Reunited with Penny

Yesterday was reuniting day. We saw Penny the day before as we got to the Cinderella Hotel in the dark after a long days travel from the Sunderbans.

We both rose early so we could get down to the car park for some pictures before the crowds arrived. The cars were all decorated with flowers and little pray wheels and statutes.

After breakfast it was tinkering time ready for a shake down drive to calibrate our tripmeters then up into the foothills to visit a small school before lunch in a park with some local dance performances.

Our departure was slightly delayed due to when we went to drive off we found that our Clutch plate had stuck to the Flywheel. Alistair gave me some very helpful advice in getting it unstuck and we were of into the traffic mayhem. It was so great to be back driving Penny and been in the chaos with all the bikes, trucks, tuk tuk, rickshaws and then dodging the cows that sleep in the middle of the road and everyone just drive around it till it shifts.

After returning from lunch we had time for a quick shower before ducking to a local shop to collect my Kurta (see the photo so you understand what it is) that we had ordered the previous evening and we had to wait for it to be made to measure. Then we all boarded a bus to take us to the train station.

As Adrian Shooter is involved in some of this rally he had arranged for a stream train ride up to Rongtang Station on the 2-foot gauge railway track to Darjeeling. While we waited about an hour at the station for the track to clear of other trains, before our departure could take place we walked down to the engine shed to see the engines being prepared for our journey. This walk took us past some of the many homeless in India that call the station yards home. As soon as we boarded the train we where served of dinner and drinks while we travelled across the flat to Sukna station at the foot hills of the mountains to take on more coal and water for the climb up the hills. It was went the train started the hill climb that we got that great sound of a Steam engine really working hard, and at times with the speed getting down to not much more then walking pace it was really working. Our steam engine also appeared to have no spark arrestor in the Stack as the harder it worked the greater the fire works show was with hot sparked being sprayed 10 -15 meters in to the air. Just as well the forest is green and lush.

About ¾ of the way to the top our steam engine stopped being a steam engine and became a big blue hot water system with no Choof Choof .

Luckily our buses for the return journey were close by so we disembarked the train and boarded the buses when the decision was made that the engine was not going to make it that night.

Today was the start of the driving proper. So after all the cars were blessed we departed for the climb up to Darjeeling for our overnight stop. The climb to Darjeeling took us through acres and acres of tea plantations and around countless bends. At one stage we travel along a ridge top that forms the border between India and Nepal with the border only marked by white posts, so Julie and I walked over and crossed in to Nepal so the she can say she has been to Nepal.

We made several stops in villages en route with this invariably causing traffic chaos as the crowds gathered around the cars to take photos and look at something that is rarely seen in this neighbourhood. In some of these towns the locals play a gambling dice game on the street. It caused great excitement when I decided to have a couple of wagers and even more excitement whenever I won. After making a small donation it was time to continue on to Darjeeling.

When we arrive in Darjeeling I didn’t think you could have a town on such steep hills. We where greeted at a very old hotel called the Windamere which served a great lunch for us all.

I decided to write for my blog after lunch so as not to get to far behind as its always very difficult to catch up.

Just got the photos to do then post it after Dinner tonight

Taking a break from getting the blog together I went and checked Penny over followed with a walk down the street to check out the local retail therapy.

The Windamere is a very quaint colonial hotel. When I returned from the shopping trip it was getting very cool, only to find a great coal fire in the fireplace so very snug and romantic indeed. While at dinner the turn down service had been around and everyone’s bed had a hot water bottle in it.

So till next time this is Max and Penny signing off. Read Julies blog to experience the trip through her eyes.