This post had been hiding for almost two years in the drafts section of my blog (from February 2016 to be precise). About this trip, I somehow had forgotten. Unlike other rides, this wasn't really meant for motorcycling per se. It was a close friend's wedding I had to attend last year, and I originally had thought of taking the car, as I would reach the event fresh and not look like a survivor from some Zombie apocalypse. But then me being me, I thought of making this visit a bit more special and memorable. The challenge of riding this time was, at the end of the ride, I had to be presentable enough for a social gathering. This has never really been a requirement during my usual trips. So after a bit of deliberation (with myself mostly), I chose to ride. I decided to attend this event, only because Sampath (the groom) was a really good friend of mine and also the wedding guest list comprised of a very small group of selected individuals, whom he really wanted to be part of his special day. Otherwise, I am usually not very keen on attending functions as such, especially if it's a huge gathering. So I had to be there and had enough time in hand and this friend already knew how much I Luv Riding motorcycles (you see what I did there! :D). So a few days before the wedding day, I texted him to confirm my participation and also told him about my plan of riding there (just in case he had any apprehensions about it). Much to my delight, he didn't mind at all, me coming on the motorcycle to his wedding. Rather, he was quite supportive and enthused about this whole idea. So there was nothing else on the way of this trip. This route I had done almost 8/9 years ago on my CBZ, and after all these years I am happy to say that, I had a lot of fun again exploring this route at a leisurely pace (which I loved for a change). The marriage ceremony was total fun. Along with Sampath's school time buddies, we had a blast. Now as I look back, there are some of the photographs I had shot on the way during this ride, which remind me of some of the fun events of that day and places I visited. So sit back and enjoy the journey.
Bangalore - Yadiyur - Tiptur: (164 k appx)
Google/Android's spy shots of my travel route.
There were trucks on this route, but the broad road and ample breakdown zone on the side were a safe spot for breaks
If a bulleteer isn't obsessed with his motorcycle, then be assured that he has bought the wrong one (in my humble opinion).
This route had the best kinda highways.
There are riders, there are commuters and then there are people relying on two-wheeled transport in this country.
The stallion in full shinning glory :)
This spot was higher ground and gave a nice view of the long stretch of the highway behind.
After leaving the highway, I found myself a nice spot for a break.
I was munching on a bar of sneakers and appreciating this huge tree for the shade it was providing to travelers like myself.
This was the end of some nice twisties passing through paddy fields
By all means, trust the technology (i.e. google maps) for its convenience but its always good to validate.
This route though lacked any variation in terrain, still had a view or two to offer.
Reached destination and unpacking in progress. The clothes I was supposed to wear for the event made it without much crease or damage.
Note: No pictures of marriage here, until I get a response from my friend, who has moved to Australia after his wedding and we haven't been in touch ever since. That was a fun wedding and we had some interesting photoshoots of the bride and the groom, which I would love to share here. But that has to wait. Meanwhile, continue enjoying some of the photos of my ride back to Bangalore via a different route.
Tiptur - Honnevali - Tiptur - Tumkur - Bangalore:
This was the route I took on the way back
Artsy stuff eh?!! I know.
Abstract art of nature!
The other side of this story is that it must have been cut by us humans :/
An old Temple I visited on the way back. I like temples for their unique architecture and in some cases the tranquil atmosphere that they provide.
Nope, I didn't get inside this one, as it was sunny and I couldn't just leave my luggage, especially boots outside, unattended. All I had this time was mostly a walk around and a preview; maybe will step inside on my next visit.
Nice mud tiles, I have seen back home in Orissa, where we had an outhouse of sorts with such roofing.
Though not the best in food options, they do provide decent space and ambiance in most parts of India. Our very own Indian Cafe chain- Coffee Day. I decided to have lunch here, for the sake of the air conditioning, as it was very hot outside on this day.
A boulevard with shades of green and brown...
hmm.
As I got closer to Bangalore, the increase in pollution was getting so obvious that I couldn't ignore it anymore. I had to pull over twice to avoid riding behind a fast-moving tempo truck, which seemed to be running more on engine oil than fuel.
Well, looking back on this trip, I am glad for the share of peaceful and relaxed riding time I had on the road, the greenery en route, and the clean countryside air I got to breathe. If you haven't been on this route, do check it out, as the roads were car-friendly and you may like it, just like I did.
What would happen when two solo riders plan a ride together? First of all, it doesn't really happen that often, then when it finally does, it turns out to be an epic trip. A very short one though, but still, epic! So Sandesh and I had been talking about doing a short spin together, ever since we bumped into each other at work, right after my northeast trip. It was enough of an introduction on his part that, he too had done the Indian north-eastern belt (all the way from Bangalore) solo, in early 2016. We had our own stuff (life, ride, job, family matters, etc) to take care of, so, despite our regular coffee time discussions, nothing materialized regarding a ride together. This was the case for almost a year, until last Thursday; i.e. 19th of September 2017, when we could finally take the bikes out for a spin.
For the ride, the suggestion of a route came from Sandesh and he picked Kolli Hills (locally known as Kolli Malai). Now mountains are always the preferred destination when motorcycling pleasure is what we seek. This mostly had to do with the twisties one gets to enjoy flicking the bike on, also the lean angle you achieve (MotoGP anyone ?!!) while doing it. Now, these aspects also have a lot to do with making motorcycling dangerous as well. Because in the mountains, we may not always get a second chance to correct ourselves, after a serious mistake. As that would either throw you off the cliff or put you right in front of an oncoming vehicle or ram into the stone sidewall/tree within seconds. These scary bits of the scenario need to be told, as we have a higher number of younger and inexperienced riders in the country now (including some from my family/friends circle) than experienced ones. So they must not follow everything they hear or read (even in this blog) without knowing all possibilities of a route/ride.
So coming back to the ride planning, I had a look at the route to realize, it's 80% highway and 20% twisties, that to hairpin turns. What surprised me most is the number of hairpin bends this place has. Guess what 70 in total!!! I personally have never ridden (or been through) that many continuous hairpin-bends in my life so far. Take a look at the map view of that stretch:-
Sandesh rides a Duke 390 like a pro and I was supposed to ride my bull. The average speed a KTM 390 can do on a good road like the Hosur-Salem highway, would be close to 120 kph; Mind you, I am talking about the average here, not the top speed. So one day trip to do a highway run with such a route, got me thinking to try something new in terms of my ride. Why not the very best mountain carver out there to match; there I was enquiring about the Duke 390 itself as my preferred motorcycle for this very trip! I found one available with Wicked Ride (WR), Koramangala. Booked it in a jiffy. I had some prior experience with WR guys and they were fairly good in terms of rentals and choice of motorcycles they had. Sandesh wanted me to try out the Ducati Scrambler, but unfortunately, that was no more available at the time I was booking. Plus, riding the same bike will not only allow us to keep up with each other, but it will also mean we carry only one set of spares and tools for road repair scenarios, resulting in reduced luggage. This actually turned out to be a good decision, as we were able to do some good speeds on safe stretches and none of us had to struggle to keep up (slow down or speed up) unnecessarily, which happens when you ride with different bikes with different capabilities.
Picking up the motorcycle from Koramangala:
Wednesday night, the plan for me was to leave my car at the office, take an Uber to the WR outlet in Koramangala, pick up the motorcycle, and ride home. And so I did. However, I had to replace the Duke they first gave me, as it was part of a crash recently. Even though it was serviced after the incident, I didn't want to risk my safety on the highway or twisties, suspecting possible fork or wheel alignment issues. Thankfully they had another 390 around and they were happy to offer that. That had just come from a ride and was covered with mud. Getting it cleaned was a much simpler task on my part than figuring out a handling issue while on the road (had I taken the other bike). So I picked up the motorcycle, tanked up just enough to get to Shell Bunk near my home, and rode back. To be honest I hated the ride back home in heavy traffic. I cursed the bike and its short gearing all the way until I reached Shell at Bannerghatta road. However, just before reaching Shell, I took some empty back roads and it allowed me to open up the throttle a bit, and whoa!!! The feeling was so much better, that I decided to keep the Duke and see what it does when it gets the much-needed highway. I called up Sandesh to give me a quick 101 on recommended tire pressure and about the tell-tale lights on the console, etc. I didn't have time (or energy) to go through the user manual for the bike. Thankfully Sandesh's instructions were good enough for me to get going on this machine. Oh wait, the bike was still dirty and I don't like a dirty motorcycle to start a trip with. It was already 10PM1 and hardly any bike-wash shops were open. Still, I was able to locate an open garage and thankfully was successful in convincing the workshop guy (who was working late) to get this baby cleaned and its chain lubed. Am so glad he obliged and did a great job too.
Getting rid of the mud and grease
Applying the chain lube
Once the bike was all ready, I was relieved. Now all I had to do was to pack. This time packing was much lighter, as I didn't have to carry any tools at all. Only clothes, my RAM mount, first aid kit, a few bars of sneakers for snacking, and usual electronics. Chucked the camera this time. So all in all, it was one of the lightest setups I have had in a very long time. This allowed me to focus on handling the beast that the 390 is on the highways as well as while cornering in the mountains. So with packing done, the alarm was set for 4AM. Meet up time was decided to be at 5:30AM, at NICE road's Bannerghatta entry point, while heading towards Hosur/EC exit.
Leaving Bangalore on Thursday Morning:
The motorcycle is all set with a duffel as the tail bag
I used 2 bungee cords tied in an X shape, which held up fabulously during the whole trip
Got onto the NICE road from Bannerghatta Road, and waiting for Sandesh
Early morning fog and usual traffic on Nice road
Sandesh was riding so fast, he missed seeing me standing on the side of the road, so he stopped some 3 km ahead and sent me his location. I caught up and we officially started off together from that point, with him riding in the lead.
First stop at the fuel bunk next to A2B; for filling up fuel in Sandesh's bike
Two KTMs with a full tank of fuel and an open road; you can see the smile right through the helmet :D
First proper break during the ride to cool off and have some breakfast
We were staying above 110 all through, as the road condition was excellent and traffic was manageable. I remember touching 1X0+ (X=unsafe digit to be shown here :P) at few stretches (unintentionally of course!) when the road allowed. Duke got me hooked on the power delivery and the ABS-assisted braking. Then came the first few corners before Salem. These are 3-5 bends on the highway which are notorious for accidents, as they bank too sharply for a 3-lane national highway. I realized I was going wide on the first two turns. So I had to dial down the speed and get the knee down a bit to maintain my line. It took me a few hours of riding the 390 and a couple of more turns to realize, that the chain on my bike was more loose than it should be. The night I brought it home, I hadn't noticed this. It affects the bike so much, I never had assumed. This was (one of) the reason, I had a tough time riding it in stop-go traffic the night before, as the chain was making noise at the lower gears and making me shift too much in traffic. Having said that, once we got the chain adjusted, I was right at home in the twisties. The bike handled flawlessly from that point on. This was good learning for me. I wish I had noticed/fixed the chain issue much earlier.
Stopped here to check the map/GPS, just after leaving the Salem highway, to head towards Kolli Malai
The only viewpoint on the way up to Kolli Malai
Found this small tea shop on the side, just before the temples' area.
We made it to the top by noon as planned. Found ourselves at a restaurant inside a resort, for having lunch. We took a rest at the restaurant post lunch before our descent started from Kolli Hilltop. Our destination for the night was Yercaud, which too has a couple of twisties but neither as many nor as sharp as what we came across at Kolli Hills. So we started off around 3PM from Kolli Hills towards Salem and then from Salem towards Yercaud. By the time we entered the foot of the Yercaud, it was dark already and there was this crazy beeline of cars on the ghat road. Most of the traffic was coming from the opposite direction. That was the good part. We could filter through easily and made it all the way to the top of the hill station by late evening. We could find ourselves comfortable accommodation. We didn't have to sweat much to find this place, all thanks to Sandesh and his contacts. Got fresh, had some coffee, and then decided to head out for a spin and possibly find a good place for dinner.
While looking for a place for dinner, came across this interesting place. Alas, it required a prior appointment to get a table here.
So finally after a bit of goofing around the hill station at night, we got into Silver Oak Restaurant, inside Shevroy Hotel. It was a bit pricey, but the food was delicious, and we had a stomach full. Well deserved supper after a long day of riding. I presume they stay open till late. So just in case you land in Yercaud late and don't find any decent eatery nearby, do enquire about this hotel. Post dinner, we sat there with a cup of coffee in our hand, discussing the day's ride. After a good long hour, we headed back to our hotel and before we know it, we had dozed off.
Morning at Yercaud:
Our stay at Yercaud.
We checked out from the hotel around 9AM and headed to the place for breakfast, which we had found last night :). Visiting this cafe was an interesting experience for sure. The place is called 'Sweet Rascal', it's a resort and cafe. Founded and owned by Mr. Vishu Kalliappa. Our visit here became more interesting when we bumped into the man himself, who turned out to be a biker. Well, what are the odds?!! We had a great time chatting with him and knowing about his collection of motorcycles. His taste in things and the choice of businesses that he has created and runs are very unique.
We had a booking for breakfast this time :D @ Sweet Rascal Cafe!
This place is green, and tastefully decorated, with lots of bonsai plants, many dogs, a few exotic birds, and tons of funny quotes :) Yep, all these are part of this quirky resort and cafe.
After a hearty brunch and a cup of coffee, before we catch up again with our good 'ol National Highway 44
Taking a break under shade for sipping water and some chit-chat; on the way down from Yercaud
The beasts in their natural habitat; at the twisties.
Stopped at Krishnagiri around 3PM, for the last fill-up of our hydration packs.
Whew! By this time, it was starting to get a *butt* painful to be on the saddle :P Hence this break!
So that's how I celebrated this year's Diwali :) Riding a cracker on and off the twisties and open highway!
We had recorded some footage on Sandesh's action cam, but not sure when that will make it to youtube. As and when that gets uploaded, I will try and put a link here.
On Friday I finally made it to my office around 4 PM and after a quick change in the washroom could get back to my desk (with regular clothes) and finish some work. I wasn't that tired from this ride, so decided to save half a day's worth of leave, maybe for some future ride ;) My observations from riding the KTM Duke 390: It was a fun group (well.. kinda!) ride I had in a long time. KTM Duke 390 got me hooked and I ended up loving this machine. My elated appreciation partly could be due to the exceptionally good condition of the roads which we picked to ride it on. Even then, for a newbie (to KTM) like myself, I could push it through its paces, and not a single time worry about its ability or my safety. Handling was way better than I had expected, both on the highway (while doing higher speeds) and while cornering in the mountains. KTMs (in my limited knowledge) mostly have the short stroke, high revving motor and that is evident from the moment you push the start button. They behave/handle better when they are pushed. This trait is completely opposite to what bullets (or even the Honda motorcycles) offer in terms of riding experience. I had to change my mindset as a rider from passive (/relaxed) riding to that active (assertive!) riding, and only then the bike starts obeying your commands (or so to speak). Yes, its weight and power might be a bit too much to handle for a new rider. For them, I would suggest Duke 200 would be a better (and much safer) choice, yet equally fun. Lastly, both the KTMs we rode were running on Michelin tires, which performed well without any issues.
** Useful Info: ** Bangalore to Salem (195 KM) Bangalore > (via Electronics City road) > Hosur > Krishnagiri > Dharmapuri > Salem bypass road NH 44: Srinagar-Kanyakumari Highway: 3 lanes, in very good condition Salem (bypass) to Kolli Hills (60 KM) Salem > (via bypass road and then on NH44) > After appx 40 KM Turn Left onto > Kalangani-Thirumalaipatty Road > Thirumalaipatty > Karavalli > Hairpin Bends Starts!
Salem Bypass Road: Flyover construction was going on, so in some stretches bypass road was narrow creating a bottleneck for 3-4 KM or so. Kalangani-Thirumalaipatty Road: Good tar condition, but undivided (/single carriage) highway, can maintain 50-60+ KPH safely. 70 Hairpin Bends (14 KM) 95% in very good condition and the remaining few patches have mild gravel due to damaged tar surface. Corners are free from debris/sand and hence safe for tire grip. Ghat Riding Dos/Don'ts:-
Always decide your speed before you arrive at the turn and select the right gear for that speed beforehand (downshifting mid-turn would put stress on your gearbox and be risky as the rear wheel may lose traction due to the sudden change in speed)
Slow down before entering a turn and always be careful/attentive to correct/change your line of the ride; Because turns are very sharp, and all vehicles (going up or down) would take wider turns sometimes coming on your path.
Before braking, check your rear-view mirrors, so that no vehicle should be behind you (or approaching fast).
For breaks/halts, pick a spot visible to traffic coming from both sides, at least 50-100 meters away.
Do not over speed on the way down, and do not overuse the brakes (you may wear out your brake pads and that would be very dangerous).
Always give way to vehicles climbing up the ghat, so keep an eye on those and slow down before a turn to allow them to climb safely.
Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front (even if it's your riding buddy) at all times. And at the bends, have more space for your own safety.
Avoid this route at night (so better plan your climb and decent when daylight is still around).
General Tips for riding on this route:-
Ensure the engine oil level of your motorcycle is proper (if a cast iron bullet, carry extra engine oil, as the highway is good and you possibly would end up ripping at higher speeds than usual, which in turn would burn more engine oil)
Ensure your brake fluid level is proper and brake pads are in good shape
Ensure your motorcycle chain and sprocket are in good shape
Ensure your motorcycle chain tightness is adjusted correctly (or at least get it done at Salem before reaching the Kolli Hills ghat section)
Carry a hydration pack or water bottle and keep filling it on the way as you run out (stay hydrated at all times!)
Too much sun and too little shade on this highway, so use sunglasses/built-in sun shade/tinted visor.
Wear protective gear (as always), as the highway is good and most vehicles would be at high speeds (even if you are not riding fast)
There are many petrol stations on NH44, but not that many once you turn towards Thirumalaipatty; so better do a full tank at Salem
Let me start by apologizing to my beloved car, for not being able to take it out on those long trips anymore. This is why, for the long weekend of October (thanks to Diwali and Karnataka Rajya Mahotsava joining hands together), there seemed to be a silver lining in the proverbial dark clouds for my car. It was indeed an epic travel opportunity.
One of my school-time friends; Sujit and myself planned to head somewhere out during this holiday weekend. It wasn't that long since I had returned from my big ride and the motorcycle was pending a thorough check-up before I could put it out on the road again, that too for a long trip. So the car seemed like an obvious choice. With this reasoning done on the mode of transport, Pondy (a long pending must-visit-beach-location) was shortlisted as the preferred destination. I spoke with my buddy Gopal (another biker) and got some input on the location and where to stay, etc. Everything was looking good and perfectly planned. Meanwhile, I shifted my focus on wrapping up the work at my office, so that nothing comes up for me during the upcoming weekend. But as the days got closer, I started to get that itch, of why not ride the motorcycle instead :D Instead of thinking too much in my head, I bounced the idea off Sujit, as his comfort was the priority for me, for this trip. It turned out he too had no particular fondness for being in a car, other than for the fact that it will give us shelter in case of a shower en route. I checked the weather for the coming weekend and it looked pretty much dry except for a few shades of clouds during the last two days of the trip. After having ridden in the rain for days at a stretch, a possibility of slight drizzle on the way couldn't really bother me (nor my bull).
Getting the sticker job redone on lever guards...old ones ripped off during the last trip.
The only challenge with this plan was that I had a bit less time to prepare for the trip. It had been a couple of weeks since I got back from one epic trip and my touring setup was not been "set up" for another trip. Saddlebag was dusty as hell, all other gears were stuffed in a carton, etc. So I had to organize all that the way I would for any trip. Additionally, I got one of my spare helmets cleaned up (with the 3M helmet cleaner) for Sujit to use. I picked up Sujit on my way back from the office and we had some catching up to do, as I hadn't met him for months. But I had to also work on the packing and preparation. So by the time I was done, it was around 2:30. Though I had asked Sujit to sleep on time as being awake he couldn't really help much. My alarm was set for 3:30, as in the morning we had to saddle up and leave the city by 5 or 5:30 at the latest. You can figure out the amount of sleep I would've gotten this night. Damn!! This has been the trend with almost all my trips, so much so that it may seem as if I plan to be sleepless the night before any big trip. So anyway, with or without enough sleep, we were ready to roll.
Saturday | Bangalore - Mysore - Coorg - Thalassery, Kerala
We were up and out on the nice road by the time clock hit 7am. Clearly, we didn't start as early as we had thought of, but still, it wasn't that late either. We were lucky to have moderate traffic on Mysore road so we could filter through our way pretty quickly. By the time it was 9, we stopped to have some breakfast. Idlis are my favorite during traveling due to the very low possibility of adulteration in its preparation also the sambar that's served along with it is a simple composition and boiled; so the chances of any bacteria are almost negligible. Call me paranoid, but I have traveled enough to know how much that could matter when you going to be on the road for days.
This was one of the fastest two-way stretches of road on the way to Coorg/Madikeri
So good to have so much free space on the side to safely pull over.
This was one the worst helmet hair days of mine :P
Somewhere near Coorg. Taking snacks and water breaks in the shade.
The western ghats brought beautiful lush green twisties to this ride... this stretch was again meant for two-way traffic, but for the motorcycle, it was alright, provided you maintain the line of the ride well and don't surprise yourself (or the incoming traffic)
A small patch of space on the side of the road, always ensured that we stopped for a break. This was during a pee break however :P And we had to stop!
This was supposed to be a test shot but decided to keep it.. focus is not on these two (Sujit and the bull)
Forest and a beautiful stretch of road coming along together really well here.
Some more admiration for my road stallion :)
It is always better to pick a spot with ample amount of space to pull over (so that traffic still has some leeway, just in case they swerve a little for whatever reason) and also the spot should be visible to vehicles from a distance, for them to slow down. This is a thumb rule you follow and trust me you would never have to risk yourself (or the bike) during the breaks, anywhere in India (or even abroad).
This was I guess after entering Kerala. By now we were done with the western ghats and now the temperature and humidity were gradually changing.
So we made it to our destination; Thalassery, Kerala. Got ourselves a hotel on the side of the highway, got fresh, and snuck into a comfortable pair of clothing before hitting the Muzhapallingad beach, known as the longest 'Driveable Beach' in India. This is my second visit to this beach and to this stretch on my motorcycle. You can read about the first one here.
Someone is having fun on the sandy beach, with the bull :) Only being a childhood friend can earn you such perks!
There are a bunch of bikes and cars wheezing through the beach and many I guess would be the first-timers are a bit too excited for their own good (and the public safety)
SLR on the helmet wasn't the most brilliant idea, but best at that point. Due to vehicles doing drag runs inches from the camera setup, no wonder it missed the focus by the time the timer triggered.
Evenings get a bit busy on the driveable beach.
If you haven't noticed yet, the bike and the frame remain unchanged in the last 3 photographs. Well, I was tired to be creative at that point (so didn't really try different perspectives) and it was damn hard to push the motorcycle on the sand and also to stop the kickstand from sinking into the soft beach sand. Here we have put a pair of our slippers under the kickstand. There you go, you now know how to make your motorcycle stand upright on soft ground like sand (the same works for mud too, albeit I prefer a piece of rock, if around). This seems like one simple yet effective idea, and it came from a local bullet rider, who was with his group having fun. "Thanks for that mate".
So after playing in the sand for as long as we could, we got back to the hotel by around 7-7:30 and just passed out. We didn't intend to but I guess we seriously had a lack of sleep by this time. And with the comfort of the hotel bed, we needed to take some rest ASAP. While at the beach I noticed my rear right indicator bulb wasn't working. So soon after I got up from the recovery power nap, I went straight to the bike and got busy sorting that out. Looks like it was due to an unhinged wire clip, possibly due to mud going into the rear light assembly during the northeast trip. There was dried mud inside the rear assembly and I had to clean that up with the help of the hotel staff. They also got me a chair to sit on and work on the motorcycle near their open restaurant. It had a nice ambiance. Once I was done, we could have some delicious food from the live counters sitting right next to the motorcycle. There couldn't have been a better way to enjoy dinner on a motorcycle trip. :)
Sunday | Thalassery - Kochi - Trivandrum With proper rest, we could keep up with our plan of an early morning start, around 5:30 am. The idea was to cover the most distance before the traffic comes onto the highway. The NH17 which goes along the coast through Kerala is one of the slowest dual carriage routes. It allows a slow passage because the highway is graced with tons of shops and houses on the sides, all through. So if you ever think of covering distance on this one, fast, then you better be riding during odd hours only (i.e. either early morning or late in the night). I chose early morning, given our itinerary. All thanks to Sujit, he could keep up with the plan. So by 5:30 am, we were on road again and it felt fresh and the road was all for us to ride on. We munched miles like we wanted to, yet got to enjoy the views of coastal towns, backwaters, and houses on the way. Unlike me, Sujit hadn't been to Kerala before, and riding through the state at our own pace, on a motorcycle was one the best ways he experienced the state. A bus or car trip would have drastically reduced the whole experience for sure. So we rode till the morning break and then some more, as it was tempting not to ride when the road was so empty. After a while, we stopped for the breakfast, which was essential to keep us energized during the day. To be honest, I had told Sujit that this round trip would be challenging as the distance to cover is quite high for this stretch and we may need to be doing hundreds of kilometers during the day. He is a fit guy and well aware of (/trusts) my adventures, way back since our school days. So he was up for it. With that bit agreed, I wanted to keep more time in hand for the last day stretches, so that when we complete the trip we wouldn't be that fatigued and we could have normal work days afterward. To pull that off, we had to do some serious riding in the first two days. Yesterday we actually had a good run of 300-plus kilometers. It was perfect for the first day and we had to up the scale for today. Add to it now we are on a slow route. So we gotta make it as far down south along the coast as we could so that we have more time to spend in Kanyakumari, which Sujit was all excited for. This was what mostly our conversations and planning about the ride that took place, during our breaks. Other than that we were thoroughly enjoying the ambiance of this beautiful coastal state.
Nothing beats an early morning run on a freshly tarred road, along the coast of this beautiful country :)
Sujit was doing a great job with the iPhone photography. :P So one more shot of me and the bull :D
A quick break since we have been trying to outrun the traffic before the day breaks. Stopped here to munch on some biscuits and sip little water. Sujit posing with the signboards here.
Stopped here for some coconut water. Not sure what was there in those bottles though :/
We had a long day ahead of us, and breaks were crucial in keeping us relaxed. So instead of just stopping on the roadside, we just snuck into some beach close to the highway, by taking a detour.
So thankful to have this beast with me. We have explored all the way from the Himalayas to the ocean shores and our friendship has grown beyond that of a man and machine. #zenphilosophy
As lunch was getting delayed, it made perfect sense to stop over and have something light to fuel ourselves. I had a chocolate milkshake and a few choco pies (Not sure why was craving that time :P lol)
Can you believe this ?!! It's the Taj Mahal right there and we were not even in Agra. Possibly it was a mosque, which we saw on the way.
Monday | Trivandrum - Kanyakumari - Madurai Being in Trivandrum by the second day meant that a big milestone had been achieved. Kanyakumari was a mere 90-odd km away. So I was assured that Sujit will get to spend some time in Kanyakumari and I would have some time to search for that secret coastal road which had got me hooked ever since I found it two years ago. We had a night of proper sleep and started a bit late, around 9ish. Met a taxi driver from Chennai who had newly bought an Enfield and wanted some advice on maintenance and stuff. So couldn't just brush him off. So spoke with him for a while and told him a few things that would help. He was really happy. The irony here is, Enfields are manufactured in his hometown of Chennai, but his queries got answered by someone from the east, who lives in Bangalore and doesn't really follow the new bullet trend. But then, I hope I gave him the right understanding about this vehicle so that he can think beyond the current fad and enjoy his motorcycle in a better way. Soon after we bid farewell to our hotel in Trivandrum and headed towards the famous Kanyakumari, albeit in a leisurely manner.
Breakfast stop for the day and that was one of the lightest tasting (and looking) coffee I have had in a long time. And it tasted good actually :) #dontjudgecoffeebyitscolour
This was a shortcut we took after a lot of inquiries and search for that elusive coastal road and got rewarded with such views on the way.
A short (15-minute) clip to summarise, the search for that elusive road, which I had enjoyed so much during my last visit...
What a view it was!! I just love the untouched, non-touristy, refreshing feel of such places.
When we reached here, we were not sure, if it was meant for vehicles (we only saw cycles going over it). While we parked the motorcycle and were walking around enjoying the place, we saw a few local bikes going over the bridge. And well, we too went up and over it :) Video follows ;)
Don't forget to turn up your speakers before you hit play.
After a lot of struggle, we finally found the road we were looking for, just to realize it had vanished into the sea now. It was an interesting sight.
The fishermen's villages can be seen in the background.
Bull looked at peace in this place. No more rush, no worries, just being there and listening to the waves.
Sujit too had his share of quiet time.
I wish I could compose the photographs I have been in. It would be so much nicer. #notbraggingoranything #justsaying
Vivekananda Rock and the statue of Thiruvalluvar (a famous Tamil poet and philosopher)
A view from the sunset watch tower.
My favorite view is from the sunset viewpoint.
Enjoy this short clip of the waves hitting the rocky shore.
The number of visitors kept on increasing, as the sun got closer down to the horizon. Undoubtedly the best place to witness the magnificent sunset over the Indian ocean from.
This was the last sight of the sun before the clouds covered it completely and spoiled the sunset for all the others visitors waiting eagerly for some time now... Thankfully, being on a motorcycle allowed us the pleasure of witnessing the best of the sunrises and sunsets en route. So we didn't really have any complaints on this particular day :)
This is the famous Standard Fireworks store at Sivakasi on the NH44. And this is where the bike broke down. Am still not sure if the breakdown wasn't because of the seductive poster though :P
There is a reason we face challenges so that we can learn from them. And this was one such moment when I realized after trying every troubleshooting step in the book, that the valves could be jammed. This is the only thing I never had an issue with (due to the proactive maintenance of my motorcycle and partly due to luck) till now, so I never had the opportunity to learn how to fix it. So when this realization came, I was all excited to try my hands at this. Called up a friend who is mechanically trained, to assess the situation and we tried a couple of things. It took an hour to get the bike started.
2 hours of hardcore troubleshooting after a long day, on the side of a highway and middle of nowhere. This is what real-world motorcycling look like B-) Finally got the seized valves sorted and made it to Madurai by 2 am.
It was a victory and a day to mark on my DIY diary (or so to speak). This didn't ensure that we had a winner's welcome afterward, actually quite far from that. We met with a thunderstorm and some more starting trouble on the way, but we made it to Madurai around 2 or 3 in the morning (don't remember the exact time). I had a sound sleep due to the interesting day and knowing tomorrow I can access a workshop and get the motorcycle trip ready again. Sujit on the other hand, slept well as if he has been there and seen it all. lol. That's what I like my childhood friends for, no fuss, pure friendship. lol
The hotel stay was amazing and the bed was super comfy. Also the fact that all Royal Enfield workshops open by 9:30/10 at the earliest, gave me enough time to sleep a little more, then get fresh and pack the luggage. So I told Sujit to catch up on more sleep if he wishes to, as the workshop visit should take an hour (at least). I marked the nearest Enfield showroom and workshop to the hotel and just rode there. I had a bit of a challenge in being understood and understanding the workshop staff, but then I made them speak to a friend who knows Tamil and things worked out fine. It was a small showroom and there were a few bikes already in the queue, so I had to wait for some 30 minutes. Mine being a Cast Iron model, I wanted it to be looked after by some experienced (possibly middle-aged/old) guy than the new quick-fix kinda mechanics who handle the new UCE engines. No offense, but with the recent amount of sales of RE bikes, their service quality needs some serious attention. One of the reasons I don't do regular servicing at the company service centers at all. With that bit of irritation out of my system, I actually had a good time chatting with the staff who looked after my bull at the workshop.
The Spark plug was checked for spark strength after being sand-blasted to get rid of the carbon deposits (which was due to the innumerable kicks I had given, before realizing it was a valve issue)
Tappets (push rods) adjusted to perfection :)
I always wanted to see the chassis geometry of a Himalayan, considering it is a thoroughbred adventure tourer.
This is a common issue I face and currently looking for a solution. After prolonged use, due to the weight of the motorcycle and luggage, the side stand seems to develop slack, and it bends too much. As can be seen in the picture, the reason for that is this worn-out part, in the middle. I think I have to design a better hinge and get it fabricated, as am just so tired of wasting money replacing these stupid kickstands from the company.
Chilly paranthas looked scary. but wasn't that hot or spicy after all.
Motorcycle all happy, riders well rested and well fed, a butter smooth 4-lane highway all the way home; what more one could ask for on the last day of a ride :) #BangaloreCalling
This is probably the last photo we took, as the rest of the time, we were busy ripping the highway and munching up miles :)
Last image of the day.
We covered more than 400 km this day and the beast didn't skip a beat!
We had to hustle our way through unimaginable traffic on the way, as it was the end of a really long weekend. So there were these vacationers (like ourselves) and many residents from Tamilnadu and Kerala, who live in Bangalore, who were making their way back for a Wednesday office. So were we. Now that creates chaos on the highway and traffics comes down to crawling speeds. We just switched back to the map app to find alternate routes and were able to successfully avoid some of the most stuck stretches of the highway. Had we been in a car, we would've been stuck there till the next day morning for sure. Thankfully we were not, and we made it all the way to Bangalore and took the flyover from Electronic City. I love the view of the city from that flyover, every time I return from a ride via Hosur. We made it to Bangalore by 10:30pm. Not to mention we could grab some dinner on the way and have it peacefully in the comfort of our home. So for both of us, this epic ride came to an end. We hadn't really started with it having anything specific in mind. And I think that's the best way to approach traveling, as too many predefined expectations may restrict one from experiencing what's around, which may be way more subtle, yet substantial in experience. Personally, I was happy to be able to find out the lost road which I had discovered during my last visit to the coastal belt. I could only hope that the road gets rebuilt so that I can ride alongside the beach again :) Until next time. Ride Safe & Ride Far, Sid
