We
have a few rest days now between the groups and its time to sit out in the
sunshine outside our abode in the Queen’s Pantry. Misty Mountain, Kuttikanam
and enjoy a bit with the MTB Kerala family.
Outside we have Sheffield Mike running
around in his Katcha’s (underpants) sweating away the pounds to make way for a
few Kingfisher’s tonight. Pankaj the facebook kid is absorbed in his phone,
chuckling away as usual as events unfold in facebook world. Kerala’s best and
richest mountain biker (£1250 for 2nd prize in a 4-cross event)
Jibin Joy is out on the bike with Rakesh (a name familiar to all loyal readers
of this blog) working out a few new trails to link together for our next
tour. All will be back tonight for
a game of cricket on the tennis courts so it is indeed happy times for all
here.
For me its time to put down a few
highlights of the past month or so.
Wildlife. We have had Tigers, Macaques,
Elephants, Cobra’s, Malabar Hornbills and barking deer in abundance this year.
The tiger on the Singalila Ridge tour was the probably the most exciting spot
followed by a never to be forgotten frantic adrenalin fuelled pedal for your
life 5 minute section of trail with Pankaj a bit too far out off the back for
comfort.
Loads of elephants in December which is
always a humbling and mesmerizing experience. We were witness to a family of
elephants on the banks of Maddupatty Dam followed by a sighting of an solitary
elephant near Aryanakkal Dam which was more than likely the same elephant that
was responsible for trampling to death
of a tea worker the previous month. Local newspapers also reported
sightings of a rogue Tiger which seemed to be on a sight seeing trip of Munnar
district leaving a trail of dead dogs and mauled goats in its wake.
The strange incident of the Cobra that
sprung out of the wall is about as
close as we would ever like to be to “nature” on our tours we managed to catch
it on video so have a look at the link below.
Misty Mountain life is as good as ever.
The manager Sumesh has been on great form recently. For the past week every
meal time has featured a tomato on my plate. When I take my meal Sumesh comes
in to chat and watch and ensure that I eat the tomato. I questioned him on the
new meal with tomato policy and he said the reason was that he really enjoyed
watching me eat tomatos.
Yesterday whilst engrossed in computer
work in the Misty Mountain office I found myself subjected to a barrage of
assaults by paper. Sumesh stuffed bits of paper down the back of my t-shirt
whilst tickling my neck. I was also made a dunces hat, which was crowned upon
my head as I sat in the office chair trying to maintain a business minded
composure.
