It all started as another bugging day to office - woke up at 5 AM - got ready for office. 5 30 Am - Started at home, Kicked the Bullet, it came into life immediately... Thankfully my mom asked me to wear the new jacket I got as it was cold outside... Rode for a few kilometres, realised that i had a night shift day, called up my colleague to confirm the same. It was 6 AM - perfect weather to ride! Confused where to ride to! Was wondering why not finish the run in? So decided to ride somewhere around 100 km’s from home – The odometer read 277 kilometres – headed towards the NH 45, the road was smooth but the truckers were a nightmare and added to that a convoy of busses from FORD ,it was really hard to maneuver the 185 kg Bike. Crossed Chengalpet around 7 AM, then the open starts... No signs of much traffic, just few trucks and some cars. The climate was cold, it was misty, and yes it was MISTY!! The open road was inviting to be ripped but i was pretty adamant not to exceed 80 kmph.
The roads were butter smooth, comfortable and was riding relaxed at the 80’s. I was intended to ride casually to Mahablipuram through the NH45 as it was always that the East Coast Road that i had used for Mahabalipuram / Pondicherry. For Breakfast, I stopped at Melmaruvathur around 8AM. Saw a hotel just next to the bus stop, and i happened to hop inside as i found many hovering into it. The usual ‘Idly - Vada – Coffee’ was ordered, and finally it came – huge, round and hard! Managed to eat three idly’s and the vada, the last one was a problem as the food was pathetic The coffee was a bliss and refreshed the sleepy morning.
Carried away by the wonderful roads, I rode another 10 kms further to realise that i should have taken a left before Melmaruvathur (where i had the stupid breakfast). Anyway, I carried on thinking i would take the diversion at Thindivanam. Another 60 minutes of riding got me to Thindivanam, and Stopped for a coffee break. Met a group of Bikers travelling down to Tanjore , had some discussion about ThunderBird and the abnormality of not feeling like a bull, etc etc. They adviced me to visit a nearby fort than visiting Pondicherry. I was also convinced that the new place would be a lot more fun that the usual weekend getaway! So finally the destination was fixed! It was Fort Gingee (Senji in Tamil).
The toll road ended at Thindivanam, took a turn towards the State Highway. The road was a bit scenic, covered by huge trees but with the odd pothole every now and then. The state roads were enjoyable with many kids waving their hands and many asking for a lift. I was reluctant to give so for the first few kilometres, but further down the road i found not many busses around. Stopped for a phone call at some place and saw a couple of kids crossing the road with their heavy bags. Asked them if they need a lift to their schools, they were very much happy! Speaking to them, found that they walk about 5 kilometres everyday for their schooling as there were minimal busses, and it would be always over crowded. Wondered i was lucky to be born at least in a middle class family to be able to afford me a bicycle even for the school next street! Dropped them off few kilometres later and they waved with a thankful smile.
Finally reached the Fort at 9 30 AM. The odometer read 428 kms, had covered a good 150 kilometres in 3 and ½ hours with a lot of butt breaks and coffee breaks. The aerial view of the fort itself was appealing. It looked huge, but thought there wasn’t anything much to discover in a fort. But was proved wrong, later! Out of nowhere, a guy jumped in asking for the parking fee. Paid him 5 bucks for the parking besides the monkeys. Wondered if the Bike will be in one piece as there was hell a lot of monkeys! :D Parked the Bike on a shady place and headed inside the fort.
Met a foreign couple, from London (Chris & Natalia). They are traveling all over Tamil Nadu on a RE Bullet. Natalia looked cute, so introduced myself to speak sometime with them. :P Soon got bugged up of them, they took about 10 photos of the same monument from different angles and i was running out of time. Wished them luck and with a smile to Natalia and left a head. The architectures were huge and marvellous. Sorry for the poor quality mobile camera images, they don’t do justice to the actual beauty of the Fort.
Not only outside, inside the fort also there were numerous forefathers, who climb around the branches. Be careful, not to hurt them. They are good as long as you don’t torture them! Had a cold drink in a small petty shop and then headed towards the actual fort. Crossed the Kalyana mahal, a temple, The Elephant Tank, Magazine, Palace Site, Granary and the magazine in no time. The granary was scary as it was just dark, dark and dark! It had just dark rooms with nothing. Managed to go inside two rooms and then got scared and rushed back. I found none except the foreign couple inside the fort for the first 30 minutes.
Headed towards the fort, crossed a neatly maintained Lawn, used only by a small gang (who else? The Monkeys!) As soon i hit the entrance of the fort, saw a couple cuddling up and acting dumb – pissed up and headed up. Was atleast happy that someone would be up there to give me company till the top. The path to the top was tough – it was steep, the sun was out and i was sweating out. It was scarier the way up, as i found literally no one and i was wondering if it was the right path. Still headed up, i was dehydrated with the HOT sun, and i was sweating as though i came out from bath! I removed the jacket, loosened a couple of buttons and wiped up myself.
Finally found a couple of gentlemen, fixing up a barrel like structure. Spoke to them about the fort, history and the barren looks. Came to know that a gang of guys and girls had already gone up the fort and people normally come in early by 9 or around evening. Thanked him for the info and headed up for some good sights! :P I found it really tiring climbing up the fort, with a backpack, a heavy helmet on one hand and the mobile trying to capture anything possible...
Stopped next for a small, deserted temple, disappointed that nothing much was there, went on atleast to go till the top and come back. The next pleasant sight was a small tank, it looked small, dirty and wanting to be explored. There wasn’t any path to it as its about some 20 odd meters from the steps. Braving myself, I went down into the dirty lush plants keeping the mobile, camera and the bag along the steps. Reached the tank skidding along the mud, it was a nice view – few insects and some water species to be played with. The next task was to climb up the odd meters hanging on to the braches and leafs! With much difficulty and thanks to the woodlander, it gave me better grip on the skiddy surface!
Marching on with a happier mood came across another path not travelled often! This time it was a bad choice, it was filled up with dirty prostitutes and lame hookers. I rushed back to the actual path and continued. The view down was pleasant, the tiny vehicles, the green agricultural lands, the straight roads were a virtual treat. The top of the fort looked never ending. The fort was really huge, especially when you don’t have water to hydrate yourself it looks bigger. Then, I came across steep 40 steps, thinking the top had come in climbed up with josh... I was again fooled; the citadel was yet to come! Walked across for the next 10 minutes, passed a gang of school kids, curious travellers, group of girls, and a old couple. The top of the fort finally came, looked lustrous with pleasant sights everywhere. Visited a couple of rooms a temple and the watch tower.
Took a butt rest, i was tired and needed rest. Managed to get some water and took a few snaps. It was 11 AM. It almost took 90 minutes from the parking lot to the top. Wondered how long it will take to go back down and to ride back the 150 kms, but i was determined to make it soon. The way down was risky, with short steep steps, it was slippery and needed attention in every foot. With about 5 breaks, I came down at last!! Visited the Gymnasium and the SAADI – ATULLA – KHAN Mosque. Came out of the Fort, took rest under the shade, pee break and then started at 12 PM.
The sun was beating down, though riding with the jacket was comfortable. Reached thindivanam in 30 minutes and tanked up at the BPCL outlet. The toll road started, heavenly riding started. Received a call, pulled over towards the end of the road, it was my mom – asked if i would be home for lunch. Told her that i had night shift today and i was at Thindivanam and i would home for lunch around 3PM. She scolded for some good 5 minutes and then asked to reach home safe! The usual advices and the usual excuses, dropped the call and started back.
The next stop was at Madhuranthagam, The lake was full – indeed a pleasant view. Spent some time around the lake and it was Business As usual. Stopped over at chengalpet for a coffee break. The trip meter had over run – wonder how that happened. The odometer showed lesser than the trip meter! So rested the Trip meter , hitting the road. The revs were a bit free now and so hit the 90’s for the first time and what not – Huge Vibrations! Anything above 3.5k RPM was a mess, with vibrations... so calmed down and came back to the 80’s. While ripping i had passed over a Nissan... Thinking it was a mess, he blew over me at the 120’s – i was pushed over from the middle lane to the left most part of the road!!
Soothing down, i rode down at the 80’s and the 85’s – reached the outskirts of Chennai around 2 30 PM. Called home and informed that i would be home in half an hour and to prepare the lunch :D Further down into the city, stopped over at the new flyovers (Airport & Guindy). Rode back home and it was exactly 3 when i reached home! The odometer read 579 Kms. The first leg of the Run–In was complete. Thats it! My first trip on ma new ride and it was a rich experience. Thanks for reading ;)
P.S: Sorry for my bad English, with typos here and there & excuse me for the poor quality images – it was taken from my mobile ~ Sony Ericsson K810i.
