xl_rage

A sweet memory, a turning point, the reminiscence is noteworthy. This was my second time with the guys, and all the memories of the first time came rushing in. It’s been a couple of years and still I can remember the trip as if it happened yesterday. You’d wonder what I’m saying, but that’s not me, but the strawberry memoirs talking. Pratapgad was my first ride with BladeRunnerzzz, and last Sunday I had another one at the same place. Standing at the base of the fort made me nostalgic.

I was feeling bad when I could not attend the three year anniversary of the group. To add to the dismay the thumper dropped a sentimental invocation on Facebook. Coincidentally the next ride was scheduled to Mahabaleshwar on mother’s day, and I communicated my tentative presence to him. I asked my brother on Saturday and we were ready for yet another wonderful journey to add in the motorcycle chronicles.


Initially the plan was to start at 0445 hours from Chandani Chauk, and this time I was not the last one to join It’s been a regular trick it seems to state an early time so that by people gather, everyone is good to go. Fending the sleep off my eyes, me and my brother reached Chandani Chauk. There were many new faces this time, at least for me. After arrival of knights on the classic armor we all left to Mahabaleshwar. By the time we left Pune, it was already 0530 and so the stop at Shirwal was skipped. The next meeting point was decided to be at the exit from the NH4. As it turned out, the knighted battalion of Royal people had to cover the distance much slowly, their armors and shields were still warming up, and hence we took a small halt at the toll plaza on NH4 and then proceeded ahead. Next stop was at the exit from NH4.


The distance judgment is one of the mandatory things when you think of riding or driving. On bike it might be simple but as the number of wheels increases so does the difficulty in knowing thyself and thy means of transportation. In the riders’ ecstasy Khamabataki ghat, we encountered a few trailers which took entire road lengths and widths to maneuver on a critical turns. I tried to overtake them from either side without much success, for their wheels didn’t keep much room for me to pass through. After turns when I overtook them, I saw people in mid-twenties behind the steering. Who said the new generation is impatient should go and watch them beautifully operate those Lorries and containers out of thin spots patiently. You’d probably dismiss the skill due its everyday appearance but when you’d comprehend that one mistake can render whole traffic standstill, horns blazing, nostrils flaring just because someone took one bad turn. Not always there is a luxury of the reverse gear. passing through it, and completing the ghat with elated spirits we reached the exit for Mahabaleshwar.

There we made a halt for breakfast. I remember we searching couple of food joints for food, by Sunday’s standards we were much early. Mahabaleshwar has become a tourist destination, which is close enough to start late and still cover. So I guess people were coming out of their slumber when we ordered vada and tea. We met a guy riding a 600cc CBR at the point. And just before us two Hayabusas went on followed by a couple of Harleys. Wondering how much money the society has, we embarked on the journey ahead. Even Wai was coming back to life when we breezed past through it.


Just before the ecstatic Pasarani ghat we stopped for a group photo. One of the royal candidates sacrificed the mention in the video and filmed the convoy of BladeRunnerzzz while we all passed gracefully on a turn. I remember people clicking photos of the formation haphazardly. Such are the times when you feel the niceties of riding with a coveted group. People watching and admiring didn’t concern me, but the feeling of being part of likeminded brothers and having the opportunity to be part of that convoy was something special. Such a discipline you feel when everyone rides in a single file, something which you see in the warm up laps of F1 and MotoGP and rightfully so, for the race was about to follow. The race was not with each other but with the wind, with the turns and twists of one of the best western ghats. Such a smooth road to glide over and people like Mr. Marlboro to spectate when he takes corners with utmost precision.

Soon we reached Panchgani and took a halt for the Royal battalion to follow. We clicked a few photographs there, watched the photos taken during the ascent, and then we proceeded for the far end of the hill around 22 kilometers away, Pratapgad.

The fort was never the destination but the road till it was surely the designated path. My brother was riding the beast employing all his experience on tracks laden with trees, shadows of clouds. We reached Pratapgad base and started the return journey, and this time I took the responsibility of operating my beloved.


When you go to Mahabaleshwar a stop at Mapro garden is a mandate. We took another break there to feed our hunger with mouthwatering sandwiches and funny tasting cocktails. Everyone was well prepared with empty rucksacks and carry bags to take home the pleasures from the hilly region. We bought tasty strawberries at a higher rate (but we did compensate for the extra by eating from his containers), we bought juices and toffees. When the shopping frenzy ended then we realized we were riding and there is no luxury of a thingyey like they have in something called as a car. Somehow the luggage was packed and we started the return journey. All the hungers weren’t satiated though; one stop remained at Panchgani.

As a routine, we all parked our bikes at the gates of hilltop ice cream parlor to savor the taste of rich strawberries dipped in sinfully soft and sweet cream. It’s a heavenly dish known to mortal men as the glass of strawberry with cream. Tangy strawberries, placed on top of soft cream and cold ice-cream having crushed parts of strawberries again. This time the wonders didn’t end there. We tasted eye watering spicy ice cream made of green chili, then one of the flavor or peppermint, as if it came from Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. After wonderful desserts we set on the return journey.

Till Wai the roads were too marvelous to notice the gradual rise in temperature as we were coming down, soon came the realization that we still have around seventy five kilometers to go with no sign of relief in the scorching heat of the afternoon sun. Obviously every pleasure comes with a price tag, and this one was for the wonderful day. After a long long journey, soon we reached Pune and another trip to the land of strawberries was put in the albums of the past.

After a long time I rode with BRZ once again, finding everyone as welcoming as they always were. I hope to be regular once more, to enjoy the times of the coveted membership. Amen.

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sunilg

Travelogue approved.

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(Been There Done That) x 3.25

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mitz

nicely written bro.. Especially the description on strawberry icecreams
Anyways, pratapgadh has always been on my list ? is the fort trekable in a day aftr riding from mumbai?
Or we have to go for a 2 day trip including mahabaleshwar panchgani pratapgadh..
Please share some light as i really wanna ride that stretch of NH 17 soon & i'v never been to mahab before..

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• Why do I ride ??

Because Cricket, football, basketball, Tennis etc require just ONE BALL ;)

xl_rage

Hey thanks for the comment.

Pratapgarh is around 22 Kilometers from Mahabaleshwar which is 20+ kilometers from Panchgani.

I'd advice a two day trip if you are coming from Mumbai. So that you can do sightseeing at both Mahab and Panchgani and then visit Pratapgarh as well

Its a easily trek-able fort, its not at all tough, has steps till the end. But most of the fort is in well maintained state so that'd be a pleasure to watch !

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