Wednesday 24th November

Up at 0530, breakfast at 0630. The hotel locked the gates until we had all paid! A briefing was held and we then set off on our journey at 0845. Through busy highways, cross nightmare roundabouts where nobody gives way to anyone else and an unexpected closed road that caused a diversion that sent us all miles out of our way and cause havoc with the navigation. The team rounded us all up and 20 ambassadors parked outside a snack shack for much needed refreshments!

Navigation is getting easier now but discovered a new road hazard as we entered an industrial area. We came across an iron ore plant with up to 100 trucks queuing to get in. I say queuing as some decided they were to impatient to wait and thought overtaking on our side of the road was the thing to do! These were followed by cars and buses who thought it would be good to overtake on our nearside! Total chaos! We finally got out of there and settled in to driving on some country roads before a second Chai stop. After leaving there we we left the highway, under a flooded bridge and onto an unmade road!

We all stopped for the first photo of a working elephant and also sighted a monkey crossing the road. Our route then tok us through a spectacular jungle area before descending to leave Goa state (after encountering the border guards) and on into karnatka to the Lotus Resort. Arrived at 1530, all parked up with our first 175km behind us. Diner and then early to bed for another 0530 start with 256km ahead of us.