I just Ride

 I had plans to go out Saturday night for dinner, but I cancelled them because I was just in one of those tired, foggy moods that was either going to end in me feeling better around people or just kind of having an attitude.  

I wanted to be rested for Sunday, which ended up me just being me sleeping for 4 hours anticipating having to get up in 4 hours lol 

I woke up and was ready by 4:30 am exactly. Of course, Prasanna shows up at 5:15-so kind, but always late. Time is not really his strong suite and obviously time management is not my best quality.  

We meet the group around 6:30 and everyone shakes each others hand. It is a bunch of real bikers (great bikes, the right gear, the badges.) Each time you ride they give you a badge and patch with their club.  

Bangalore has about 300 riding groups, which inspires me to become a biker! I just love the biking culture- exploring, traveling, the thrill of the bike, and just super fun people. They sing, dance, laugh, act silly, and have great friendly dynamics. It is really fascinating to me riding bikes all over India and enjoying each others’ company-you don’t have to be alone!!! 

Prasanna had an antique Royal Enfield. I am kind of getting spoiled by different bikes-so this was not my favorite or the most comfortable, but it was good. Not all Royal enfields are for pillions(passengers) they are just meant for solo riders. He actually said at the end he wanted to sell his bike and I felt bad because I kept saying how much I loved the other bikes-ups….I just love the big bikes where you are high up and feel super comfortable especially going over bumps and potholes.   

I love how they line up all the bikes and then they all start them and follow each other one by one. It is so exciting!  

I can’t really think of anywhere that has a bike culture like India…. Not where I have traveled or really know about maybe in Europe, but not sure.  

 We drive for 3o minutes to find out our breakfast place is closed .This is heartbreaking for me because I was on one of my fasts the day before…I was dying for South Indian breakfast and I was actually planning on ordering 2 dishes.  

We ended up going to the hotel with a beautiful view, but it was not prepared for any breakfast- the sent out burnt toast layered onto eggs. I just kept watching the plates come out and everyone shared. I was incredibly sad as I was so hungry. The monkeys were outside on the net asking for food and we fed them. They were wild jumping all over and fighting over the food.  

We went on a trek down to the waterfall and up to the top viewpoint. The main organizer brought her little girl just 10 years old. She was so sweet just breathing and trying to get through the hike. She was so tired and I kept trying to encourage her. They brought this loud speaker and boombox to play music-very Indian of them. They had walkie talkies to keep track of everyone in the group. This was the cutest thing ever…I love not using the phone and just enjoying!  

The view was beautiful and I wanted to get a workout so I was running down the hill as everyone was taking their time. When the four of us finished, they all wanted to get icecream and insisted that I have some. Icecream without real food was really not an option, but they insisted.  

Not eating much sugar, I was sitting and enjoying my cone and forgot that we were surrounded by monkeys. One came down and tried to steal my cone, I panicked and said, “help” and one of the guys came to grab and save my icecream.  

The girl was like why didn’t you just give the icecream up- I would have been to scared. I was not even sure what happened in that moment, but I know he scratched me and I don’t even know what happened-I guess that is panic.  

He took my ice cream inside running with it behind his back.  

A really sweet young guy, had been riding for over 10 years and I took some fun pics with his jacket with all his badges(badge for each ride) and his Himalayan bike. I love the Himalyan- it is my favorite.  

A guy visiting the place had a brand new super bike so everyone was testing it out.  

This group talks about bikes, trips, travel, and more bikes but they are still really interesting and fun people and I love to learn regardless.  

We ended up leaving and heading back where it was raining off and on and we stopped for breakfast at a proper traditional Indian place-thank GOD! I ordered my Rava Idly, which was just one rice cake- I really wanted to order 2 dishes, but not in that setting obviously. Everyone kind of shares everything, which is cute, but not something I am able to do with germs.  

I am worried about my scratch and the guys say I should get some Pincher alcohol and use it to clean it. It was not anything major, but if I can’t share food with people how I can I share it with monkeys!  

We all took some photos and then left. It was nice because we ended up all giving hugs and saying bye to each other like 3 times. It is so cute the respect people have for each other and just meeting everyone they always make me feel welcome(We hope to see you again, please come on another ride with us). They know I wanted a badge so they gave me one even though it wasn’t an official ride😊 

Prasanna and I sat in lots of traffic to get back and we were passing by so many nice churches( I really should have stopped at All Saints, but getting back was such a pain.) Also, I had plans for the Habba events( Art events and festival for 10 days in BLR).  

We stopped at the pharmacy where  got 2 antibiotics and alcohol for under a dollar and he gave me some gum and said “feel better.” The kindness, the kindness, the kindness!!! 

When we got back, there was another ceremony going on in the wedding hall-this time it was a naming ceremony! 

Always a cultural event in this neighborhood and I loved it!  

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