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**ketan_r15** · 12-11-2010, 12:40 AM

Originally posted by tourer_kashif View Post

nice trip Ketan
pics are good , I reaaly liked these vids,a good updates of road condition too

Thanks Kashif bhai..

@ all, sorry for delay in bringing in the rest of the log.. Shall post the next set of pics and log by tonight

**ketan_r15** · 12-11-2010, 02:35 AM

Day 5
Visit to Goddess Sharvani temple, Asnoda, Shopping at Mapusa and Visiting a few relatives' places

On day 4, while coming back from the Karnataka visit, we all had stopped at Madgaon for dinner. While having dinner, my mom asked me if we can visit Goddess Sharvani's temple at Asnoda the next morning. Goddess Sharvani is my granny's Kuldevi(Family Goddess). Dad talked to the driver regarding the visit to temple next morning. But since the distance was too short, driver didn't seem happy renting his car just for that little time and distance. So we extended next morning's plan by adding shopping at Mapusa and visits to a few relatives' places. The same car was ours for the next day as well..

On day 5, since the schedule was not that tight, we decided to leave a little late and have good sleep. We all were ready by 9 am and the driver came in by 9.15-9.20 am. I again had to convince my parents the night before for allowing me to ride my bike and not accompany them in the car...

We left our place shortly after the car arrived and headed towards a small place called as Tonka. A ferry was waiting for us at Tonka to take us on the other shore of the river Mandovi.

A pic on the way to Tonka..

Here's a video that I recorded while the boat ferried us to the opposite shore...
YouTube - Ferry Ride in Goa

Once we got off the boat on the shore, it was a small ride/drive of around 10 mins and we were at Asnoda, a small village surrounded by forest from all sides. A few photographs..

The main entrance..

The Vetoba temple.. sorry for the blurred pic, camera's lens problem again

Goddess Sharvani's temple

Sharvani Devi

Clock was showing 11.30 am by the time we were done with darshan and puja. Heat had started to build up. Also we didn't want to waste time because my dad had decided to head back to Mumbai the same day in the evening. So we also had to book ticket before the evening.

I didn't know the inner smaller roads and short cuts to reach Mapusa from Asnoda but thankfully we had the driver cum local guide to lead us to Mapusa. Mapusa is more like a small city in Goa. It has it's own municipal market where one can get almost anything that a house needs for daily chores. My mom wanted to buy some Goan spices and dry fishes. It's very difficult to find space for parking in Mapusa. We somehow found a small space where we parked our car and bike. I asked the driver to stay back at the car and look after the bike

I don't like anyone touching her..

Though the heat was unbearable, i was having good time roaming in the market.

A few pics from the market..

Dried fish.. Generally used for making fish chatnis and in curries..

My mom was unstoppable and had we not shouted at her and not reminded her bout booking dad's bus ticket etc. she could have gone on and on and on with her shopping

Dragged her to the car and we headed to Panjim to book my dad's return journey tickets.

We booked a seat in a bus which was supposed to leave for Mumbai at 6.30 pm from Panjim. That meant another trip to Panjim in evening from my place to see off my dad.

With the tickets booked and little time left in hand we hurriedly moved towards Vera, to my aunt's place. Vera is a small place on the way to Calangute.

A cat near my aunt's place..

Next stop was at Betim, another relative's house. Betim is a place very close to Panjim and Porvorim. By the time we decided to head back home it was pretty late. Dad had asked the driver to take us to some place where we can enjoy good sea-food. Being a local boy he knew where to take us exactly and so did he. What amazing food and fishes... too good.. and that too at very affordable price.

After lunch, we headed straight to home and reached by 4.30pm. The had befriended the car driven by then and he had happily agreed to take me and my dad to Panjim in the evening.

Dad took some rest and then packed up his stuff. Sameer(driver) came home at 5.30pm and we three left for Panjim in the car. Reached panjim just in time, thanks to the evening traffic at old Goa due to festival. Bus left at around 7 pm and by the time Sameer and I got back home, it was 8.30pm. Rest of the night was spent chit chatting with the newly married couple. The day ended with a small walk after dinner before crashing on the bed.

Day 6
Rest Day

I hadn't planned anything for Day 6. A few relatives were going to visit our place, especially for the newly married couple and thus mom had asked me to stay back home the whole day :-| I don't feel bad actually as it was good thing to take rest after traveling for two consecutive days.

Still in the morning, I went for a walk with my cousin in the backyard of the house. The place is known as Manasi and people coming here for fishing and just for brisk walk.

Day 7
Some more shopping and Night out with Cousin and his Friends

Actually I was supposed to leave for Mumbai on Day 7 and it was the same day when my mom n aunt were to board the bus for Mumbai. But my cousin who stays in Betim was forcing me to stay back for one more day and that we all will have a good night out. He convinced me by saying if I decide to stay back we can also go to see off mom and take them safely to Panjim to the bus stop. It did sound good to me and even mom thought it's a good idea to drop her personally at Panjim.

I had woken up late on Day 7 and leisurely got ready by 10.30 or so. I wanted to buy couple of tees for me and also buy bus tickets for mom n aunt. So I was off to Panjim on my bike by 11 in the morning. Goa roads are so much fun to ride on. Never miss a chance.

Got back home for lunch after the shopping and buying bus tickets. I contacted Sameer - the car driver, to inquire if he was going in the same direction in the evening by car so that he could drop mom n aunty at Panjim. That would have avoided carrying 4 heavy bags in public transport bus. To our surprise he said he had to visit some metal workshop in Panjim and can adjust some time for us. That was really good news for us. This guys is our neighbor and may be that's why was so much helpful to us.

I had decided to leave for Mumbai from Betim itself the next morning and therefore I had to carry all the riding gears and my luggage to Betim that evening. The pickup point for Mumbai-Goa buses is usually crowded with tourists and the looks were quite something on people's faces when they saw a guy who looked more like NSG commando than a biker..

After helping mom find her seat and in settle down, I wished her safe journey and left for Betim which is around 10 mins away from Panjim. Dumped all the stuff at home, got fresh, changed the clothes and already for a great night out.

Cousin has recently bought a new car - Suzuki Ritz and she was our companion for the night out

A few phone calls to his friends and we were heading towards Miramar beach. Goa was also celebrating the International Film Festival of India during that week. Entire Panjim's coast line was decorated with lights and colors. IFFI center was a place not to miss out.

Check out the IFFI celebrations in Goa..

YouTube - Goa, 2010 International Film Festival of India Celebrations

We went to my cousin's usual hangout at Dona Paula beach. Spent some time there and left for Miramar. One of his friends was waiting at Miramar. Sat there on one of the benches as he told me their Goan stories while I shared my biking experiences with them. Suuuper cool place to spend time in the evening.. Beautiful!

At Miramar, my bro's new car..

We then went to a pub called 18J. It's near Samrat talkies and I highly recommend this place to you people. I don't usually have alcohol but couldn't deny him that day. Had great time over the drinks with him and his friends. May be the place was that nice.. A dinner afterward at a nearby open air food joint and we reached home late in the night. Thanks bro, for the wonderful evening!

I could stay out for that long that night because I had no hurry of leaving early the next morning. I had a chat with couple of xBhpians on Day 6, confirming from them an alternate route to Mumbai. After riding on totally effed up NH17 I was in no mood to use the same road again. Hence I was gonna take NH4 to Mumbai. That meant a safe journey back home. The only dangerous patch was till I hit NH4 at Nipani i.e the Amboli ghat and the inner state highways. Considering all these things I had decided to leave at a relatively late and comfortable time of 9-10 am on Day 8.

Day 8..The final day's log and pix will follow soon.
Riding on SH121, Amboli ghat and NH4..

**ketan_r15** · 12-18-2010, 01:30 AM

Day 8
Ride to Mumbai by NH4 via Amboli Ghat

Today was the final day of the trip and I was heading back to Mumbai. Woke up by around 7.30am . Swapnil(cousin) had to attend a medical seminar and thus had left home at 5.30 am. But he had promised me that he'll be back home before I leave and then accompany me till his office in Porvorim on his bike.

I finished all my chores and got ready by 9.30am. Swapnil was back home at 9 and he too hurriedly got ready for me. Finally wishing everyone good bye, we both left home at 10 am. He was with me till Porvorim before I finally bid him good bye and was off to Mumbai alone. I was getting strange looks by fellow road users, mainly because of the riding gears and the tail bag. I had no trouble reaching the Goa - Maharashtra border as the roads were super smooth and I was enjoying the ride. Stopped in between for occasional photographs.

Leaving the Vacation Paradise behind..

Considering the long journey ahead, I didn't spend much time clicking and exploring. Got back on track with bike quickly. Once I crossed the border and entered Maharashtra, change in road condition was evident and the joyful ride turned into a painful ride till Sawantwadi. I was aware of the route but not in a mood to take chances or experiment I preferred asking a gentleman about the route and confirmed it. I had left the NH17 behind and was on a narrow but scenic SH121 road.

YouTube - Riding on SH121 from Sawantwadi to Amboli Ghat: Helmet Cam video

This was the road that lead me to Amboli ghat. I had been to Amboli ghat before but that was long long time back, with parents, and by car. Therefore for me it was a nice experience. Amboli ghat though beautiful, is very narrow with some tight, blind turns. Rash Cagers and truckers make it even more difficult and tricky for a new rider. I myself found in tight situation a couple of times.

After riding non stop for quite some time I decided to take a photo break as the view from the mountain was also no short of being in heaven. The only thing I was worried were the monkeys around

A lot of them..

Thankfully none of them was in a mood of mischief and no one bothered me.

Moving further I was forced to stop once again, this time because of the land slide. The particular patch of road that can be seen in the pic below was in bad state of condition and it was safer to allow single lane traffic. Therefore stopped and clicked a pic by the time the on coming traffic passed by. Monsoon in 2010 has really wreaked havoc through out the Konkan.

Road wasn't in great condition after I descended Amboli ghat and headed towards Nipani. I had absolutely no idea bout the route and the only thing I did was asking for directions where ever I felt confusing. I used to ask Nipani or Pune highway and people guided me in the right direction. Road wasn't that confusing but it is always better to confirm instead of riding a few kms extra and then ask. By that time my digi cam's battery had totally exhausted and hence I was forced to click pictures by my 3 MP cell phone camera

Took a photo break on the way..

Unknown road, not so good road condition and the ever increasing heat were some of the reasons that resulted in taking longer time to reach Nipani than I expected.

After my previous rides on NH4, I was aware that there aren't many food options available along the highway as on NH17. It was anyway my usual lunch time when I hit NH4 at Nipani. I saw this hotel right where I exited on NH4 and pulled over for lunch.

Food wasn't great but when you are really hungry, everything tastes good

Had a veg thali, had some smoke and was back on the road in no time.

Nothing much can be said about the ride on NH4. The words Smooth, fast, safe, economical are some of the best words that describe the journey on NH4. Very little and mostly disciplined traffic till Satara.

Then traffic starts getting bad after you enter Satara and start getting closer to Pune. Traffic progressively becomes worse when you are very close to Pune, near Katraj etc.

There was some ride planned for the next day by Pune xBhpians at Lonavala and for a second the thought of staying at some Pune xBhpian's house and attending the meet came in my mind but I was too tired to do so hence decided to carry on to Mumbai.

Ride from Pune to Mumbai was a familiar matter and nothing much to describe in it. Reached home without any incident and that too in time. Hot and yummy Pav bhaji was waiting for me at home.. Love my mom for that

Finally after 8 days of fun, adventure, dhamaal, masti and riding the trip had finally come to an end. Once again the line proved itself true that "The Unplanned rides are the Best rides".

I love Goa! I love my Bike!

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