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Me, Myself & I
Pre-Plan
Few weeks after I had embarked on my journey of motorcycling, I decided or at least I felt I was ready for my solo ride. Neither did I have a place in mind nor did I know how to break this down to my parents, but one thing was clear my parents weren’t as supportive as others. I even tried showing travel vlogs of reputed vloggers, but as in every Indian middle-class family, they thought this was risky and just wouldn’t allow it.
However, that wouldn’t stop my intransigent self, I came up with an indigenous plan, I decide to lie that I would be going on a bike ride with Ganesh to his uncle’s place in Mysore, but obviously, I had some other place in mind, but was in dilemma between Ooty and Mangalore.
After persuading my parents, I just had 1 day to pack. I decided to go to Mangalore as I was craving to see the beach and obviously to eat those fishes. I borrowed my friend’s backpack and started packing. I wanted to do something adventurous too, so I decided I would hire a tent and camp instead of blowing money on hotels, I wanted to be one with nature. The quote from the movie Secret Life of Walter Mitty kept playing in my head “Life is all about courage and going into the unknown”, as usual, I felt inspired and decided to face my fears.
Day 1
After sleeping for a few hours, I woke up with excitement and enthusiasm, prepped and left home, bidding adieu to my parents.
Now all I had was me and the road and that chilling wind through the crevices of my jacket, I was smiling and filled with joy, I started my playlist where I had all travel songs that made it blissful. After seeing the direction-distance board to Mangalore, I was hyped. After rolling some miles, I stopped at a shop for chai and sutta, and a general chit-chat with the vendor.
I saw the board to Shravanabelagola, and I thought why not go visit the place and spend a few hours there .After having 2 strokes of heart attack climbing those stairs, I finally reached the top asphyxiating, I stood there perplexedly watching one of the biggest monolithic structures of the world. After sinking in the view, I decided to head down. A Few km down the road, I came across this beautiful lake that had an empty park attached to it. I rested on a bench for a few hours. After waking up, I realized I had to get to Sakleshpura before dusk so that I could pitch in my tent and have a sound sleep.
Around 4 PM I started my journey through the Ghats, when enquired with the locals about a good place to set up tent and camp, they guided me to go 20 Kms and camp because there are few dhabas(for safety and stomach reasons) and a river too, I thanked them and head towards the place. I then requested a hotel owner about camping near their place, they helped me set up the tent. The people kept coming and questioning me about where I was from. After our chit-chat, the darkness crept in through the forests, all the lighting we had was the cars and bus that would pass. I had my dinner in a nearby hotel and crawled into my tent, held a torch in one hand and a book in the other hoping to fall asleep the usual way I do in my room, especially during my exams.
Suddenly, I was awakened abruptly by the water dripping inside my tent, I got out to see what had happened and realized due to the rain, my tent had moved towards the edge of the cliff, the hotel owner had come with a torch to help me out. After 30 minutes or so, I had packed all my tent and was inside the hotel, I had to sleep under the roof of the hotel with the sound of insects chirping. I guess that was enough adventure for that day.
Day 2
I woke up to the sound of lorry and cars honking, I bathed alongside the road, people in the bus would wave at me, I had to cover myself every time a bus passed. After filling my stomach, I thanked the owner and left. I now had a whole day to experience the Western Ghats and the beach. I reached Mangalore around 11-ish and sat on the beach looking at waves.
After the traumatic experience of the previous night, I decided to sleep in a hotel but also wanted a beach experience, and decided to go to a beach camp, but where??
Now not knowing where to camp, I decided to google for “Beach Camps” near me, after finding: Mantra Surf Club, I called them up to ask about their tariff, they even offered me Kayaking too. So, I had managed to secure a sweet deal playing my Student Emotional card.
After bumping everyone and learning about kayaking the hard way, I managed to keep myself and the kayak afloat, who knew kayaking was gonna be this hard? So, I was happy that I had made it without sinking. During the night, I met a few people from Bangalore who were enjoying the beach life, we played games and shared stories over drinks around a bonfire. Perhaps it was the fatigue from Kayaking, I went into my tent to get a good sleep for tomorrow’s ride back, even though I wanted to stay and enjoy more, I had to get back to reality and the life in Bangalore I had left behind.
Day 3
Waking up to the sound of the waves felt like paradise. After taking one last look at the ocean and thanking the good peeps at the surf club I headed towards Bisle Ghat. I had to now cover 350 Kms in one day. Yes, I know all you people have done more than that, I was still a beginner, so don’t judge me. I took the diversion towards the Ghats and was very happy about tackling the twisties, but later I realized those twisties weren’t something I was expecting, the lush green forests alongside the mountains kept calling my name.
I stopped at every curve just to see how high I was (in terms of altitude). I met a few bikers who had come from Mangalore too on a Splendor Plus. After a chit-chat we bid farewell by wishing Ride Safe to each other.
Around 4 Pm I was on National Highway; I still had a lot of distance to cover. Later upon reaching Bangalore without any setbacks or injury.
I had one more travel story to share with my friends. Not even in my deepest dream did I think about doing something like this. I had quenched my wanderlust by going on a ride that would be a stepping stone in my life. This changed my life and led to many adventures. A person learns when he understands and experiences new and unknown things, I guess that I had a bit of understanding and stepped into the world of traveling/biking.
The good thing about riding is “YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY TOLLS”, so money saved for next bike ride.
Stopping on a abandoned bridge.
Resting on the way cause fatigues.
To follow my ongoing quests and travels : Head on to my Blog at http://thebikenbeer.epizy.com to learn more about my rides.
Pre-Plan
Few weeks after I had embarked on my journey of motorcycling, I decided or at least I felt I was ready for my solo ride. Neither did I have a place in mind nor did I know how to break this down to my parents, but one thing was clear my parents weren’t as supportive as others. I even tried showing travel vlogs of reputed vloggers, but as in every Indian middle-class family, they thought this was risky and just wouldn’t allow it.
However, that wouldn’t stop my intransigent self, I came up with an indigenous plan, I decide to lie that I would be going on a bike ride with Ganesh to his uncle’s place in Mysore, but obviously, I had some other place in mind, but was in dilemma between Ooty and Mangalore.
After persuading my parents, I just had 1 day to pack. I decided to go to Mangalore as I was craving to see the beach and obviously to eat those fishes. I borrowed my friend’s backpack and started packing. I wanted to do something adventurous too, so I decided I would hire a tent and camp instead of blowing money on hotels, I wanted to be one with nature. The quote from the movie Secret Life of Walter Mitty kept playing in my head “Life is all about courage and going into the unknown”, as usual, I felt inspired and decided to face my fears.
Day 1
After sleeping for a few hours, I woke up with excitement and enthusiasm, prepped and left home, bidding adieu to my parents.
Now all I had was me and the road and that chilling wind through the crevices of my jacket, I was smiling and filled with joy, I started my playlist where I had all travel songs that made it blissful. After seeing the direction-distance board to Mangalore, I was hyped. After rolling some miles, I stopped at a shop for chai and sutta, and a general chit-chat with the vendor.
I saw the board to Shravanabelagola, and I thought why not go visit the place and spend a few hours there .After having 2 strokes of heart attack climbing those stairs, I finally reached the top asphyxiating, I stood there perplexedly watching one of the biggest monolithic structures of the world. After sinking in the view, I decided to head down. A Few km down the road, I came across this beautiful lake that had an empty park attached to it. I rested on a bench for a few hours. After waking up, I realized I had to get to Sakleshpura before dusk so that I could pitch in my tent and have a sound sleep.
Around 4 PM I started my journey through the Ghats, when enquired with the locals about a good place to set up tent and camp, they guided me to go 20 Kms and camp because there are few dhabas(for safety and stomach reasons) and a river too, I thanked them and head towards the place. I then requested a hotel owner about camping near their place, they helped me set up the tent. The people kept coming and questioning me about where I was from. After our chit-chat, the darkness crept in through the forests, all the lighting we had was the cars and bus that would pass. I had my dinner in a nearby hotel and crawled into my tent, held a torch in one hand and a book in the other hoping to fall asleep the usual way I do in my room, especially during my exams.
Suddenly, I was awakened abruptly by the water dripping inside my tent, I got out to see what had happened and realized due to the rain, my tent had moved towards the edge of the cliff, the hotel owner had come with a torch to help me out. After 30 minutes or so, I had packed all my tent and was inside the hotel, I had to sleep under the roof of the hotel with the sound of insects chirping. I guess that was enough adventure for that day.
Day 2
I woke up to the sound of lorry and cars honking, I bathed alongside the road, people in the bus would wave at me, I had to cover myself every time a bus passed. After filling my stomach, I thanked the owner and left. I now had a whole day to experience the Western Ghats and the beach. I reached Mangalore around 11-ish and sat on the beach looking at waves.
After the traumatic experience of the previous night, I decided to sleep in a hotel but also wanted a beach experience, and decided to go to a beach camp, but where??
Now not knowing where to camp, I decided to google for “Beach Camps” near me, after finding: Mantra Surf Club, I called them up to ask about their tariff, they even offered me Kayaking too. So, I had managed to secure a sweet deal playing my Student Emotional card.
After bumping everyone and learning about kayaking the hard way, I managed to keep myself and the kayak afloat, who knew kayaking was gonna be this hard? So, I was happy that I had made it without sinking. During the night, I met a few people from Bangalore who were enjoying the beach life, we played games and shared stories over drinks around a bonfire. Perhaps it was the fatigue from Kayaking, I went into my tent to get a good sleep for tomorrow’s ride back, even though I wanted to stay and enjoy more, I had to get back to reality and the life in Bangalore I had left behind.
Day 3
Waking up to the sound of the waves felt like paradise. After taking one last look at the ocean and thanking the good peeps at the surf club I headed towards Bisle Ghat. I had to now cover 350 Kms in one day. Yes, I know all you people have done more than that, I was still a beginner, so don’t judge me. I took the diversion towards the Ghats and was very happy about tackling the twisties, but later I realized those twisties weren’t something I was expecting, the lush green forests alongside the mountains kept calling my name.
I stopped at every curve just to see how high I was (in terms of altitude). I met a few bikers who had come from Mangalore too on a Splendor Plus. After a chit-chat we bid farewell by wishing Ride Safe to each other.
I had one more travel story to share with my friends. Not even in my deepest dream did I think about doing something like this. I had quenched my wanderlust by going on a ride that would be a stepping stone in my life. This changed my life and led to many adventures. A person learns when he understands and experiences new and unknown things, I guess that I had a bit of understanding and stepped into the world of traveling/biking.
The good thing about riding is “YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY TOLLS”, so money saved for next bike ride.
Stopping on a abandoned bridge.
Resting on the way cause fatigues.
To follow my ongoing quests and travels : Head on to my Blog at http://thebikenbeer.epizy.com to learn more about my rides.
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