All about the change
Finally, 9:15 PM Friday night. All set for a completely new experience. I was there at the starting location to board the bus. 2 hours before time so that my mind does not wander anymore. The 2 hours at the location waiting to board the bus I was reflecting on the journey so far.
I am the same person who once questioned the whole concept of going for the trek to Aravalli’s as a part of the induction program during B.tech. I did it because I was asked to. Even after reaching the top I don’t remember the state of mind I was in. It felt like okay, this was a task to be done and I have done it. Nothing more than this. Consecutive years more treks to the same Aravalli’s were organized. But, I preferred sleeping over getting up and ascending the Aravalli’s. As a result, while my batch-mates might have gone for more treks to the Aravalli’s I did not. Mridu, shall we go? No, you go. I’ll sleep. I don’t have the count of how many times I might have uttered the same sentence. There was no drive to go for it. As a result, I did not. Who doesn’t like the routine, safe and comfort zone?
How people lead there lives is inspiring. Fortunately, the ones I am surrounded with are amazing. Concept was simple
Go, meet people. Instead of call people, ask, form the same group and Go.
As a result of all of this. Willingly for the first time registered for a one-day trek.Of easy difficulty level. Nandi Durga. Met new people. Introductions and the random question. Who Inspired? Yes, I had a story to tell referencing from college. The first trek out of willingness and I didn’t even know how it is done. I went just like that. Breathlessness after just a few steps. Slowest amongst all of them. Yes, the tortoise. What accompanied was an embarrassment. All throughout with no doubt, it was Chetan’s encouragement. That it got completed. Did I know him from before? Did I ask for help? No. Random musings in the head still had their role to play. Why am I doing, What I am doing?
But this time, only if this embarrassment could stop me from going to the next!
Scrolling through the Facebook wall. Sponsored Ad about an All Women Cycling Ride. Allasandra Lake to Nrityagram. Further search. Came to know that this Allasandra Lake is around 22 km far of from my location. Total distance to be traveled is 46km and I don’t ride daily, have no stamina. Yes, tortoise here as well. Unfortunately, while everyone else had a gear cycle. I was struggling with no gear cycle. It was here for the first time that happiness of completing was more than the hurdles on the journey. Best organizers, best team. All 13 of us making it through. The decision for more cycling came from here.
Experience of the first ride was so amazing. That I came across the next event. 80 km ride to Bidadi. The start location still wasn’t near to my place. Still, I thought. Let’s give this a shot. All of a sudden the group changed. The first experience was with newbie’s, they were doing it for fun. This one was a more challenging one, each of them had the most expensive cycle, almost all accessories in place. Frequent riders. Yes, slow tortoise. Or rather I must say the slowest. Managed to do it for seeing the Manchanabele dam. On our way back both legs had cramps. Don’t know for what reason my hands were shivering. Complete journey Sagar was riding beside me. How is it to be done? When to stop? Tired. Coconut water. Give it a shot again. While the mind and body were playing there role. We were late than our expected time. Each of us exhausted yet happy. One guy from the group said “Hey, we are coming. We are late because we have a woman in our group”. It did hit me hard. Most challenging and embarrassment was at a different level here. Why am I doing, What I am doing?
But this time, only if this embarrassment could stop me from going to the next!
Wall Climbing was a failure of a different kind. There is a separate write-up on that. Warm-up got screwed up. All I could do completely do was a ladder climb. Each of us had 3 chances. The first attempt, I reached a decent height.
Next time reached a point below the first one. Third and the last attempt. I could only place my foot on the lowest. Moved ahead for the next. Cramp in one leg. And I am down. Removing the harness. I sat down. It was Nishant here.
Nishant: Mridu, what happened?
Me: Nothing, cramp in the leg.
Nishant: So, that’s why you are sitting?
Me: Yes
Nishant: It is just one. Get up and go keep the mattress inside.
To my own surprise. I was able to do that. It was just a cramp. Nothing so severe that I should have stopped.
2 rides. I was the aware the road ahead is not easy. 2–3 more rides. Hessarghatta Lake, 60 km. By then I had fed in my head. Leave everything else. Do it. Sagar is one of the organizers. All the rides were learnings more. I had figured out whom to hear to and whom I have to listen to. Bidadi was a struggle, the next hessarghatta was also challenging. Yes, tortoise. Again, there was a ride to hessarghatta. Registered. It was this ride were Sagar who was there on all the journey’s he said. Mridu, I think your stamina and speed has improved. One of those moments when I wanted to shout at top of my voice and do a Yes.
Speed with respect to my own previous.
June- August mid. I could not go for any of the outdoor things or any other activity as well. To make things memorable. Click, Book Now. First-time weekend trek Kodachadri. Register.
This was actually a trek. Moderate difficulty level. Nature from so close for the first time. I crossed the forest, saw the 60 ft waterfall, throughout heard noise of the water flowing from the mountains. Climbed steep slopes. Walked on a broad tree trunk to cross a path.
Around 16km of the trek. There was never a moment when I felt breathless, I cannot do it. Didn’t strike me. All I was doing was applying the learnings.
Learnings when the peak looked intimidating to me, some learnings from Chetan who told me on the first trek. Descend this way otherwise, you’ll fall on your face.
Hours-long trek. At no point I felt like this cannot be done. Peaks don’t even have the facility of coconut water. Which I had while on the rides.
Standing at the peak, living it. Reflecting on the journey.
All the proud self-wanted to do was!
Shout out. Yes!
When purpose behind doing something is bigger, embarrassments cannot stop!
