There are times when you may feel irresolute before starting something new. There is nothing bad in having confusion. In fact, it’s good in my opinion. It encourages you to research more and empowers you to take a decision.
-ME
The Riding DNA
I am sure my love for motorcycles is inherited. And my
skills as well, I guess. It’s the same riding DNA.
I remember the way my father used to teach me “from how to
release the clutch, to how to accelerate with control”. He used to be a skilled
traffic cutter as well as a highway rider, a tourer of 90s. Back then, when people around
him used to avoid riding, he used to prefer taking his motorcycle out on the highway
for 100s of km. And I remember him telling the time he took to reach a
destination and how he had surpassed his old records and how he over took the various challenges on the road while riding.
The last few days, during my ride, he was always in my mind.
For every move that I made on the motorcycle, may it be leaning on a curve, may it be
taking over a speed breaker, may it be coming to a halt from top speed or over
taking another vehicle, it always flashed how he used to instruct me then. It felt
like he was watching me all along, as if he was with me. That’s special about this ride.
Everyone around me, most of the time, warns me, shows concern
over my riding on highways for days. I understand their point of view and I don't disagree. No one
in the family history had ever taken motorcycling to the touring level. It was only
used for commuting with in the city. At the same time, when my father got to
know I am riding Bangalore – Sikkim – Goa – Bangalore during last December, he
was some what concerned as a father which is relatable, but he was not discouraging like others. And when I did
it, in 3 weeks he said “Maanba ke padbaa bo”. This phrase in my native language
translates to appreciation with surprise.
I was always a pillion rider when he used to be a rider (my
childhood). When I got my Bajaj Avenger, I have always wished if I could go on
a ride with him, at least a short one. But, due to his age and health issues, we
could not. Sadly, it never happened and can never happen anymore. But it felt like he was with me.
This ride is dedicated to my father. I miss him.
The Ride
Day-1: Bangalore to Tirupati
- Start: 5.45PM
- Stop: 11.30 PM
- Distance: 250 KM
- Road Quality: Mostly 4 lane highway in very good condition. Few diversions with narrow 2 lane roads with out divider
- Duration: Typically takes around 4.5 hours riding + breaks. but during rain add 1-2 hour
It was originally planned to be a 4-day ride with 3 stops on
the way being Nellore, Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh and Rayagada in Odisha. But
due to the dramatic change in weather (Cyclone Gulab), the plan had to change
in the middle of the ride.
On the first day I had to stop on Tirupati due to heavy rain.
Though rain was anticipated on the first day, the intensity was not. May be a
mistake during my research on weather. It all started just after I went past
Kolar, around 50km from Bangalore. So around 200 km of the ride was during
heavy rain. Initially it wasn’t intense, but later it stated pouring cats and
dogs. So, during the low intense rain I dint bother about putting on my rain suite.
Most riding jackets can handle drizzles. But I remember, during another ride in
the past, it started pouring immediately giving no chance to get into our raincoats
and within 100 meter we were drenched completely. There was no shelter nearby. Not
even a tree. This could have happened, but the highway was full of shelters
this time. I was confident that I will be able to stop it. Luckily when I had stopped
for a break, the intensity increased, and I got enough time to cover myself. On
the road it was just water from every direction. The diffraction of headlights and
sounds of trucks and cars passing by. The so call beautiful and green route
from Bangalore to Tirupati appeared some shades of dark. It was not very
challenging, as this wasn’t my first ride during rain, but it comes with its
own fun. Highways with dividers are not very tough to ride on but most stat
highways without it are challenging during night and rain. The tar becomes
darker with very little chance of seeing a pothole ahead. The incoming traffic from
other side makes it difficult to judge. You need to ride more to gain more road
sense. That’s experience which is very difficult to write down in a blog.
During the dinner break, I happen to start a conversation
with the cook of the Dhaba. He was from Patna, Bihar and he started talking
about the difficulties during the lockdown. However, the Dhaba was reopened few
weeks ago but still they don’t find the number of travelers coming in as they
used to see pre-lockdown. Their days are dull even though they get full salary,
they say. There’s not much work and it kind of feels boring when they don’t see
people around. The hard truth, hospitality industry has taken the max hit due
to Covid.
I didn’t want to stretch the first day of the ride and took
the decision to stay. Even though road condition is very good, riding in rain has
more risk than dry ride. On top of that if its evening or night the risk
multiplies. As I was prepared, I was able to reach Tirupati without much of
issues. But I reached at midnight as the wheels were slow and other cars and
trucks were splashing water everywhere. The city was fully asleep during that
time. Reception of Hotels/ lodges weren’t picking call. I was continuously searching
via google maps. Most of the doors were closed and there was nobody responding
because it was already midnight. I kept moving with a hope and finally found
one on the highway. It was not that good a lodge but was enough to take shelter
for a night. I could have got into a big hotel during that time but was not in
a mood to stretch the budget as well just for few hours. But do remember big
budgets hotels usually remains open 24/7 and you can keep that as the last
option. If you plan to stay in small cities make sure you reach there by evening
to get enough options, if you haven’t booked your stay already. I usually don’t
book my stay and depending on my day I plan my stay for that night. Sometimes
you get awesome stays with cheapest price and vice versa. The next morning was
a beautiful morning with clear sky which can crate the desire in any rider for
a long ride.
Day-2: Tirupati to Vijayawada
- Distance: 410 KM
- Start: 8AM
- End: 8PM
- Road Quality: Mostly 4/6lane highway in very good condition
- Duration: Typically takes around 7.5 hours riding + breaks
Part - 2 | Cyclone Gulab & Its Throns
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