Here is as good as anywhere

Sundown, and I am in an Indian Version of the Hotel in the Shining. Its cavernous and very empty, of both guests and furnishings. Its a bit spooky.

I am the only guest, the first non Indian they have had. The staff are over enthusiastic, and keep knocking on the door to see if I want tea or coffee, or to bring me an air freshener, or to see if I want dinner. They then confirm by the phone.

Its just outside the Jim Corbett National Park. I was planning to stay in a Hill Station called Nainetal, but a combination of lack of road signs, Policemen giving wrong directions, and a completely inaccurate Tourist Road Atlas had bought me here.

I was on the road by 8.30. Alone. Denise had pulled out - feeling ill from the rafting and wanting to leave Nepal for when she had more time. I wasn't really surprised, it was a last minute decision for her to come, and although she is an adventurous girl, not all adventures are the right ones at the right time,

I was a bit disappointed; I was looking forward to some company, but I was also glad to be back by myself as well. The last few days of meeting and socialising with a lot of people had been quite tiring. It was just me, Amblis and my thoughts again. More than enough.

The roads were good and remarkably low on traffic. I made good time, well until Kashipur, where I must have taken a wrong turning.

For the next two hours or so, I vainly trolled up and down the same 30km of National Highway looking for signs, and asking people. All were different, conflicting, hard to understand. So I gave up, found a hotel, and stopped for the night. I didn't want to drive in the dark again.

I feel a bit frustrated with my inability to find the right road, but also accepting that here is as good as anywhere.

Tomorrow I try and cross the border to Nepal.