Riding alone is fun to the extent that you can stop and go and do what ever you want to without anyone asking or telling or requesting or commanding or just plain begging you to do. Coz there is no one else! But riding in a group is something different. All do it together. All look out for each other. All in all! This was some experience. To begin with, the alarm didn't go off at 3:45 am and I was snoring away to glory till 5:00 AM. After 22 failed attempts (read missed calls) to wake me up, Pratap and Nahas decided to try one last time and luckily, I picked up their call. Off I was in just a few minutes and joined them as soon as I could. Their displeasure was evident in the cold welcome I got from them. Guys, once again, sorry!
It was about 5:20 AM by the time we pushed off towards Kodai, obviously after a chai and sutta session. Pratap leading and Nahas sweeping. I know, I know. Its just three guys, why lead and sweep and all those things. But, it really helps, believe me! I realised it only after a fall just 15 mins into the ride. Now, there are few things one needs to know before they ride in a group. Especially, the signals used to communicate and I, the illiterate at group riding, could not read one such signal and bumped into a Safari, which didn't bother to stop. So, the first lesson in group riding is to ask the group about what the hell each signal means. Immediately after the fall, I was given quick lessons in those signals. That’s when I thought of this, "Be proactive, when riding with illiterates. Teach them!"
Now, the ride was amazing till it was morning. Greenery all around, roads good (I say good because we rode on Tautobahn (Tamilnadu's roads are no less than the Auto bahn)). The picture below was our first stop after starting from Mysore. Pratap, the 100 kmph guy, surprised us by stopping and asking us to take a picture. Thanks dude!
On the Machismo 350 (Pratap), Thunderbird Twinspark (Yours' Truly) & Electra 350 (Nahas) and the background, green fields somewhere between Nanjangud and Chamrajnagar.
Yeah, I know. Its not like the ad! Bullet Electra Ad - Everybody makes way for the Bullet!.
We knew that this same train would make us stop at the next crossing and we tried to beat it and almost did. Almost. I was happy we did not. It is fun to wait at railway crossings. Your fellow riders can’t complain that you stopped. You could adjust the headphones that have started to irritate your ears. Curious glances from fellow riders and of course photo-op.
Roads from Mysore to Nanjanud are just about ok and bearable. After Nanjangud till Chamrajanagar (Tamilnadu border), its really, actually, honestly, BAD! The roads are not maintained at all. Add to that speeding trucks and cowherds and shepherds and lots of steep turns. It broke our backs. However, as soon as we got to the border, we realized what stark-difference is. It was really just a line, the border of Karnataka and Tamilnadu. But that line, the sign board welcoming us to Tamilnadu, were signs that our spinal chords were no longer in danger. Its was just a breeze after that. Literally. The drive from Chamrajanagar to Satyamangalam is through Sathi Ghats and one needs to be very careful on this route. After Satyamangalam, there were just straight roads leading to Asanur and then through to Palladam and then to Udumalpet . The ride from Satyamangalam to Palladam is filled with windmills. Thousands of them. The following picture taken below on of them. The swoops of the blades made sounds that made me shiver at the thought of being in its way.
The rides after this windfarm were very uneventful but pleasant. With the rising heat, the riding gear came off. After Palladam, we went through Udumalpet and then towards Palani. There is a by pass road from Palani towards Kodaikanal and what a scenic view awaited us as soon as we took that road. The mountains of Perumalmalai and Kodaikanal seen in the picture below.
The by-pass (by-passing Palani city) road leading towards Kodaikanal
Well, if you have come this far, you really are would be interested in knowing how and why this trip was planned. Madbulls had their anniversary ride and we wanted to catch up with them. We did. Some handshakes. Some introductions. etc. etc. Not very interesting. This one however was. This is one of the around 111 bikes that were to reach Kodaikanal. Amazing modification, Congratulations Dude! Would surely love to meet up with you guys and hang around next time! For now, we had to do some sight-seeing and then push off towards Mysore.
There was not much to enjoy in Kodaikanal. We had gone on a weekend when most of the places were crowded and were barely enjoyable. However, there were few places that looked good and provided some fun.
Upper Lake View
Monkeys and Carrots
This is one picture I really liked and was very soothing sight. This, by the way, is not in but near Kodaikanal.
This highlight of the return journey to Mysore was the detour we took from Palladam. We took a right towards Somanur and then towards Satyamangalam. It was some stretch. Around 10-12 kms of absolute, straight-as-a-rod roads allowed us to test the limits of our bikes. Its a route, I would recommend and is much better then the Mangalam route.
Route from Mysore to Kodaikanal: Mysore-Nanjangud-Chamrajanagar-Satyamangalam-Asanur-Mangalam-Palladam-Udumalpet-Palani-Kodaikanal. Asanur-Mangalam can be avoided by taking the Somanur route.
Eleanor was born on 22nd July 2006. Well, not technically speaking, but she was reborn as Eleanor on that date when she rode out with me from the TVS Showroom. :)
For all the times when she has NEVER EVER let me down. For all those fleeting moments of glory when she made me feel like I am the king of all I survey. For all those times she took me dancing and kicked up a storm in her wake.
Thank you!
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