again and again. We could not find such a place, but he later wiped the data and was able to restore most things) Lunch was pizza and coffee at a place where I have eaten before.

After we walked the two kilos back again, we started watching a movie, but we grew tired and went to bed. The night was too short.

Speed, a goose egg and some character sprinkled in

We got up a bit late for my taste since I knew the suffering that arriving too late back on the plains could cause. Breakfast was paranthas and then we flew down the hill. Ivan was in his element. He wanted to go as fast as he possibly could. I think he must have done around 52 km/h at times. The highway was mostly fine. Here and there parts sunk in or were broken off due to the heavy rains this season.

Down in Panchkula Ivan’s chain fell off and he got the opportunity to learn how to put it back himself. Not long after that, I am not sure what exactly happened, but his foot must have come off of the pedal and it struck his right knee. It happened in a traffic circle (roundabout as they call them here) and he stopped right there. The little boy would have refused to carry on, but the emerging man, took a bit of time, complained just a tiny bit, and then we were off again. (There is a huge goose egg on his knee, but nothing too serious)

We stopped for water and multiple times to rest somewhere in the shade until we reached the cycling paths of Chandigarh. These were now like green shady tunnels that would have been perfect if we weren’t so thirsty and sunburned by this time.

We reached home just before noon. My Garmin said 68 kilometres. Add that to the 70k I did the previous day, and I would call that good preparation for our upcoming tour. I am so proud of my son for his strength and endurance and also for starting to show glimpses of the character that would be a blessing to himself and others in the future.

The music

On another front, I published another song on Youtube. Check it out. I also will be getting my songs on Spotify and Apple Music soon.