Six enthusiasts on a bicycle expedition from Bhubaneswar to Puri to promote cycling and reading. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 25: A group of six enthusiasts embarked upon a journey from here to Puri on Sunday aiming to popularise cycling and reading.

The expedition titled ‘Travelling Tales’ saw the half a dozen participants cover 60-odd kilometres in six hours. The event was organised by city based social youth organisation Bakul Foundation that also runs a well-kept library.

Oxford Bookstore and Puri based Grassroutes, which runs rural tours throughout the year, were also associated with the event.

Led by Sujit Mahapatra, founder of Bakul Foundation and Akshaya Kumar Rautaray, store manager of Oxford bookstore, four youngsters joined the bicycle expedition that began at the break of dawn when a thin layer of fog still had the city in its cover.

Tomes from the foundation and the bookstore had already been sent to Puri, where a small book exhibition was organised.

“The trip has been named ‘Travelling Tales’ because the sheer purpose of the tales or the folklores is to travel. It passes on from region to region and from generation of generation. Many such endeavours have taken place in the past as well for several other causes and taking a cue from them, we have organised this one to promote reading and cycling,” Sujit said.

“While reading is required for a healthy mind, cycling makes sure you have a healthy body,” added Akshaya.

Grassroutes being a travel agency will be asking its customers to engage in reading. “A book bought from Oxford might land up in the hands of traveller in Puri, who in turn may decide it to gift to Bakul library,” said Sujit further adding on to his travelling tales philosophy.

The young guns accompanying them were mostly college goers and fresh graduates. They had little or no experience of undertaking such a long and exhausting trip.

“It would be fun. I am hoping, I will lose a few kilos in the process,” said Yash Agrawal, a 19-year-old engineering student. Then there were Partha and Debashish who were equally pumped up for the trip. Satyabhama was the only girl taking part.

Depending on the positives drawn from the trip, the organisers plan to introduce few innovative additions in the second edition of the expedition. “Certainly the participation will be bigger and may be we can make pit stops and conduct small storytelling sessions and distribute and collect books on your way,” said Sujit.