Ufff! It has been a really long time, isn’t it? My last post was written on the 8th of march. Almost 45 days. So much has happened during this time span. So much has changed. But in this blog I’ll write about what happened this morning. I'll talk more about the other life changes in the following blog posts.
I’ve been cycling for quite some time now. I usually just take my cycle to a 2 KM walking track nearby and do laps or take it to another town that is close by (a round trip of 13 KMs).
For a really long time I’ve been wanting to cycle to this place called Ukkadam which is kind of like the heart of Coimbatore city. A round trip to Ukkadam from my place should be around 20 KMs. For some reason this seemed like a big deal for me. I just kept delaying this trip again and again.
Like I said before, things are changing in my life. A lot of these changes are mainly routine based. One such change was the idea of waking up in the morning. I’ve been doing that for the last three days. Haven't joined the 5 AM club yet! But I somehow managed to get myself out of bed by 6 or 7.
Since today is a Saturday and I have no classes I thought this would be the right time for doing the Ukkadam ride.
So, I set an alarm for 5. Didn't wake up!
But I woke up again at 6.30 (without an alarm)! Set an alarm at 7, slept and woke up again!
Having completed my morning obligations, I put on a black workout top and a track pant, filled up the water bottle, took the earphones, some cash and got out of the house at 7.30!
I ride a rockrider by the way!
I got on the cycle. The next thing to do was select an appropriate playlist!
There is this weird habit that I have. I like to listen to songs from languages I don't know. Songs from completely different countries/cultures.
The first playlist I picked up was Nancy Ajram’s. She sings in Arabic and I used to listen to her when I was a kid. She is a bomb!
Just like that I rode for 3 KMs or something. The route had this major slope.
Enjoyed my way riding downhill!
I Chose this route mainly for that slope!
After that the next KM had another slight slope and I had to go uphill.
Uphill on a gearless cycle is totally messed up! But I managed.
Probably five KMs into the ride, It was time to change the playlist.
While thinking about what to hear next, for some reason, my mind went all “Russian, Russian, Russian”!
So I typed “Russian” on the search bar and played the first artist that showed up. The track sounded more like those Japanese Anime metal rocks. I liked it though.
I was lost in my mind to this random Russian song and out of nowhere I was driving in the middle of traffic. I was crossing the Karumbukadai signal, from where the over bridge construction begins.
That place was totally crowded with all sorts of vehicles! The roads near the construction site were not great either.
Slowly cruising through the traffic I reached that small raised road adjoining the Valankulam lake.
This road was initially constructed with tiles instead of tar, meant only for two wheelers. There was this incident during the monsoon where the two wheelers started slipping off due water on the tiles. After that, they had it changed to tar!
The entire traffic was directed on this road (including cars).
The road began with a steep slope. I had to unmount and push the cycle upward for a good 30m or something. Later on it is plain terrain that runs along the lake for a good distance.
This was the first time I cruised that slowly on that road. I tried observing the lake which happens to be one among the many destinations for birds across the world. I did find so many huge dead fishes floating along the shore. I don't know why they were dead, or why the fishermen were not picking them up. That definitely got me curious.
Before I knew it, I got off that road and off the traffic.
And, Eureka! I made it to ukkadam!
It was a 10 KMs ride. I checked the time it said 8.15!
I went “Whaaat??”! That’s all!
I had it totally overrated in my mind all this while!
I didn't even want to celebrate. It felt very normal, like a silly little accomplishment.
Didn't even stop for water, I continued along the park, on my way back home on a different route.
About 2 KMs later I stopped for juice. Sadly it was “too early” for making fresh juices, so I had coffee instead! That was a good coffee.
When it was time to hit the road, I wanted to change the playlist again!
This time for some reason I went with The Beatles! I’ve heard about them and I’ve seen fans go all crazy over the Beatles but never really listened to any of their songs.
And, Oh Dear, all that hype was not for nothing. I was done with the next 5KMs stretch in no time!
The last 2 KMs before home was that walking track that I mentioned earlier (my usual cycling route). It was finally when I reached there, I felt extremely satisfied. I was glad I did this. And I’ll definitely do it again. Maybe I’ll do this instead of my daily route. It took an hour and a half. That's all!
I finally wanted to celebrate. So I thought of listening to songs that I knew. In fact, I did an extra KM just so that I could listen to another favorite song of mine.
The songs were “Oh eesa” and “Un mela aasadhaan” from Aayirathila Oruvan; “Kuru Kuru” from Vathikuchi; “Vaanam Ellai” from Unnaipol Oruvan.
And I was Back home.
Took a cold shower, got dressed and sat on the couch.
After a few Youtube videos, I had this strange feeling!
I was feeling restless and wanted to do something productive!
But I didn't know what to do!
Looked through the bookshelf, read almost all of the interesting ones. Then I was like “What about writing a blog?”.
Usually it would’ve taken me a long time to get myself off the couch to pick up the laptop. But this time, it was rather quick!
And here I am 90 mins later still writing this post!
I am glad and grateful that I got to spend two sets of 90 mins today, doing something that makes me happy in the end.
End of the day, Isn't that what matters!?!