Saputara to Pune

Today was a great day! Last night we got a full night of sleep (my first since arriving in India) and were on the road at 7:00. Sometime during the night another team showed up at our hotel - so we weren't the only crazies to climb that hill. This morning, though, yesterdays challenges paid off. We watched the sin rise over a lake, then weaved our way down the mountain with amazing vistas.

We bought a bag full of fresh strawberries from the roadside and ate them all day long. My hands and lips were stained red. They were the best strawberries I have ever had.

For nearly 70km we drove through vineyards, and passed several wineries. It was only 9am or we would have stopped. Doesn't it look like Arizona?!

Tackled 296km today, of smooth driving. Staying at a Courtyard Marriott in Pune. It seems so fancy! The staff speaks very good English and they all think we are pretty crazy. Unfortunately, it is a dry hotel so no beers which is a bummer after a long, hot, dirty day.

We are staying in Pune for two nights so that tomorrow we can take the rickshaw in for service. Conveniently, our hotel is less than 1km from the manufacturer of the tuk-tuk, so we should have no problem making her purr after tomorrow! Looking forward to relaxing a little bit and getting some vacation out of this vacation! We hope our next stop will be Kolhapur which is 267km south, then we will head west to the coast and enjoy beach life for the rest of the drive to Cochin.