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DAY 1 | UNFOLDING THE UNFOLDED...AGUMBE SUN SET
I always wanted to cover Agumbe along with Kodachadri. I had read and heard a lot about Agumbe ghat section, curves and above all sun set. I had lost quite some time due to the fall earlier. I inquired with locals about how far Agumbe was and whether I could make it to sunset. Many of them were positive about me making it to Agumbe sun set. I resumed my ride with a sense of urgency. However, severe pain in my left thigh due to unconventional position because of lack-of-foot-rest slowed me down and made me think about skipping Agumbe. Entered a small town called Nagara and checked if my foot-rest could be fixed. I was told by a mechanic that could be welded but there was no power and asked me to look out for a mechanic in the next village. Disappointed, I proceeded further. I was surprised when people were not sure about directions towards Agumbe. However, couple of gentlemen suggested to take a short route via Mastikatte and Kimara and to avoid Tirthahalli as it would be farther and time consuming. Another short cut
I was like to-hell and decided to take that shorter route, and reached Mastikatte. Found another garage. Time was 3.30 PM. The mechanic said foot rest can not be fixed. An idea flashed in my mind. I requested him to see whether he can fix the rear foot-rest in the front. Initially he was reluctant as rear foot-rest is smaller than the front one. But, he had a change of heart when he came to know that I had to cover a long distance. He used his creativity and state-of-the-art technique and fixed the rear foot-rest in the front and this was no less than a magic touch to my trip and I gave him a very humble fees which he accepted without uttering a word and also fixed the crash guard without me asking for it. I am so grateful to him. The very fact that now I was sitting pretty comfortably and relieved thigh and groin muscles revitalized both body and mind, and I rode determined to make it to Agumbe sunset. What pathetic roads and moreover buses and trucks not even honking the horn near blind curves on those narrow roads. I told myself 'you wanted country-side and ghat roads, right?! take them now'. I rode non-stop and only when I saw Agumbe was just 2 K ms did I stop to quench my thirst. I rode straight to sun set point which was right by the road side and was infested with monkeys. I removed saddle bags and carried them with me to a vantage point for a great view. Time was 5.50 PM and Sun was far from going down. Just sat there, reflected upon the day, was feeling bit tired and just looked around as more and more people started gathering to see Lord Sun closing the shop in style. In the mean time a gentleman asked me if I had a fall as he noticed the wound on my palm while I was checking my camera. We struck a conversation. He asked me about my ride. He ( Abid ) and his friend ( Shailendra ) were there from Bangalore on way to Bhadra sanctuary. I told them about my plan and we talked about bike trips, riding alone, Kodachadri, Kudremukh, bird sanctuaries and photography. This lightened my heart and made me forget the tiredness. In the mean time Sun set began in all grandeur and the experience and ambiance and sky changing colors gradually, were and are beyond mere-wordily-description. Hope you will enjoy the camera talk 
Awesome Sun set really made my day. Agumbe dream realized. Abid and Shailendra offered me first aid. Was very happy to meet them. Took a pic of them, wished them a safe and fun filled ride and started towards Sringeri. It was 7 PM and was getting dark by the minute. That belt being a Naxal infiltrated zone, and recently I had watched on regional news channel about police combing operation in that region made me apprehensive. I decided to not to stop anywhere and dashed towards Sringeri without minding poor road conditions and made it to Sringeri by 8 PM. Stopped at the first available medical store and took necessary medicines and ointment to treat the wound which was looking little bad. Then scouted for a nice lodge with parking. Town of Sringeri has only one main and important road called Bharati street. Wandered in the same street three times and finally got a nice lodge called Kanyakumari Lodge. Decent and clean plus safe parking. Worked out a cheaper deal by declining TV and AC as I prefer fan. The receptionists, a young and an old gentlemen, enthusiastically asked about my ride and appreciated the touring spirit. After speaking to my family about my whereabouts, and dinner, crashed in the bed with mixed feelings as body was hurting, but mind and heart were dancing with joy for fulfilling day's plans successfully despite odds 
Final Unfold of the day for me was 'Keep rolling. We will end up where we belong'
I always wanted to cover Agumbe along with Kodachadri. I had read and heard a lot about Agumbe ghat section, curves and above all sun set. I had lost quite some time due to the fall earlier. I inquired with locals about how far Agumbe was and whether I could make it to sunset. Many of them were positive about me making it to Agumbe sun set. I resumed my ride with a sense of urgency. However, severe pain in my left thigh due to unconventional position because of lack-of-foot-rest slowed me down and made me think about skipping Agumbe. Entered a small town called Nagara and checked if my foot-rest could be fixed. I was told by a mechanic that could be welded but there was no power and asked me to look out for a mechanic in the next village. Disappointed, I proceeded further. I was surprised when people were not sure about directions towards Agumbe. However, couple of gentlemen suggested to take a short route via Mastikatte and Kimara and to avoid Tirthahalli as it would be farther and time consuming. Another short cut
I was like to-hell and decided to take that shorter route, and reached Mastikatte. Found another garage. Time was 3.30 PM. The mechanic said foot rest can not be fixed. An idea flashed in my mind. I requested him to see whether he can fix the rear foot-rest in the front. Initially he was reluctant as rear foot-rest is smaller than the front one. But, he had a change of heart when he came to know that I had to cover a long distance. He used his creativity and state-of-the-art technique and fixed the rear foot-rest in the front and this was no less than a magic touch to my trip and I gave him a very humble fees which he accepted without uttering a word and also fixed the crash guard without me asking for it. I am so grateful to him. The very fact that now I was sitting pretty comfortably and relieved thigh and groin muscles revitalized both body and mind, and I rode determined to make it to Agumbe sunset. What pathetic roads and moreover buses and trucks not even honking the horn near blind curves on those narrow roads. I told myself 'you wanted country-side and ghat roads, right?! take them now'. I rode non-stop and only when I saw Agumbe was just 2 K ms did I stop to quench my thirst. I rode straight to sun set point which was right by the road side and was infested with monkeys. I removed saddle bags and carried them with me to a vantage point for a great view. Time was 5.50 PM and Sun was far from going down. Just sat there, reflected upon the day, was feeling bit tired and just looked around as more and more people started gathering to see Lord Sun closing the shop in style. In the mean time a gentleman asked me if I had a fall as he noticed the wound on my palm while I was checking my camera. We struck a conversation. He asked me about my ride. He ( Abid ) and his friend ( Shailendra ) were there from Bangalore on way to Bhadra sanctuary. I told them about my plan and we talked about bike trips, riding alone, Kodachadri, Kudremukh, bird sanctuaries and photography. This lightened my heart and made me forget the tiredness. In the mean time Sun set began in all grandeur and the experience and ambiance and sky changing colors gradually, were and are beyond mere-wordily-description. Hope you will enjoy the camera talk Final Unfold of the day for me was 'Keep rolling. We will end up where we belong'
Attached Files
Checked out and left Sringeri by 10.30 AM. I was running close to an hour and a half behind my schedule now. I inquired about the route to Horanadu and resumed the ride.
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