Topic Approved

the pictures are grat bring on the rest....

Thanks MG

Thanks a lot Rakesh...they are on the way

Nice Teaser..Loved the second pic.Cascaded Lush Green Mountains.

Around Ooty i guess

Cheers
Biru

Thanks a lot Biru...

That was the View point from Munnar Top station. Bliss

Damn !!..that Top station view point you mean.That place is even better when its covered with clouds.Reminds me a splendid moment happened at that place when i was chased by a Mallu girl :P and how i escaped

Cheers
Biru

Your opening moves (read pictures) seems quite interesting. Please continue

Mallu girl was chasing and you escaped from her?? Why Why Why

thanks a lot, Sure, Will not be sleeping tonight till I finish Day-1 log.

Dont ask,She was too desperate and wild :P

Cheers
Biru

Lolzzzzzz....Thank god you escaped

Enough!!! Now push your bike into the shed and take care of your career ...Grrrr...that's a serious warning from my family. Not only them 95 % of people I knew had given the same kind of suggestion to me after coming back from mighty LEH ride. My Blue beast was one among the remaining 5 who had a question "What Next"?? How would I expect those 95 to feel my itch to ride. Ride more and more as the roads never going to end.

I was looking for something big, something which would please me visually so that I can stop drooling at my own Ladakh Travelogue grazing the good times. Work started screwing my life with more responsibilities after a big vacation, days were getting hectic. In the excitement of getting Leh'd I had a Oath to my manager that no leaves for next 6 months. Small rides here and there over the weekends and rare G2Gs were the only things which were making me feel frustrated that I'm a Human Being, not a programmed machine. Days were gone to worst from hectic, my soul started praying, 'Oh God, Write me off from responsibilities'. Google Maps has become the priority tab in my browser all the time. That is When Shell has announced one of our Indian routes as "The World's Ultimate Riding Wonder", I was so excited to see that and Indeed stood first in the queue to post the news to fellow bikers. The so called "Next" destination seems to be fixed almost. Coorg to Munnar via Ooty it is.

Much awaited Ooty was done solo just before going to Leh, again Solo to Coorg just happened over a weekend in between the life which was next to hell. Being so close to all the wonders, it will be a crime if I still keep thinking of the route. My mind has been made up, plan has been shared with the local biker fellas to End 2011 with a big bash ride, Furlough was the time where no manager can come in my way to take leaves so planned it in the last week of December. Suggestions were poured in, Few raised their hands, some turned back and Finally it was Me and Anirban were the only ones all set to "Appraise the World's Ultimate Riding Wonder"

Initial plan was to extend the route a bit in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu so that we can keep riding till the Year End but couldn't continue with Kerala and remaining parts due to unforeseen circumstances (will explain in the log). Many friends cut off their rides to Munnar due to 'Dam'n issue, that worried me a bit but a hope deep inside pushed me with a 'whatever' feeling. Minor issues with the bike were fixed and the Supervisor from HH showroom was the first one to wish all the best for my ride, thanks to Pradeep from Sai Motors for taking nice care of my bike from the very first service. Dec 22nd 2011 was finalized to kick off and Anirban has to join me near the same Sai Motors at Outer Ring Road (The only place in Bangalore from where Anirban knows the route to get back home) around 5am in the Morning. He buzzed me after reaching there and I joined him within minutes. That was the first time I'm meeting him face to face but had a feeling that we rode a lot together. Wow!! did i just say that .

Day-1: Bangalore to Manipal

Route: Bangalore-Belur-Mudigere-Kalasa-Kudremukh-Manipal
Distance: 522 kms (Including local roaming in Manipal)

Outer Ring Road



Infront of Sai Motors:



All set and the journey starts with a High five...clock was ticking 5.30am and the city was hardly awake. Winter in Bangalore was at its best, luckily no fog today. Slowly we moved on the ring road towards Tumkur road and caught the highway around 6am. By this time, I realized DSG without Inner Liner is of no use in that weather out there on the exposed highway. Zipped Tightly, tucked all the openings wherever wind find the way to enter and started concentrating only the part of road upto where the ZMR brightest lights can reach

Our Hands and Knees started getting numb to the chilly wind but butter smooth 6 lanes kept us pushing. Sun was peeping out of the clouds with lazy eyes and road started getting monotonous for us. So what? its time for a break.





Me...Half slept



Moved on from there and Hassan came so early before the breakfast time, so decided to move on till Belur as Anirban was in must condition to see the temple. 9.30am, we reached Belur, had a Non-veg breakfast (no other option), dumped all our luggage at the same hotel and moved on towards the temple to finish a quick visit. Hotel owner was very kind and allowed us to keep our luggage and guided on the route condition towards Mudigere-Kottigehara as well. Belur, a place that doesn't need introduction to most of us. For All who doesn't know, it is famous for the fineness of its sculpture. One will be definitely amazed when the guide explains as what the carving is actually representing. Half a day wouldn't be enough to capture that beauty, but keeping the tougher roads ahead in mind, we decided to finish it ASAP.





























We didn't go inside the temple due to the kind of breakfast we had. Quickness was lost the beauty of the temple and we spent around 30 minutes out there, got back to hotel, picked up the luggage and took the Mudigere-Kottigehara route itself as the Hotel owner assured that the well known potholes had been patched up. He was right in whatever way he told, all the potholes are been patched up but where does the actual road exists??. Not smooth, but can be ridden at the pace of your convenience. Moved on towards Mudigere with a rise and fall in the acceleration.

NOTE: Please spare me for the quality of some of the pics. Took from my mobile cam.



Reached Mudigere and the road towards Aldur was calling to be ridden with tad black tarmac. Poor two we were, still moved on towards kottigehara, roads started getting better and better with small bad patches here and there.

Butt Break somewhere after Kottigehara.





Crossed Kalasa and moved towards Kudremukh which stood as a sole reason behind selecting this route for an awesome bliss of twisties to practice some cornering. Soon we reached check post, got the entry receipt and moved on.







Initial part of Kudremukh roads seems to be deteriorated (Oh govt, please don't let this happen) but the actual funda starts once get deep inside. Lean left, lean Right and have a time to enjoy the view when you get straight.















Butt Breaks in heart of Kudremukh:

You Black I Blue





Flying High



Flying Low



Enough of Pics, let us enjoy some cornering.

Pushed on from there and reached Manipal around 4.15pm which was the planned destination tonight. Called one of my friend's friend who had already arranged a stay for us. He came and guided us to the hotel, assured help on demand and left the place. As I already knew most of Udupi / Malpe, told will call him tonight to show Manipal. A Very clean and comfortable room at the Hotel Down Town. We freshened up quickly and left for sunset at the Malpe beach.



















Exactly One year back I was lying down on the same beach, boozing without any idea on how busy could life get in the next 365 days. Memories gets sweeter when you are at the same place. Headed back to hotel, took bath and we were very hungry as we skipped lunch because of a non-veg Breakfast. Called another friend and he took us for dinner and local Sight Seeing in the night. Had a lot of fun seeing all the places and after that boozed and boozed like hell is waiting for us outside, slept in the third world with a big hope to get up on time tomorrow.

Day-1 Started with a High Five and ended High, really high...

Wow Jay !! Another really amazing ride and the pictures as usual -stunning !! Way to go my friend, really great going.

Take Care & Ride Safe

Jay !
I could not see some of the pics as i am checking it on my office pc still could see some. Great pics there mate. Keep going ! Nice log too.
I liked the first 2 teaser pics especially. Just awesome. I am sure you have more to upload ! Do it soon mate.

Regards,
Nagesh

Thanks a lot sir....These words made my day... I bow