Day 6: Mon 10 Nov 25 - Mumbai to Kolad (Plus 9km to Rudra Resort)

Mon 10 Nov 25 - Mumbai to Kolad 

(Distance: 86.66km | Ride Time: 4.54 hours | Overnight: Kolad-Rudra Resort)

I was out of bed shorty after 4:00am, with all my gear packed and loaded onto the bus by 0530, ready for a short bike ride from the hotel to the boat harbour at the Gateway of India. Here we boarded a ferry for a 90 minute ride across the Arabian Sea to Mandwa Beach with bikes to start our tour to Goa. It was a beautiful clear morning riding through Mumbai in the early hours, but very hazy with a lot of air pollution across the bay at Mandwa. It also got very fresh on the boat on the way over. We stepped off the boat at 0735, and rode about one km before stopping again for breakfast (omelette and a couple bread rolls and hot tea). After breakfast we rode for 26 km before stopping again for morning tea - by now the temperature had climbed considerably, and the road became more undulating. The temperature reached a very hot 32 degrees today, combined with the hills, made for a more demanding ride that I expected on our first day. After a couple of more rest stops, including a light lunch, we eventually arrived at Rudra Resort, for our overnight stay about 9km past Kolad in the neighbouring hills. Myself, Simon and Simmo who were riding at the back of the pack also got to do a few extra hills and a few extra km's because we rode past the turnoff into the resort (along a backroad away from any town). Staff who were meant to be waiting at the turn-off to direct us in had walked away. Luckily we didn't go too much further, and the bus eventually came to collect us and our bikes. After checking into the resort, a refreshing cold shower and some washing was done, then I headed off to dinner in the restaurant with the group, and we all had another  excellent Indian meal. Tomorrow will be another early start and a challenging day in the saddle is expected with more hot weather and lots of hills.

Our Barge from Mumbai to Mandwa

Loading our bikes onto the barge

Loading our bikes onto the barge

Sunrise on the way across the Arabian Sea to Mandwa

Sunrise on the way across the Arabian Sea to Mandwa

Mandwa Beach

Mandwa Beach

Morning Tea stop

Young Fans...


Harvesting the rice


Lots of monkeys by the the roadside

Lunch Stop

The Kitchen

Mango Lassi - Very nice


Our Route today 9km past Kolad

Rudra Resort (Justa Hotel)



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