Day 28 - Ganpatipule to Devgad

A long difficult ride with lots of rolling hills today. The high temperatures make these days even more challenging. This coastal road is similar to riding down the Oregon coastal highway. There are expansive views of the ocean off and on.

18 riders total still.

This morning 4 riders are not riding, myself included.

1 rider was picked up before lunch.

7 riders stopped at lunch.

6 riders finished the ride today.

There are acres and acres of mango orchards and cashew orchards along the route today.

Devgad the area we are riding to is a small village in the state of Maharashtra and produces the world’s best Alphonso mango. The Alphonso mango is a named mango cultivar that originates from India. As of now, it is one of the world's mostly prized mangoes, known for its exquisite saffron-colored flesh and can be eaten raw or used extensively in dishes and desserts.

The variety is named after Afonso de Albuquerque, a distinguished militarian and viceroy of Portuguese India from 1509 to 1515. The Alphonso mango is a seasonal fruit harvested from mid-April through the end of June.^[2] The time from flowering to harvest is about 90 days, while the time from harvest to ripening is about 15 days.^[9] The fruits generally weigh between 150 and 300 grams (5.3 and 10.6 oz), have a rich, creamy, tender texture and delicate, non-fibrous, juicy pulp.^[10] As the fruit matures, the skin of an Alphonso mango turns golden-yellow with a tinge of red across the top of the fruit.

Mango trees along the road.

Goan cashews - India is the largest producer and exporter of cashew kernels in the world. Over 65 per cent of the world export of cashew kernels is accounted for by India. Indian cashews are consumed in as many as 60 countries all over the world, the major markets being the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Germany Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Middle East countries. The Indian cashew kernel is well acclaimed for its good quality, taste and appearance.

The Goan cashew refers to the variety of the cashew fruit grown in the Indian state of Goa, which is one of the major cashew-growing Indian states.^[1] In the entire state of Goa, the cashew crop spans approximately 55,302 hectares, yielding an estimated 27,070 tonnes annually.^[2] Goa Kaju or Goa Caju are variations of the same name.

Goa cashew is the state fruit of Goa and is a prized commercial horticulture crop.^[6] Its exceptional kernel quality and inherently organic plantations make it highly sought after.^[7]