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Route:
Mumbai-Hyderabad-Bidar-Mumbai
Mumbai-Hyd: Fri - 5am to 5pm - 700kms
Hyd-Bidar-Mumbai: Mon - 7am to 8pm - 800kms
On my way back, took a diversion after entering Karnataka towards Bidar, and then following the arrowed route, back to NH9.
Few teaser pics...short log n more pics will follow.
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The Agenda:
Wanted to break-free. New job, house shifting, kept me busy for 3-4 months. A josh to ride hard was building up inside me.
Why Hyderabad:
Hyd was always there on my list. Was in the city for last two years of my life, but as a student. Got friends, house to stay, so masti not a issue. Just wanted to chillax.
Why Solo:
One reason I didn't ask anyone else to ride along was that it was uncertain till the last stage. Thought about doin it on a Monday, did some route planning on Tuesday, Wednesday went busy at office, Thursday managed to get hold of a helmet that would fit me and applied for a Friday leave. Left Friday 5am.
Secondly, I knew my accommodation n stuff would be taken care off , but couldn't guarantee that to someone riding along. Anyways, my main purpose was to ride hard and meet my friends over there.
My First Helmet:
Special thanks to Saif for helping me procure a helmet at a very short notice.
Didn't want the usual tan and a dust diet, so made up my mind that somehow i'll fix this thing on my head.
Nothing special in the helmet, wanted a open-face one. Would have suffocated in a closed one. Didnt have time to screen around for fancy stuff, so got hold of a new Vega series (Eclipse) 1100INR.
The Route:
My only concern was crossing Pune city to reach NH9. Called up NV from Pune xBhp to ask the easy way out of the city. So all I had to do is was ask the way to Kothrud-Swargate-Solapur Highway. Hyderabad city I could manage.
Started at 4:45am from Powai - Panvel - Lonavala - Pune city - Stopped for breakfast after Pune exit toll at 7:40am. 174kms covered at a go!
After this I stopped twice for 5mins for water n pee in Maharashtra, then 20mins lunch somewhere in Karnataka. Signboard showed 220kms for Hyd, so I thought i'll do it in 1-2stops till my destination. But I never stopped till I reached my destination, Masab Tank. Some 270kms non-stop. Never knew could do this much in one go. Self-revelation.
NH9 was a smooth ride. Was easily cruising at 120-130km/hr for long stretches, villages came, passed at 80km/hr, and back to 120.
You can see the quality/color of roads change when you enter different states!
Maharashtra was varied, Karnataka the roads get extra-wide, AP different quality. All smooth, just referring to the gradient/feel of the surface.
The Hiccups:
First, this highway got truck-load of trucks(!!) running on it throughout the day, and the buses join the party after dark. And it pisses you off when you tail-gait them just because they are drag racing at 30km/hr, blocking both the lanes. Bloody fools.
Witnessed some 15-20 dog carpets, 2 dead bulls, coupla truck-truck/truck-bus accidents.
Second, and my first and the worst riding "nightmare"..........Crosswinds.
They screwed my ride on the way back. As soon as I hit the highway, from there till entering Pune, life was hell. Couldnt go above 80-85km/hr, the wind pushed me towards the left and I had to slow down to remain on the road. Rarely touched three digits on the speedo. As if that was not enough, entered NH4 after Pune and it was all over me again, pushing me right, left, diagonal! Whole way I kept observing other two-wheelers to see was it just my tyre, my bike doing the trick or all were swaying. Was only me probably they were riding below 50 or with pillion so the weight kept it straight. Maybe full-faired bikes like R15 would always face this problem.
When I got back to Mumbai, came to know about the Aila in Kolkata, probably that was the reason for such strong winds all over the highways, but Aila ne mereko ko almost maar daila.
Hyderabad:
Know the city quite well. Hadn't visited Golkonda ever, and now that I was entering the city as a tourist, thought of doing it. Called another friend of mine who had just bought a RTR. Tried it, was not impressed at all.
Me left...
Latest addition to the Hyd malls... GVK One.. the only attraction.. a big Aquarium.
Cheered Deccan Chargers till they won....!
So the Deccans had won Sunday night and I had planned to leave around 4am on Monday, so that I could do Bidar on the way (which is 50-60kms up down from the highway. That didnt happen. Slept after partying hard, got up at 6.30am with a hang-over, and hit the raods at 7am. All plans choupatt. I was still having two minds whether to do Bidar or not because had started late and wanted to enter Mumbai before dark.
Just after entering Karnataka I saw a board saying 'right 26kms for Bidar Gurudwara' and my bike just took the right as if bhagwaan ka bulaava aaya hai. The diversion was just awesome. Beautiful landscape, no truck, no bus, no car, no scooter, no bike, no man. 25kms of pure awesomeness. Was too glad that I took the turn and was able to witness this part of India. Entered Bidar city, asked the way to Gurudwara.
Beautifulx2. So serene. So quiet. So white.
(BTW, did I mention I had hurt my knee and had few bruises over my left leg because I tripped while trying to climb a reverse escalator after getting drunk)
Limped my way to the Gurudwara, got the blessings, thanked God for helping me make it safely, and asked the same for the rest of the journey. Had brunch at a dhaba nearby. Left for the state highway, and then NH9. Two more little stops. And then a big one after crossing Pune at the Shell bunk. Was running just on time. Crossed Panvel just before dark. Was more than happy. And proud to make it back all alone in one piece. Peace.
The only proof that it was me.
THE END. Comments/feedback/suggestions/questions welcome.
Mumbai-Hyderabad-Bidar-Mumbai
Mumbai-Hyd: Fri - 5am to 5pm - 700kms
Hyd-Bidar-Mumbai: Mon - 7am to 8pm - 800kms
On my way back, took a diversion after entering Karnataka towards Bidar, and then following the arrowed route, back to NH9.
Few teaser pics...short log n more pics will follow.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Agenda:
Wanted to break-free. New job, house shifting, kept me busy for 3-4 months. A josh to ride hard was building up inside me.
Why Hyderabad:
Hyd was always there on my list. Was in the city for last two years of my life, but as a student. Got friends, house to stay, so masti not a issue. Just wanted to chillax.
Why Solo:
One reason I didn't ask anyone else to ride along was that it was uncertain till the last stage. Thought about doin it on a Monday, did some route planning on Tuesday, Wednesday went busy at office, Thursday managed to get hold of a helmet that would fit me and applied for a Friday leave. Left Friday 5am.
Secondly, I knew my accommodation n stuff would be taken care off , but couldn't guarantee that to someone riding along. Anyways, my main purpose was to ride hard and meet my friends over there.
My First Helmet:
Special thanks to Saif for helping me procure a helmet at a very short notice.
Didn't want the usual tan and a dust diet, so made up my mind that somehow i'll fix this thing on my head.
Nothing special in the helmet, wanted a open-face one. Would have suffocated in a closed one. Didnt have time to screen around for fancy stuff, so got hold of a new Vega series (Eclipse) 1100INR.
The Route:
My only concern was crossing Pune city to reach NH9. Called up NV from Pune xBhp to ask the easy way out of the city. So all I had to do is was ask the way to Kothrud-Swargate-Solapur Highway. Hyderabad city I could manage.
Started at 4:45am from Powai - Panvel - Lonavala - Pune city - Stopped for breakfast after Pune exit toll at 7:40am. 174kms covered at a go!
After this I stopped twice for 5mins for water n pee in Maharashtra, then 20mins lunch somewhere in Karnataka. Signboard showed 220kms for Hyd, so I thought i'll do it in 1-2stops till my destination. But I never stopped till I reached my destination, Masab Tank. Some 270kms non-stop. Never knew could do this much in one go. Self-revelation.
NH9 was a smooth ride. Was easily cruising at 120-130km/hr for long stretches, villages came, passed at 80km/hr, and back to 120.
You can see the quality/color of roads change when you enter different states!
Maharashtra was varied, Karnataka the roads get extra-wide, AP different quality. All smooth, just referring to the gradient/feel of the surface.
The Hiccups:
First, this highway got truck-load of trucks(!!) running on it throughout the day, and the buses join the party after dark. And it pisses you off when you tail-gait them just because they are drag racing at 30km/hr, blocking both the lanes. Bloody fools.
Witnessed some 15-20 dog carpets, 2 dead bulls, coupla truck-truck/truck-bus accidents.
Second, and my first and the worst riding "nightmare"..........Crosswinds.
They screwed my ride on the way back. As soon as I hit the highway, from there till entering Pune, life was hell. Couldnt go above 80-85km/hr, the wind pushed me towards the left and I had to slow down to remain on the road. Rarely touched three digits on the speedo. As if that was not enough, entered NH4 after Pune and it was all over me again, pushing me right, left, diagonal! Whole way I kept observing other two-wheelers to see was it just my tyre, my bike doing the trick or all were swaying. Was only me probably they were riding below 50 or with pillion so the weight kept it straight. Maybe full-faired bikes like R15 would always face this problem.
When I got back to Mumbai, came to know about the Aila in Kolkata, probably that was the reason for such strong winds all over the highways, but Aila ne mereko ko almost maar daila.
Hyderabad:
Know the city quite well. Hadn't visited Golkonda ever, and now that I was entering the city as a tourist, thought of doing it. Called another friend of mine who had just bought a RTR. Tried it, was not impressed at all.
Me left...
Latest addition to the Hyd malls... GVK One.. the only attraction.. a big Aquarium.
Cheered Deccan Chargers till they won....!
So the Deccans had won Sunday night and I had planned to leave around 4am on Monday, so that I could do Bidar on the way (which is 50-60kms up down from the highway. That didnt happen. Slept after partying hard, got up at 6.30am with a hang-over, and hit the raods at 7am. All plans choupatt. I was still having two minds whether to do Bidar or not because had started late and wanted to enter Mumbai before dark.
Just after entering Karnataka I saw a board saying 'right 26kms for Bidar Gurudwara' and my bike just took the right as if bhagwaan ka bulaava aaya hai. The diversion was just awesome. Beautiful landscape, no truck, no bus, no car, no scooter, no bike, no man. 25kms of pure awesomeness. Was too glad that I took the turn and was able to witness this part of India. Entered Bidar city, asked the way to Gurudwara.
Beautifulx2. So serene. So quiet. So white.
(BTW, did I mention I had hurt my knee and had few bruises over my left leg because I tripped while trying to climb a reverse escalator after getting drunk)
Limped my way to the Gurudwara, got the blessings, thanked God for helping me make it safely, and asked the same for the rest of the journey. Had brunch at a dhaba nearby. Left for the state highway, and then NH9. Two more little stops. And then a big one after crossing Pune at the Shell bunk. Was running just on time. Crossed Panvel just before dark. Was more than happy. And proud to make it back all alone in one piece. Peace.
The only proof that it was me.
THE END. Comments/feedback/suggestions/questions welcome.
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