The riding season in Chennai atleast had begun during August and it has already been almost 2 months since the Ooty ride in October. I had also missed the Raid de Kodai, by Kovai thumpers. So the urge for riding has been built up and a certain ride was on the cards before the RM 2012. Then was when BOS 1A invite had come. No postponing and we registered one after another.
The route:
No big planning was done as we decided to complete the Bangalore stretch by Friday night so that riding 250 km on Saturday would not be a big deal. All went by plan and met by 7ish @ Motel Highway just outside Poonamalle and geared ourselves for a night ride. The gang was Sailesh aka B-ro, Dr. Raja Saravanan aka 1gm, Ratheesh, Rajith and I. I moved ahead to tank up while the group started 5 mins later. I joined the group as sweep.
Rain gods had just dripped a bit, and the roads were wet and all 4+ wheelers started spitting slush everywhere and the view was getting disturbed which eventually will slow us down. After crossing Arcot I had to pull over to clean my visor, which by the way was thestupidest thing as the slush had come back again on it. It has been drizzling for some 10kms. We regrouped just after the toll booth before Vellore for chai. By then plans to reach Blore seemed to be bleak and it will be at least 3 AM by the time we reach there. So decided to settle down in Krishnagiri for the night and take on Blore by riding out early. The motive behind the whole ride plan was to reach the venue by afternoon since we have been always missing lunch at events. So it was around 150 kms to Krishnagiri now. We started to ride but the rains got heavier and we pulled over again to safeguard mobiles and cams. Decided to stop @ Ambur for buying dinner and moved forward. But by the time we crossed Ambur, shops seemed to have closed. With no other option we proceeded to Krishnagiri hoping for some parottas and egg dosas.
All 5 of us rode in a perfect staggered formation with no issues and it was a beauty to watch as a sweep. Indicators were flashing synchronously during overtakes and the movement of the group was a lovely sight from the back and it was a small show on the road. As it was Friday night we dint have any car troubles except for some Lorries scattered here and there. The ride was perfect and satisfying as we have been completely drenched. I have previously tried to ride during the rain but either the rain would not deceive or I would have not woken up for the ride. This time it came as a blessing.
We reached Krishnagiri by 11.45 PM and checked into TTDC. Everyone was in hunger but none of us wanted to go n fetch food after saddling down. Rajith and Ratheesh went ahead to hunt for food but in vain. They came back with packets of chips, snacks and bananas. Then ran a small session till 2.30 AM where plans for RM 12 and previous RM stories kept the table amused. Meanwhile as per the original plan we had to meet Amith aka Itham and Ashok aka Aunty Hero @ Blore for the night, so texted them about the change of plans and crashed for the night.
Woke up @ 5.30 and started saddling up with hunger in everyone’s eyes and a bit of hang over. We planned for breakfast @ Shollagiri McDonalds 30 kms from Krishnagiri.
Had filling breakfast and informed the Blore team to meet us up in Nice Road just after the toll. Time had crossed 8 AM and traffic was building up very bad with people jaywalking all over the highway near Hosur and all way up to Blore. Stopped for the regroup in Nice road after paying a worthless toll of 10 bucks and the time was 8.45 AM. Waited there for more than half an hour and guys dint turn up still. Highway patrol pulled over and started abusing us for waiting in Kannada. We would not give a damn even if it was Tamil, so we kept waiting but then he got frustrated and we had to move out. Started crawling the Nice road hoping the guys would catch up with us. By this time we reached the next toll. Pulled over to the service road and started waiting again, and they turned up after another half an hour. Paid another 40 buck for each of the rides and proceeded towards Tumkur.
Itham, famous for falling correctly on your blind side was tailing me for some time before he finally broke off, I was relieved. We paid 40 bucks but still followed the service roads. All thanks to Aunty for guiding us through some 25+speed breakers along a 5 km service road which finally merged with the highway. We took a break at Gubbi for chai and fuel.
Next destination was Tiptur, which we reached in no time and fell into the State highways of Karnataka, met RTMC club members en route to Arasikere. Felt like we are riding for a long time for a short distance and noticed the speed was dipping to 60 due to road conditions. After a bit of off-roading for we reached the venue around 3.00 PM.
The venue was in the Ballavara Rangers camp, close to some beautiful waterfalls and scenery. But we had then decided to stay back in the resort to enjoy the evening. By now beers were afloat. Aunty for the first time used his beer coupons in the event venue. He dint like it though, much to the likes of Rajith and B-ro. They had now shared his share of the beer. Had a sumptuous lunch and it was just awesome. Chatting started, met other club members, shared a small ride story and we settled in the room. I had dozed off for some half an hour and guys woke me up for the party. Get set and go. Cake cutting happened and BOS hosted it very gracefully. It was a small crowd but great hospitality. Sides were provided on all tables amidst liquors galore. We were chatting, dancing, posing all through the night. After a while KTMC had made a late entry along with Hari & Partner from Madbulls. Spent some more time with the guys and finally went to sleep at 12.
Planned to wake up @ 7 finish breakfast and ride out. Ride back plan was simple, take the other route to reach Chikmagalur – Blore – Krishnargiri – Chennai. The group was Rajit, B-ro, 1gm, Ratheesh, Partner and I. Got up @ 7 and rode out @ 9.30 AM.
There were no roads in the range. Badly damaged and it was a complete offroading experience. 1gm, Partner and B-ro moved ahead as I was waiting for Rajith and Ratheesh to finish taking snaps. We dint want to waste time to stop and pose but took some pics of the valley and moved ahead, but after a couple of kms we couldn’t resist to get down and enjoy the wonderful landscape. It was sheer beauty, full of mountains and it was green. Then again finished clicking and went ahead to see the guys waiting for us besides a view point.
Again took some more pics and we could see the route we had come by. It could be seen just a thin line from the view point. Immediately we were on nicer roads. Not much of width but enough to drive and turn. Roads were getting better and we felt we are nearing a town. It was a T- junction and there were no sign boards.
Asked a local guy for the route and he showed left. It was almost 2 hrs since we started from the venue and we had covered somewhere around 50 kms. We entered a ghat section which was amazing to drive. 1 Gm asked me to move forward as he was riding slow. Rajith took the sweep and was caught up in the middle. After a series of turns I was leading and took off with Ratheesh and Sailesh tailing me.
After a couple of kilometres the ghats had stopped and we could see one straight road. The road leads to Arasikere. WTF ????? After spending 80 kms and 3 hrs on the road, we were right on where we had started from. Still we are 600kms from Chennai and it was 12.30 pm. After swearing the guy who showed us the wrong route, we all pushed off. Rajith was sweeping with Partner and I ahead of him and the rest of the gang had flewn already. We maintained a constant 80 and caught up with the group near Tiptur. We had missed Partner in the traffic in one of the towns. Planned to have lunch @ 2.30pm and stopped at a dhaba waiting for Partner. Partner showed in no time. Had a heavy lunch and planned to move, when everyone of us were tired and needed some rest. Planned to start by 4PM and caught up with a power nap. Chai was ordered and we rode out.
Reached the Tumkur highway in no time and it was already 6PM. We are still 50kms to Blore. Refuelled our bikes and pushed off. Partner and 1gm dint stop for fuel and headed ahead of the rest of us. After all negotiations we crossed Blore and reached Shollagiri McDonals (again) for dinner. Had a good dinner and pushed of @ 9 PM with 300 kms to go.
It seemed the last 300kms was the tiresome stretch. One straight highway and not much of a traffic will make you sleepy and it did. Took a chai break 30km before Vellore when B-ro and Ratheesh missed our signal and darted towards Chennai. The 4 of us took a small break and decided to break @ Gurwinder dhabha for masala chai. As it happened spent some time there and reached Chennai @ 1.30 AM and reach home @ 2 AM.
Wonderful ride after a RTMC XA, thanks to the guys and the babes, all reached safe. And thanks to Ramko for being a wonderful base contact all through the ride.
P.S: This blog was written with the best of English that I know
Where to next?????
It will be Rider Mania 2012 to Delhi.
Planned route:
