Hampi, Accidentally a tourist again

Hampi, Accidentally a tourist again

I left Mandargi around 10am, with the usual group of interested parties surrounding me with a cacophony of all the usual requests. After disentangling myself and breakfasting I headed for Hampi. I had really thought I would be here by lunch but the sun was hot and for the first while the going was slow as the road surface remained as punishingly bad as the day before.
Stopping for some Chia, I met the village and after taking their picture headed on to eventually lunch in the outskirts of Koppal. Lunch at the Green Garden was unquestionably the best meal Ive had in quite a while and at Rs122 it was the most expensive too. I had boneless fish and it really was good, the starter a large popadom with onions, tomatoes and herbs was really excellent too.

I joined the NH 63 at Koppal and its one of the most heavily trafficked sections of road Ive travelled so far, heading in and out of the town wasnt so bad, but the trucks started to build up around the airport and then there was about 5km where the opposite hard shoulder was nose to tail trucks,the fields of crops became fields of truck stops, repair centres and transport company headquarters, it was awful.

Hospet is a horrid, manic town and I was relieved to get past it, sadly though in my haste to get past it, I missed my turn-off and added about 5km to my journey, this turned out not too badly though as I had an excellent view from the top of the hill I had to climb. Cycling through the town was a real drag and I will do my best not to have to retrace my steps when I head to Bellary.

I moved through Hampi and the Bazaar quickly as I want to enjoy the whole scene tomorrow and took the boat over to V. Sadly it wasnt as much fun as my other river crossings, though I caused a bit of a commotion as I cycled down the ramps at the stairs, which was fairly easy for me, but the Indians were astounded with the spectacle of my loaded bike and I going down such a steep incline under control, but I explained that it required three things good brakes, in my case XT V-brakes, good balance and an unhealthy lack of fear or common sense.They nodded their heads sagely missing the joke.

I was pretty tired and grumpy waiting for the boat and chatted for a while with a fine English lad, utterly unlike his country man who I met after my third refusal at getting on the boat. I had to work hard not to clock him who “was there first with his hired bike” and was “just trying to be blah blah” utterly infuriating politically correct prick, be happy you didnt swim over. Actually I noticed that my mood isnt that good today, quite bad actually and Im not so sure why, however Im certain I think up a few rationales and share them with you as they occur.

Im at Shanti, the place I wanted to stay like most of the others was full, Ive a Rs 400 room which I think is steep but there is western food, beer and too many tourists trying to out do the frogs in generated dB. I might move tomorrow, then again its probably too much hassle and my future sub Rs 100 rooms will make up for the cost.