Prelogue.....


On discussion with my wife on the rides, those I had been through. Checking the facebook pics of my rides,.. It's been few months we got married.


Wife: Hey, I haven't been to beach.
Me: What..! never been to beach.
Wife: Please, take me to beach.
Me: I have been to Goa, ECR, Karwar, Murudeshwara but not Mangalore.
Wife: Shall we go to Mangalore.
Me: Yes by all means, we have good number volvo buses.
Wife: I have a wish to be in Dharmasthala atleast on bike with you.(As you had cycled all the way there)
Me: It's possible. We shall plan and execute.


Then started all the plan. Wanted to be beach and temple. Followed by all the discussion about how and when. This ride sol'ly dedicated to my wife and our first ride together.


Preperation:


As my wife had never been for a long distance. She got prepared mentally. The longest she had done was Manchanbele dam with me couple of months ago. To and from with total distance of 100KM. Got a helmet and jacket for her.


And the bike I have a 3 months old Pulsar 200NS and it's first long distance ride.


Loaded all the required stuff to the saddle bag.


It was 2 days ride plan.




Day1: 31st Jan Friday, alarm clock striked 5AM. Both got ready and the plan was to start by 6:30AM, all set. I hadn't lubed the chain previous night as it was dark, lubed it and started the bike. Bid good bye to parents. First gear on at 6:43AM wrrooooom . Did 50's/60's till the elevated flyover on Tumkur Highway.


By 7:30AM near the Mangalore highway turn. My wife said, "I am hungry, as we woke up early". Replied, "I am too hungry baby". Pulled over near Chamundeshwari Hotel just before the first toll gate on the Mangalore highway.


Had idly vada a plate each and coffee. It's a nice place for kids. My wife spotted white rabbits caged at the premises and started to play with them. Took over half an hour break.


Resumed our ride, I was cruising at 80's, steadily increased the pace to 100's and touched 120 at one of the straight stretches before Yediyur and that was the max on the bike.


By 11:30AM were at the end of the Hassan bypass, she spotted sugarcane juice, pulled over and had. Phone call to dad, he told so soon surpassed Hassan you are too fast, be careful, I replied yes dad.


From here on it's single 2 way road and the greenery starts and the curves. Just before before Sakleshpur had a pit stop and sumptuous lunch and at Hotel Ossoor. She had a power nap.


On the river bridge in Sakleshpura a cop was standing with the RTO TATA Sumo. Looked at our alien looks and waved his hands to pull over. We didn't get down, he came to us, I gave him my liscence and RC cards. He said, "ok, where's the insurance". In reply, "It's under the seat, I have to take off the saddle bag and seat. It's a 3 months old bike take a look a RC card". He said, "ok sir, you can go".


It was fun riding in the ghats, she enjoyed the hair pin bend's bike sliding. She said, "On bike, it's fun riding but car is comfortable. Every mode of transport has it's own pros and cons".


Then came the deviation to Dharmasthala and she started to feel the fatigue. At 1:45 PM reached Dharmasthala quickly booked a room. Checked with the reception guy about the closing time of the temple, he said, "It's 2:30PM they close". With out wasting a single second uloaded saddle bag, checked in and got refreshed. From lodge it's about a KM, parked bike and went by 2:16PM. They just closed the door at 2:15PM. They placed a board stating next darshan at 7PM.


With dissappointment came to the room. She said come lets ride to the beach I want to see the sunset. I double checked are you sure. She replied yes. Started to beach at 3PM via Ujire, BC road, Bantwal. Reached the beach by 4:45PM. from the parking I asked to close her eyes and guided till the beach's horizon appears and asked to open her eyes. I could realize the happines in her eyes. She played like a kid with waves. In my mind it was like worth coming.


Then started back to Dharmasthala, reached by 8PM got refreshed. Went for drashan and had dinner. Retired to bed by 10:30PM...


to be continued....






After doing 490KM for a on first day.


Day2: Woke up at 6:30AM. Got refreshed and checked out of the room. We didn't want be back in the same Shiradi ghat instead chose charmudi ghat. Started by 8AM. rode till front of dharmasthala temple did a namaskar.


Fueled up the bike and stopped at Ujire for the breakfast. I have to mention the neer dose's were tasting awesome. After the sumptuous breakfast headed towards the scenic charmudi ghat. The traffic was very very less compared to the shiradi ghat.


The ultimate roads in charmudi are butter smooth than Shiradi(patch work). Stopped in a couple of scenic view spots. Reached belur temple, it is a historical monument and national heritage. Had good time when the 100's of school students arrived.


By half past noon left Belur to Hassan. We spotted few bikers in the Belur-Hassan highway. The mistake I did was enter the Hassan city, traffic and bad roads, should have taken the by pass. Then stopped at the kamat hotel for lunch.


There was an Alto guy tried to catch me up several times but he failed. I did good speeds of over 100's till nagattihalli. In a farm land took rest for 45 mins in the shade before AIMS college.


Cruised at the speeds of 90's 100's till nelamangala. In Nelamangala took a quick break and updated our where abouts to home.


By 4:45PM reached home and ended our ride.




Total Distance covered was 826KM.



Total fuel 20Litres.
Problems with bike none.
Average Mileage 40 KMPL