Tuesday 22nd April 2025

And so to Tuesday, where we should have gone birding. Instead we were to head back to the plain, some four days early to Jim Corbett Park, where we would have seven safaris instead of four. But one a day for three days.

This is because the wardens have closed the hides we were going to spend three days in and around, due to birders putting out seed to bring more birds in.

So, no point staying if we can't use the hides, as twitching on the side of the main road is very dangerous.

We had another lay in, packed then had breakfast at eight, with wheels at nine, but before we headed down the mountain, we would do some twitching somewhere quieter.

Another valley road, steep, but less used was our base, once we had negotiated our way out of the town.

We spent an hour, and while they twitched I did some lite botany, because there were few flowers between the piles of rubbish.

Then back on the bus, back through the town, and down the steep twisty road to the plain far below.

It is a crazy road, rather similar to the Amalfi Coast road in width, but this is steep, with few barriers and drops of a couple of thousand feet from the top.

Overtaking lorries and scooters on the way down, round hairpins past cafes on stilts all serving Coke and chips.

Down and down and down.

Then into the madness of the town at the bottom, with two sharp right turns to take us to Corbett, we did not stop at the give way lines or roundabout, just carried on with horn blazing and people got out of our way.

Just.

Then through countryside, overtaking in the same manner, so dangerous at times, i closed my eyes and tried to black out the situation.

We arrived at ten to two, after we had stopped at the underwhelming Corbett Falls.

Forms filled in, bags unloaded, we were shown to our rooms, then to the restaurant where there was just time for lunch.

There was curry.

Which was eaten in a large rustic thatched space, and all rather pleasant.

And once lunch had been eaten, we had the rest of the day of free time.

Nothing planned.

So I caught up on the blog and editing shots, listened to a podcast before falling asleep.

Jools, meanwhile, went swimming in the complex's pool.

We clicked our heels until eight, at which point it was time to eat again.

More curry.