A Solo Trip to Heaven

The leaves were approved well in advance, but working in shifts made life miserable. It was a mix up of night and day shifts and i was tired. The weekend came and it was a delightful track day GTG. After a sober night shift, headed directly to the tracks and had a blast! Returned to office from the tracks, life was screwed up. With just a couple of days to go, i was consoling myself to get these two days roll off ASAP

Tanked up in a nearby petrol bunk, Returned home after a exhausted 11 hours at office on Monday night, 4 hours to the d day! 11:30 PM - had a heavy dinner and packed up the things. The saddle bags weren't there and so had to manage with the backpack.Searched for the camera, and i found it wasn't there!! I forgot to get it from my friend and the trip looked bleak! Finally managed to get hold of a broken 4MP camera and my 2 MP mobile camera as reserve.

Off to bed at 12 AM, woke up at 3 30 AM. Eyes gave up and i slept off, 4:15 AM, mom woke me up and asked if im riding that day! I woke up , got ready in 15 minutes and 4:30 AM i was ready. Sipped a wonderful coffee and the trip began @ 4:45 AM

Day 1: It was cold, but the leather gloves and the riding jacket were comfortable.
Rode for the next 50 kms, slow and steady @ 3k RPM wit a max speed of 70-75 Kmph. Stopped for a coffee break near thindivanam toll plaza. opened up the throttle and it was in high 90's. The climate was wonderful and i enjoyed riding in a decent pace.

With not much traffic around, i casually i rode on the middle lane and then a merc sped past me alerting me up from the dreams and the sleepy morning. I was thrown apart from the middle to the left most lane. Stopped for a butt break and then it was the turn of truckers and the road diversions.

Roads were OK till then, but for the next 20 kms till villupuram the roads were bad, mostly muddy and filled up wit potholes. further on the roads were good, but the diversions never ended. took the diversion to salem, the state roads started. it was scenic, greenery all over and i enjoyed riding around the 80's. Around 9 AM, stopped for butt rest near kallakuruchi. The traffic gradually increased as there were many schools and colleges in that road. After about 1 hour of zig zag riding, the traffic became less and rode on further.

The sun started beating down, It was HOT! Stopped near Bhavani (CAUVERI RIVER) for a snap and pushed the bike a bit. Git dehydrated and stopped near erode for a break at the aavin parlor. Quickly emptied a glass of milk, a cool drink and a palkova (some sweet made out of milk).

A hour of non stop riding got me to avinasi. Took the diversion to Mettupalayam. It was around 480 on the odo and i haven't tanked up! I was puzzled that my bike gave more than 45kmpl!! I tanked up again and zoomed a head. I wanted a change and so took the odd way out. After Mettupalayam, it was the usual CONOOR route, but i took he diversion towards kothagiri, another hill station. It was indeed a pleasent ride, the roads were phenomenal.. It was curves, curves and more curves a head. The temperatures lessened and it was perfect to ride on! After numerous curves and corners, It was as though KILLER & JOEL gave a drill

Stopped for a nice cup of tea, i started a head to Doddabetta - the highest peak in South India! Spent a good hour there, a few snaps and i came down. Reached OOTY in about 30 minutes and was roaming like a nomad with no clue on where im going! Finally stopped near the OOTY lake. Saw a couple of hotels opposite to it. Booked a room, parked the bike and went out for a long walk. Bought a few home made chocolates and emptied it immediately Came back to the hote, had a nice dinner and hit the sack @ 7:30 PM. A couple of hours later, my girl friend called me, Told her Im in OOTY, a solo trip. She scolded Me - #@!$%^&# - I crashed to the bed again

I ended the day with 570 Kms on the odo, the longest i have done on a day.. it was tiring but enjoyable.

Day 2: started with a wonderful cup of fresh Nilgiri masala tea. refreshed myself and went out to see a white horse. The guy asked if u wanna go solo or you need a guide? Also he mentioned that the horse itself would take me back to the same place and not to worry. With a brave thought, i told i would go SOLO He just accompanied till the end of the road and then i was all alone into the forests and the villages. The horse was nice til the first corner and then phew it started running up fast! I was puzzled and afraid where it is taking me to! i had absolutely no control on the horse and what ever i do , it just zoomed a head. the bumpy ride gave a sore back and it swollen up the butt It came to a grinding half after 30 minutes of non stop running.. and then.. the horse wont move no matter what i do! I thought of getting down from the horse and walk back., but what will i tell to the guy who would wait in front of the room.. after a while another guy who was riding a horse came along, tagged me with him and dropped me at the hotel! I was thrilled and it was a fascinating experience..

Came back to the room and started ahead to Pykara. the ride wasn't smooth, as with a sore back.. reached the view point and the place was so beautiful. Took a few snaps and then i started back. Reached pykara and the lake was wonderful. Waited for some one to tag along as they wont allow solo riding on a boat After 20 minutes of pleasant scenery from the boat, i came back to the shore - took a few snaps and went to the other side of the lake, the Pykara dam. Went a head into the dam, couldn't take the snaps as the watchman was too adamant not to allow me take snaps - reached back to the hotel room in 30 minutes and went out for lunch. Took rest for some time and it was time to visit the gardens and parks in the evening. Paid the Botanical garden, a visit. It was nice, with green green and green plants everywhere! The crowd was heavy and i didn't enjoy it. A few clicks and i started from there.

Stopped at a service station, washed my bike and went to the room. parked the bike and went to the OOTY Lake, a nearby park and for Go karting! It was dark and i came back to the room. Ordered the dinner and packed up things. Had a shower as i was tired, finished the meal and crashed on the bed around 9 PM - 67 Kms of riding around Ooty - Odo - 001378

Day 3: It began with a shivering mood. Woke up at 5:15 and had to manage with a cold water bath at 5:30 AM!! Settled off the bills and started at 6:00 AM. The weather was awesome, it was misty everywhere and i could barely see the vehicle in front of me. It was cold even after wearing a thick tee and a riding jacket and the gloves.

The foggy weather also made the helmet visor foggy! every breathe made it worse! Cautiously rode down at the 40's. The corners were no longer easy. Even a 40 KMPH turn was skiddy. Relaxed a bit and set off in a very slow pace. It was indeed cold and i needed to be extra cautious with the truckers and cars coming against me.. It took about 30 minutes for reaching CONOOR and another 30 minutes to reach Metupalayam.

From there the flat roads started, and i opened up the throttle after a long long time! managing around the 80's, it was tough to cope up with the jay walkers and stupid cyclers pedding across the roads! crossing villages from mettupalayam and annur and avinasi was a tough task! I wanted to take a different route and so took the diversion to Mettur. The intial roads were dumb. With just potholes and not roads, i could mange only 10 kmph for about 3-4 kms and then the roads with a bit of potholes started..Further more the scenic village roads started. It took a while and i reached mettur finally around 10 AM. Spent some time at the Stanley reservoir and started back home.

Took the road towards Dharmapuri and hence skipping salem. I reached NH7 and then it was time for the long long straights! The sun was out already and it gave me a tough time. Stopped so many times for butt breaks and tea breaks. After 70 odd kilometers, i stopped in Krishnagiri.
The sign board read Right to Chennai and Straight a head to Bangalore.

I was wondering if i was to go straight ahead to Bangalore, get scoldings from my girl or what else to do. I took the RIGHT decision

100 odd kilometers, i stopped for lunch at Ambur and then at vellore, 140 kilometers from home. A hour of non stop riding and i reached near kanchipuram and i was exhausted. Stopped for a cool refreshing tender coconot on the way and the sign board read "99 Kilometers to chennai".

From three digits to double digits in a mater of hours.. i was happy with the progress..finally reached the outskirts of chennai around 3 30 PM. Then i had to deal with the numerous college buses and the Hyundai buses plying around. They were riding at their own will, thinking they were the lord of the streets.. with nothing else to do, i started with the zig zag riding and i finally reached home at 4:00 PM.

A fascinating 1140 Km trip.. A solo trip on my new ThunderBird.. It was all jubilation once i reached home.. The memories would never die so soon.. Overall, a wonderful trip to remember and prosper for the coming days...

If i can, why not you?? Leave Home!!

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