Our day to Ambala went well. The distance was about 85km and when the team worked together very well. We arrived at the outskirts of the town to be greeted by many of the locals. We rode with them to their church. The beautiful cathedral that once stood there had been bombed many years ago and while the majestic remains are still a photographers dream, the local church folk now meet in the parsonage nearby.
After stopping for more tea and something to eat, we sang a few songs and then headed off with an even larger group of cyclists towards Philadelphia Hospital. Around 8km later we pulled into the gates and immediately the young guys started chanting some of the slogans that they had been using on the journey about Caring for the Girl Child and singing very loudly. A miracle had occured. These guys who were feeling very tired and sore were suddenly very energetic. We think it might have had something to do with the 200 or so nurses who came out to greet us.
We spent some time relaxing before bedding down in some disused wards. The terrible pity is that this once grand hospital is no longer used to anything near it’s full potential. Many areas are now run down and it will take a real effort to get things back to full working order.
The next morning we again had a ceremony with an item by the hospital choir and a few more songs and speeches. We then saddled up for the ride to Chandigarh. At around 50km, it was a shorter ride than the previous days. Arriving at the outskirts we were then led through the city the long way to the YMCA. That gave us the opportunity to see the beauty of the city.
Arriving at Chandigarh was a wonderful experience, knowing that we had completed our main journey. We had just one day left to ride and that would be within Chandigarh itself.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
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