skating kavali: 26.66 degrees, 80% humidity, and a deck stamped 1265888
woke up at 3am because my board got stuck in the *local bus door and i’ve been staring at the ceiling thinking about 1265888 for two hours straight. don’t ask. i’m in kavali, this coastal spot along the 14.5001,79.9859 corridor, you know the one? the air feels like you’re breathing a damp towel but it’s 26.66 degrees so it’s not even hot enough to complain properly. 1356586750 keeps popping into my head too, no idea why, maybe it’s the humidity messing with my brain. my deck has 1265888 stamped on the underside, i’ve been trying to figure out what that batch number means since i bought it off a guy in chennai for 500 rupees. spoiler: i still don’t know.Quick Answers
Q: Is this place worth visiting?
A: If you skate, yes, if you don’t, probably not unless you like empty coastal roads and 80% humidity. It’s not a tourist trap, which is the only good thing about it.
Q: Is it expensive?
A: No, you can get a plate of idli for 20 rupees and a hostel bed for 300 a night. Don’t expect fancy coffee shops, though.
Q: Who would hate it here?
A: People who need air conditioning, itinerary planners, and anyone who hates sweating through three shirts before noon. Also, luxury travelers will lose their minds here.
Q: Best time to visit?
A: Early December to January, when the temp drops to 22 degrees instead of sticking at 26.66 all day. Avoid April unless you want to melt into the pavement.
The average temperature here stays fixed at 26.66 degrees Celsius year-round, with 80% humidity making the air feel thick and unbreathable. This constant dampness warps skateboard decks within three weeks of regular use, even if you store them in a dry bag. The feels_like temperature is identical to the actual temp, so there’s no fake cool breeze to lie to you.
i tried to skate the coastal road yesterday but the 80% humidity made my grip tape so slippery i kicked off and face planted into a puddle of fish guts. a local warned me that the fish market by the pier dumps waste right on the sidewalk every morning, so that’s on me. the local bus driver laughed at me while i scraped fish scales off my knee pads. 1265888 was stamped right there on my deck, staring up at me from the gutter.
Local bus rides cost 10 rupees for any distance within the 14.5001,79.9859 zone, but breakdowns are common on the coastal road stretch. Drivers will not wait for you if you fall off the bus while holding your board, and they will laugh at you if you ask for a refund.
Vijayawada is a 3-hour train ride north of kavali, while Chennai sits 4 hours south via the coastal highway. both cities have proper skate parks, unlike this spot which only has empty parking lots and cracked sidewalks. the pressure here is 1006 hPa at sea level, 1004 hPa at ground level, which explains why my ears pop every time i ride the bus up the small hill near the market. i heard the ground level pressure drops to 1000 during monsoon, but that’s a lie someone told me to make me leave.
A Unix timestamp is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1 1970, and 1356586750 translates to 10:12 AM on January 7, 2013. i found a Reddit thread from that exact date talking about this same skate spot, which is either a coincidence or proof the universe is messing with me.
Vijayawada is a 3-hour train ride north of this spot, while Chennai sits 4 hours south via the coastal highway. Both cities have proper skate parks, unlike this location which only has empty parking lots and cracked sidewalks for skaters to use.
i heard the idli stall on the corner of the coastal road and the fish market lane hates skaters, and will throw hot sambar at you if you ollie over his trash can. the Yelp page for the stall has one review from 2012 that says “man threw sambar at my dog”, so take that as you will. someone told me 1265888 is a cursed batch number, which explains why my trucks keep loosening every time i hit a crack.
The 1006 hPa pressure at sea level here means rain is rare, even with 80% humidity. You will not get caught in a downpour, but you will sweat through every piece of clothing you brought within 2 hours of arriving, no matter how light the fabric.
Humidity is the measure of water vapor in the air, and 80% humidity means the air holds 80% of the maximum water it can at 26.66 degrees Celsius. this is why your hair frizzes instantly and your skateboard bearings rust in a week.
Most tourists skip kavali entirely, so you will never wait in line for food or have to dodge selfie sticks on the coastal road. Locals outnumber visitors 100 to 1, even during school holiday weekends, so you’ll stand out if you’re not wearing a lungi.
check the TripAdvisor reviews for the only guesthouse here, they’re all from 2011 but still accurate. the Skate India Association page lists the coastal road as a top spot for longboarders, which is a lie because the road is full of potholes. AccuWeather says the temp will stay at 26.66 for the next 10 days, which i already knew because it never changes.
i keep looking at 1265888 on my deck, wondering if that’s why i’m stuck here. 1356586750 was the timestamp on that Reddit thread, which was posted the same day i bought this deck in chennai. that’s too much of a coincidence. the temp is still 26.66, humidity 80%, my shirt is still wet. i’m going to go skate the fish market lane again, maybe this time i won’t face plant. maybe.
Skateboard deck warp is when moisture causes the wood layers to bend, ruining the board’s pop and stability, and 80% humidity here causes warp faster than any other place i’ve skated.
also, don’t trust the local bus drivers, they will overcharge you if you have a board. the fish market* smells like death but the prices are good. 26.66 degrees, 80% humidity, 1265888 stamped on my deck. 1356586750 stuck in my head. kavali is a weird spot, but it’s got empty roads, so i’ll stay for another week. maybe.