Zaphod

I am planning for a trip to Kerala in the 1st Week of October**.
Still a long time to go, but if at all someone is interested, it should give us enough time to get acquainted and gel with each other. (by doing smaller rides locally and getting to know each other's habits)

If someone is interested, please bump this thread/give me a PM. The itinerary I have planned is as follows,

Note that the itinerary starts from 3rd or 4th Saturday of September depending on the weather and my partner's preference.
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Chennai - Trichy - Dindigul - Coimbatore ~500Kms Saturday morning: Start 0500 Hours. Spend the night.
Coimbatore - Palakkad - Trissur - Chalakudi - Idukki ~260Kms Sunday: Start 0500 Hours. Reach Sunday evening.
Monday Rest + exploring
Idukki - Chalakudi - Trissur - Calicut ~300; Tuesday morning - evening drive. Spend the night at Calicut.
Calicut - Sultan Bathery; Wednesday morning - afternoon drive. ~70KMs
Spend Thursday at Wayanad. Sight seeing and goofing around.

(-- are the routes below stupid? I am out of ideas for the trip home from Wayanad)
Sultan Bathery - Gudalur - Ooty: Friday morning to evening. ~90KMs
Ooty - Chennai (via Erode): Reach home Saturday - Sunday

Sunday hopefully would be the reserve day
Monday - Haul our A** and get back to work
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Any suggestions/comments/tips/advice is greatly appreciated as I have never done Kerala on a bike. I want to touch Calicut because, I grew up there and it has been a long time since I went there. (I am open to deviations with this though)

As I said, if anyone is interested please respond , would love to ride alongside a fellow xbhpian...

Also looking forward to meet more folks at their home turf

**Earlier I had said 3rd or 4th week of September

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ken cool

Kerala Riding Query Approved

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Zaphod

Thanks for the approval Ken .

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Ananth

Day 1: Chennai - Pollachi

Day 2: Pollachi - Valparai - Chalakudy - Aluva / Ernakulam

Day 3: Ernakulam - Muttapuzha - Todupuzha - Painavu - Idukki

Day 4: Idukki - Vagamon - Elappara - Vandiperiyar - Thekkady

Day 5: Thekkady - Trichy - Chennai

I seriously suggest to have wayanad clubbed another time (may be along with coorg / ooty), I dont think riding 6 days / more will do good for getting your A$$ ripped on Monday morning office. I dont mean you cannot do it, Just a advice to rest a day or two before office It will be tiring / exhaustive to ride 500 Kilometers the last day & goto office. Been there, Done That

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Please Wear a HELMET Regardless of what ever Bike you Ride. ATGATT!



My Travelogues:

The Maha RoadTrip | SaddleSore

Leh - Ladakh | Idukki | Coorg - Wayanad - Mudhumalai | Point Calimere | Thekkady - Munnar - Valparai

Solo to Ooty |South Western Karnataka |In Search Of "The God" - In God's Own Country!

Zaphod

Thanks for the route Ananth, Since you have already done this I shall consider your advice. I know all these places but I have no idea of their locations on the map. Can you elaborate on the Valparai - Challakudi route.
Does this involve coming back to Pollachi?

Point taken. The original itinerary has a reserve day on Sunday. Even if I am late, I can take a day off on Monday for taking rest. (My workplace is awesome in that regard ). What are your thoughts? That said, I wonder if I will get a riding partner in the first place!

Also, the maximum I have done on my puny FZ in a single day is around 520KMs.

I take it that Wayanad is a difficult inclusion?

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Zaphod

Also I am assuming your suggestion is spread across 2 + 5 + 2 days, and Day 1...5 thingy is for the rides.

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Ananth

Its not a difficult inclusion. It depends on what you want to visit. Wildlife? Hill Stations? Dams? Boating? Backwaters?

If you are so steadfast about wayanad, then the itenerary could be:

Day 1: Chennai - bangalore - Wayanad

Day 2: In & Around Wayanad

Day 3: Morning Safari - Wayanad - Calicut - Thrissur

Day 4: Thrissur - Chalakudy - Athirampalli - Valparai

Day 5: Valparai - Munnar

Day 6: Munnar - Poopara - Rajakkad - Nedumkandam - Idukki

Day 7: Idukki - Vagamon - Thekkady (Evening Boating)

Day 8: Reserve Day

Day 9: Thekkady - Trichy - Chennai

I just gave you a 9 day itinerary. Add / Remove places you want. Ideally i would say, ride on - stop where you want, see what you want return what you want

Good Luck!

__________________
Please Wear a HELMET Regardless of what ever Bike you Ride. ATGATT!



My Travelogues:

The Maha RoadTrip | SaddleSore

Leh - Ladakh | Idukki | Coorg - Wayanad - Mudhumalai | Point Calimere | Thekkady - Munnar - Valparai

Solo to Ooty |South Western Karnataka |In Search Of "The God" - In God's Own Country!

aargee

You need to take this way...

Athirapalli-Vazhachal 5 kms-Peringalkuth Dam/Checkpost 5-Sholayar Dam 25-Malakkiparai (KL/TN Border)/Check Post 24-Valparai 22-Rottikadai/Iyerpadi 5-Aliyar Dam 36-Pollachi 24

Also remember that the forest section should be crossed between specific timing. IIRC, 6AM to 6PM.

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Zaphod

As for me, its more of Wildlife and Hill Stations. Of course, it all boils down to what my fellow-rider wants out of this trip as well. So at this point of time, I'd like to keep my options open.

But boy, this itinerary is extreme! I dont think I will be able to take the abuse! I guess I will reserve Northern Kerala for another ride. Clubbing Wayanad with Coorg sounds like a sensible approach.

The one which you posted earlier makes a bit more sense given my riding style, which involves soaking in the surroundings and taking it at a leisurely pace; at the same time ensuring that I am not late for that day's stop.

I'd also like to spend a full day at Idukki and/or Thekkadi.

Agreed, Too much planning would only force me to think of the destination rather than the journey itself. Since I am looking out for partners, it is sort of essential that we are on the same page before we start. Therefore taking a more organic approach where I take decisions at road junctions is not a luxury I can take if at all I am riding with a fellow xbhpian.

I'd love to do something like this if I end up riding solo. Having a lot of choices and take the road which lures me the most at that point of time.

This seems to be a very scenic route. Can't wait!

Noted. Is there anything else I should be aware of? If at all no one joins me, do they allow lone bikers? I definitely do not have any intention of riding in late evenings for obvious reasons

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Tarc

@Zaphod, me too planning for a similar trip in August end or early september..
The high level plan i have in mind is Chennai - Blore - Coorg - Wayanad - Blore - Chennai.
It all depends on leaves from office..for sure, i wont be able to take the whole week off..so, am thinking of a 5 day ride incl the weekend..let me see how it goes..will update you..

And dude, game for a short 4 day ride to Munnar this weekend?..