Day 1: Fri 10 Nov 17: Hervey Bay to Brisbane to Hong Kong to Chennai

Wendy dropped me off at the Hervey Bay Airport, very early, in time for the start of the short first leg to Brisbane of a rather long journey. But we are a long way from anywhere so we’re used to long flights.

I’m on my way to India to meet up with a bunch of like-minded mad cyclists. We are going to ride across India from the East coast to the West Coast. Baz, not a bad bloke for a Pom, organised this tour, and as usual for all of us, put out an email invitation to his mates. Ken, Phil and Bob, all from Canberra, and with whom I’ve ridden with many times before, took up the challenge too. Baz, Trio and Simon, from the UK, comrades from previous Asian tours, make up the rest of the dynamic team who I know. There’s some competitive buggers amongst this lot so it’s going to be interesting to watch the tussle up front on the rides sometimes. Myself, I’ll be at the back taking in the Indian scenery and trying to take a decent photo occasionally.

While I normally like to be completely independent while cycle touring (own bikes, gear, book our own accommodation, find our own food etc) I’ve also spoilt myself on many occasions by going on organised tours. This one is through Mountain Bike Kerala (Kerala being a region in SW India) run by Mike McLean also from the UK. With all these Poms around a bunch of Aussies we are hoping that the current Ashes Cricket Tour goes our way. 15 day’s for the tour and a couple of nights either end to have a look around and settle in.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again as we rarely touch base apart from the odd cycle tour or visit.

All three flights (Brisbane - Hong Kong (Last time I was in Hong Kong was in 1973 when I was a corporal in the MPs. I had arrested an AWOL UK soldier who had overstayed his unit’s visit to Brisbane. For my diligence I was tasked to escort him back to his HK-based unit. The powers gave me a couple of days stopover after dropping off my prisoner. The boys in the Black Watch (the prisoner’s unit) really looked after me.) - Chennai) went smoothly and on time, getting me into Chennai at the ungodly hour of 1am Saturday morning, about 24 hours travel.

The trusty driver was there with my name on a sign to pick me up and after a very long one and a half hours I was at the motel. Just in time for a couple of hours shut eye before brekky. 

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