Day 4 - Mayabhunder - Spirit of Teamwork

 

Today’s 70KM ride was packed with halts at picnic spots enroute, to reach MayaBhunder.

Route is Rangat – halt at Morci dera – halt at Dhaninallah(mangrove walk) – Sea & Sand hotel at MayaBhunder (strava recording is not fully accurate).

Today’s morning walk treated us with hot crispy vadas, just like the ones I get at my hometown Madurai, Madurai vadas in Bengali town is possible at Andaman. We also met a Nicobari who impeccably imitates dog, sheep and many more farm animals entertaining the morning crowd at tea shop. Nicobaris are distinguishable, their features resembling Mongolian race and they carry special quotas for government jobs, regularly commuting to Andaman for work.

Dheeraj had arranged for surprise birthday cake to celebrate Ganesh’s birthday, an elite athlete, true GOAT. He was a different league in many ways, cruising the Andaman tour in road bike, ascending Kilimanjaro in three days, Mt. Meru in a day, this tour was to expand his experience to his son Semmal (also in roadie).

Route was very scenic, ride besides sea and lush greenery on the other side in well paved roads.

Morceidera our first halt was another unassuming picnic spot leading to simple joys. Stream of cool fresh water against dark rocks, joining the blue beaches amidst picturesque setting of swing hanging low from green tree, was hard to resist, everyone jumped in with their jerseys on. It must be experienced to get off the bike, drench in fresh water and join the sea.

Our next stop was at Dhaninallah mangrove walk that lead to another pristine beach, though we had to hurry up as it started to drizzle. Shruthi (volunteer) and Tanya (official photographer) treated us with bread and peanut butter to be prepared for rest of the journey.

Lunch was planned at Bengali school to ensure we had access to good rest rooms, they truly were well maintained for a small school. Lunch was very good & tasty, rice, dhal & curry at such remote places was divine, special thanks to Dheeraj to ensure that lunch was ready before we started our ride every day. Shy, unspoilt, unexplored young minds full of innocence just like the pristine beaches were soothing to experienced souls.

Bad roads that started off just before lunch point was to continue, thanks to recent rains. Ashwin had a fall suspecting a fracture in his left hand, X-ray was only possible at Mayabhunder. Shwetha too had a fall and shifted to support vehicle. My tire slipped more than twice in the roads, rather slushy muddy path with few patches of stones.

I lost the confidence to ride, as the slushy path didn’t seem to end rolling the bicycle was also not an option. Dr. Shailaja also shifted to support vehicle on the account of our slushy roads. I paused, washed off slush from my sandals with water from nearby homes, just to be coated with it in 5 mins. 

Chidu reduced the air pressure of my tyres, true saviour as I was able to ride comfortably then. He pumped up air again when roads were slightly better, alternating this helped as I thoroughly enjoyed rest of the off-road ride. Chidu rode with me all along, with 30 more KMs to go and roads not getting better, cheers from school students kept us going, it was mutual motivation. Enroute we were moved by gesture of petty shopkeeper’s cold milkshakes, much needed for the sunny ride.

Once we reached Mayabunder, we had 15 more KMs to reach our resort. Raj had warned about a steep ascend ahead; lemon juice prepared by our driver Biju energized me to brace the ascend. It was not just energizing but was tasting too good, impromptu preparation in a huge can with perfect balance of sourness, sweet and salt was divine. Dheeraj and support crew cheered on to complete the last mile. As always, the last 10-15 KMs just seem longgg, possibly because now mind, the prime motivator that kept the tired body moving on is also looking for the end point. Finally, I reached sea and sand resort before sunset.

Ashwin’s fracture was confirmed with an immediate call for surgery, Dheeraj and Dr.Shailaja helped him get a seat in private vehicle to reach port Blair from where he will fly to Chennai. Dr.Shailaja was almost a localite, having lived mostly in Andaman before shifting to Bangalore. She switched to volunteer role throughout the tour, supporting to get the X-ray taken at local government facilities.

She was doing the tour second time reliving her Andaman life & bike tour, with her daughter Shruti also part of crew as volunteer. Ashwin cheerful & bubbly as a kid (as Uma calls him) was quite positive, Uma and her son  Dharshan helped him to reschedule flight tickets and pack his bags.

Tomorrrow’s ride will be equally challenging, 93km with an elevation gain of 1000 meters, good roads only for first 40 kms. Uma was feverish and decided to drop from the next day’s ride. Dheeraj briefed that last year only half of the riders could continue post lunch, of which only 4 or 5 completed the whole ride. Being closer to east, we had full sun light by 5 am and it will be hot and humid by noon. Chiddu recommended leaving early with packed breakfast. I requested for an early start, to have enough time to finish the ride. Finally, this request was accommodated, to leave at 7 am instead of 8. 

However, the journey to accommodate an early start was not pleasant though. Like in a herd, the pace is determined by the slowest rider, amidst the elite riders, there were slow riders like myself. My request was to accommodate riders like me too, to complete the rides. It is not a feat if elite riders complete the tour, rather important to accommodate people without athletic background(just like me), for a testimony that anybody can join. This opens, encourages more people who don’t have the luxury of time, to still explore tourism in biking.

Teamwork is important, to be part of the herd, to follow the lead, without questioning. However, in the spirit of teamwork if we don’t reflect or review then we will never evolve, maintaining this balance is not easy but a key attribute of leader. I disagree with good friend (doctor) cyclist's view that all need to just follow the leader, in my view being open to feedback and criticism is much needed for any team to create an open environment, to share without repercussions. 

Our professions play a role here, can imagine in an operation theater the need to just follow the lead surgeon, no place to decide left or right. In my professional life, can quote many examples of failures/lessons learnt (small and even big ones), with people just following, no one questioning. It is unfortunate that this mind set still prevails, wherein critics are purely seen as whining people and not team players. Environment becomes controlled if views or points cannot be shared openly, wherever it is. Late in to the night, Pondy brothers and Dr.Shailaja helped us to reconsider our decision to quit the ride and leave to Port Blair.

Retrospectively, conflicts are unavoidable even with people of similar interests and affinities, experience plays a differentiating factor in dealing them. Approach to life by millennial is leaps and bounds different than how we(Gen X) started off, an open mind to leverage strengths of both is key for great team, be it cycling or otherwise.