Kolkata to Kalimpong 2008 - John's Blog  

Wednesday, 6th February - Two days before departure for Kolkata, after a long period of storms and rain, the day dawned calm, bright and clear. The sun shone! it was the window of opportunity to compensate for the poverty of training, and off I went to tackle the 55 miles(88km) or so around Arran.

Heading north, from King's Cross, with the snow clad Arran mountains before me, Goatfell reigning supreme in the early sunshine, it was thrilling to think that in ten days time I would be struggling up the final climb to Kalimpong and Dr Graham's Homes. There we would be welcomed by the children and, mists permitting, be greeted by the eternally snow-clad peaks of the Himalayas and the magnificence of Kachenjunga. These thoughts encouraged me throughout the day( and into the early evening darkness!). I was also impressed having learned that the ten of us who were to cycle the 412 miles from Kolkata to Kalimpong in 7 days had already been promised around £20,000 in sponsorship, twice the amount planned for.

The ten consisted of 2 girls and 8 boys. Two were former students of Dr Graham's Homes and all of us would be tracing, in spirit, the road that many destitute children had traveled to the security of Dr Graham's Homes. Our party was a cross-section of many interests - we had a newly retired post-mistress, a very active midwife, a business consultant, an electrical business manager, a council worker, a building business manager, a retired sea captain, an investment manager, an architect and me, at 74, the father of the group. Everyone had agreed to pay all of their travel and subsistence expenses, in addition to raising at least £1000 and for some taking 10 days off work.

By 9pm on the 10th Feb. we had all assembled at the Host International "Hotel" and meeting for the first time over chapattis and beer we were more concerned by the bike lost in transit, as well as a badly buckled back wheel than about the 412 miles that were to confront us over the next seven days.

As was the case 2 years ago on the same trip, Prakash and Binod of Heat Flexi Holidays provided our escort team of about 15 personnel plus two escort jeeps, a truck, tents, field kitchen, food and drinks. All were of the highest standard and the cheerful and efficient service provided by each one could not have been better. Tea was brought to our tents in the morning, Hot(!) water was ready for washing, cooked breakfast followed and we were away at about 8am. Approximately every hour we at the roadside tea shops for refreshment and lunch was provided by the team at mid-day. The stops provided us with the opportunity to meet and mingle with the crowds that gathered to witness this strange group. Typically of all indian people there was a warm welcome, cheerful exchanges and passing friendships made, Tents were pitched and ready for our arrival in the evening - a blessed site indeed.

Michael Robertson, Chairman and President of the Dr Graham's Homes Board, flagged us off into the busy streets of Kolkata on the first morning. A later start than planned, two punctures, a tumble, and a total of 6 3miles resulted in our arrival at the camp site well after dark. Pot holes are difficult to negotiate in daylight, impossible after dark. It had been a good initiation.

There is no better way to experience a country than from the peace and serenity (and soreness) of a bicycle saddle. You can hear the sounds and the silences, and smell the smells of the towns and countryside. You can wave to and greet the people, enjoy, in our case, the company of fellow bikers all the time making progress and enjoying the exercise. India is so much more than the cacophony of Kolkata or the serenity of the Taj Mahal. India is based on a rural economy and the people live, for the most part, in villages. From our bikes we experience each day an ever-changing variety of agricultural pursuits and minor industry. Land was being prepared, paddy planted. Bullock carts, tractors, lorries, (and 10 cyclists) plies their way together along the road while parts of India's massive rail network was never far away.

On Day 4 we cycled about 1/2 a mile across the Ganges using the footpath alongside the road and rail bridges. This was the result of the building of the Farakha barrage which replaced the transshipment by ferry that we had known in the 70's. I longed for the excitement of the past when, at 2am, Jennifer and I with 3 young children charged across the sand in pursuit of our baggage to be reunited on the ferry with both boys and baggage.

Day 6 was anticipated with apprehension - over 80 miles - by far the longest day of the trip. The promise of a hotel, showers, bed at the end kept us going through the industrial sprawl of Siliguri kept us going. I felt that if the team completed this stretch, the shorter, if more arduous leg up the 4000ft of Himalayan foothills to Kalimpong would be within everyone's grasp. And so it proved. Two of the team cycled the whole route to Kalimpong! For the others, we pushed and puffed in varying degrees. Arriving last I was delighted to br there. Two years previously I had managed to cycle only 2 1/2 days out of the 7, On this occasion, 2 years older, I had, thanks to the constant attention of our traveling physiotherapist, Satish, cycled every bumpy mile of the way.

David Foning, the bursar, welcomed us in Siliguri and again on the outskirts of Kalimpong where the pipe band of the Scottish Universities Mission School led us through the main street (their slow tempo totally to my liking), the bazaar and so to the climb up the Murray Road to Dr Graham's Homes where staff, employees and children lined the route to the school compound. Fatigued and fulfilled - it had been worth every pot-hole.

We now know that over £30,000 has been raised for the work of Dr Graham's Homes among the less fortunate of God's family. This letter is to thank, with all my heart, those who contributed so generously. With warm blessings.

John Webster.