A bike ride to Bilhur and back

[nick normal]

Clearly, the author eventually got 'home' safe - because that's where from the story was sent. It's a shame about the cake though:

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I ride the bicycle into town to get supplies, down a brick road to a dirt road to a brick road to the highway. Take a right toward Bilhur, which is 8 miles away. I make a few wrong turns and it takes 40 minutes to get there. It's a beautiful ride however, and the air smells like mint. There's farmland on both sides of the road and surrounding the entire town, and dirt paths with women in sarees carrying huge bundles on their heads. There are tire stores, blacksmiths, mechanics and a gas station at the intersection leading into town. I take a left over the bridge, there are shacks and kiosks on the outskirts of town, then shops, an ATM, a whole district for young men and women getting married. I buy bread, coffee, eggs, chocolate, potato chips and a birthday cake with candles for Marin. Ride out of town, it's dark. It's late, I didn't realize that it got dark so fast here. I hit potholes and ruts on the way back, a tractor whizzes past about a foot from the side of the bicycle; afterwards I pull the bike off the road everytime a truck comes along. By the time I get to the bridge, the dirt road leading to the ashram is obscured. I ask one of the men at the kiosks which way to go. I've already lost half of the bread and tomatoes and Marin's birthday cake by now from hitting bumps and potholes on the highway and avoiding traffic. They point towards a dirt road. I ride down it through a camp of 50 or 60 people all sitting around candles with makeshift tents. There are dark shapes riding on the road behind me and in front of me; it's scary, knowing how much I have on the bike and how valuable it is to these people. I ride fast, trying to keep the bike straight on the shoulder, still looking for that brick road. The air smells like jasmine. Starlight barely lights up the road, there's no moon today. I start to walk the bike to try and find the turn. I miss it, and go two kilometers too far. There's burning piles of cane on either side of the road. Tractors with giant spotlights looking for workers and squatters.

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I have about 3 more stories to transcribe - and I'm still waiting on any pictures or media to arrive. Soon I hope.

Kickstarter has 3+ days to go: http://kck.st/nkrLFb - we're almost there!!

Spread the word!!

ciao,

Nick Normal

[Robin Graves Gmail]

Amazing story Ports.... You never were good with a sense of direction ...just like your Mum.  Can you jut stay with the group?.? Hah! Xx

Sent from my iPad

25 Lime St.

Newburyport, MA 01950

[mafa]

Thanks for the details of your trip. Stay safe. Ride in pairs. Sorry
about your Indian friends leaving. I just pledged $1,000 and posted it
again on facebook. Good luck!

> Kickstarter has 3+ days to go:http://kck.st/nkrLFb- we're almost there!!

[Robin Graves Gmail]

THANK YOU

Sent from my iPad

25 Lime St.
Newburyport, MA 01950

[Ashley Ivey]

woooohoooo!!! That's fantastic!!!!