Roller coaster!: 2006

GoGoGoa:

Total Journey: 1654 Kms

Start time: 6:00 AM, Saturday, 12^th August 2006

End time: 11:30 AM Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Total duration: +4 days

Going: Blore – hassan – chickmaglur – sringeri – udupi – mundeshwar- gokarna – goa (kalamgut) – doodhsagar

Coming: Doodhsagar – Goa (Concona) – Gokarna – Jog falls – Sagar – Shimoga – Tumkur – Bangalore

Weather Conditions: Rainy weather for at least 80% of travel

Machine: Black Pulsar 150cc DTSi

Rider: Varun Khandelwal

Min Speed: 10 Km/hr

Max speed: 117 Km/hr

Fuel: Approx. 55 litres.

Average: 1654/55 ≈ 30 Km/lit

Expenses: 3000 INR fuel + 3000 INR (food + drinks + lodging + miscellaneous) = 6000 INR

Injuries: 1 (minor)

Dreams: Doodhsagar + Concona beach + Jog fall

Nightmares: Galamgut beach (4 guys drowned in front of our eyes) + Night riding (Sagar-Shimoga)

Major setbacks: Machine was not very stable on wet twisties so slow on curves and twisties. Rider not very skilled for night-riding.

CLICK HERE FOR PICS

Article by Varun:

So here again I was a big game. J Saturday 12^th Aug 06 to Tuesday 15^th Aug 06 was looking like grand vacation and was not to be wasted. I was really longing for such vacations. I started contacting bikers 1 week before vacation to ask about any plans but most of them had some scattered plans. Anyways lat day arrived and in the very last moments I decided to go with Praveen for some beach ridezzzzzz… without giving a lot of thoughts I just packed up and started Saturday 12^th Aug 06, 6:00 AM with my darling Pulsar 150 cc DTSi. The plan was to go for some nice beaches in Karnataka and come back but our fate had much more for us J

Day 1:

Bangalore > Hassan > Belur > chickmangalur > balehonnur > shringeri > agumbe > Udupi (stay)

The way was a cake walk and no show stoppers came in front of us. Slight drizzling were there till chickmangalur most of the time which made the road (offcourse road was good) wet but we rode continuously and with a nice speed. Thanks Yogesh whose rainy suit I borrowed in the very last time (without rainy suit believe me it’s impossible to go for such a ridezzz).

After chickmangalur it was tough time for me… it was full forest with wet roads having twisties as well (not that bad actually I come to know abt this fact as the trip went ahead).

While dragging my bike on a twist I put my bike into a side ditch full of mud… took me around 1 minute to take out my bike out of it. Praveen was waiting ahead for me.

I understood coming out of the coccon (Blore) after so many days lowered my skills on bike and it would take some time to come back.

At balehonnur took a halt for some time at badra coffee shop. His omellete, coffee and warm welcome was too good/nice tht it cud easily fail a starred hotel.

Anyways after crossing balehonnur we reached shringeri which has a beautiful ancient temple.

Had lunch at a south Indian mess (food was too good).

It was already 4:30 PM, so didn't have much time so started dragging our machines for more. It remained a big confusion whether to stay at Agumbe or at Udupi. Agumbe was a forest full of natural beauty while Udupi was very near to the beach.

We tried or Agumbe but in vain we didn't get any guest house and we wasted some 45 minutes in that. Then we dragged our bike for Udupi. Road was cemented, very bad, slippery, narrow and with sharp bends and twisties. My bike slipped once due to my own mistake as I put my engine off steep incline and used manual braking instead of engine braking (gear shifts) which is never reliable on wet roads. (people generally do this mistake so as to save fuel)

After reaching out of agumbe we had a neer dosa which is speciality of the place

At last reached Udupi at around 7:00 Pm, struggled for getting a room as most of the hotels were full due to vacations. At last we got a very nice hotel “Sriram residency” with a nice room and too good restaurant. In dinner I had 1 beer only L as Praveen don’t drink and I don’t like drinking alone. At last took a sound sleep after watching FTV and MTV till 12:30 AM

Day 2: Udupi->malpe->murudeshwar->Goa(calangut)->ponda->Molem->DoodSagar Gosh this day was amazing for us except very disturbing at beach. We started at around at around 8: 30 AM from Udupi went to malpe beach which is just 10 km away from Udupi. Watched it for some time… had some pics and then started. This was first beach I have ever seen. (exclusing that my parents took me to Goa when I was a baby)

Then we had breakfast at Arya restaurant. Idly was Ok kind

After that we directly reached till murdeshwar. It has a large statue of Shivji and with a very huge/high temple (under construction). We were having plans to come back to Blore from here as weather was bad for most of the time. Praveen was having plan to ride his bike on murdeshwar beach as we heard of that it’s too much of a fun to ride a bike there but sea was too violent and there was no beach to be seen. So the plans of celebrating 2 -3 hrs at murdeshwar looks to be a waste and we started thinking of alternatives.

After that Praveen called up Sanjay and Vicky, they were about to reach Goa directly. Suddenly we decided to go for Goa which was around 200 Kms away. I was very happy from inside as it was always under my plan. We ran our bike very badly so as to reach Goa ASAP. We were planning to reach there at 5:00 PM but amazingly we reached there at 4:00 PM. At Margao we tried for Vicky mobile for more than 30m inutes but in vain. Then we started for Panaji, at around 6: PM we were there. We saw Vagah beach but didn't stop there and went to calangut beach which I think is very famous and among biggest beaches of Goa. Sea was very violent and swimming was prohibited there at the time.

An accident made us down, 4 people were drowning in front of our eyes. Out of those 4, 3 were rescued but one drowned in front of us. Even after 1 hour I was seeing his head, I was not feeling like to sit there. I was completely disturbed from the accident.

After sitting there or rather seeing rescue of those drowned guys we went to a nice hut at beach. Light music was going on there. It was already 7:30 PM and we were not able to reach Vicky. At around 8:00 PM Vicky called Praveen that they are at Doodhsagar resort which was around 70 Km away from the beach, after that Vicky’s call went off.

Suddenly that hut got converted in a disco pub; those hut guys arranged all seats and lights and converted it into a disco. We thought of dropping our plans because it was already evening, we didn't want to have a night ride, we were not aware of roads and moreover who would like to leave such a lively place. I ordered a beer there and told waiter to tell us about any room there.

After 15 minutes the waiter called me up and showed us a room, we booked immediately in 300 INR and 100 mts away from beach.

But Vicky called us again this time saying that he is waiting for us there at doodhsagar resort and telling location and roads to reach to it. As he was waiting so we thought of joining Vicky and Sanjay leaving the lively party in between…We didn't get our advance money back from hotel and felt disappointed but it’s OK as friends were far more important than that. In 1 hr we reached to doodhganga, sanjay and Vicky already for a dinner. We booked a room and went to restaurant and met them. Guys were very happy after seeing us.

One more unforgetful thing were the cats present at Doodhsagar restaurant. They were very friendly (like dogs). Vicky hold her into his hand and I took no time to take a pic. Hehehhehe ….

Day 3: DoodSagar-> palalum beach

Oh man simply amazing, tour was getting better. We woke up at 5:30 AM and switched on our bikes at 6:00 AM again to go for trekking to doodhsagar falls. We got a local guide “Sanjay” (guide) who took us on trekking. Oh man fully adventurous it was….wot say about roads there was even no way…. but we made them by ourselves.

The first full throttle adventure I got when we were required to cross a wooden bridge… that was too dangerous…Praveen’s bike stucked between the wooden logs but at last we crossed that hurdle.

Even after that there was a lot more for us.

The next major hurdle was to cross a water alley. Phew!! At last we crossed that as well.

After running bikes for around 4-5 kms we halted in front of a water alley which was deep and water was around 2 feet high. We made a human chain and crossed it. Then walked for around 5 kms (too tiring + boring) on railway treks and met around 8 railway tunnels fully dark, damp, and leaking.

Finally reached to doodhsagar viewpoint. After seeing it felt like it worth so much strenuous journey for it. Too beautiful to watch

Then also kept on walking to see and admire the waterfall by reaching as much as close we can. Finally after around waling for 2-3 kms more reached to doodhsagar. Simply amazing as if the it is all milk spilling over. Passed a very nice time there and took some nice pics.

Then came back to our rooms at 11:00 AM from the same adventurous way to doodhsagar resort.

Sanjay left at same time for Bangalore all alone as he was some function at his home on janamastmi. We had breakfast at resort, got some insects crawling in omellete and then simply cancelled whole of the order and started at around 2:00 PM from doodhsagar to reach at palalum beach (canacona). In the way we caught “hydroxide” (xBhp.com profile) who was simply enjoying his life at Goa in Intercontinental hotel (7 star hotel) on company’s expenses. (Symantec – his project seemed to get a woofing profit). Picking him up from there we reached there around 6:00 PM.

Oh man!!! The beach was simply amazing too beautiful, peaceful, safe, with lot of couples and girls (offcourse guys were also there but thought them insignificant) freaking out over there. We took a most beautiful hut/bar/restaurant in front of beach. First of all ordered for some snacks and then in no time I thought of having something to drink. I asked Praveen and Vicky to cancel any other traveling for the day and to search for a hotel. They were also having some kindda same thoughts heheheh.

Then we ordered “maragarita”, a cocktails with 40 ml tequila 275 INR , phew but didn't get any high and I ordered a beer.

In the mean time had some snacks etc and took pic of beach, ours and girls from Vicky’s camera (man it’s not a camera it’s a full telescope, too good, too expensive. Thinking to buy one)

The hut was getting lively with the evening coming in.

I kept on ordering beers to remain there, Vicky and Praveen tried something new and ordered different cocktails that really looked expensive to me.

Then till 2:00 AM we were sitting at hut all alone with no body else. I was getting a nice high till that time. I told Vicky and Praveen a trick to know whether they got a high or not. Vicky liked it too much and kept on doing it. J I wanted to sleep so I went back to room at around 2:00 leaving Vicky and Praveen at beach. They came after around 30 minutes as it was raining. We had a sound sleep as we were very tired from doodhsagar trekking.

Day4: Palalum -> gokarna -> yellapur -> mugud falls ->sisni -> jog falls -> shimogga -> tumkur -> Bangalore

Slept only for 4 hrs and woke up at 6:00 AM. It was the last day in our trip plan and we wanted to reach back to Bangalore by evening. We packed up and started at around 6:30 AM with a slight hangover. I lost my goggles and 1 socks at the beach. L

We reached to a isolated beach too violent but good for a beach ride. We took our bikes on the beach and rode for around 15 minutes, it’s fun to ride on beach seriously. I tried to take a pic of my bike ay beach but I was not able to put my bike on its stand in beach sand. Then passing some time we started riding back.

We drove around 200 Kms continuously and took a halt near sisni. Vicky (who was 3 kms behind us) called us to come back to go for Mugad falls while it was not in plans but we rode back to catch him. It was around 10 Kms off road, which meant around 30min-1 hrs loss of day light but Vicky wanted it too see it badly so we started for it. Road was fully isolated, wet and slippery. We drove very fast to catch up time. That was time we met with first minor accident (with Praveen). He gave side to a jeep for overtake, road was so slippery at sides that his bike slipped off. I was coming behind him and I stopped my bike. After halt as soon as I kept my feet on road side, I also slipped at the same place. Hehheehhe….then we moved ahead slowly, cautiously and only in mid of the road as it was very slippery. Finally reached to Mugud falls where Vicky was waiting for from a long time. After reaching at falls we were not able to see anything because of a very large fog, the only thing was the sound of the waterfall. Me and Praveen wanted to leave the place as we were getting late but Vicky didn't want to leave the place without seeing falls and he wanted to wait for sometime to let the fog clear. It became a big argument between us. He wanted that we should leave the place and meet him at Jog falls while we urged him to come with us. (As it may be dangerous to leave anyone alone and we didn't want to take any type of risk). During the altercations suddenly fog got cleared and we were able to have hazy view of falls. Vicky took few pic and we started back. Vicky wanted to have some more time there but we didn't give him that luxury. Thanks to Praveen at last he took him out from there.

Then we rode to Jog falls, this time Vicky was left behind. Praveen and me saw jog falls from one side. Very beautiful it was (only few people come to k now that there are 2 different views for Jog, even we came to know later on)

Vicky was waiting for us on the other side (2^nd view) we reached there as well and saw Jog again hheheheh

We took Vicky to let him see jog from other side as well (he was also not knowing about it). We rushed from Jog as it was already 6:30 PM and we were with no time. Bangalore was around 350 Kms away from us. It was fixed that to reach Blore we will be required to do night ride otherwise we will be required to take a halt somewhere. I was in no mood to take any halt. So we started for night riding al least up to Shimoga which was around 70 Kms away. In no time I understood that I cud not do night riding. Roads were fully dark, bad, wet, full of Lorries and narrow as well. Also my helmet vizer.

It was more than difficult for me. I told Praveen that it’s too difficult for me to ride now, he was sharing some kindda same thoughts. He told me to ride upto shimoga where they will halt and will start in morning. Vicky I think was already at shimoga. He is hell of bikerzz and he had no probz in night riding. Phewwww…..

After a lot of struggle I and Praveen reached to shimoga. Vicky was waiting/smoking there from last 30 minutes. We told him the changes in our plans. He was also ready to take a halt. We booked a room at Shimoga and were on bed at 11:00 PM. Took a sound sleep at woke up at 4:30 AM and started riding at 5:30 AM. This ride was simply a cakewalk. We rode more than at 100 Kph most of the time and took no time to reach tumkur (10:00 AM). After tumkur, the tumkur highway was simply amazing. In 30 min we covered around 60 Kms for Bangalore. At 11:00 AM we were in Bangalore. After that as always struggled with blore traffic for around 1 hr and reached to home at around 12:00. Took a bath and reached office at 1:15 PM. My team asked about the trip, while seeing me that I was overwhelmed about my trip. This trip was awesome.

Article about the trip by Praveen: Click here to read whole article

Day 1: Me n varun, Bangy->Hassan->belur->chickmangalur->balehonnur->shringeri->agumbe (were there at sunset time but only mist)->Udupi stay.

Left early 5.30 lazily went through the places with no plan in mind. With aurn as our official guide over fone and varun our motographer J

Day 2: Udupi->malpe->murudeshwar->Goa(calangut)->ponda->Molem->DoodSagar resort.

Murudeshwar beach riding was the plan for the day but too much water so no beach riding L. Vicky calls up with his ketta planu. With no other place in mind me n varun rip to Goa. Don find cant reach Vicky. We go to calungut beach. Sit near beach side shak, have grub, see 2 gyes drowning, 3 rescued. Get a room near the beach. The shak turns in to disko pub. Thought about settling there for the nite, then Vicky makes contact. Though din wanna leave the place, we left the place half minded hoping there something bettor in store. Meet up Vicky n sanjay at the resort after riding nite with rain in goan roads between ponda - > molem was shit scared !!.

Day 3: DoodSagar->palalum beach

Wow wat a ride. Total off roading for 15 kms. Next to the track with hardly enough space, then we needa get to the other side of the track so we go under it in a tunnel with a fast stream of 1 foot + Sanjays exhaust totally under water only throttling keeps water out!!. we cross it. My front wheel slips in between two wooden poles when crossing make shift bridge ;) guys work hard to lift it up. Vickys chain comes out of the sprocket. He fixes it. Walk 1 hour on the track to see the mejestic Falls rightly named. The the toil totally worth it. On the way back a good train passes with us just 3 feet from it all 50 + car that Sanjay leaves to bangy the same day reaching home at 2 am. While we 3 pick up hydro from the resort go to palalem beach for the evening. we decide to stay there for the night. Confess I got drunk :D the second time ;) Drop hydro to the bus but not before drenching him in rain. :D

Day 4: Palalum -> yellapur -> mugud falls -> joke falls -> shivmogga

Start early, small stint of beach riding on aguda beach. Vicky din want that wish of mine unfulfilled on this trip. The get back through yellapur road. Beautiful curves, horrible roads. Lot of loose gravel. Good that only back wheel was dancing :D. detour to Mugud falls. After dood sagar it was coffee sagar now :D but it was too good to. I take a fall. Thanks to all the algae on the road. So did varun when he came towards me!!. Then we came across some strechs with texture so good that we were ripping and leaning at 80+ in heavy rains :D Then next to jog with so much water that all the 4 almost became 1. then we also saw mini naiagara falls, of the water that goes under the bridge which goes while goin to jog. Too late. Lost day light. Scary experience till shivmogga made us stop there.

Day 5: shivmogga -> bangy ;)

Then wat regular rip back to bangy. Vickys runin was the same as my top speed!!.

1654 says my trip meter. 1000+ kms in complete rain. We were riding some places where even cars had stopped to let the storm pass :D

Duck Back Derby super jinga, torrential rains out side, cozy n warm inside :D well almost

Superb trip experience to be rememberd for life. Thanks Vicky for showing us quite some places.