Re: Day 2: Pune - Pondicherry, Solo on Baby Duke !

Yes ! Did it !

Amazing experience...

Re: Pune - Pondicherry, Solo on Baby Duke !

nice log mate...a daring attempt despite your friend's comments..reminds me of those times when i went on my first looooong ride

And yes,im waiting for the rest of your log..

Day 4 : Pune - Pondicherry, Solo on Baby Duke !

^th

The worst thing about the entire trip was, at no fuel stations I found a working air pump machine after ages and when I did, had to help myself.



Reached around 5:30, took a shower and was out to hunt my favourite Ooty chocolates.
Bought some and headed straight for a movie followed by dinner.



Slept around midnight !

The Ride Back Home : Day 5 : Pune - Pondicherry, Solo on Baby Duke !

^th
It was a dry day in Karnataka, no sign of rains whatsoever.

I started feeling a little lost on the known highway, I took my ipod with me but till this time didn't touch it. Stopped after riding for an hour thinking of taking it out, but don't know why, I didn't and kept riding.


Hopes of rain

When I was on my way to B'lore from Pune, I saw a board at Chitradurga : City of Forts. So this time I was sure I'm gonna enter the city to explore the rocky forts.



But soon I realised that I was running behind schedule and had to let go of the forts. I was maintaining a humble speed of 90kmph until now.


Last piece after Chitradurga

So now the sole aim was to keep riding at peace, but whenever you think that you won't think about anything, that's the time when all sorts of things you haven't been thinking crawl up your neck and the creepy thought process begins.

I somehow managed to control the urge of opening up the throttle and revving the hell out of my bike.


Loner

I soon began to take control of everything, my thoughts, the throttle, the speed and then this happened :



This was the time I missed having a good camera, at least a digi-cam would have made me happy, but this was the best 5mp lens of my phone could offer.

Left behind were the civilizations of Davangere & Haveri, next stop was Hubli.




27 Horses



Hey, I know this road... I know if I take a left turn I might dodge the monotony ahead of me and could treat myself with a sumptuous dessert in disguise "Karwar"


The Temptation

I stood there for almost 15 mins, evaluating. Switched on the data connection on the phone, saw the route and also the possibility of exploring Gokarna. Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy fuel and sometimes that's enough to make you happy. I had enough dough for the fuel if I take a detour from here, but didn't had enough to get good accommodation and food for another two days.

I switched off the data and switched on the ignition. Destination unchanged : Pune




Heading back to the start

This made me realize what I wanted to do, what I've been missing. I've been between jobs(that's what I used to say when people asked me the usual question). Not working since past 6 months was just too much, I was itching to work. But didn't know what to do, what kind of work? I was looking for something interesting, challenging, that would not limit my days to the typical 9-6.

With all these things going on in my head, my eyes glued on the road ahead, a simple droplet of water on the visor of my helmet made me smile. It was time to put on the rain-suit. Till the time I could stop, it started pouring. I kept the rainsuit handy on the tail, 2 mins to suit-up and I was good to go. Happy that it was finally raining.

But it was a short-lived moment. Rain lasted for hardly five minutes and then the clouds were playing hide n seek.




Road Says : Maharashtra not too far !



It's 4'0 clock and I am still in Karnataka. Called up a friend in Pune to ask about the weather and got to know that it was raining on n off. I was famished, didn't eat anything but snickers all throughout. I know its not a nice thing to do to your body on such a long ride in a day. But lost in thoughts and boring straights didn't tire me much. Thought I'll now eat in Kolhapur.





I don't remember if the photos above were clicked before or after the Nipani ghat section, but this is the last set of pictures.


Last fuel stop at Kagal

This was taken around 6:30pm after I took a small break to have a cup of tea and biscuits followed by another snicker and a smoke. Now I knew what laid ahead of me was the legendary roads of MH.

Considering I was almost 220 kms from Pune at this point in time, I should be able to make it home before supper.

So kept riding through and the roads, weather and traffic all became worse by every mile. The roads were broken near the Satara ghat section and the trucks were crawling up the mountains. This was the time I started feeling tired. I was riding from past 12 hours, it took me this long as I decided to keep it around 90kmph. Butt started aching and I was trying to find the road between the pot holes.

Low light conditions, cages driving on high beams from opposite direction, and the irritating drizzle combined with dust all put together are not good friends with the helmet. It slowed me down to around 65-70 kmph. Now even my gloves were dirty, so everytime I tried to clean my visor with my gloves, it made it worse.

So finally took a break 47kms before Pune. I was too tired to ride and just wanted to get out of all the gears and let my body breathe for a while. So I found a good spot adjacent to a big HP pump, parked the bike and was quickly out of the alien-ware. Phew !

Now I was in no position to ride further. I gave up !

To Be Contd...

The Ride Back Home

Cont...

Those 47 kms were the most difficult 47 kms of my life and the most precious ones too...

It wasn't the first time I was about to ride 47kms at night, but it was the first time I was about to ride 47 kms after 5 days and 2888kms of riding in different weathers. Drizzle, rain, thunderstorm, winds, cloudy, dawn, dusk, dry, sunny, hot and what not. This ride was a complete package of Incredible India. Raods, good roads, better roads, roads like on moon and mars and Indian roads. Giving me and my body experience of a lifetime, especially after 2 years of my left ankle joint operated and fixed with 2 titanium screws I was actually feeling like Iron-Man in my suit and I could hear Jarvis saying, battery level critical sir...

So, I was siting there alone with one shopkeeper and two helpers staring straight at me and then my gear and then my orange bike with luggage. I could sense the usual questions coming my way, it was brewing questions and tea behind the stalls.
So I took the initiative and started a conversation with the shopkeeper, who eagerly left his counter and pulled a chair beside me after my invitation.

The conversation began with the bike, make, mileage and stuff but soon was directed towards the origin of my journey and destination. He first thought that I was lying about riding from B'lore to Pune. He was trying hard to believe, I could tell by his raised eyebrows, wide open eyes and literally I haven't seen a jaw dropping before, ever in my life. I don't remember if he was over-reacting or was I hallucinating, or it was fatigue. But I do remember his words "maine aaj tak kisi ko itna lamba bike chalate nahi dekha" and I was giving mixed reactions or I would say(a bit reluctantly agree that) I was blushing.

NO, it really meant a great deal for him and that put me thinking about the entire ride again and the spirit of riding came back to life !!! All the fatigue, pain, drowsiness and sore vanished in a cup of tea and a sentence that made me realize that I was Riding Back Home !!!

I felt a sense of achievement and in turn I felt I've accomplished something I used to think of... A dream come true, is usually difficult to accept and takes time to sink in completely. 47 kms were enough to make me believe in myself...

After completing 5 days and 2935 kms on the road, safely. I was wide awake when I came back home. Unpacked all my luggage and took a hot shower leisurely bath and relaxed.

Now while I write this, I am thinking about how to conclude this trip-log write-up, because it's difficult to find words to express about the end of a journey which actually is a beginning of another...

Re: The Ride Back Home

[MENTION=63459]Sanchit Arora[/MENTION]- Bhai. tere last sentence ne rula diya bhai. LOL. Very well written. Nice pictures too. Proud of you brother. Hope to ride together soon. Probably during Kaas ride in a couple of weeks.

Re: The Ride Back Home

You were amazing,,,, never thought riding 7 writing about it was any use to others... with this i may have to change my opinion on writing about travel to other states... thanks for bringing light to me.... will post my long ride soon..... hope you would give your thoughts about it also

by the way how do i start a thread... i so confused this web is bit tough on me i have been searching how place a thread of my own but unable to find it....

Re: The Ride Back Home

See what [MENTION=42045]JayD[/MENTION] has mentioned...

JayD- a little tagging would be of help to others

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Re: The Ride Back Home

Excellent write up. Your humble approach towards difficult endeavors is something for every rider to learn. Good pictures considering you did them with cellphone camera. As I read more travelogues I am feeling my day should come sooner than later. Till then I will enjoy the brotherhood here.

Re: The Ride Back Home

Thankyou... Even I didn't think that I would document the ride, but later when I came back home, started thinking about the past 5 days... and eventually this triplog happened...

About "how to start a thread" [MENTION=42045]JayD[/MENTION] has already given you directions !!
[MENTION=55137]I_Live2Ride[/MENTION] : I heard something about a meet next month... ??

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Thanx Bro... Even this is my first Triplog, never thought I could write one...

If an amateur like me can write, anyone can... Waiting for your's !!!

Re: The Ride Back Home

Superbike festival on 18-19 oct in Pune.

A meet has been organized on 28th sept.. Chek last few pages of Mumbai thread!

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Re: The Ride Back Home

As people have already mentioned... Its confusing...

18-19 I got the program...

But 28th ko kya program hai? Mumbai-Pune ppl meeting anywhere??

Re: The Ride Back Home

No.. This time World record holder has invited all the biking clubs/riders/groups from Mumbai, Gujrat, Pune etc. for chai pakoda ride on 28th Sept... Timing is 8.30-10.30... I think the gathering would be huge and NH8 is awesome for a ride..

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Re: The Ride Back Home

Ok... Great... Still, the destination is not clear bro...?? And who is the world record holder here??

Zaea vistaar se batao miyaan !!