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"Tamaso maa Jyotir-gamaya"

You must be wondering what is this title all about? Aren't you?

Well, I am not a good writer but then penning down my views and experiences here. It is just my humble attempt. This is a ride report from Bangalore to Bangalore via Hassan -Mangalore - Madikeri - Bangalore. From Darkness in Bangalore to Bright sunshine in Mangalore

22nd June 2012, Friday, 1800 Hours:

Was in the weekend mood as most of them in office had left already. I myself do not know what i was doing even after working hours sitting simply at work place. Suddenly there is "Tring tring", I check the cellphone and it is my appa's call.

Appa: Are you busy?

Me: No appa, tell me

Appa: Where are you? Have you left office?

Me: Not yet, Sitting simply and all my colleagues have already left

Appa: What are you doing this weekend?

Me: Nothing planned as such, Might be cleaning the room, Visiting the bullet garage, That's it!!

Appa: OK, Fine. Drops the call and it makes me think. What am i doing sitting simply in Bangalore for whole 2 days? I realize that it has been already a month since i last visited Mangalore and my Favorite temple. Immediately i call appa and here goes the conversation

Me: Appa, where are you?

Appa: Reached home, Why?

Me: I am planning to ride to Mangalore and visit temple, Will meet you on Saturday while returning from Mangalore

Appa: OK, But which route are you taking now while going to Mangalore? Are you going via Hassan or Madikeri?

Me: Via Hassan, Will come via Madikeri and call you later after reaching Mangalore

Appa: OK, Ride safe, Call me when you reach Mangalore. Take Care. Ting.

Time was past 1930 hours, Freshened up and packed clothes and geared up for my night ride. It was 2000 hours when i started the night ride from Bangalore to Mangalore via Hassan- Sakleshpur-BC Road-Mangalore


I rode till PESIT college in Ring road and soon realized there is bottle neck traffic at Nayandahalli junction. I took NICE road and joined Tumkur road exit (21kms) with just 15 mins and then it started raining. Since my rain gear was on i did not bother much and rode happily enjoying my rain ride. Took Deviation at Nelamangala on to Mangalore highway.

321 kms before i sleep



But who cares to sleep when one is on 2 wheels? I love riding on and on

I rode happily enjoying my solo ride and time was close to 2100 hours, That is when i realized that i haven't had anything since noon and stomach was singing song. I soon realized that i cant ride till KAMAT off Chennarayapatna which was more than 100 kms from that point. Soon hunt for a veg hotel was ON and kept on recollecting good hotels on my way. Failure again, Could not recollect a good hotel and soon i was riding near Soloor, For my luck there was a Davanegere Benne Dose Kendra which was open and i did not think twice. Stopped for a quick dosa and tea break and filled stomach with a plate of set dosa and cup of coffee. I have a habit of not eating too much while riding.

Thunderbird outside the hotel



This was sufficient for me and it was then i was attacked by the villagers and hotel people with curious questions as in where am i from? Am i from Military? Why i am i wearing the reflective tapes? What is this knee guard used for? Happily answered all their queries and started my ride.


I have noticed it fewer times that when one is riding solo most of the people try to race and tempt. This ride was not spared though. I had couple of four wheelers chasing me down and trying to provoke me to chase them and them tailgating me with their bright headlights and so on. But little did they know what was in store for them once they overtook me

I recently had upgraded my headlamp to 100/90 set up and this was more then sufficient for my entire night ride. Soon they realized their mistake and should have seen almost all vehicles coming from opposite direction was reminded that there is something called DIM light and it was supposed to be used when there is oncoming traffic. Man it was so fun watching the Trucks and VOLVO's giving way for me with dimming their high beam.

Rain had stopped when i reached Chennarayapatna and i was not in a mood to stop for a break at Kamat Upachar which is my regular spot.

Soon i realized that my Thunderbird had reached a milestone and i was recollecting all the good times spent with the bull and the places where i had been with him irrespective of day and night. My Thunderbird has not complained even once and whenever i start him he just responses with a smile on face and makes me forget all my bad days and sorrows




I rode on and on enjoying and soon realized that i was in Hassan. This is when the oncoming traffic was huge as the night service bus from Mangalore and coastal belt had been on their way and were reaching Hassan. I reached Sakaleshapura by around 1200 hours and for my bad luck the regular tea shop was just closed. When i stopped the tea shop guy greeted me and said he was just closing and since there is time restriction in town area to close the shops he had to close else police would cause trouble. He wished me safe ride and i was sure there would be a tea stall which is open for 24 hours in Donigal. I reached there and took a good 30 min Coffee break at Sakaleshpur.

Again curious travellers and night beat police was bombarding me with their questions and that is when the Tea shop guy told the Police: Saar, I know him, he rides regularly on this route to Mangalore and have been seeing him since last few years, Crazy Guy who rides on night with this bullet and stops here for a chai everytime"

LoL i never knew he would say that to the police and after enjoying filter coffee at Sakaleshpur i resumed my ride to Mangalore. I had a lot of expectation of Shiradi Ghats and this is the place where i enjoy to the max irrespective of day and night. Serene nature and during monsoon there are N number of natural waterfalls and this is pure bliss to ride here. The Oncoming trucks and buses was there as usual and few bus drivers whom i know personally and have been meeting over the ride started greeting me with honking and dimming their lights. This is what i cherish on my rides always. Greeting each other with either horns or waving with thumbs up sign. what a cherishing moment for a traveller!!!


I passed by Kadamanae estate and little did i know what was in store for me this day . I soon started taking the corners and i still remember it was 3rd corner from Sakaleshpur side, Immediately the road ahead was blank and zero visibility. I was like what the hell, I cant seen even 1 meter what is ahead of me with this bright headlamps? It was so thick fog and there was No visibility at all. I started riding with open visor( Which i don't in usual cases) and soon my face was wet. Rode for 3 kms at a speed of 10kmph and i see a bunch of vehicles parked with hazard lights on and waiting on road side.

This is what i was able to see at that mid night. Seriously do not know how to take fog pictures during night time.





Soon i was accompanied by them ( Am i sounding nuts? Nay not at all) They see me passing and soon they tailgate me with the hazard lights on, The speed was around 15-20 kmph through out the ghats. Had to ride carefully as the roads were slippery too. The oncoming traffic was also suffering from this thick fog. I had to skip the plan of stopping by kempuhole for a break and rode all the way till Gundya Checkpost. This is the diversion place for Kukke Subramanya and those cars which followed me stopped by to say thanks and rode towards Kukke subramanya. I stopped over by the checkpost for a coffee break. I took a coffee and stepped into forest guards room. He soon recognized me and said you are the same person who stayed here few months back and soon he was busy speaking and killing his boredom. I pity those night shift guards who work whole night to earn their living. He is aged around 50+ and i was speaking to him for long. I did not realize that i had stopped over there for more than 45 mins and i thought it is time for me to start my ride again. Thanked the guard and rode to Mangalore.

I reached Uppinangadi and was stopped by the night beat police patrol. They asked me all sorts of questions and checked the documents.

Police: What are you doing at night?


Me: Riding

Police: I can very well see that,Where are you heading to?

Me: From Bangalore to Mangalore

Police: What? Bangalore to Mangalore in bike that too night? Are you crazy? Ghats, Trucks, Buses rule this road. There are dacoits in this area. Stop in police station till morning and then leave

Me: Saar, I am from Mangalore and spoke in TULU ( Local Language of South Kanara aka DK district)

Police: Hmmm, ride safe, Give me Rs. 20 for coffee.

Me: Awww What?

Police: Give us money, we will drink coffee and it is chilling cold here

Me: Change illa saar, and i resumed my ride to Mangalore. I especially do not entertain who asks for money directly like this. I would not have minded to give him a cup of coffee if he had not demanded uprightly.


Rode non stop till Mangalore and i reached Pumpwell circle. This is the entrance of Mangalore and joining the NH which leads to Mumbai from Kanyakumari. I tried my best to click the pic but ended with this. Reached Mangalore at 0300 am . Whenever i reach Mangalore i thank my guardian angel for getting me here safely and Mangalore gives me a lot of positive energy and some sort of mental peace and happiness. Might be because there are so many temples and also this land is "Parashurama Sristi"( Land created by Lord Parashurama. More details here : History of Mangalore - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)



I did not want to disturb my cousin at Mangalore and rode straight to KSRTC bus stand at Bejai and sat in the waiting lounge till 0600 hours with a quick powernap. Reached Cousin's place and freshened up and rode to temple which is 11 kms from Mangalore towards Bajpe Airport. Offered prayers and took prasada from temple and resumed my ride to Madikeri via Puttur.

It was slightly drizziling there and i rode all the way to Madikeri via Puttur - Sullya.

Few clicks on Sulya-Madikeri stretch





Did not click much as i was tired and wanted to reach home and crash for the day.Reached home by 1530 hours. Took bath and crashed for the day. I myself do not know how fast i was asleep after riding for 500 kms in night and soon i was dreaming as if someone is trying to wake me up, punching me, all that i could hear was thumping beat of my Thunderbird on both my ears.

At around 1900 hours i woke up and soon appa said it was me who was trying to wake u up then and since you were in deep sleep i gave away. Had a small chit chat and gave prasada to appa. The day ended for me by 2000 hours and i again went for a sound sleep. I was resting my back after 500 kms of riding and that was a great feeling for me.

June 24th 2012:

Wake up and finish the morning chores and go to Suntikoppa for weekly sunday Bazaar along with appa. Meet so many known people, exchange greetings, pick up vegetables and groceries from the market and then rode to Madikeri to meet a friend of Appa for some official work.

Reached home by around 1200 hours. Go to estate with Appa for a quick round it was so awesome. Few clicks from the walk in estate















Time was 1500 hours and it was time for me to head back to Karmabhoomi Bangalore. With a heavy heart bid bye to Appa who came along with me till Suntikoppa. Rode continuously till Indhradhanush hotel near chennapatna for a quick refreshment. This was the only stop and Mysore road traffic was heavy as expected. So did not click any pics and finally reached room at 2000 hours after riding for 1000 kms and making a weekend memorable one.


Let me give the brief statistics now for all the stats geeks

Route: Bangalore - Nelamangala - Kunigal - Yediyur - Chennarayapatna - Hassan - Sakaleshpura - Gundya - Uppinangadi - B C Road - Mangalore - Marakada - Mangalore - B C Road - Mani - Puttur - Sulya - Madikeri - Suntikoppa - Gundugutti - Suntikoppa - Kushlanagar - Hunsur - Ilvala - Srirangapatna - Mandya - Maddur - Chennapatna - Ramanagar - Kengeri - Uttarahalli - Katriguppe.


Total Distance: 999 Kms round trip. Roamed around one km to make it 1000 kms road trip

Road Conditions:

Bangalore - Belur Cross - Excellent 4 lane highway

Belur Cross - Chennarayapatna - Work in Progress with few diversions. Proper markings are there and hence not an issue to identify

Chennarayapatna- Sakaleshpur - Good road and few patches are fixed with rubber sheets and easy ride

Sakaleshpur - BC Road - Shiradi ghats are still good and no bad patches at all

BC Road- Mangalore- 4 lane completely

Mani - Puttur - Road widening completed and excellent work done. Road markings to be completed

Puttur - Sulya - Work in progress and few bad patches

Sulya - Sampaje - Work yet to be started but moderate roads, couple of bad patches

Sampaje - Suntikoppa - Excellent freshly laid roads and breeze to ride over there

Suntikoppa - Ilvala - Excellent roads which was done close to 6 years ago

Ilvala- Srirangapatna - Few bad patches but serene nature with paddy and sugarcane fields on both the sides

Srirangapatna - Kengeri - Need not say about the road conditions but the traffic was pathetic.


Thus a 1000 kms of road trip was ended with a satisfied soul and now back to work

Thanks for reading

Ride Hard,Ride safe

So, another lovely ride after quite a while ? I'm sure you would have enjoyed it as usual. It's always a great feeling to visit home and meet your folks. Please do take care while riding at night.

Cheers & Ride Safe

Thank you so much Ridermax sir, Yes necessary precautions are taken care during night riding.

Thanks once again for the support.

Nice

Nice travelogue and the teaser. The known road to me has been put in an unknown way.

Thump on.
Sakshar

Thanks a lot buddy that is the essence of the lonely rider

By the way the ride report is up. Hope you have read it.

Very well written log man . I had lived in Mangalore during college days and travelled quite a bit on these routes to Bangalore. Amazing vistas, waterfalls and fog covered hills...I had that chai at Sakleshpur at 3 am! It was all by bus though. Would have loved to have a bike then.
Will surely do this route someday.

Hope you do many more of such trips..
Cheers. Ride Safe.

Liked the travelogue.

Night driving gives a different feeling altogether. The world around is so different and the first sight of sun rays fills you with new energy. I have also done it a few times.

Thanks a lot. It is altogether a different experience.

Thanks a lot. Exactly my thoughts.

That was a pretty nice long solo ride.... Thanks for the updates on the road conditions. I will henceforth follow up these travelouges before going someplace. My first and only ride till date from Bengaluru was quite a disaster.

Thank you so much, Glad that you liked my travelogues.

Nice writeup Ram. You do Mangalore-Bangalore rides like I do the Bangalore-Mysore rides The Sulya-Madikeri stretch looks yummy... Need to ride before it gets destroyed by the heavy trucks!

Thank you so much Nish Yes Madikeri-Sulya stretch is awesome and work is competed till Sampaje