31-July-2011 : 2:55 AM to 10:35 PM - 1650 Kilometers - 19.5 Hours!

Ride Safe. Travel Far. Do it SoonWhy not a SaddleSore?


I wanted to stop for tea, but did not want to waste time in the middle of nowhere - Trichy it was i told myself. I rode another 50 Kilometers, the traffic started increasing and it must be the outskirts of Trichy. I stopped by the river Cauvery for few sun rise pictures. Spotted a huge BP Petrol pump just before entering Trichy. Filled up the tank again, just to get some more receipts as proof.




It was Hot and Humid and i started sweating out badly and most importantly i started dehydrating in the excess heat. Another 10 minutes, i got back onto the saddle looking for a way out of the town. With the whole town staring at you for wearing clothes like an alien (Riding Gear), i moved on & eventually reached the highway. Stopped by a dhabha for breakfast. I wasted a lot of time in Madurai, almost an hour getting in & out of the town, ATM and now for food. It was close to 9 AM when i finished my meal & tanked up.


The return was no brainer. Similar roads, similar traffic but more & more heat - I covered the super fast Madurai highway in no time, without my senses telling me i overshot Trichy and realised i need to get a receipt as a proof. I stopped just after Trichy in a place called Siruganur. The petrol pump attendant was so happy to see the bike and know about the ride. Gave me a printed bill, his mobile number etc and promised to be of any help whenever required.


The little breakfast i had in Madurai was enough for me to feel sleepy. The long straight highway, A R Rahman hits soothing through the headphones made it look like i was floating on the GQ. I rode another 250 kilometers non stop. As soon as i was near the outskirts of Chennai, the traffic was piling up huge and took a lot of time wading across the trucks moving inch by inch. Stopped by Vandalur, on the outskirts of Chennai for a fuel top-up.

I took the Chennai Bypass. I was still on two minds, should i visit Bangalore or goto Salem instead. By time i was about to decide the other thought came in - should i go home for Lunch or stop on the highway instead. I stopped by the Chennai Bypass toll booth, and the traffic going into the city was immense. Though my home was just 3 Kilometers i did not want to waste time getting struck in mad traffic. I wanted to head to the other end of the highway soon, but as fate would have it - i was stuck in two major exits - Porur & Poonamalee. A nightmare for every one passing by. Took a receipt from an ATM in Porur for proof of passing through Chennai.


Going through all the traffic, in the hot and humid Chennai climate almost made me forget about having food. I was feeling dehydrated and my throat was dry. Stopped by somewhere near Vellore for a drink. Few ice creams, cool drinks and some glucose water is what i could afford for a lunch stop. I took the open highway and finally started to feel the fatigue. I knew the Ninja had bad seats, i had to constantly move the seating position and posture to keep the ride comfortable. i reached krishnagiri, stopped for a quick pee. A couple of guys riding a brand new thunderbird stopped for a chatter, and they were disappointed when i said it was only a 250cc and their 350cc was bought for 1L only and goes even more faster. I really did not have energy to argue nor reply, i simply smiled and left off. Topped up Fuel once again in Krishnagiri - I could feel the pinch as my bank balance was dwindling with every fuel stop.

Its not about how you start, Its all about how you Complete. I was determined to complete it and there was a voice within me which said i cannot do a Saddlesore all these while. May be it was time i do things myself to clear it out. No doubt it was Ninja which outperforms the whole ride, but the lame duck sitting on the bike matters too! I was so hungry, the glucose water is emptied in Salem itself. I needed to stop and buy some water or stop for food once in for all before reaching home. The Sun went down and the twilight was never my cup of tea to ride in. The traffic was accumulating fast and i did not want to stop anywhere. There were a series of diversions in the first part of the highway and once the diversions finished the traffic eased up. Reached Thoppur, where i decided for good that i would stop for fuel and food.

Tragedy stuck hard! The Shytan ka Bacchas were driving along me in their politically alcoholically influenced Sumo. The truck in front of me stopped abruptly leaving the sumo no room to move. I saw some gap to the right and i went ahead. The drunk inmates of the sumo were furious for me over taking them. The Sumo caught up in the next few hundred meters and started abusing me, showing signs and few others threw their cigar buds towards me. The Sumo started chasing me down violently, as though with the intent of ramming me down. I was shocked! It was like right out of a movie, it was dark and where ever i turn it looked like a Sumo car following me. i had no other go to speed away and as far as possible, i did not even wanted to look at the RVM;s to check if they were on my tail. I crossed Krishnagiri in no time, and even after joining the other side of the highway, i was still shattered. 9:27 PM, Kadaperi, near Vellore - Fuel Stop - Odometer Reading 1635910:35 PM, Ending Point, Chennai - ATM Stop - Odometer Reading 16500I have completed 1656 Kilometers in about 19.5 Hours!It Was really worth the experience!Iron Butt!Ananth T E