Prologue:
Long tiring days at work, working in 24 / 7 shifts.. Weekly offs randomized to Tuesdays and Thursdays... life was moving next to hell. I needed a break, at least to calm off things and start afresh. After lots of planning and discussing, got a well deserved 3 day break around the 1st of May. Come last week of April, I was excited about the trip.. My manager called up for a meeting, I was wondering if it had to deal with canceling my leaves.. thankfully, it was other wise. I was moved to a new project, to be joined from the 3rd of May. So the three day plan is now a five day one. Kerala was always on my mind, but couldn't do it because of some reason or the other and this was the time to do it.
The Picasa Album
Day 1: Riding Solo to the Gods Own Country
Odometer: 003684 - Trip Meter: 000
Riding Solo has become a new habit of mine, which off late i started to enjoy the most. Woke up for a cup of coffee at 4 in the morning. I could feel the emotions running through my mom's eyes even on that dim light I just consoled her that i would reach back safe and ON TIME! refreshed myself and started in another 30 mins.
So a much deserved early morning start, the weather was cool and pleasant bid adieu to parents and started up. Took the NH 45 route towards Trichy and my first stop was Thindivanam, 100 odd kilometers from Chennai. Open roads, not much traffic and pleasant weather.. the trip started comfortably, more that what i dreamt of.
Next stop was near Perambalur, another 100 odd kilometers away, this time the sun was just setting down while i emptied the breakfast along agricultural fields.. Went out of water and so stopped by a road side tea shop. From around 90 kilometers away from trichy i hoped i was clearing a good distance (Cruising around the 80's)!
The sun was already out and I started sweating, that too with the riding jacket, i was sweating even more. Came out of the Tea shop to only find my ride down and i could lift it up Got help to park it up , found that my rear tyre had a puncture. All this happened in front of the tea shop/besides a puncture shop. I still suspect those guys would have hit the nail into my rear tyre
They were too busy fixing up lorry tyres meanwhile i removed the tyre, cleaned up the bike, loosened out the remaining air in the tube and got the tube out. It took them two full hours to fix the puncture and give back the tyre. Finally fixed the rear tyre and started off to trichy by 9:30 AM. The first few kilometers were bumpy and later on the tyre got adjusted or rather i got adjusted to its settings and i opened up the throttle. Reached trichy around 11, and the ByPass traffic was at its Mad best! Took about 45 minutes to cross the outskirts of Trichy and later on the traffic got eased out.
Reached Dindigul around 1PM, 420 kilometers on the trip and i was getting tired and the weather was making me get exhausted. The Route towards theni was not clear and i was misled by many! After roaming so much on the madurai highway (I was only 30 odd kilometers away from Madurai!) , finally got hold of the roads towards theni. The temperatures came down after reaching Theni and roads were really scenic.
Roads were bordered by lush green trees and accompanied by mountains, i started to feel the goodness of the trip. Stopped for lunch around 3PM in a small village hotel and ate as much i could. Shocked to see the bill as 37 rupees, i gave them 50 rupees and wished them luck with a happier stomach and heart!
With more than 550 on the odo, i was getting really tired and stopped every other juice shop. Reached the foot of the hills towards Periyar (Thekkady / Kumily) around 3PM, the scenery was wonderful. Stopped by the falls, tried cornering on my TBTS, clicked snaps, played with monkeys, and with other things to do.. climbed up the hills and reached the Periyar Tiger Reserve at 4:05 PM.
The forest officer said am late by 5 minutes for the last boat of the day He guided me to a nearby cottage, decent enough with twin beds and with a hill view. Paid 300 for the room and from the room, started gazing at the birds and monkeys loafing around the woods, saw the hills smoking. My 18x Zoom from the cam showed that it was forest fire and it was a rare sight, at least for me.
So the day ended with 594.5 kilometers from Chennai / 4279 on the odometer. My longest ever on a day, tiring but truly enjoyable one.
Odometer: 004279 - Trip Meter: 594.5
Day 2: Crossing Lakes, Mountains, Dams and excellent twisties..
Odometer: 004729 Trip meter: 594.5
I woke for a special cardamom tea and it was still dark outside. The forest fire had set down, and i was still lazy to get up from bed. My shoulders were paining and i also had a sour back. Indeed riding 600 kilometers had taken a toll on my body. Bathed in Hot water and i was feeling better, got out of the room and headed into the Periyar Tiger Reserve which was just a few meters away from my room. Entrance fee was Rs.25 and another 25Rs. for getting a Camera inside.
The roads inside the reserve were great! Looked scenic and was scary for a guy like me walking all alone. The Forest officer at the entrance gate adviced me of seeing wild animals and i was eagerly looking forward for it. I thought the climate would be cold and still had the riding jacket On. But it was a great mistake. The weather was much like chennai, Hot and not that cool as i wondered. 15 minutes into the reserve, my legs started paining and i havent crossed half the distance. Kept walking further up, and spotted a deer crossing by the road. It ran away into the woods as soon as i opened up the camera. With not much time to spare for the first boat into the lake, got a share auto (much like what you find in chennai, but too costly!) to the periyar lake. Paid him 20 bucks and he dropped me in no time!
The boat 'JalaTharanga' was waiting for me. I was the last one to board the boat and every one on the boat was made to wait for me. I had a small place next to a 6'6" monster. Contradictorily, there was a beauty on the other side of it, but DAMN! Her husband came along! For sometime, I was in crossminds wondering where to concentrate. The lake, or the beautiful birds or the odd animals crossing by or the only beautiful thing to see on the boat.
I planned otherwise, turned to the beautiful side and started shooting with my cam. The boat started sailing into the lake, with so many birds flying around my cam was trying to capture as much as it could. Cruising into the lake Spotted Bisons, deers, Wild Pigs, and finally Elephants at quite a distance.
The temperature cooled down once we went deep into the lake, and the beautiful one asked me to take a picture of her with her hubby. I clicked t(HER) picture on her Canon and my eyes and we parted. Got a lift to the cottage by one of the workers in the reserve, refreshed myself at the room and checked out the room.
To roads towards Munnar were sought as one of the best, but in turn it was other wise. The roads were being repaired and it was take diversions right from where i started. The only advantage was that i had to cross many small villages of Kerala and it was indeed refreshing. Children playing along the small canals, women washing clothes at the rivulets and grandads resting along side the coconut tree shades were a pleasant sight. Stopped by Nedumkantam, another small town for some cool drinks. The shop owner, an elderly woman had no clue what i asked her. Managed to open up the fridge ad pick up a fanta myself, and some snacks and sweets. She charged only 5 bucks for the fanta and 20 for the snacks and sweets.
The roads then were excellent, few straight, lots and lots of twisties and some hair pin bends, My ride just proved perfect on all those roads. Stopped by a few places for snaps and i proceded on. The temperatures rapidly decreased and the green green sights were a virtual treat. Those green tea plantations, excellent twisties running through them, with mountains around the backdrop indeed what a biker wants. My first time to Munaar / Kerala and for sure Munaar didnt disappoint me.
I was wandering even after i reached Munaar, stopped by Matupatty dam for a few snaps. And time and again some other beauty stops by and i forget to concentrate on what i need to do :P Further up, stopped by the KSEB boating arena and they wont allow me in with the camera. So i decided not to go in without my camera, and went a head to Top Station, topmost point as per the banners. The roads leading to the Top station is really fascinating. with single lane roads running through the tea plantations at those high altitudes, it was verymuch picturesque.
The Top station, a view point owned by a private party is in Tamil Nadu's limits. The 3 kilometers into the view point from kerala is in a very bad state. The locals claim the forest department is not allowing them to lay new roads, while the forest department further down the road claim the Tamil nadu government is not co-operating to lay new roads. If laid, the distance between top station and kodaikkanal would be a mere 59 kilometers, that too running through dense forests.
My next stop was at the Pambadum - Shola National park, where i went for trekking. 4 kilometers into the wild forest, accompanied by a forest officer.. a totally different experience. But came out with bleeding legs , because of leech bites. I was exhausted after the trekking, after all i trekked 4 kilometers after hard riding and oops i forgot to have my breakfast and lunch and it was already 5 in the evening.
On way back visited another dam and the Kundale lake. Stopped for some photos, had a pine-apple juice and returned to Munaar. Way back, i was concerned if i had enough petrol and locals asked me to fill up petrol at Ellapatti, the only town to stock up petrol on cans. The shop owners at Ellapatty were very kind enough, most of them were tamils and originally from some parts of chennai. They offerred 5 rupee discount for me, after knowing that i came from chennai and for riding down all the way Though concerned voices like "You could have come by bus, it just costs around 200" could not be avoided!
So again, an eventful day.. Lots of new places, meeting new people and rejuvinating the hidden faith. The ride started becoming more special for me.
End: Odometer: 004919 Tripmeter: 784
Route: Thekkady to Munnar - SH19 towards Devikulam and NH49 from there on. The roads are scenic, and would save a lot of distance unlike the other normal route running through Tamil nadu..
Day 3: Playing with Nilgiri Tahr n Crocodiles..
I didnt know when i slept last night, but i knew it was late. When i woke up, I was all sweating, with a head ache having been covered up inside the bedsheet for more than 10 hours and with no fan nor a
ventilator in the room. I got up and went out of the room, saw the pleasant view of the hills.. a refreshing sight.. brushed up, refreshed up myself and had a tea and some snacks. Came back to the room ,
packed up my bag, had bathe in HOT water and checked out the room around 9 AM. The room boy asked me to leave a bit late as the Eravikulam National park opens up only by 10 and I would have to
wait there for nothing. I took his words, went out finished my breakfast, tanked up and started up by 9 30.
My first stop was at Tea Museum, just on the other side of the road. It was not open and i went further, and then after a few kilometers stopped by Nyamakad Water Falls. My bad time, there wasnt any
water at the falls and it was just the rocks to be seen. Not a ideal start, i pushed up further for my next stop, The Eravikulam National Park. I reached there exactly by 10 and there was such a huge queue
awaiting to get the tickets into the park. The Queue easily outnumbered more than 200, and I was at the end of it. I was in two minds weather to take it off and leave to the next location or wait for the
counter to open. The queue started moving at a snails pace and after an hour, I got the tickets into the park. Parked my bike behind the office and boarded a mini van that takes us into the Eravikulam
national park, some 5 kilometers above the office. The roads leading to the park were very much scenic, but they dont allow private vehicles into that forest area
The mad driver, dropped us at the park in no time and we were set on our own. peeked into a small building at the park, Called 'Story of the Park' - It had pictures and photo cards about the history of the
park. Came out and ventured into the park. A few steps in, a Nilgiri tahr sped past me and dis appeared as soon as i opened up the Cam. Going further up , i saw plenty of them, as close as it could get. They
posed up really well, and i was happy clicking those
Still further up, I found that the park had nothing other than these Nilgiri tahr's and the misty hilly spreading down. No doubt that it was an awesome sight, but i dreamt otherwise. Spent some time
Capturing the scenery, and helped a few couples taking pitures of them. The end of the park came and the senery was just getting better. Came back down and had some snacks in the canteen there.
boarded the bus and reached back the parking place. The roads and the scenery indeed is very refreshing, again tried cinvincing the forrest officer that i would just go up once on my bike and come down,
but he wont allow
The roads after that were in a bad state, with potholes here and there, and the temperature started to rise having crossed munnar and coming down the hills. Stopped by Marayoor, the sandal wood forests
for a break. Nothing picturesque and so i proceeded on. Down the hills, into Chinnar , the temperature started to boil up and i started to sweat again. Stopped by the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary and again it
was cosed for the Day. Not what i really wanted out of the trip, most of the important locations being missed up. Crossed the kerala border, and into TamilNadu again. Needless of say, weather in tamil
nadu was literally killing me.. No more green sight to go, was wondering how the next destination would be. Stopped at the first shop on the tamil nadu border, quickly emptied a tender coconut and
headed to the Amaravathi Dam, just 6 kilometers away.
The dam was asusual dry and literally nothing to see in it. The locals asked me to visit the Crocodile farm on the other side of the road. The entry fee into the farm was just 50 paise!! There were quite a few
crocodiles in the farm and most of them just sleeping. Those awake were opening their mouth and threatening the kids. Took a few random shots and started to Valparai, my last destination for the day.
Called up Keerty, a.k.a Thy @xBhp and told him that i would meet him at N.M Sungam, a small town near his hometown, enroute to Valparai. He kindly obliged and i started off from the Amaravathi
Dam. The roads were scenic, contradictoryly these were running through the agricultural lands and some Coconut farms. Few things which were astonishing for me was that, there are posers almost every
where, even in villages and small towns! and Pulsars have become common in Villages these days. Few small bends and some straight roads and i was at N.M Sungam., called up Thy and he is still on his
way. Stopped by a small parota shop and finished up my lunch. By then Thy reached and we headed to Aliyar dam.
The dam was huge! The bulidings there reminded me of older tamil movies and we headed up into the dam. A few snaps and we started to Valparai, some 60 kilometers away and more specially there
were 40 HAIRPIN BENDS!! We headed up and our next stop was at The Loams View, which gives a panaromic view of the dam. Meanwhile two of keerthy's friends joined us into Valparai. The mist started
to settle down, while we were steadily cruising up. Few more friends joined up keerthy's gang and we lost 45 minutes and it was getting dark. With pictures becoming bleak, we sped the 40 hairpin bends
and ventured into the Valprai Town.
Keerthy's friend tanked up,
while Keerthy and myself went searching for a room to stay up for the night. Finally got into Myna Lodge, a decent enough lodge with twin beds. Paid 150 bucks for the room
and went out and had our dinner. Came back to the lodge to find that there wernt any parking place and parked the ride with so much fear on my eyes. Checked with the staff a hundred times if the bike
will be safe. Went in and locked the room while keerthy and his friends parted back to Pollachi, their home-town.
So yet another eventful day, mix of sad and happy emotions. Few places missed out but spending some good time playing with the Nilgiri tahr, speaking about elections on the road side tea shop and arguing TVS Star is no way better than a Enfield on those coconut farms were real special
Total Kilometers for the day : 185
Day 4: With good company..
Staying in a low cost lodge has its own share of problems and tortures. Yet another night without much sleep. This time it was those drunkard neighbours, who lethargically switch off the fan or lock up the room from outside or wake you up in the middle of the night to ask if i stole their mobile! Ever since 'Thy' left my room , I had to live up with these disturbances. Woke up the next day morning, without an alarm at 5:30 AM. Brushed up, refreshed myself and packed up things. An hour passed by and i went out looking up for a tea shop., Only a few shops were opened and calmly waited for a tea shop to open up. Had some biscuits and a hot tea. Passed a beauty parlor or Saloon in our words, stepped in and had a clean shave., The twenty minutes i spent in the barber shop was real funny. With everyone except me speaking nothing other than POLITICS! Came back to the room, had bathe in cold water, dressed up and awaited Thy's call. No private cellphone network in Valparai, Only the BSNL networks function here and so i was waiting for the load landline ring tone. Thy called up at 7 30 and said he will reach around an hour. Meanwhile i again went out, cleaned up my ride and parcelled the breakfast in a near by hotel.
Thy arrived and we quikly finished our breakfast. Checked out the room, got a few water bottles and packed up the snacks i had bought in Kerala. A few snaps and we were ON. Checked our tire pressures at a near by puncture shop and we headed to Athirampalli. Our first stop for the day was at Sholayar dam. A huge dam, again with not much water., few snaps and we were back on road. Crossed the Tamil Nadu border and once again entered Kerala. The scenic forest route to athirampalli, had awesome twisties, bad roads, roads with just stones and some newly laid thar. We knew that for the next 60 kilometers its going to be just woods, woods and more woods and with no shops or towns inbetween! We were prepared for the worst or best to come in. Took the first few kilometers with care, let a few cars to overtake though total vehicles encountered on the whole stretch wouldnt have crossed two digits!
The woods were scary, with a wierd noise all over. The roads were in a real bad shape, with Thy mentioning that the roads would be damaged of the possible encounters of elephants., i was just awaiting the same. We could barely maintain speeds above 30 as the roads were real bumpy and took a toll on the bike and our backs on speeding above 30. We decided not to stop anywhere unnecessaryly but stopped in every other curve for pics, pics and more pics. Infact we even took a 45 minute break in the middle of the forest, with no one else to care - we went on taking up random snaps, a few poses into the woods and finally we were on. Managed to stop by a river, finally there was some place with some decent water flowing in! I even thought of having a quick bath into the river, but there were already a gang bathing and another gand of drunkards going into it. Again., a few snaps and we were on. The woods were a good companion on our rides, we started enjoying the natural beauty., the creepy trees, wierd sounds of insects, tall woods, and a few monkeys to be played up with. We swapped rides, and the roads were getting better with the new thar being laid in between.
Our next stop was was for our so called lunch. I had bought some snacks from Nedumkantam, kerala and the home made chocolates from Munnar. We shared it up , rested our butts for sometime and we went on. Riding the R15 , was a special and different experience. It just moved briskly and does what we say! Moving around the corners or the twisties were much easier. For another 50 kilometers, i didnt wish to go back to the bull., not untill we reached our destination for the day. As again, i was practising the cornering techniques or rather the bending and leaning aspect of it.. there comes a mad cage driver, just in front of me., completely in the wrong lane on the open roads. with nothing else left to do, i steered to the other side and breaked hard. With gods grace, nothing happened and i was on my limits. This happens and living in India, we just have to forget it move on.
Few kilometers down the road, another photo session, this time it was along side the wooden logs, and an empty road leading to a timber yard. The day had started good and riding with a good company is always for the better of the trip. Thy started taking out pics and i started posing :P The weather was getting hot and i removed my riding jacket and let the breeze cool me off. It was here we found that Thys jacket had fallen off somewhere, far from where we could even guess where we could have lost it. 30 minutes passed by, a long break indeed.. we quenched our thirsts and soon we ran out of water.
Some hard fast riding got us to a town, near athirampalli. Seeing a shop after 60 kilometers!! Stopped for a juice break. We could hear the sound of the flowing water from there.. a bright smile that we almost did it.!
Crossed the Forest check post, and entered into the Athirampalli. The place was crowded too much and being a holiday, it was getting worser. Though., Seeing a huge crowd after spending hours in the lonely dense forests were somewhat different for the first few minutes ! We went ahead and parked the bikes. My ride's clutch wire went kaput exactly at the parking area. We were in two minds weather to deal with it once we come back or to attend it immediately. The forest officers had a mechanics number who resides some 5 kilometers from the Athirampalli falls. Called him, but no use. I pillioned Thy and went past the falls looking for a mechanic. Shi* ! My mistake, i should have had the spare cables, but for my lethargic mindset
Many kilometers passed, only the roads are getting better, but no sign of mechanics. Finally stopped by a shop and asked directions to a mechanics garage. We were instead told that the mechanics house is just besides the shop, and he is not at the house currently. With no options left, we sailed further up.. and some 5 kilometers later, we saw a garage! Spoke to him in the bad crap malayalam that we could speak off and made him understand that the bike's clutch wire has blown off. He inturn gave a enfield mechanics number and asked us to meet him at his house after an hour.
So we went back to the falls, with no mood to bath with hundreds of people fighting for place to bath., we just carried on. I washed my face, relaxed myself and came back to the shore meanwhile Thy went on to click a few snaps of the falls. The falls, no doubt was huge and wonderful. Just that we have to bath on the stream that leads to the falls, with hundreds of people nastying up the place was a bit sick for me. Soon it was 4:30 PM and we went back to the parking place. Called up Raju, the bullet mechanic from Chalakudy. Thank fully, he knew tamil and we explained the problems. Since the roads were down the hill from the falls ., to his house i calmly pushed up the bike and banded into the second gear after the ride sped past 20., the bike ame back to life but i knew for sure i was just damaging the engine. Chillarpatti came in sooner that expected and i rocketed past the place , where Thy was asking for directions.. he came back signalling that the place had already come., with much care i took a 'O' turn on the busy roads, without letting the bike struggle up for the clutch, i turned up and reached the place. Dropped the bike near a church when i went along with Thy to the mechanics house. He wasnt there at the house, and we tried reaching him on his mobile., he was already at the bike and had replaced the clutch wire. Came back, thanked him., paid him 200 for the wire and we started off to Chalakudy.
Missed out on the correct direction and we went on the other side. One hour of hard riding and roads started relaxing. Then there i see a board., COCHIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT--- 5 KILOMETERS!! I was like aaw... Machi we have come to Cochin!! We both were puzzled what to do and what was really happpening! i knew for sure, Cochin wasnt so close to Chalakudy and that we didnt ride that fast, nor did the traffic let us to do so. Pulled up to the side of the road and asked for directions. Thankfully, It wasnt Cochin, but somewhere near aluvae, enroute to Ernakulam. Trissur was on the other way back. We again had to deal with the same mad traffic. Riding experience in bangalore came to some use and i sped up fast zipping (On my TBTS! :P) through the gaps. 50 kilometers to trissur and we both signalled on our minds that we will meet up in trissur if we lose track., and we really didnt signal each other. I zoomed past a signal ( I had to break that signal ) and went a head while Thy got locked up behind a huge truck. 100 minutes of hard, fast riding got me in Trissur. Called up thy and he was still 15 kilometers behind. I finished a light dinner, again! Still Thy didnt come, had a tea and calmly awaited him. Finally after 30 minutes Thy flew that junction and went a head. I was running out of balance and had just two rupees and 10 paise. Called Thy, No response. I started the bike and tried catching him. No use, no clue where he went. Again Thy called and said he is waiting at the trissur junction. Another 3 kilometers a head, i met him and a short butt break.
The roads were awesome from here on, but the number trucks were huge! Stopped for a juice break, and it was around 9:30 PM. Some 90 kilometers to Pollachi i hoped. The traffic was getting dense, with oncoming traffic having high beam lights, it became a nightmare to ride with the scratched up visor. So started riding up with the visor lifted up, hitting up insects and dust into the eyes, i was literally crying for a way out! As again, Thy got fixed up behind a truck and i went a head and for long. No signs of Thy , and so stopped by some small town. Thy was on the other end of the town. Called up Thy and he asked me to meet him up on the other end, as we have to divert into another road towards pollachi. The roads were a bit bumpy, and lighting was poor. Though the roads became Ok after some 10
kilometers. I was starting wondering about my last lank up , as the petrol indiator was showing near the 1/4th of the tank. I remembered that i last tanked up the previous day morning in Munnar and didnt fillin any more petrol after that. For the next 50 kilometers, there wernt any petrol bunks open and it was already past 10 PM.
Managed to fillin petrol in some bunk , 10 kilometers before the Kerala Tamil nadu border. Stopped by for a butt break, i was growing tired and Thy's wrists started paining. Another juice break and we went on to Pollachi. Crossed into the Tamil nadu border and the roads were awesome!! The rear tires pressure went down and so i could only manage speeds around the 60's and 70's. Around 11 30 PM, we went into Pollachi., a Huge beautifuul town indeed! Seeing me with a backback, riding gear, helmets ON!, a poser on tvs victor signalled up for a race., Though i couldnt speed up past 70 or so, and once when i did around the 80's to overtake a truck, the poser mistook me that i am Calling up for a race and was going flat out at 90 and signalled that he won! I was having a lighter moment inspite of the tireful day, and was speaking to myself.. thats the way people are!
Few diversions on and finally around 12 AM, we reached Pollacchi / Thys house. Thys dog was barking so happily seeing me wonder why it was. Expressed a sorry to Thys parents that i'm making their son ride hard and get him back home late in the night Later, Thy just took me to the hotel room , a few kilometers away. This time around the room was awesome with luzurious beds., told thy that i would leave to chennai a bit late, by around 6 in the morning and i crashed.
A tiring day, with more than 300 kilometers., taking over 300 snaps for the day and Riding across twisties, forests, small rivers, woods were exceptional! Overall happy to have ridden with good company and a heartful thanks to Keerthy for accompanying a mad biker like me!
Day 5: A burnt up ride..
The day started with a painful morning, with every inch of my body paining at its own will. 6 30 AM, got up late.. called up Thy and asked if he is coming to meet me up, one last time.. He nodded and i went into have a hot bathe.. 7 AM and i was ready. Paked up things and i was just relaxing myself, a long day awaited me.. 7 30 AM, keerthy was at the door., we cheked out the hotel and went in for the nearby hotel for a coffee. Burnt up the engines and our first stop was a few kilometers away, my dads school. A few snaps on it and we were on. Checked up the tire pressures and we were on. Thy accompanied me till the highway that leads towards karur, as i was not quite sure of directions.
Bad luck, Thy sped past me i was again stranded in the middle of nowhere. My batters fuse went kaput, and so keenly changed to the spare one i had. Switched on to the other spare and the same again. So now, no more spares and a early sunday morning, no mechanics around. Tough day indeed.. i already started sweating, and time was running by. Thy came back after sometime not knowing what really had happened. He then called up his mechanic and he arrived in sometime. He fixed up with the fuse, and asked me to change it with some other mechanic enroute to chennai. Started up the bike, a few kilometers further, the same thing happened.
The mechanic came to help and this time he fixed up the lines directly, and so no more fuses. I really didnt knew the alter effects of giving the lines directly. I asked if it would hurt and he checked up the ride and again swapped back to the old fuse and connected the lines with a fuse wire. So then the ride came back to life once again. They parted up back to Pollachi where in i started towards tharapuram.
The roads were decent, with wind mills all around a pleasant sight and ofcourse seeing the wind mills for the first time. Stopped by for a few pics and didnt turn off the engine and i was scared to let anything wrong happen. Stopped by Tharapuram, asked for directions and checked with a mechanic if anything wrong with the lines / battery. He checked out and said its clean. A hundred kilometers passed by and i could sense the wires / battery been heated up., and with riding non stop with such a hot weather was a No-No. And soon the ride came to a grinding hault.
Twenty kilometers from Karur, on a perfect village with no mechanics or anything to help me out. Pushed the bike for a kilometer, but nothing to help. thankfully, a guy came to help without even asking for it. He promptly towed me up for the next 5 kilometers and dragged me off till 5 road, the next proper village. Saw a mechanics shop, but the mechanic wasnt there. And my bad, i forgot to recharge my mobile. A tough day indeed. Called up from a local phone booth and he arrived after some 10 minutes. He checked the ride and said he doesnt know anything with these modern bullets. I just asked him what the problem Could be.. he again changed to a new fuse, and the earth wire gone for a toss he changed it.. not sure if he replaed the same perfectly, but he changed it and the bike came back to action. 10 kilometers on, the bike stalled up again. With nothing else to do, i swapped to to the direct lines.
The ride was smooth, but for the political meetings.. the roads were too crowded and got stuck up in mad traffic in Karur owing to Amma's campaign. And so again, inch by inch movement under the hot sun, i was just more than scared to know what could happen. Thankfully, in the next thirty minute i crossed the strech and was on the other end of the road leading towards trichy. 20 more kilometers, i was just beginning to beleive that i would make it, the bike stopped with the wires smoking up. I saw the wires burnt up and huge smoke from the battery. Sigh.. nothing else to do, pushed up up the bike for another 2 kilometers, and put it up with a mechanic. he promptly asked me to parcel the bike and send it to the showroom as the whole wiring kit needs to be replaced.
Got a mini truck to tow up the bike again back to karur, and stopped by a parcel service office. KRLS it was, they packed the bike and loaded it into their truck. My bike couldnt come along as the trucks would leave only by night and reach the next day morning. I went in search of a bus, to chennai and there wasnt a bus until 9PM. So had to take a town bus to trichy, and i was sweating like anything. 2 30 PM, it was and the bus moved up briskly. From 2 wheels to 8 wheels, indeed disheartening Its part and parcel of such trips, Called up dad and said i will be late. Reached trichy by 4 45 PM and found a bus to chennai. A normal bus, and thats the only one available. The bus started by 5 PM and finally reached back Chennai by 11:55 PM.
So, 5 days in and around Kerala, The Gods own Counry & The Enchanting Tamail nadu. 1500 kilometers of fun filled riding and 300+ kilometers of suffering on a cramped up bus. A different experience, Riding solo has its own experiences and this ride was one such.
Thanks for reading.
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