London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 87 – 22 November 2016
A Chance Meeting with Fellow Overlanders
Life on the road is full of unexpected encounters, and today provided one of the most memorable of our entire journey.
After enjoying another excellent breakfast at a restaurant near the Royal Palms Resort, we decided to spend the day exploring North Goa, particularly the famous beaches of Calangute and Baga.
With no rush and no strict timetable, we set off at a leisurely pace, enjoying the sunshine and relaxed Goan atmosphere.
Not far into our journey, however, something caught our attention.
Parked in the yard of a property beside the road was an old Mercedes campervan carrying German registration plates.
Naturally, this immediately sparked our curiosity.
Whenever overlanders see another overlander, there is an unspoken attraction.
We slowed down and took a closer look.
The campervan looked as though it had seen plenty of adventures. Its paintwork was weathered, it bore the scars of many miles on the road, and at first glance it almost appeared abandoned.
Curiosity got the better of us.
We parked Kontiki and walked over to investigate.
After knocking on the door, there was a brief silence.
A few moments later, the door opened and a young man appeared, rubbing his eyes and looking slightly bewildered.
It was obvious we had interrupted his sleep.
After introducing ourselves and explaining our own journey, his expression quickly changed from surprise to enthusiasm.
The universal language of travellers had once again worked its magic.
He introduced himself as Simon, from Munich, Germany.
As we chatted, we discovered that Simon and his travelling companion had been on the road for an astonishing 14 months.
Their vehicle was a 29-year-old Mercedes 209D campervan, which they had converted themselves.
Despite its battered appearance, it had carried them across thousands of miles and countless adventures.
The statistics were impressive.
They had already travelled approximately 56,000 miles during their journey.
Suddenly, their old campervan didn’t look battered at all.
It looked experienced.
With Simon’s permission, we took several photographs of the vehicle and exchanged stories from our respective adventures.
It was fascinating to compare notes.
Although our journeys had started in different countries and followed different routes, the experiences, challenges, friendships, and rewards of overland travel were remarkably similar.
Before we left, Simon mentioned that he and several other travellers planned to meet the following day at Agonda Beach, one of South Goa’s most beautiful and laid-back coastal destinations.
He invited us to join them.
The prospect of meeting more overlanders from around the world was too good to miss.
Without hesitation, we agreed.
After saying our goodbyes and wishing Simon safe travels, we continued north towards Goa’s famous beaches.
By late morning we arrived in Baga, one of the most popular beach destinations in Goa.
The atmosphere was vibrant and energetic.
Visitors from all over India and around the world filled the beach, enjoying the warm sunshine, golden sand, and clear waters of the Arabian Sea.
For once, there was no sightseeing schedule to follow and no destination to reach.
Today was simply about enjoying ourselves.
We spent the afternoon exactly as one should spend a day in Goa—swimming in the sea, enjoying a few cold drinks, sampling local snacks, and watching the world go by.
After nearly three months on the road, it felt wonderful to slow down and appreciate the moment.
As the sun began to set, the beachfront became even livelier.
The restaurants and beach shacks filled with visitors, music drifted across the sand, and the whole area came alive with the unique atmosphere that makes Goa so special.
For dinner, we chose one of Goa’s most famous beach restaurants—Brittos.
Located right on Baga Beach, it offered the perfect setting to end the day.
With the sound of the waves in the background and good food on the table, we reflected on another remarkable day.
A chance meeting with a German overlander.
Stories from distant roads.
A day of relaxation on one of India’s most famous beaches.
And tomorrow, another gathering of travellers awaited us at Agonda.
The journey was nearing its end, but the adventure was still very much alive.
Location: Baga and Calangute, Goa
Weather: Warm, sunny, and perfect beach weather
Highlights: Meeting Simon from Munich and discovering his remarkable 56,000-mile overland journey
Most memorable moment: Exploring the 29-year-old Mercedes 209D campervan that had travelled across continents
Interesting encounter: Invitation to meet fellow travellers at Agonda Beach
Places visited: Calangute Beach and Baga Beach
Dinner: Beachfront meal at Brittos Restaurant
Vehicle update: Kontiki continuing to perform well after recent repairs
Mood of the day: Relaxed, inspired, and enjoying the company of fellow adventurers
“Travellers may come from different countries, speak different languages, and drive different vehicles, but on the road they all share the same spirit of adventure.”
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki heads to Agonda Beach to meet an international gathering of overlanders before continuing the final chapter of our London-to-Mumbai road adventure.
