Great Arc Of India - January 2009

A month to go and all the Rally is beginning to falling into place. My trip last month to meet up with Rod and Jim inevitable ended up changing the route as with each day now has a minimum of four days research, it is inevitable changes, and for creation of better driving days, will follow.

Some area it is near impossible to find a road worth running, to our camp site in Hampi is one. But after a week’s work it has been done and a great collection of roads has been joined together to get us onto the bank of the Tungabhadra River. This is a stunning location looking up river to the ruins of Hampi. This is Rod top choice of camp.

(One of the Great Arc Bench March Stones)

It is a long day from Mysore to Hampi but it is a great 500km drive on good to great roads, finishing in a fantastic location. Driving does not get any better than this.

Except the drive from Bhopal to Oachha, or even better the drive from Bharatpur to Kesroli. Rod top drive is Nagpur to Pachmari. I have added in Gwalior as the rural drive from Oachha to Datia takes up most of the day, worth it, before running into Gwalior. On top of the drive, the Usha Kiran Palace hotel is, I understand, India finest Palace hotel?

(Usha Kiran Palace Hotel, Gwalior)

For me the Kaddam Dam camp setting is India’s Kipling. It is as near as perfect a camp setting you can find. I expect to see Shere Khan and Bagheera at the water hole. And why not Mowgli?

One day which has been on our mines for some time is the first Rally day KanyaKumari to Palani. Rod and Jim have already spent a week on this day eventually stitching a rural route together on reasonable roads. It is long, 8 / 10 hrs, 400km. A pretty drive, but late into camp which has concerns for me.

But Jim has just returned to Cochin from a seven days route ‘checking’ survey and assures he has found ‘the perfect drive’. Jim is being insistent this ‘drive’ must be included. It’s a pity as it will exclude KanyaKumair, but the ‘drive’ is the number one stimulus for the rally and must come above sentimentality. I know the drive Jim refers to and have driven part of the route before, but not for 10 years, so for me the drive is a little bit cloudy. I am flying out Thursday for a week as there are a number of issues to deal with and I will drive this route myself and then make a decision.

(Jim, Rod, chi and a map)

As with last year the press have taken an interest. I enclose an article from The Hindu with ‘Brod’ and the ‘Gentleman Adventure’! (Tracy can we add in article as a web connection to click on to?)

I have taken the liberty of informing Leah the Rally will have about £10,000 surplus to contribute towards the new hospital. It is off course your money but I trust there is no problem in making this contribution to Leah.

I visited the clinic and meet with ladies who have benefitted from the work of Leah and Usha. It was a Sunday but they all made the time to open the clinic and meet with me. It was very pleasant and humble experience.

Leah will be joining us at Kaddam Dam campsite to thank you all personally for your contribution to making the new hospital possible.

At our first camp at Palani Hills Kawaljeet Singh has kindly offered to toast our first camp night with a taste of his Banyan Wines. The wines are New World in character, offering five differing styles. I am sure you will not be disappointed and Kawaljeet will take order for the other camps. www.bigbanyanwines.com

Once we reach Mussoorie the experience of the Great Arc is not over. There is no better place to finish than at the home of George Everest.

Hathipaon, with the views of the great India plan to the south and the mighty peaks to the Himalayas to the north, has the finest setting of any house on this small earth. It is truly surreal and you can see how Everest could only have ever been contentment working away to understand his life’s work, The Great Arc of the Meridian.

And a few words on Japan.

The web site should be up and running by the month end. The provisional route has been finished which has added a few more days. I can e-mail this to anyone who wants to study, and please do comment at this early stage. I am happy entries are being received in such a short time. I will be out in April driving Sakurajima Island to Hokkaido Island. More to follow.

Conrad Birch

Great Arc Headquarters England.