The Ride to Pune

Chetan a.k.a ChetanPulsar was riding with me to Pune, the agreed time to meet was about 4.30AM in Panvel, but paapi sleep ensured that I got up only around 4 and started from home at 5.50. Poor Chetan had already reached the designated meeting point and was waiting for me. Sorry Chetan! Colabla to Panvel is 55Kms and it took me about 1hour 10 mins to reach McDonald's in Panvel were Chetan had been waiting for me over an hour! From there with Chetan in the lead we began our express journey to Pune. I was travelling on that stretch of road after a gap of 10 years and I just couldn't find anything that I could remember, it was an all new experience for me.

The roads are pretty good and the ghats were a bit scary, atleast that hadn't changed....it was still scary! Two red 220's climbing the ghats was not only interesting sight but sound too, the moment we would hit a hairpin bend we would downshift a little and the rev hard to climb....the exhaust induction roar of both 220's would almost resonate to produce aural delight. With both of maintaining speeds of 100, we covering distance at a quick pace. We passed Khandala in a jiffy, as we entered Lonavala, memories from 14 years began to flood my brain...I have lived in Lonavala for 4 years and its was one of the most memorable places from my childhood! I was VERY VERY tempted to take the right turn on highway that enters into Lonavala town , but the shortage of time meant that we push ahead. Lonavala-Pune was a breeze, and I could remember a lot more from this route as during my time in Lonavala, my parents and me would travel frequently by road to Pune. Now we were almost maintaining a steady 110+kmph. With Chetan leading all I wasn't pretty bothered about the route and I must add that he's a very good rider! We reached the designated meeting point just of Chandni Chowk in pune it a little over 1 hour 20 mins.

Total journey time from My Home to meeting point in Pune was 2.5 hours, and I had covered 170Kms. My reaction was -->, coz earlier I remember it used to take close to 4+hours to cover the entire Mumbai-Pune distance.

At the Cafe Coffee day, Ritwick soon arrived and so did Niranjan, but my friend Soumen was nowhere to seen or heard off as I was going to drop of my entire luggage at his house before heading to Lavassa. On calling his he was sleeping and was not going to be coming apparently!

Quick thinking on NV's part and we decided that we'd try to convince the folks of CCD to hold on to my bags for a while. But CCD was closed, never fear when NV is here... We walked to the reception of the hotel in which the CCD was there, and convinced the ladies that we are no terrorists and would like to keep our bags for a an hour or two. A smile or two and they were convinced!

Me, Chetan, NV and Ritwick then started towards Lavassa, I was tailing the entire pack just enjoying my ride. I did not know the places were we were passing through. But after passing through some small and narrow twisty village roads, we hit a wider road which I guess was Mutha as I read that off some board. Soon we hit some traffic, and the entire group had slowed down. The others were obeying traffic rules and not attempting to over take the group of slow moving vehicles, I kindda got impatient and gunned the throttle to overtake. I reached ahead and the feeling of riding alone was blissful until NV caught up with me after about 5 mins and warned me that right handers are were deceptive and the curve would tighten inwards at the apex, plus there are villages in between where I should be VERY careful. I listened to his advice and let the other lead and fell at the back of the pack again, and boy oh boy was he correct, the right handers had me completely fooled, thankfully I was not going all out and was slow enough at most corners to avoid anything ugly from happening. Then the guys picked up pace and man can these guys ride!!!! I had a very tough time in just keeping sight of them. No wonder everyone raves so much about Lavassa and Mutha, riding here can improve ones cornering skills by leaps and bounds!

And I felt like an complete amateur here with the guys leaving me behind at every corner ! We passed a dam and I guess with entered the Lavassa road....we stopped here for a short break to chit chat, click a few pics....