Announcement

**ken cool** · 08-26-2009, 01:57 PM

Tour Approved

**JOSH5898** · 08-26-2009, 02:01 PM

thnx ken...

**JOSH5898** · 08-26-2009, 02:06 PM

TIRUPPUR TO METTUPALAYAM (T.N)
Me on my Gixxer & my two friends on R15 met again at 08:00 PM, tanked up, trip meters set to zero, decided to make our first stop at Mettupalayam, we headed out slowly towards the SH-19 exit which joins the NH-47 at Avinashi. The R15 quickly zoomed past the city traffic and headed out while I was pretty slow and was working my way out with the Gixxer. When I crossed Avinashi and reached the main highway the Gixxer was all set and was doing 90 - 110 kmph and was way ahead of the R15, reached Mettupalayam at 09:20 PM and soon the R15 also reached. We had dinner and decided to make our next stop at Coonoor and with R15 leading the way we hit the NH-67 from where the ghat section begins.

**JOSH5898** · 08-26-2009, 02:31 PM

METTUPALAYAM TO OOTY (T.N)
The road on the Ghats were well tarred and marked with minimum traffic and pleasant weather which helped us to maintain decent speeds and soon I was getting to know the handling and riding of the Gixxer. This was my first trip on a litre bike thru the hills so was a bit tensed at first, but after riding thru the first few hairpin bends I was now much confident about the handling and the Gixxer. Reaching Coonoor at 10:45 PM we took a 15 mins break to stretch and started off to Ooty. It started to get cold and also drizzle so we cut down on the speeds , the Gixxer seemed hard to handle at slow speeds and now my back and wrists were killing me, we reached Ella Nalli which has the only fuel station which is open 24 hrs on the hills and took a break for ten mins to relax which helped my back and wrists. I tanked up the Gixxer again as I was not aware of its actual mileage and had no idea where the next available fuel station was. Finally we reached Ooty at 11:40 PM and had steaming hot coffee which was very refreshing and gave us a bit warmth from the cold at a small tea stall outside the main bus stand which again is the only stall open till late nights. After a 30 mins break by then the rain also had stopped, we checked for directions and were on our way thru Gudalur as we were told that the Masinagudi Roads were not in good shape after the rains.

OOTY TO GUNDULPET VIA BANDIPUR (T.N. TO KARNATAKA)
The Gudalur roads were just awesome and we again started making good progress and reached Gudular by 01:10 AM a quick ten minutes break and we were back to riding. Again there are two routes to reach WAYANAD from Gudalur but we wanted to cover 3 states so we took the Gundulpet route and reached the THORAPALLY (TAMILNADU) check post by 1:35 AM from where the jungle begins .There were many vehicles waiting in line and upon reaching the main check post gate we came to know that the gate closes at 1:00AM and opens only at 6:00 AM for all. Within a few minutes we saw trucks & tempos coming from the Karnataka border and upon asked they said that the guards at the check post collect money and let vehicles pass thru. Soon the drivers waiting on the Tamilnadu Border started arguing and protesting with the guards to let them also go which turned out to be a major issue and the Forest Officer was called in and after an hour of arguing and demanding the gates were opened from this side at 2:45 AM but much to our dismay the guards let go only four wheelers and our bikes were not allowed to go which means we had to wait alone at the check post for another 3 HRS. Even after pleading and requesting the guards did not allow us. It started to rain again and was getting very cold too so we decided to wait at the check post till dawn and to kill our time we started helping the guards to check the trucks and operating the check post gates.

INTO THE JUNGLE

After 3 hrs of sleep and a very tasty lunch at HOTEL MINT FLOWER we started off at 01:30 PM. There were two roads one which we came from and the other which goes direct to OOTY from Wayanad. We checked with the fuel station guy where we tanked up and came to know that the direct road was not as good as the one we came from so we decided to go back thru the same way, but then we will have to cross the scary 12 kms of Gundulpet again.
The folks in town were all around Gixxer by this time, there were two wheelers and cars following me. Kids were very happy to see a SBK and many requested for pictures which I gladly obliged. I was very happy to be a proud owner of the SBK. Most people were having discussion about which bike it was and the price. I came across a few very funny comments like this bike is not worth the money and am crazy to buy it, I could have instead bought a good car for this price, mileage is very less, looks like pulsar modified, and the best one was one over smart local guy is arguing with a few saying it is a modified pulsar fitted with a matador van engine inside that is why the firing is so loud and guess what !!! The guy was a four wheeler mechanic!!!

KARNATAKA TO TAMILNADU
We reached Thepakadu that is the TN border and gate of Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Straight road goes to Ooty which is the normal bus route. We turned left on a single track bridge. This is the Ooty road via Masinagudi and 30km less than the former.
The Steep Climb: We hit the 36 hairpin climb. This was really an endurance test for me and my friends. It was the steepest I have encountered in my life. Initially I got really scared seeing such a steep road. After travelling a hideously treacherous 10kms of earth I just had to stop for rest. Arms were aching, back was complaining, time was 5.00 PM. This break was very necessary because at this point of time, both I and my friends were absolutely famished. I knew it was never going to be easy, but the roads were just unbelievable, and the local traffic on the small steep road was real crazy. My back and wrists were now really hurting back cos I was not able to pick up speed nor shift gears, all the while riding in the first gear and using the clutch had my palms hurting more, but we had no choice and had to complete the climb so we set off again. , it was indeed very steep which we later realized while descent. It was like after 36 Hairpins and 14km and another hour of agonising ride we finally managed to reach Charing Cross in OOTY at 06:20 PM. We took a long break for tea and snacks in OOTY and at 7:30 PM decided to start our journey with R15 leading the way.

OOTY TO TIRUPPUR

By this time, our hungry stomachs had started growling again, and the weather was starting to get very very cold. We made our final food-stop in a hill side coffee shop near Coonoor. We talked about the day that went by, the most funny moments, the most scary one etc etc. After a good snack and hot coffee, we took over riding duties again, it was 8:20PM and now the roads were really flowing. So was the traffic. As soon as we hit the Mettupalayam highway, I felt the need for speed. Roads were, of course, very good, and speeds climbed to 130kmph plus and I was way ahead of the R15 now. After reaching Annur I decided to stop and wait for my friends. When they too reached we had a ten min break and were back on the highway. With both bikes making good speeds we reached Avinashi by 9:00 PM. There is a beautiful and ancient temple of Lord Shiva in Avinashi. We made a quick stop at the temple to thank god for bringing us back home safe and sound and headed towards Tiruppur. The roads were beautiful, and with quite less traffic, and soon we entered the city.
They say all good things come to an end so did this great trip. We reached home exactly at 09:30 PM and were very happy to have successfully completed this wonderful trip to 3 states with different terrains, weather, language, diversity and felt really proud to belong to this wonderful country where there is so much UNITY IN DIVERSITY . I FELT VERY PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN.
Reaching home I was totally famished, all my thoughts were about the trip which we did and with a quick kiss to my Gixxer & the R15 I went to bed with a big smile on my face and plans about our next trip.
TOTAL DISTANCE: 528 KMS / TIME: 25.50 HRS

ROUTE
TIRUPPUR-AVINASHI-ANNUR-METTUPALAYAM-ARAVANKADU-COONOOR-OOTY-GUDALUR-BANDIPUR-GUNDULPET-SUTLAN BATHERY.

Signing Off
J O S H
RIDE HARD OR STAY HOME.

**JOSH5898** · 08-26-2009, 03:17 PM

[ATTACH]11704[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]11705[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]11706[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]11707[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]11708[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]11709[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]11710[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]11711[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]11712[/ATTACH]

**goatiguru29** · 08-26-2009, 03:32 PM

Nice & short log...you could have used a better cam so we could have drooled at the pictures....East or West,South or North people in india are always fascinated by MILEAGE

**whizzkid_ram** · 08-26-2009, 04:04 PM

nice ride & pics buddy

**amandeepkamboj19** · 08-26-2009, 04:09 PM

nice pics

gixxer and r15 both looks ultimate

**JOSH5898** · 08-26-2009, 04:28 PM

thnx guys... wanted to take my cam but missed it in hurry so managed with a friend's...

**cosgeo99** · 08-26-2009, 05:05 PM

Nice log man. Very detailed. Hope u enjoyed the rains on the Gixxer.

**JOSH5898** · 08-26-2009, 06:13 PM

yeah dude... it was the ride of a lifetime for me on the Gixxer..

**coolk4u** · 08-26-2009, 09:37 PM

Cool Bro.. Nice writeup..... nice pics too... ur Bike is $exy.

**ken cool** · 08-26-2009, 11:20 PM

Welcome to riding long distances with a Sbk! Welcome to wrist and back pains. This is what I have been trying to say through my logs often!

It was nice reading your log since I could relate to a lot of things that you were saying. But what I definitely could not relate to was seeing the elephants at your back grazing away. That is a sight difficult to digest! I have read till that far... will read up the rest soon...

Originally posted by goatiguru29 View Post

Nice & short log...

Short log!!! It is quite a long and detailled log.

**goatiguru29** · 08-26-2009, 11:24 PM

Originally posted by ken cool View Post

Short log!!! It is quite a long and detailled log.

It is int that long compared to your latest RTR vs R1 vs Comet...yours had each and evrything detailed like we were there with you through out the trip...

Announcement

24 hrs / 2 bikes / 3 riders / 3 states

[Photo Feature]: 24 hrs / 2 bikes / 3 riders / 3 states

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment