Finally to Pune !

              Taking a leave from Karad city, I started my journey towards Pune. If you travel on this part of AH 17, then the most pronominal view is of wind mill fins. Laying off the roads on both the sides its like an assurance of tomorrow's clean energy needs. It was post noon and sun was quite high. Within an hour I felt the need of hydrating myself. One fine thing was that the number of road side dhabas is more in Maharashtra compared to Karnataka. So you never had to wait to reach one. After taking a brief rest, I started again. The next big city is Satara.


          The highway was nice one and I didn't find any diversions also. Satara city is expanding rapidly. A lot of construction projects were visible on both the sides of highway. I felt within next five year, the highway may be in the middle of city. Post Satara. its Wai. One thing I observed. Miraj was not mentioned in Google maps(Oops...Again Technology failed to suffice).


However, on the highway, it was dominant for around half an hour. The next of course was Pune. Now, en route you would pass 3 toll booths two tunnels and one bridge(quite a majestic one) near Warje. All clubbed together makes it worth a trip. Now the first toll would come before Satara, followed by two more before Katraj. Post Katraj, the tunnel experience would keep you spellbound. The bigger one is nearly 1.5 kms and is one way.However the facinating would be the bridge near Warje. Once Warje is crossed, you would find your self on the verge of Pune.

             I first reached Chandni Chowk. Unlike the name sounds, there is no similarity between this chowk and Delhi's one. This could be found as a modest one where office goers are the main fellows on the road. My target was Baner Road. Now let me inform all fellow riders, that there are very few hotels to stay on this part. My voyager inside me kept me rolling on Pune roads. I roamed on Aundh Road, DRDO Chemical Laboratories, Catt Area among others as most are in the in vicinity of 10-15 km if not more. Roads are wide and I found the people are warm and in welcoming mode.  Inside city, the best fellows are always auto rickshaw drivers. These people have detailed knowledge about every nook and corner and most of them are helpful as well. Sometimes they were better than google maps(kind of HPS: Human Positioning system)

            So, finally after covering nearly 900 kms on my machine, I was in Pune. People often ask me one simple question...Why Pune and not Goa or Pondicherry? Well, I never replied to this question.


            For most riders, its always the road and the trip that matters more than destination. It has always been the case even with me except this ride. I selected this route for a very special cause. I had to meet some one, my childhood friend, Anamika. We know each other for almost 25 years now and on  facebook this had only strengthened.  So, one fine morning she places her wish to roam her city on my machine. This means that I need to reach Pune and that too alone. Well, I simple did the same. Took leave from office for a week, prepared myself and my machine and just cruised on. The desire of meeting her was growing with every passing moment.

             At around 8 o'clock in the evening, I checked in to a hotel. The first thing I did was to call her. We decided to meet next day at lunch. I had to pick her from her office and just zoom on. So next morning I kept standing outside an IT company waiting for her. After a short interval I got her first glimpse. She was coming out of a giant gate. The sun was high and her smile was sparkling. For few seconds, I just forgot I was standing on the road. The long ride and the all efforts were worth a life to cheer.

 We went to a nearby Continental restaurant had a lot of discussion on all life of topics. This was unfortunately accompanied with quite bad food. Anyways over the next two hours it was like going back in time and remembering the good old childhood days. People grow with age but somewhere we all miss the past. Meeting someone at a gap of 12 years is hard to describe in words. I realized, over a period of time she had grown to an corporate professional from a cute girl. Her beautiful and mild smile is still there just that it is less frequent now(side effect of ITculture). Soon, we realized that its time to move ahead. For me it was to continue back to my riding experience and for her back to her coding duniya.

           With a heavy heart, I started back to Bangalore.  En route, I met an long and a bit dark underpass tunnel. No matter how much artificial light you add the dark side is always there. Same with us as well. Kept thinking whole way... why on earth people keep them self confined within few factors of professional repo. This beautiful world is endless but time is finite. So, when mental health is just a ride away , why do people prefer to stick to their cubicles and complain about various issues.A riding machine makes you familiar with nature,but above all it has the potential to reunite old friends. The time spent on your machine is never deducted from your life. In fact it simply multiplies and keep on growing.

When Sky Condenses Earth !

Long back someone told me

‘ The colors of life is the inspiration of rain with rainbow as image of creation ! ‘

 I was wondering to realize this. Unaware of the way, I went back to my IT job where codes and logic form the entire world. Until one fine day, when the desire to roll out of routine life became bigger than my schedule.

It was a Friday evening  in Bangalore with clear sky and white clouds scattered on it. and things were running smooth at my desk. Every result of my development work was as per expectation except one, my restless feeling. I wanted to explore something new. I was chatting with my colleague in smokers zone at ITPL when we suddenly felt rain drops  touching us. I looked at the sky and saw a tiny drop heading towards me right from the sky. It was like gods own message to flush the stigma and feel the nature like a new born. I went back and told my team that I am going on a vacation. They were surprised with this sudden declaration.

At night I called my school friend living in Karad, Maharastra and told him that it’s time to meet after 11 years. Of course, we were old pals. The idea was an instant hit. Next Monday morning it was me and my machine cruising away from Bangalore towards sheer pleasure. The route selected was Asian Highway no. 17 (Also termed as a part of NH4).

 I started at 8 o’clock in the morning from my house and it took around one hour to be on this highway. The signboard mentioning that Mumbai was 1000 odd kilometers from Bangalore was kind of rocking. I continued my ride on my favorite Avenger 200 cc machine. The idea of not going to office on Monday morning was more enchanting than anything I can think of.

The road was smooth one, just like spread cheese on a piece of bread. I had a quick breakfast on one road side ‘Darshini’ and continued on my way. The first city to cross was Tumkur. It was around 100 odd kms from my house. Soon I covered Chitradurga and reached Davanagere. Till this place most of the highway was six lanes. The weather was nice, although I face dust storm at one place. It was around two o’clock and time to get some food. I stopped at a dhaba and had ordered chapatis, dal and paneer butter masala. When the paneer dish was served, it was horrible. It was a blend of zero butter, ten gram cottage cheese and a kg of spices available in entire south India. The dish could only ensure that a pal keep going to rest room frequently. I was sure that a good chef could prepare food for the entire village with that masala ! Anyways, with dal-roti stuff I had to move again.

By the time I reached Davanagere, It was cool breeze flowing. The highway suddenly became scenic with lush green fields on both the sides. Cruising through this I realized why Bajaj said ‘Feel Like God’.

  Soon it started raining. I took shelter at a tea shop adjacent to the highway. One thing I realized there. People from all walks of life were under that single tin shed trying to save from rain. In life, it’s only, when we are in a trouble, the barriers of social, economic and political views vanish. Daily wage workers, beggars, riders like me were all under one roof without any complains. The rain stopped after fifteen minutes and I started again.

I crossed Hubli and then Dharwad. People in Bangalore always have a flair for Dharwad Peda. So, I thought of trying the same at Dharwad itself. Unfortunately, none was there adjacent to highway. Alas, my sweet dream could not cherish. Anyway, I carried on with the dream to try Kolhapuri sabzi at Kolhapur itself. Soon, it was twilight and then night followed. I reached Belgaum. The lights twinkling on the hill side were awesome. I can feel it was a nice city and wanted to take a halt there. But the notion to meet school time friend was growing now and I continued. The Karnata-Maharastra border was crossed and headed towards Kolhapur. It was midnight that I reached there and again my dream of trying kolhapuri sabzi got thrashed. Anyways I realised that machine is too hot and need a break. So kept waiting for fifteen minutes on the roadside. I felt like a ghost standing alone only to be quizzed by highway patrol police. They told me its crazy to ride such a long distance just to meet one fellow. Anyways at around 12:30 at night I finally arrived at Karad only to find my friend waiting on the highway. Yo Macho !. Finally I reached there.

Next morning we sailed towards the wind farms. 

The weather was nice and we were accompanied by his team mates. It was for the first time I got a view of the installation and working of wind mills. The place was 40 kms far from Karad City and is worth exploring.   

               It’s difficult to reach there unless you have a relentless soul in you! I was amazed to be there. Saw huge wind mills. Some were having fins as large as 45 meters. The pillars used to install were bigger than the banayan tree stems. I was explained all aspects of engineering involved in renewable sources. I liked that. My friend Vikas Kushwaha was a manager there and took care of the trip. I thought, ‘ Sala, ye kaam to mujhe karna chaiye tha, kaha IT me fasa hoon’. Anyways, we spent some more time, had some pictures and returned ack to the guest house. Most of the pics here are courtesy to Vikas. Next day, I headed towards Pune on another Journey. Shall mention the same in next blog.

        Thanks Vikas Dude...Jald hi phir milenge !

The Yercaud Trip

      

         It was a tedious day in office. The Friday evening was not like the normal one. The desire to get rejuvenating power was gradually growing. Not sure, how to make the change, I had my dinner and went on my rooftop. It was cool breeze flowing and I realized that this was what I need. Let this breeze continue with me away from my routine life. The only solution was me and my motorcycle. At night 11 o’clock, I thought of going on a long ride to an unknown place. I called my college friend Abhishek Gupta and by midnight we set on a cruising journey on my Avenger 200 cc machine. 

           
            By 12:30 pm we were at the toll gate of Electronics city elevated highway. I felt like paying Rs 20 as the toll charge was a ticket of freedom. Soon we crossed Bangalore city and sailed towards Hosur in neighbouring state Tamil Nadu. Crossing all street lights and highway trucks, it was an enchanting music of passing vehicles and an altogether a different experience.  We continued on NH 7 for around 2 hours before we finally crossed all city lights and reached on a road with rocks on both sides. It was a panoramic view in full moonlight. The twinkling stars were like navigators. We continued on this highway, changed the rider and pillow rider position turn by turn and crossed one town after another with breaks for tea on highway dhabas. It was 4:45 in the morning and we reached to the verge of Steel city Salem.                                                         

                                                                     

              The sun was peeping. The rays have just started touching our faces. The darkness of night and that filled in my heart for my office was slowing fading. We simply stood on the road side for quite some time as if the time stood still. After an hour we found a local fellow who understands Urdu and thus Hindi (Tamil was beyond our scope). He told us that there is a beautiful hill spot just after Salem called Yercaud. Some call it a princess of Hills with most parts still unexplored.  It was a symbol that God was with us and has just opened new direction. We thanked that fellow and headed towards Yercaud on state highway, missing NH 7. Just after a ride of 15 min through Salem city we can see the rocky heights heading towards Yercaud. The idea of riding on hilly terrain in rising sun is non parallel and hard to explain. It was like men, machine and let the sun rise. The journey continued and we found our first notice board mentioning that there are 20 hair pin turns in all, making the journey a bit challenging now. Anyways after crossing the first couple of turns we didn’t found ant more difficulty in crossing these hairpins. It took around half an hour to reach to Salem heights hotel, marking an end to hairpin turn journey and Yercaud Lake lay it arms in warm welcome posture. A slight chilling weather was an added advantage. There was only one thing we can now think of...Breakfast! Got a decent south Indian hotel to serve us with warm idlis and sambher. We never liked simple breakfast so much.  

After this we continued towards the woods of Yercaud in search of scenic views and peace. The place did not disappoint. It was worth riding the whole night. Pagoda point, Lake view, Sunrise point, water falls to mention a few. By noon we started feeling

tired and booked a room in an inn. 

    The night, unlike Bangalore, was calm and quite cold. Leaving us with no other option but to share our old college memories. My avenger was resting just outside the inn and we were sleeping inside. Next morning, we thanked the inn keeper, paid the dues and left for sightseeing again. Just roamed through this small town hoping that one day we can have our villa somewhere in the woods. By afternoon, we waved goodbye with a heavy heart and headed back towards Bangalore. I noticed, by this time, we have already covered roughly 275 kms. While returning we noticed the names of all those towns and cities which we missed in dark night. These wereDharampuri, Krishnagiri and Hosur, to name a few. One interesting found was an emu farm near Dharampuri. It was new for us. Coming back to Bangalore, we felt as if we two friends have confined our self in corporate life and these small enchanting moments of life are gradually fading.  It was because of one machine Bajaj Avenger 200 cc, that we lived a life bigger than the IT world. To define in one word, its freedom that we loved.