Varkala beach resort

Hard to believe it was over three weeks ago, but our last day's cycling, having got off the boat at 7am,

was to the beach resort of Varkala. Roads were variable (for which read . . . from huge potholes to bone-shaking stones the size of your fist), and it was quite a long way alongside the Indian Ocean, which we didn't see much of due to a high sea wall.

We did see the local whitebait catch being liberated from their nets

And various boats on the inlet which we crossed on the ferry - Joseph and Rintu were expert at loading the bikes, having done it many times before

Other things glimpsed along the way included a lorry loaded with coir fibre, and this ancient bike, advertising a bike shop . I think the flower is a delicate hibiscus . . . 

Finally, after lunch, another chance to swim in the ocean and a hairy stop at a level crossing (free for all from a standing start, with us on bikes caught in the middle), we reached our final destination - a total of 500km cycled in 12 days.

L-R Bruce, Lorraine, Marcus, Anne, Hazel, Debs, Jackie, Dave, Me, Mike, Gunhilde & Helge, and in front - Rintu, Maneesh & Joseph. 

Next day we explored Varkala beach, which seems to be populated with Nepali people and hippies!

plus tourists, including Indian families 

The beach itself stretches for miles

With strange rock formations - a kind of mudstone with trapped white shells

Rubbish was an unfortunate feature - they just seemed to sweep it over the cliff - turned into an installation in this tree.

And Banksie had visited (or more likely, his imitator)

So we went for an early morning stroll and then spent the rest of the day in the pool by the hotel

 before our final meal together and a 4am flight home! 

All in all, quite an experience!