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Ohh..that was super fast!!! thanks Antz

Wow Jay !! This, I'm sure is going to be one special log ! Waiting, waiting....

Cheers & Ride Safe

Re: 6500 Kms and 6 states of West India

Wow...awesome pics..subscribed



Sent from my WT19i

Wow! Nice appetizer, main course please...
And added to that, blue ZMR looks lovely. Sad they stopped its production.

RECAP..What did I say?? "Memories are more sweeter when things are done against more and more odds"


Aah!! I ain't a philosopher to give one liners and add my name at the end, which often becomes most of our FB status . Wake up in the morning with Mom's bed coffee, get ready to school in a Jiffy, carry a school bag which weighs half as your's, do all blah blah at school and somehow manage to get good marks, get into a college and course of your parents choice, make friends for lifetime, hell lot of memories to cherish, make sure you have Job in hand before you finish final year, get into a Job which nowhere matches your interests but still work like a donkey and get promotions, plan your earnings for future, take care of your family. A typical Indian middle class son's life isn't it?? most of us happily live it and so do I.


Sometimes we unknowingly get addicted to things which keeps us happy in this routine life. For me, that one and only thing is touring on bike. It was almost over an year that I had gone on a ride of 2+ days and looks like my frustration had reached its heights but commitments always kicks your aXX. Wanted to go somewhere alone, ride as much as I can but wasn't sure when and where. Roughly had plans for North East but logistics didn't workout as I didn't had much time to plan. Was thinking to do Kerala which was left undone in my last ride but Phanikar pitches in and leaves a bug in my mind to try West India and follows up as well . I finally made up my mind to his suggestion and a big thanks to him for everything, list will be tedious that's why . Everything was planned just a couple of days before the ride. Skipped my heavy, space consuming foot pump and thanks to Ram for lending his hand pump.


Day-0 (22 Dec 2012) - Plan was actually to start on this day but I wanted to make sure the bike is perfectly fit for this massive ride. Most of the required things like air filter change, chain & sprocket, fork oil & seal change e.t.c were covered in the previous service 15 days ago. Took it ASC for a check, got the clutch cable changed and carried all required spares. Called my manager and informed that I will be extending my furlough for another week but would be available on phone. He happily accepted as even he is going on leave and wished all the best for my ride . Usual blah blah session at home as I will be going alone but convinced somehow.


Changing a good working clutch cable just as extra precaution.





Night before the ride day, all messed up





Callmate. Charge on the go





11.30PM in the night and I'm still finishing my work related stuff so that I can be peaceful in next coming days. It was almost 12am when I hit the bed hoping to respond for the alarm. Kept the mobile far away knowingly so that I don't snooze it


So whoever wondering what my first statement relates to!! Well, the first Odd is TIME. Starting from planning till the execution I was running short of time. Also, this trip plan includes some dreadful stretches which I must do in specified time to keep up with available leaves. Spare days were kept for emergency though.

Day-1: Bangalore to Ankola

Route: Bangalore-Tumkur-Arsikere-Shimoga-Jogfalls-Honnavara-Gokarna-Ankola


Excitement woke me up before the alarm as I kept it for 5am. Got ready as soon as I can and loaded the bike with all luggage. A deep breath filled with smell of home and confidence, wished good bye to family members and zip on to the ring road with almost zero traffic.


5.45am, ignition on and trip meter set to zero.





15kms from home, I was on the Bangalore-Nelamanagala elevated highway.


All set for this longggg Journey





Good Morning NH 206








With a growling stomach, I had to end up here for breakfast





Met these guys (My bad, I forgot their names) who are on their way to Linganamakki backwaters. Usual biker talks and they were wondering at me doing this ride alone. My Intent was to be alone though.





I'm personally related to first town, so a pic for my family








Reached sagara by 1.30pm. It was time to hog some nice food for lunch, but unfortunately it turns out to the same dhabas with well known menu items.


Whatever I ordered or whatever they gave ??





Moved on from there for a customary visit to Jog falls knowing that it will be as dry as it can. Talaguppa got broad guage track after a long wait (old news but my first view of it).





Approaching Jog falls





Jog falls as said, search for water





Jog-Honnavara, through the thick forests.





Crossed Honnavara and NH17 was always known for being bad but it has been brought into a good shape now. All bad stretches have been patched and some stretches relaid from Honnavara-Gokarna. I was the most happiest at that time as I can reach Gokarna for sunset.


At Gokarna beach














It was already dark when I left Gokarna and decided to halt at Ankola. Stopped at the first available hotel on the Highway, had a heavy dinner and crashed on bed with no signs of tiredness


Day-2...coming soon

Nicely done. You could have told me. Would have joined from Mangalore. I am planning for a similar ride. Keep on coming bro.

6500 Kms and 6 states of West India

keep rolling Jay!! Safe & a mind blowing journey, something to add to your best of memories


Sent from my iPad using xBhp Connect mobile app

Nice going Jay ! Bring on the rest !

Cheers !

Great thread..and great pics too. Keeping an eye here.!!

Cheers
Ride Safe
Krishna

Thank you Sir... people like you stays as an inspiration for us to do more of these rides

Thanks Christo

Thanks Divya sharan . Yeah blue always good on ZMR than ZMA. Not sure why they stopped it.

nice pictures.........

Thanks sakshar as I said, Ride was confirmed just a couple of days before the start date.

Thanks mate

Thanks again Sir

Thanks Krish

Thanks Princesirohi

Day-2: Ankola to Ratnagiri

Route: Ankola-Karwar-Canacona-Margaon-Panaji-Sawantwadi-Kudal-Tarkarli-Devbaug-Kasal-Pali-Hathkamba-Ratnagiri


Alarm was enough to wake me up, it was pitch dark even at 6.30am. Looked like tough day ahead to reach Ratnagiri by evening. Quickly got freshened up but receptionist was still sleeping, woke him up to open the shutters. Decided to have breakfast there itself instead of stopping again.


Good morning Ankola








Idli was the only option at that time





Moved on from there and the cool breeze on coastal roads with amazing views, wow!! what a start for the day


What you see on the way



Karwar



Abandoned boat



Bye Bye Karwar



In no time, Goa welcomes me



Had no plans to stop anywhere in Goa except for fuel as I might end up staying there if I do so reasons can be so many, pick one of your choice . Passing through the beautiful forest roads with very minimal traffic was like 'Above All'. Started getting so many office related calls but didn't want to pick any.








Work from Road/Tree..uff





Fuel for body under the scorching sun of Goa





Crossed Panaji and now its time to get something that Goa is famous for. Yes, along with beaches and everything else, its now famous for Fuel Price so the first refill of the trip goes @ 55.56 per litre. It's been ages that I got a full tank under 1000 bucks





No more stops anywhere after that until I found this welcome board. Ohh! so soon into 3rd state within hours from morning.


700Kms away from home





Destination for lunch was Tarkarli for sure to taste first sea food of the trip, in Malvani style.


Vistas on the way



Green turns to Brown in no time.



Had reached Tarkarli but I still kept going to find a way on to the beach, went around 10kms through narrowest roads and finally ended up in Devbaug with growling stomach, actually the road ends there, not me . A guy came running towards me and asking this


Guy: Want to go on boat ride?
Me: Silence!! (removing gloves and helmet)
Guy: waits!! tic tic tic
Me: Chuck the boat ride, I will faint if I don't eat now. Can you show me some hotel which serves seafood??
Guy: Laughs and takes me to the nearest hotel, asked to come back after lunch and he will show me the way to get onto beach along with bike.
Me: Clean Bowled !!


I didn't wait anymore, left the choice with hotel owner himself to give whatever fish he likes


This is what I got





Wasn't enough




Finished my lunch and went to the same guy who showed the way onto the beach and told that I can ride on the beach till Malvan as its low tide today. Thanked him with a big grin on my face. Adding to that, I hardly found anybody on the beach, it was so lonely to accompany me.





Loneliness at its best












Never knew, It was almost an hour and I was still enjoying the lonely beach. Ratnagiri was still far away and its already 4.30pm. Had to move on quickly as riding NH17 at night can be dangerous.


A small Video of the ride on Tarkarli beach





Tarkarli was calm and refreshing, a must visit place in MH. I was fully recharged after delicious food and enjoying on the beach. Sun was all set to go home and I started miles munching session.





What I feared about has come true, getting ready for the torture of those powerful high beam lights. NH17 was OK apart from few pot holes and bad patches on this stretch. Worst part was some relaid patches didn't have markers on them, it was really tough to Judge the road whenever any vehicle zooms off with high beam without caring fellow road users.


This part of my life is called "Riding the NH17 at night"





This is what I can see when it is pitch dark, Imagine when there is a truck coming in the opposite direction.





Getting closer





Finally reached the destination around 9pm and it took another 30mins to find a decent hotel. Ratnagiri was as cold as a hill station, no signs of humidity what we usually feel in coastal areas. Took bath and it was time to go hunting some delicious Konkan food. Even the restaurant name was 'Konkan Lajjat'


Here it is



Signing off for the day with 'Oolala Oolala'







Day-3: Catch that Ferry , coming soon