Mike and Bike back to Touring........Maha[rastra] tour

[mike autherton]

Been on a tour this week end after a long gap of 2.5 years, The tour is now from Mumbai covering a little of beautiful Maharastra.

I'll post a couple of teasers, for the approval of the thread

Teaser one into the Windmills


Teaser Two glimse of the ride

[MG]

Topic Approved

[mike autherton]

Thanks to the moderator for the approval of the thread.

Little background to the title of the thread. I have moved to Mumbai for professional reasons around a year and half ago, my bikes remained back in Hyderabad for this period,but recently after mulling various options and delays I could get my R15 to my new home and so the start of the tours.

When the bike arrived in Mumbai ,so did the rains and so I was a bit hesitant to go on rides ,all I could do is write the following four lines expressing my situation.

Raced R15 to Reign in the Roads
Razing Rains Rein in the Rides !!
Raiding Rains Ruin Roads to Rudes
Raving Rider Restrain Roams to Rooms !!


But then gradually the feeling sinked in that this is the best season to do the rides in and around Mumbai. After thinking about several option I thought Shirdi will be good point to start exploring Maharastra. So the plan was to ride to Shirdi,seek blessings from the Lord.This would also allow us to escape the great Mumbai rains for a couple of days the other and also important is I might get some food of my choice in Shirdi.

So brief summary of the Trip
Route: Mumbai to Shirdi and Back
Distance covered:~570km
Duration:Two half days
Bike:YAMAHA-R15
Pillion:Yes
Images:Nokia5800

following is the Route map

[amitmalve]

Nice ride, waiting for more pics. While returning you could have taken the malshej ghat route, would really had liked it.

[mike autherton]

Not a long tour but just a small weekend tour, here is the log.Mostly with pictures

Nice ride, waiting for more pics. While returning you could have taken the malshej ghat route, would really had liked it.

Thanks Amit, Yes that route was also considered but wanted to come through Lonavala.

After some initial planning on Friday evening the plan was to start early on Saturday morning at 6am and reach Shirdi through Nashik by Miday and Return to Mumbai via Chakan and Lonavala by starting again at 6am.

There was some concern about the weather but we were sure that things will be alright once we go to the other side of the western ghats.



Bike ready to Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Pillion joined me and then we were on the move , First toward Vashi creek, took the old bridge and it did provide an opportunity to take the initial snaps


Vashi old bridge,less traffic in the morning


Mike and Bike on the bridge

After crossing the bridge we took a left and were asking directions for nashik highway,With the inputs from the helpful strangers at every major junction we reached Mumbra, Then we could see the mountains and the clouds.

In between the Roads were not in that good shape and the gravel was loose and out of the surface at lot of patches, Not something you like when you are on an R15


Mumbra, a bit crowded but you start to see whats ahead.

After Mumbra there was a lot of heavy traffic mainly trucks, But bikes and buses took the other side of the road and proceeded ahead,Till we joined the Agra highway the road was bad and there was heavy truck traffic.


one more image somewhere after Mumbra

[mike autherton]

Once on Agra highway(NH3), There was a bit of space to ride, felt relieved but it was raining through out, after about an hour we decided to break for fuel and rest.

Bike at a HP fuel station, Filled the tank with fuel worth 500/-.


NH4 in rain, didn't take many images due to rain.

We had another break near Kasara for the breakfast on a roadside hotel,Got a chance to takeout the jerkins and stuff, we were completely drenched.

After Igatpuri, The terrain looked great, We were about to enter the mountains



As always with the NHs, Nice distance indicators.


Some traffic
The oncoming traffic's road is at a distance,but one big note of advice is never trust, there can always be a vehicle coming on the wrong side, and one did.


Few water falls also added to the beauty of the terrain.

How to display images in the actual/big size from photobucket?

[mike autherton]

From then on we were ascending the mountains ,there still was rain but not much.

There were a few trucks



As we go up, we are into the clouds, yuppie


Once we have reached the top, we seem to be completely in the cloud,Although enjoyable, the visibilty ahead has come down, the cars were just flashing all the indicators and moving ahead, I dont seem to have that option,so turned on the head lights and moved ahead cautiously,I think it was the situation for around 5KM.


The above board ,35KM ahead of Nashik also indicates Ghoti is 1KM that means we have to turn Right although we could have continued to Nashik.

I entered Ghoti village, but decided to comeback on to the Highway, After a little distance there is the actual turn which one needs to take.

So Shirdi is still a 115KM.

From then on its a double road with decent surface,
There were some water bodies around, I understand these eventually join Godavari River, which originates from Trimbak near Nashik, I have a very ambitious plans of touring along the Godavari river particularly in Andhra Pradesh, hope that will happen some time.


Looks like we are in the plains the rain has stopped bothering and we were starting to feel better, the hands got dry and ...yuppie..one of the targets is achieved..i.e escaping the Mumbai rains.


Sight of the horses was very refreshing

[pabi]

pics of rain are superb.. more pls .

[mike autherton]

The next break came for us when we saw the windmills,I just pulled over to the nice side of the road so that I am visible to the traffic from a distance from either sides which is primary when you stop on the highways, I always prefer an escape road or a road joining the highway.

The windmills remind me of DonQuixote , who goes to fight with them with a rusted sword.


However the stop provided some opportunity to capture few images

Bike the main ingredient of the tour gets a close snap against a rocky background.


Small temple with a deity,must be having her good wishes with the travelers.

After few KMs we enter a town called sinnar , There we join the road which comes from Nashik.It probably is the Nashik Pune Highway.........Yes yes NH50,But we are on it for a very short time before we head towards Shirdi after asking directions at a junction.

The terrain from now on is a little less interesting, The road seems to be recently widened as it had no white markers and there was a bit of Bus traffic which was almost nonexistent from Ghoti to Sinnar. So there are not much images.

Decided to break again when we were about 50 KM to our destination, Pulled the bike in to nearby field,Drank a bit of water, which is one very essential thing to do while riding, I forgot it .. before this moment

Bike also resting.. can any one from Mumbai/Hyd help me get Balaclavas?

On resuming the ride we find a lot of Sugarcane farms,

Sugarcane farm,one of my favorite crops, Mind the sharp leaves though before entering.


Workers on farm,looks like time to reap on the hardwork.


Looks like there are also a few onion farms around, Fruits and Onions are available on the roadside, The roads here were in bad shape though.

After a bit of ride we enter a town, And when I have seen the following,I know where I am.........Destination reached.....Acheived target two..i.e..reach Shirdi.

An APSRTC Garuda infront of a Hotel.

Onward Journey Summary.
Distance:262KM
Time:About 7 Hours
Road Conditions:Good with a few not so Good stretches in Mumbai and near Shirdi
Traffic:Not to be bothered after exiting Mumbai,Not many buses either
Weather: Initially raining then overcast for a majority of time.
No of Breaks:4

[mike autherton]

pics of rain are superb.. more pls .

Thanks mate, there is lot of rain on the return

[mike autherton]

Images in Shirdi

Traffic in the town has gone up in the past few years,All the buildings seem to have hotels.


In search of hotels, my bike found a place next to a Bullet and a doggie to guard

Went to darshan in the evening and later was spotting buses from different states ,The bus stand seemed to be a bit overloaded, perhaps a new one is under construction next to it.


Found this bus and so their hotel, where we got some good food for the dinner , so that's target 3.


Bike parked at the hotel, few ppl wondered if we have ridden all the way from AP.

[mike autherton]

Now the return tour,
As always I prefer to take a different rout for the return.So there was a choice between Malshej Ghat or through Chakan , I preferred the later as it wpuld allow us to go through the much talked lonavala and the season is perfect for it,It will also allow us to enter Mumbai through Panvel.

So as a Good point to start , We were already on the bike with the Sunbreak and took the route towards Ahmednagar.

Sun is breaking in the early morning. Namasthe to the Sun God.

The road was OK and there were a few buses coming to Shirdi in the opposite direction.After a few Kilometers(I think after 20-30 KM). We took a right turn towards Loni, As always we asked for direction at the junction.Then on it was a double road,with decent surface and no road divider.That is the case most of the time from now on.

Towards loni we find the early activities of people,

Person with typical Maha attire with the Gandhi cap taking a walk.


Farm[hard]workers on duty . The above image is after Loni.
from now the road is flat ,there was some greenery around and we see a hill now and then.There was some truck traffic.


This image summarizes the surroundings.

After about an hours ride we reach a town called Sangamner. There we join the Nashik Pune highway and the great traffic on it.


A glimse of traffic on a narrow bridge after Sangamner.

[mike autherton]

Continuing with the traffic, There was less room to overtake particularly the trucks, The R15 needs a bit of clearance but the oncoming traffic always kept denying the opportunities for safe passing,
So it gave my pillion a chance to take our snap while riding behind a truck.

Shadow image

We were craving for a break,but because of the traffic and the thought to overtake the monster trucks again is keeping us riding,But inorder to take a break we figured out a exit road.

Parked the bike and we were in for a break.

Farms were around inviting a snap.


My companion helped me to this,Its better to use this(Neem) a few times to keep Teeth in health.

After that he fancied a Herculean task

All the best.

[mike autherton]

Ok, keep continuing
Then the roads were a mix of Ghats and plains but the traffic was high.

Though the scenic nature did invite a few snaps, did not find the right place to parkl the bike fearing the traffic

An Asiad kind of bus over a Ghat, Buses were very rare on this high traffic route.

Two Shivneris parked in front of the hotel where we had breakfast.

Hotel, there were signs indicating the presence of this for 20KMs on either side.It had an expensive car park infront of it with a few Beamers and Audis.

Next intermediate goal was Chakan.

Indicative of the traffic in ghats, Huge containers like this slow down the traffic.On the same hand you have to appreciate the patience with which those drivers go on about their duty.

[mike autherton]

Roads were particularly bad near a town called Rajgurunagar but after that till Chakan Smooth road with divider.Heard of this place a lot seems to have lot of Auto companies, If I am not wrong its home to Hamara Bajaj.

River some where after Rajgurunagar.
Not any pictures from near Chakan because of rain and traffic.Basically nothing notable to click.


Joined the NH4 at somewhere near Talegaon, Riding on after a break at a petrol pump things started looking interesting again, as we are set to enter the mountains.

Poor fellow was going through a cycle of getting dirty getting clean in the rains taking a break.

Mountains in sight.

Seen few ppl, on picnik, Can you catch the train behind.

Sight of Express highway.

Boards showing two wheelers not allowed on the express highway.

Then after traversing through the mad traffic in Lonavala town ,we get the chance to see where people plan for the weekends...Lonavala.........