London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 73 – 8 November 2016
Waiting for Parts and Reflecting on the Journey
Another glorious day dawned in Visakhapatnam.
The weather was perfect once again, with clear skies, warm sunshine, and a gentle sea breeze drifting in from the Bay of Bengal.
With Kontiki still undergoing repairs, there was no need for an early start.
We enjoyed a relaxed morning and a leisurely breakfast at the Waltair Club before deciding to walk over to the garage and check on progress.
After all, our faithful old motorhome had carried us nearly 14,000 miles across continents, and we were eager to see her back on the road.
When we arrived at the workshop, however, there was no sign of Ganesh.
His assistant was busy repairing another vehicle while Ganesh had gone in search of the remaining parts needed for Kontiki’s suspension repairs.
There was little we could do except wait.
Fortunately, waiting had become something we were rather good at by now.
So, in true Team Kontiki style, we put the kettle on.
Before long, tea was brewing, and the workshop had turned into our temporary living room.
The mechanics seemed amused by the sight of two travellers from England making themselves at home in their garage.
A couple of hours later, Ganesh finally returned carrying the much-awaited parts.
The sight of those parts instantly lifted our spirits.
Progress at last!
By then, we had already decided that nobody was going hungry.
Lunch had been prepared for everyone at the workshop.
As had happened a few days earlier, mechanics and travellers gathered together to enjoy a simple meal and share a few laughs.
Good food has a wonderful way of breaking down language barriers.
After lunch, however, another very important Indian tradition took place.
The afternoon siesta.
Both Ganesh and his assistant enjoyed a well-earned rest before beginning work again.
Ramesh and I could only smile.
There was no point rushing them.
The repairs would be completed when they were completed.
Once work finally resumed, we remained at the workshop throughout the afternoon.
Partly because we were genuinely interested in the repairs and partly because we wanted to make sure our mechanics were not distracted by other customers or jobs.
By now, we had developed complete confidence in Ganesh’s abilities.
The workshop might have looked basic, but his knowledge and experience were undeniable.
As the afternoon progressed, the rear suspension slowly began taking shape once again.
For the first time in several days, we felt genuinely optimistic.
If all went well, Kontiki could be back on her wheels by late tomorrow afternoon.
That thought alone was enough to brighten our day.
As evening approached, our friend Dr Ashok arrived at the workshop to check on progress.
By now, he had become almost as invested in Kontiki’s recovery as we were.
Rather than taking us out this evening, he decided to bring dinner to us.
A large takeaway meal was ordered for everyone.
To complete the occasion, he sent Ganesh’s assistant to buy a few beers.
Before long, the workshop had once again been transformed into a dining room.
Mechanics, travellers, and friends sat together eating, drinking, and laughing amongst spanners, jacks, and spare parts.
It was certainly one of the more unusual dining venues of our journey.
Eventually, after another enjoyable evening, Dr Ashok dropped us back at the Waltair Club.
As we settled down for the night, both Ramesh and I found ourselves reflecting on the incredible adventure we had undertaken.
It seemed only yesterday that family and friends had gathered at the cricket ground in Leicester to wish us farewell.
Back then, the journey ahead had seemed almost impossible.
Since then, we had crossed Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Myanmar, and much of India.
We had survived breakdowns, border crossings, language barriers, rough roads, and countless unexpected challenges.
Yet somehow, here we were.
Only a few weeks from Mumbai.
Only a few weeks from completing a dream.
Lying in bed that night, we realised just how far both we and Kontiki had come.
And with a little luck, tomorrow our faithful old motorhome would be ready to continue the final leg of the journey.
Location: Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh
Weather: Sunny, warm, and pleasant
Highlights: Suspension repairs finally moving forward after the arrival of parts
Most memorable moment: Sharing another workshop lunch and evening meal with Ganesh and his team
Vehicle update: Suspension rebuild underway and expected to be completed tomorrow
Special thanks: Dr Ashok for his continued support, hospitality, and generosity
Dinner: Takeaway meal and beers enjoyed at the workshop
Reflection of the day: Looking back on the day Team Kontiki left Leicester and how far the journey had progressed
Mood of the day: Hopeful, nostalgic, and excited to get back on the road
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki eagerly awaits the completion of Kontiki’s suspension repairs and prepares to resume the final stretch of our epic London-to-Mumbai road adventure.
