Category — South

Had gone to Chennai over the weekend. Was good. This is no write-up but had some adventres riding to and fro and here are some of them.

odometer – 1557

Was to leave at 6am on Friday but then the idea of having chai and a smoke in my roomie’s company got the better of me and so finally left at 7:10am. She had just come back from work and was complaining that it was freezing outside and that I was mad to be going out and that too on a bike.

Didn’t feel very cold but then once was on NH4 proper there was a mist and my fingertips froze. Started feeling them again only at 9:30 whenI took a break at Mulbagal. After a smoke headed out again only to stop about 30km before Ranipeta. The roads were psycotic didn’t wanna stop didn’t know when the ghats came and went. Reached Sri Perumbudurat after 12. After the 4 lane highway, the roads were terrible. Finally reached Chennai only after 2pm.

From there on went on to spent a weekend completely lazing around and doing absolutely nothing.

Did go to the beach though, after all its a tradition for me, a trip to Chennai would not be complete without going to the beach.

Headed out of Chennai on Sunday, didn’t wanna leave, the holiday spirit was catching on u see. Finally left at 10:30am. Managed to find my way out till Sri Perumbudur and someway beyond. Then at one point saw a board saying For Bangalore Straight and Chittor and RanipetaRight. Had been though Ranipet and did not enjoy one bit of it so thought would take the straight road even though no one seemed to travel by that road. (logic said that must be a bypass). Anyway turned out to be a road underconstruction. So all the time had gained on the4 lane was lost. Did 50-60kph for a good 60 km. Did some off-roading too coz the road somewhere in between just wasn’t there. Finally reached Vellore and just kept on. Had no clue where I was headed(except that this road somehow reached Bangalore) but then its the road so thought lets just go where ever its takes me.

Next reached Ambur and at this point was starting to think I was onNH7. Next thing I know I see a board saying Vaniyambadi. Well now don’t need to say what I did next. So put a pit stop at the biryani place and picked up two biryanis and moved on again. Stopped on the way and belted biryani. That was when I saw the time, was nearing 5pm. Realized that I didn’t wanna be on the highway after dark so started out again. Just someway before the turn for Krishnagiri smelt something burning. Actually slowed down thinking it was my bike (had been pushing her hard u see). Then saw this bike in front emitting loads of smoke and this guy was just sending it, must have been doing a good 90 odd. Then saw this hint of flame near his silencer and for a second thought WoW this guy had some NOS unit fitted but then realized that some bag he had tied to his bike on the side was on fire. And so started the chase. That was one funny chase. I leveled with this other guy who couldn’t push any futher so he looked at me and then the bike in front and nodded and so did I, the silent communication of riders on a highway. So took off again with horn blaring, just then the bike on fire guy overtook a tempo, now it was not only us but also the tempo guy honking away to glory and he actually leaned out of the window and started screaming too. But our bike dude just wouldn’t stop he actually picked up more speed. Finally caught up with him and waved to this babe sitting at the back and she actually waves back and am like hey stop stop. At this point my speedo was showing some 100kph. Went a little further and stopped to see if all was ok. That was whenI realized the smal lick of flame I had seen was actually the whole bag burning. Lucky babe, she was sitting with her foot next to the bag, her salwar and she could have got burnt.

From there on then just belted with an eye on the sun. Remembered the movie Race the Sun. Finally reached Hosur flyover at 6:30pm and breathed a sigh of relief. A good 150km or so in about an hour and ahalf. Good stuff. Reached home at 7pm. Sat down and listened to my roomie talking away again about me being completely crazy but that was only until I told her had got biryani for her. As soon as she tasted it she was like so when u going next. felt good to be back home.

odometer – 2224

On the whole a good trip. Bike handled like a dream and roads were psycotic.

Moral learnt – don’t aways follow logic, sometime u have to apply logic to logic or just blindly follow traffic. And a 100cc is capable of a hell of a lot. Completely proud of my babe.

I did it, I did it… my legs weren’t a part of me and they still aren’t, its as if they a life of their own. Can’t believe they actually climbed more then 9 km and walked about 23km over the weekend, am so amazed… Its been a fantastic weekend…

Had gone on a trek this weekend. We left here at about 8:30 in the morning on Saturday and went to Harihara via Kanakpura. On the way we saw a Veeragallu (hero stone) which is quite rare as it had 4 layers of carvings. From Harihara we started our trek up to Soligere through Basavana Betta Forest. Soligere is the highest hill in Kanakpura Taluk about 1500 msl. Climbing for about 9 km we reached the top at about 4:30pm. The top of the hill is about 1.5 km from Soligere village. At the top there is just a small lodge with a outhouse which is about 500years old and was used by the kings as a hunting lodge. Though the best part about the top is the view, it is one of the only places in Kanakpura where you would get about 150 degree view. I just sat for hours staring at the scenic valley below. You can see the Cavery winding through the valleys right from Shivsamudra to Galibore and beyond, Shimsha as a silver streak in the hill, Nagmalai where starts M M hills. You can even identify the fishing camps at Galibore, Bheemeshwari and Doddamakalli. The wind is superb blowing in from 3 directions. The scene just got better and better as evening closed in, with the wind bringing in the mist, the villages all lighting up, it looked like a star-studded valley. I wonder if this description described well enough the beauty of it all, I still feel I didn’t absorb enough.

Later after dinner we had a talent show and had a good number if laughs with all the jokes and imitations. Prasanna (this guy I met there) did an excellent imitation of an auto in the city and kept coming up behind people went they least expected it and in a completely Cubbon park voice saying “Bisi bisi, Seedless Kadlaykai”.

We slept that night in 2 small cramped rooms terrified to even answer nature’s call as we were warned about elephants wandering about in the vicinity. In the morning we went on a nature trail looking for footprints and all. Saw some lovely birds and beetles.

After which had breakfast and left with packed lunch for Mutatti. The locals informed us of elephant activity in the area so had to proceed slowly. Mid-way we had to change routes as there were elephants ahead and we couldn’t go past them, so had to follow a different trail. Saw some elephant tracks and fresh dung, though the highlight was seeing dung beetles, hadn’t ever thought would see them in India. They are superb…

Once we reached Mutatti we then went down to the Cavery and played in the water for a long time. Had to hold on for dear life due to the water current but it felt so relaxing. We then headed back home. The roads are superb with mountains on both sides, and what curves, ooh la la… To top it all it rained on the way back. To finish the trip we had Benne Dosa and hot coffee. One amazing weekend, great people, great place, superb fun…

Have you ever gone on a voyage that cleansed your soul?
Have you ever felt so alive that you wonder if you ever lived before?
Have you ever felt so small that you wonder why you are?
Have you ever felt so complete that you wonder who you are?
Have you ever felt the power and known that it’s just you?
Have you ever felt the force and known that it’s with you?
Have you ever had questions and known that the answers up to you?
Have ever realized that the journey’s yet not through?

For those who don’t know, we took off on 3 yamahas for the mountains on a two day trip in which we covered 600 km.

The route was — Bangalore –> Hassan –> Halebid –> Belur –> Chickmaglur –> Mulangiri –> Doddapeeta(Baba Budangiri) –> KemmanGundi –> Bangalore