Greedy for a long run meant Saturday was used up in running the (training) FM. And a cricket match at my son’s training academy on Sun meant an extended time duration for cycling on Sunday. And so it was, a relaxed 73km ride to Hessarghatta in 3.5 hours. A nice active recovery from yesterday’s 42.25km run.
The weather on Sunday was wonderful, no semblance of heat all the way until 1:45pm. About fifteen kms from Palace grounds circle (the start point) close to Sambram institutions, towards Hesarghatta, you are in quiet territory.
Men and boys in white playing cricket in a open ground with spectators under the trees . Looks like a picturesque English village scene. Serene. Pass a village, where the houses are small, close & cosy. People are sitting outside their homes and chatting, enjoying a peaceful Sunday. A couple of weeks ago, I saw the same set of people busy lined up to collect the kerosene from the fair price shop. The young kids who are busy playing look up and wave. Dogs bask in the sun, puppies playful, and cocks strut on the road gracefully with the upturned tail. Cows on the road side, some chewing cud and swishing their tails, some stretched out peacefully with crows perched on their back moving their neck jerkily in all directions.
What a contrast from city-life – No TV, mobile, no to-do-cleaning/fixing jobs. Simple pleasures: sit outside, enjoy the breeze, chit-chat, laugh, play. Well that is what I perceive as a cyclist riding through the village. I am blissfully unaware of their challenges. And I am sure that they must be thinking similarly about me! Along the way, I see a fully grown goat held precariously by a pillion rider on a bike with each pair of legs jutting across the two sides of the bike. The goat bleats and the rider turns behind to check if the legs are touching the moving wheels. Well it is not, it is just held uncomfortably. Sad sight. The last few hours of life on earth and it is treated as a non-living entity.
Another village comes and I see the outcome. Two goat heads on the wooden plank in a butcher’s shop. Shortly one more head will be added. A similar sight of chickens cooped up in a cage transported on an old bumpy scooter. It is indeed sad to see that basic compassion, the humaneness has been lost. Consumerism has removed compassion. As the gentle breeze blows, the tall and majestic trees along the sides of the road sway quietly, as if nodding and welcoming me.
The mild sun filters through the leaves in little golden shafts. A mango research field on the right where different varieties are being cultivated. Legs rotate peacefully and it is time to do a U-turn. Retrace the route. The villagers are done with lunch and are in siesta, butcher’s shop is less crowded, and the cricket match is in the final stages. As I turn left on the IAF pipeline road, I am jolted back from the quiet reverie. Cars, bikes, horns, traffic lights, crowd. 73km done. A lovely active recovery ride.