This week’s on this day post comes from the 23rd-December-2011, and I’m in India. And just for a change, I’m in a bad mood, which, on this occasion, was perfectly justified, I think.
Friday 23rd December 2011 Baharagora to Bagnan. 92 miles.
I wasn’t in a good mood this morning after being charged a thousand rupees for last night’s accommodation! Five hundred rupees would have been too much! And it was still playing on my mind this morning, winding me up!
When I left the hotel/building site, the owner or the man who had charged me the extortionate rate for my room and another man were there to see me off. The man who I hadn’t seen before shook my hand, as does everybody in India! Then Mr Ripoff went to shake my hand. I completely blanked him and left! I wanted him to know that I wasn’t happy.
My mood didn’t get any better! The road was still a nightmare, and so were the trucks! They never gave me any room, and I’m sure they were deliberately trying to drive as close to me as possible! After I started shouting and swearing at them! I decided it was probably best to take a break. I was getting too wound up. It wasn’t good for my blood pressure!
As I sat at the roadside café talking to some locals, my bad mood started to lift! And I began to forget about the tosser who had ripped me off last night! It was definitely the right move to have a break when I did. Even the roads started to improve shortly after!
I should be in Calcutta tomorrow. I’ve only got about thirty miles to cycle, so hopefully, I’ll have found a nice hotel for Christmas by lunchtime. Although I am a bit worried, the doctor I went out for supper with the other evening said there is a big Christian community in Calcutta. Who will have their families visiting for Christmas. I hope the hotels won’t be full! Or it will be no room at the inn for Garry!
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