Author: Candy Goodchild

Thankfully EasyJet don’t do long-haul flights… so we got food! There were no Michelin stars in sight, but I was hungry and so this was a very welcome sight.

After a brief stop-over at Muscat we then were back on to the plane destined for Bangalore.

We meet up with the rest of the RideIndia2016 team in Bangalore today then board a coach to drive south-west, heading towards the city that once stood at the heart of the regal state of Mysore. Famed for its silk and sandalwood and home to the magnificent Maharaja’s Palace, Mysore today is one of India’s most popular tourist destinations.

On arrival we should have some time to take a look around the palace and the nearby Devaraja Market. Designed by Henry Irwin and completed in 1912, the palace is one of the largest in India and was built for the 24th Wadiyar raja on the site of the original wooden structure that was destroyed by fire in 1897. A rich fusion of Hindu and British architecture, the palace is a fascinating mix of the elegant and the gaudy, with mirrored halls, beautifully carved doors and mosaic floors sharing space with vividly painted pillars and wonderfully ornate furnishings.

No cycling today, but we’ll be getting our bikes set-up, fitting the saddles and pedals that we’ve been training with, so that we’re ready for the off tomorrow.

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Just to remind you – somewhere on this page is a place you can sign up to get updates by email – I’ll try to keep you posted each day and include a few photos whenever I can.

The moment arrived…

After a rather emotional school run this morning, having to say “goodbye” to the boys at the school gate, it was time to rush back and give Chris his final instructions on how to run the home in my absence!

By 11:00 we were ready and pacing about the house with nervous anticipation. Finally the clock clicked round to 11:20 so we set off for Benenden. At 11:45 this morning I boarded the coach at Benenden School with Nich, Di and Ed, and we headed off on our adventure.

We’re currently at Heathrow Airport and we’ll soon be catching our flight to Muscat, Oman, where we’ll stopping off for a couple of hours before catching the onward flight to Bangalore.

As they say, “Onwards and upwards!” See you on the other side, WiFi permitting.

It’s not long now….

P.s. Don’t forget – somewhere on this page is a place you can sign up to get updates by email – I’ll try to keep you posted and include a few photos whenever I can.

Oh gosh… the time is almost upon us, in a couple of days the RideIndia2016 team take to the skies… and then a couple of days later, in much warmer temperatures than we’re experiencing here in the UK, we start the really hard work of cycling back-to-back days for almost two weeks… Gulp!

A couple of days ago I received this card in the post from the El Shaddai UK office to wish me well as we embark upon our Indian adventure.

The inscription came with an amusing caution;

“Take care – remember there are no rules of the road – except don’t hit a cow!“

Thank you to everyone that has sponsored me thus far. I’ve already reached my initial target of £1000, and that’s not including some of the cash I’ve yet to collect from people that have promised to donate off-line. If you’ve not done so yet, or even if you want to again, you can make your donation to El Shaddai and Bereaved Parent Support at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CandyG. Remember, if you are a UK taxpayer, you can gift-aid it too.