Friday 9th December Mhapam – Arambol GOA! 35.55miles.

​Got up later than intended, at 06.45hrs, but was on the road by 07.30hrs in the cool of early morning.  Much up hill pushing and reached Vengurla in time for breakfast around 9am or so – and lo, there was Darren, getting a late start (which he prefers).  We joined forces again, and then met Sanjay, another cyclist who was off to run a marathon on Sunday after cycling 100km a day to Goa.  This is vastly speedier than both Darren or I and he left us to our plodding after a sociable couple of hours.  Not long after that, after searching for an ATM, we crossed a bridge into Goa: yay! 
 
Immediately, it became evident that the demographic trend changed as 1 – 5 of the scooters that passed us had European drivers and were scantily dressed.  Later I discovered that most of these folk were actually Russian! 
 
Didn’t take long to get to Arambol.  The prices were going up ready for the Christmas and New Year – but we managed to get a fairly cheap bamboo hut each for 500INR.  Spent the evening listening to synthesized ambient hippy music performed by a group of musicians that seemed to ebb and flow (I guess it was a jam session of a kind).  The ‘People’ café was on the beach and we sat under a ¾ moon and the stars.   I had a lovely pasta meal – my first in months – and managed to chuck half of my beer over the table, clumsily. 
 
It’s been great, sharing the Indian cycling experience with Darren – though I fear I monopolised the conversation somewhat!  Keep in touch Darren and hope to see you again.    Darren kindly gave me a replacement travel towel – I hope I don’t lose this one!  (Third time lucky?).  Goa is going to be  good time, I think, and only 60miles to go now, to Trev’s.
 
Don’t forget my towel!  (very H2G2).