Day 52 – Arjansar to Hanumangarh, Rajasthan (Kanyakumari to Leh Cycling)

Ride in desert

I left the gurudwara at 6:35 a.m. and again got on road. There was desert on both sides, but it was not for long, as after 50 km of cycling, my time in the desert was over when I entered the Suratgarh city. After I crossed the city, I found the striking contrast between the both ends of the city: on the side from which I entered was desert and the side I exited from were  fields. Thereafter, it was all pleasant ride.

Ride in desert
Ride in desert

I have had many close encounters with trucks during this journey but while I was on my way to Hanumangarh, I had the narrowest escape from a truck when I managed to avoid it only by a few inches. Here’s my lesson for life: Never get in the way of two trucks trying to get ahead of one another.

Tired but long way to go
Miles to go before I sleep

After Suratgarh city, Hanumangarh was just 50 km but my body was aching too badly. I needed a good rest but I wanted to rest only after entering Punjab. So I wanted to get there as soon as possible. The dhaba where I stopped for food gave me some some sound advice: Because I was a cyclist and the slowest one on the road, whenever a truck driver blows horn, I should apply brakes and let it pass by because they do not want to apply brakes.

After Suratgarh
After Suratgarh

I reached Hanumangarh city after cycling for 104 km and slept in the langar hall as the room which was given to me did not have ventilation and power point to charge my phone for next day’s journey.