I had recently joined Wanderlust Motorcycle Club. It has bulleteers with riding experices in thousands of kilometres. Needless to say the country had been traversed by them. In the company of these thunder gods I started to overcome my BSS and plan my ride.
The initial plan was as follows
Nagpur>Kuntala water falls (on Nagpur-Hyderabad 250 kms)>Goa(via google maps)>Western Ghats(had the route laid out on a silver platter by a senior Bulleteer,Sagar Da)>Lonar Crater Lake (via google maps)>Nagpur.
I had bought riding shoes, knee guards, jacket and gloves for both of us and saddle bags. Athato had been serviced. The ride was actually cancelled twice meanwhile Athato had done about 1000 km already. I decided to get it serviced in Goa. Noob decision. More on that later. This was all I had planned. I had much to learn. This by the way is a rookie level ride. So veterans may please forgive my euphoria and obvious observations by considering me a first timer.
Here it goes-
Day 1-28th September 2014. Lessons Learnt
Ready to thump
DGR
Kuntala
Xbhp
Day 2-29th September 2014. Straight Road
Nirmal>Nizamabad>Banswada>Gulbarga. Approx Distance Covered-400km
We started around 8 am, a bit late than we had planned. The roads were mostly good, tree lined but two lane which slowed us down. We got curious looks all along the way because of our safety gear and Gujarat registration plate (The transfer is still under process to Nagpur RTO). A Gujarat registered car checked twice our plates to confirm this, hehehe, while the missus was happily clicking photos. We passed the huge Nizamsagar dam sometime around afternoon. Along the way I remember three quotes
- Amma!!! Kitta petrol khaati ye gaadi. (on hearing the FE of Athato)
- Bawaaa!!! Gujarat se aa rahe ye logaa (mistaking me for travelling all the way from Gujarat)
- Straight road: We asked for directions for some place (forgot the name) and the guy said turn right and you will get a straaaaight road. The emphasis on straight was cleared when we turned right. Before us there was a straight road. Ruler straight. It only had ups and downs no rights and lefts. For about god knows how many kilometres. Pheew. Whenever we reached a summit the straight view of the road till the horizon was stunning.
Nizam Sagar Dam
Straight Road. Notice the gap in the end
Day 3-30th September 2014. First Night
Day 4-1st October 2014. Halt at Goa
- Avoid servicing if you can.
- Keep your backpack empty if travelling with the missus.
- Beaches are not a good a place to buy engine oil.
With Paul Smithof Rag&Bones Customs
Day 5-2nd October 2014. Touch and Goa
The view from the Tarkarli room
My future tense
Up in the air
Aiyyo...
Day 6-3rd October 2014. The Good the bad and the ugly.
At some beach
At madvan beach
Tashann...
Day 7-4th October 2014.
Day 8-5th October 2014. Horny bullet
LS2

Day 9-6th October 2014. City of Gates.
Exploring Aurangabad
My dad had spent a few months in Aurangabad for some training while he was in Army and he asked me to visit a few places which were worth seeing. Same were the thoughts of Roadmaster. Also wifey was a bit tired due to riding in rains. So we decided to explore the City of Gates. First we went to Ellora caves. Visited a few of them. You need a week to cover these caves. They are really beautiful. So we left for other places we had on the list as we could not cover them in 2 hours. Enroute there were saree stores. Had to stop. She did what she had to do and we had more stuff to carry. The idea of keeping the backpack totally empty will now be my top priority before the next trip. Well she was happy that was all I cared. We went to see Bibi ka Makbra which is an imitation of Taj Mahal. Now if this is an imitation I wondered what the original would be like. Agra you are now on our list. We also visited a zoo which was near our hotel. It saddened me to see those animals in captivity with stupid idiotic nincompoops throwing stones and screaming at them just to see them frown. They were as good as dead with life sucked out of them. I pray for the day when they ban such establishments.
Anyway we were tired because of the walking and dinner at Bhog again. Tomorrow we head home.
Ellora caves
Cave Man
Not so cave woman
Bibi Ka Maqbara
Bibi Ka Maqbara1
Bibi Ka Maqbara3
Bibi Ka Maqbara4
Day 10-7th October 2014. Homewards.
Handlebars
finally learnt how to tie up luggage neatly
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