Topic Approved

A great going man ...

Thanks for the Approval MG Sir.

Started off from Office in Gachibowli at 4:30 PM and reached Shamshabad. After a halt for a Cigarette and Tea, started off on the beautiful NH7, but for a couple of Kms after Shamshabad Airport, the road is in tatters. Finally got onto the smooth strech of tarmac and kept going till a little before Jadcherla where I stopped for a leak. Tried doing some research on taking a leak with the wind blowing against you. Succeded partly (And no, I've not taken any photos of the research )


Tried some innovative photography.


Excuse the Quality, got screwed up in the resize option when using Irfanview.





Stopped at Munavar Dhaba Near Jadcherla. Trip Distance : 86 Kms, Time 6:30 PM. So, I had covered this in approx. 2 Hrs.
Started off from the Dhaba and it was getting darker now. Switched on the Lights, Visor closed and kept a steady speed of 70+ on the speedo. I had another 120 Kms to reach Kurnool.
Around 30 Kms before Kurnool, my bike started making some rough noise. I couldn't locate the exact source of the noise and thought it would be better to change the engine oil. Got a servo Outlet just before Kurnool and bought a Servo 20W40 Oil, which was totally useless. It felt like my bike was struggling to move when I tried riding at speeds less than a 60 on the speedo. So, kept up speeds and reached Kurnool at 9:30.
Fuel had reached reserve and took a room in a Hotel called Comfort Inn. AC Room costed 1000 Rs. Watched the IPL for some time and had a Quarter of Whiskey and went to sleep.


Things to do in the morning.
> Get Tanked up.
> Replace Engine Oil and get bike checked by a mechanic.
> Get to an ATM and fill up the wallet as well. No breakfast since I had to visit the shrine.
Since it was a Good Friday, couldn't get hold of any mechanic, got the tank filled, got to an ATM, and a few kms after the NH7 in Kurnool, got a puncture shop guy who changed the Engine Oil, no difference in the harshness of the bike though, so obviously the problem was different. But except for the sound and harshness, there was no difference in the bikes performance, so, decided to brace for the worst and kept going at my own steady pace and tried as much to ignore the noises coming from within.
Started off from Kurnool at 8:30 AM and asked for directions, apparently, the road shown in Google Maps was not repaired after the Floods in Oct. 2009 and I had to travel via Yemmiganur to Mantralayam.
Lost the way and travelled several Kms on a different road. Though the route was wrong, the roads were beautiful. Very unlike my previous experience in Maharastra while going to Parli.















The roads were just beautiful and had several curves. I had never tried leaning to such extent in my 5 yrs. of owning this bike.

Finally reached Mantralayam at 12:00 PM a good two hours late.



Went for the Darshan and there was a big queue. Asked a Security guard posted there if there was any other special darshan queue and on seeing that I was alone, was kind enough to get me into the special darshan queue, the ticket counter for which, was closed already. Gave him a baksheesh of 20 Rs.
The Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt (SRS Mutt) is very similar to Udipi, where Free Lunch is served to all devotees. Trust me, the Lunch was really tasty and could beat most hotels in terms of taste, quality and quantity.
Mission accomplished, Stomach full. Did some shopping for some Audio CDs and some other Pooja Items. My Dad's a huge believer in this Saint. He's named me after him as well. Now, for the return Journey. Time was 4:30 PM
Asked around and now saved 50 Kms by going on the correct route. And except for a certain patches of not more than 200 mts. The roads were in terrific shape.
Reached Kurnool at 5:45 PM. Stopped in the middle and had a Juice called Nannari. This is a herbal concotion and non-alcoholic. This is supposed to be great to beat the heat.

At the start of the Bridge over the Tungabhadra on NH7.


Illegal Sand Quarrying in Progress.


The NH-7 might have brilliant Tarmac, but it is surely one monotonous and Boring Roads to drive on, offering very little sights to watchout for. Kept going for another 90 Kms and then stopped at a place which had a bus stop. Now, this is the place where I understood that even a Granite Bench could offer great relief to the butt. This surely was almost a Saddle Sore for me. I had almost travelled 250 Kms in the past 4 Hrs.
Time : 8:20 PM
Distance to Go : 120 Kms
Moved off and reached Munavar Dhaba again, now this fellow has hotels opp. to each other on both sides of the NH7.
Had a good cuppa Tea and a Smoke.
Reached Shamshabad at 10:15 PM.
I still had another 40 Kms to reach home. Was running low on fuel. Filled up on the way near Falaknuma and Finally reached my colony at 11:00 PM
Had a smoke and drank some sprite, which I had bought at the Ghar Dhaba. There is also an SRS Mutt near my home. It was obviously closed. Went there, had a darshan from outside the gate. Finally reached Home at 11:30 PM.
Had a bath. Then had dinner. Had a great night's sleep. Gave my bike for servicing to some other fool who's screwed it up. Need to give him not one but a couple of pieces of my mind in the evening today. I've shifted to a new place and Getting my bike to the old mechanic is a bit of a hassle. Hence, tried this new fellow.
This Nincompoop has tightened the clutch instead of the brakes. It was hell travelling to office in the morning today. My left palm is still paining.

Nice trip dude

Thanks Rakesh, Mitz, It surely was a good trip. Specially, since I could find butter smooth tarmac connecting some of the remote villages.