Jerrin

Iam jerrin from trivandrum,kerala. My ride is a KariZma R 2011. Please excuse my grammatical & vocabalory mistakes. Also one sad thing, i dont have much pictures to post, Sorry. Without pictures,this write up may seem boring, but please excuse me. At the end i will post few pictures taken from my simple mobile. “This was the third time i was going for the weekend solo long ride in a row.Last two weeks i went to ernakulam first and then to thrissur on next week. The day before the ride,i struggled like anything to allow my mom for this trip. The reason for going,which i said to my parents is this- please,please this is my last ride, i wont ask for any more long ride. Actual reason was that i wanted to make this a pre-ride test for the endurance ride,which i had planned to do solo the next week without letting my parents know.Money was almost arranged(4000Rs) by telling lies to my parents and adding 4000 Rs to my college tour amount,next month. But sadly i cancelled my Saddlesore ride plans 3 days before the planned D-day. I dont know why but each and every aspect surrounding my life was disencouraging me . The reasons were -1. Heavy rain, 2. Lack of courage and preparation to ride alone throughout the night on NH 7 on which i have never been before, 3. None of my friends or even my brother did not supported me, 4. Guilt feelings for leading an irresponsible life. Back to Ride.


I went to bed at 8 pm. I planned to leave at 3 am. I tried very hard and struggled in my bed,but could not Sleep. It was like the ride had already started. I wasnt excited but was thinking in a proffesional way that this is not going to be a tour or leisure ride,but a test ride for my endurance ride next week. I slept exactly two and half hours. Fell asleep at 10pm and woke up at 12:30am. After lying on bed for another 45 minutes,i started getting ready. Exactly by 3.00 am i left my home. I had this loop in my mind: Trivandrum< Ernakulam< Thrissur< Palakkad< Kozhikode >> Thrissur >> Back to Trivandrum. So i would cover near to 1000kms. But God had some other plans for me. There wasnt any continous traffic. Sometimes a bunch or group of vehicles and trucks come and then again i was alone. I cruised at 70-80 km/hr. I became very happy that the car drivers and even trucks dimmed their light for me,when i first dipped my light for them. During my long tours (except at late nights) usually i fill petrol in small amounts at a time 100 or 150 Rs. This is because of two reasons : 1. I can take a break often ( toilet breaks and drinking water-to keep my body hydrated even in Night) 2. Mileage is known instantantaneously( Res to Res) . I was blessed that there wasnt any rain that night.


At 6:30 i reached chertala, the place where 4 lane road in kerala starts and extends till thrissur on NH47 . Took a tea break after a continous 3 hour ride. I was thankfull to god that there wasnt any rain. To my enquiry about rains, an old woman in the teashop told that even though sky seems cloudy,it will probably rain only after noon or in the evening. I left that place at 7 am. My plan was to cross thrissur at 9. It was a good stretch of 4/6 lane road byepassing the ernakulam city. I felt a little uncomfortable at some towns of aluva city where the road looks like a 4 lane road but has the width of a 2 lane road . The pedestrians and parking lot conquered almost half of the road,everything was in a mess without any order. After about 20 kms,again the road became smooth and wide to a 6 lane path, which came to an end after 30-40 kms. I crossed thrissur district exactly at 9:03am. I felt happy about my timing. From here on the road turned out to be two laned.


I continued through NH 47 to palakkad. I couldnt believe my eyes,such a bad stretch of road lied ahead. From my highway riding experiences, i thought this may be due to some construction work. But i was wrong.Road surface was damaged and broken into pieces.i was so uncomfortable jumping in the seat and add to this my rear tyre pressure was inflated to a high pressure by mistake. I could not change the gears upwards from 3rd. Most of the time 1st & 2nd. The road was like a forest road with curves,thick green trees and high rock walls adjacent to the road. I thought to myself my God is this a national highway . and i really felt bad about my decision to take this round route to kozhikode instead of taking the direct route from thrissur on NH 17. Now there was no turning back. I rode on. The road came to a better condition. Filled petrol and had my brekfast at 10:30am. The waitor who attented me was a young brother one or two years elder than me. He asked about my bike and where i am coming from?etc . When i asked about the road ahead , he kindly said “dont worry , the road betters from here on. and after reaching palakkad you have to go left to reach kozhikode”. I thanked him and resumed my journey.




There was always a fear within me,riding alone through the places i havent seen or been before. But i can asssure the fact that this Fear is what makes our solo rides enjoyable and memorable. I reached that T junction.Turning right will lead to pollachi,coimbatore and to salem.Turning left leads to kozhikode. Turned left and took the byepass,which joins palakkad and kozhikode through malappuram. Road was curvy through the plains and hills. The road altitude was going up,temperature went down and chilled winds was blowing against me.It was going to rain. Sunlight faded and it became dark-just like its going to be night soon. It was at this point that i felt sleepy and i think i switched off my mind(eyes) for a couple of seconds. I soon realised my conditon and lifted my helmet visor fully up. The sudden blow of winds made me alert. I was feeling tired and exhausted. I remembered that last night i had slept only 2 hours. Stopped the bike and looked at the console.The tripmeter should 420kms and clock showed 11;45am.
As i said earlier this was a pre-endurance ride and my plan was to cover 1000 kms within 24 hrs. I still had 15 hours left to cover the next 550 kms according to plan. But trully speaking i lost my confidence and my body energy hit ‘Reserve.’ So i dropped the plans and changed the route so as not to enter kozhikode. So after little enquiry, i took side roads from NH213 to reach NH 17,which will then lead me back to thrissur.The ‘side roads’ was a state highway. Condition of this state highway through malappuram,ottapalam and pattambi was in a very bad condition together with traffic jams. This bad dusty stretch prolonged for many kms. My eyes became red because of the blow of dust. I took nearly two and a half hours to cover that damn 50-60 kms. Finally i joined the NH17 road. I thought to myself that the decision about changing the route was a foolish one. With the above wasted time and energy i could have very well stick to the original route. It was a great relief shifting to 5th gear and maintaining steady speeds after a long time.





Every time during my long tours on bike,at some part of the ride,a different kind of tiredness,fatigue and sleepiness(dizzy felling) creeps into my mind and body.and from thereafter the riding fun decreases and my concentration narrows to two factors. 1. The road ahead 2.Pumping sound of my hot running smooth,long stroke motor. From then on i dont feel like stopping anywhere and my mind wants my body to do a single act-munch miles like anything. And i feel within myself that i am a good motorcycle tourer. I keep telling this within my mind and could feel the sudden rise of spirit to ride the remaining distance with a new rejuvenated heart,even though my body feels sleepy and tired.
At 4:30 pm, i crossed thrissur city and was back to good 4 lane roads of NH 47. When i reached chalakudy(my parents native place) i made a phone call to my cousin brother,which changed the whole Trip plan. He is studying to become a christian priest. Made a visit to that church parish. When i was about to leave from there, it was almost dark(6:30pm) and it started raining. The fact is that i was forced to spend that night there by my cousin and other priests in the seminary. I called my home and told that i will be reaching home only the next day. So without an option i spent that night in peace and prayers. Thus the endurance pre-ride plans dropped out.










The next day ,i started my return trip with a relaxed touring mood,at 10:00 am. Made a visit to Athirapally water falls(kerala’s highest waterfall) together with another cousin brother-John. The wet winding roads through the hills to the Top was enjoyable to ride through. Keeping in mind the poor condition of my stock tyres and the wet road i didnt try out any cornering arts even though the road curvature was tempting. Took some clicks of the waterfall in my mobile.
I returned back to the NH road,had my lunch and when i started my return journey it was 3:45pm. Now it was a 300km ride back home. Covered half the distance in two and half hours. It was 6:30pm. Few days back i read in the Xbhp magazine that it is better not to ride in the daylight transition period. So took a tea break of about 25 minutes . Everywhere i stop i get some weird suspicious looks because of my riding attire. After cleaning my helmet visor,headlight and the indicator glasses with a soft dampenend cloth, i resumed. Till now i havent started the habit of listening to music while i ride,so i keep on talking to myself about what all i see on the road. It is always a test of patience when we get stuck behind a truck/bus on a two lane busy highway. Every moment, there will be a continous blow of dirt and dust from those big rear tyres, which is so annoying and painfull, if we are riding at night without a plain glass visor. I reached home at about 9:20 pm. Called my papa and told that i reached safely. He is working together with my uncle at tamilnadu. My mom was also happy and told strictly that ‘No more Long rides’. I ate the delicious supper and went to bed with a feeling of achievement.







Let me share a simple idea. To my opinion all Solo long riders should include as many events/purposes for their trips. Because riding this much distance without any cause will allow guilt thoughts to build up in your minds, before and after the trip, specially if you are a student or jobless person who still depends on parents money. Some of which the purposes can be :
1.Giving foodpackets to poor people at road sides, you will find many.
2.Visiting friends/relatives on way.
3.Entering pilgrimage places-churches,temples or mosques and praying.
4. Try to make new plans/decisions for your life when you feel calmness within your mind, far away from home and with your only companion- your Motorcycle.
THANKS

sunilg

Travelogue approved.

Some good points that you shared in the end, Jerrin.

Please edit your post and give more space between the paragraphs, it would become more pleasant to read.

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(Been There Done That) x 3.25

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aargee

My person opinion...
Don't encourage beggars, there're more than enough damages done to this country & I don't want to contribute to this!!!

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Patience pays...The Vulture's virtue is patience and the bird always get it's food - Wise man saying

This is not a bakery. I don't sugar coat anything. If you ask for my opinion...then that's what you'll get. Don't be mad when it's not what you want to hear

Jerrin

Thank you Brother for approving my first travelogue in XBHP. Editing has been done.

akshay

Well written and a lovely message to all.

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Ride To Live

ridingsouls

Agreed... and its true...

shrinathrao

beautifully pinned down words. Specially loved the part where you make your long and good decisions when you ride solo as its true in my part too

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If you don't ride in the rain, you don't ride. ~Author Unknown

Don't argue with an 18-wheeler. ~Author Unknown

Gray-haired riders don't get that way from pure luck.

You don’t stop riding because you’re getting old, but you get old when you stop riding.

vivek.n

Wow Jerrin A big wow To your ride too..
You almost Resemble me in this point.

Quote:

Till now i havent started the habit of listening to music while i ride,so i keep on talking to myself about what all i see on the road.

I have my ears plugged with head sets just to attend the Call and to avoid the Air Noise. I Cover my mouth with skull scarf just to avoid people seeing me speaking alone.

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A next door biker..

Ride To the Coastal Heaven

Ananz

Wonderful point there......
All the best to your future rides.

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-Ananth

A Conversation with Me, Myself and my Autobot
Behold the New Autobot in Town !!!
Just another Leh'd back ride

raja_roadster

congrats bro and those last words were from your heart well said and is applicable to everyone whenever i feel less on confidence i sit on my bike whether the ride is long or short, time spent on the saddle cools me down and boosts confidence afterall i m a biker too