It all started with a casual conversation that we need to get out of our normal lives and take a break sometime. My friendly nephew agreed and that was enough.
So it was that I took the bike and along with my experienced friend started out to Horanadu. I like the temple there as well the scenery around it. I love the drive in the ghat section reaching to it as well as the possibility to travel in the Kudremukh forest range. Since it was October the mansoon had not completely retreated I took to my trekking pants and a jacket to protect me from the wind and rain.
The journey from Bangalore was uneventful and since we were of the old school did not use the Google maps ( also there was no way to mount it in the bike). Then the first sign of adventure was when we got lost near Belur.. we traversed what seemed like eternity to come back. The route near Mudigere becomes really scenic with coffee estates and green vegetation all around and weather became cooler as we climb the hill. When we reached Banakal it was getting late and we stopped for tea and some cash ( we were such carefree guys did not even bother to carry cash). It was around 4.00 pm and sunny and suddenly it became dark and started raining. Mansoon in western ghat is something to be experienced to believe it...It rains like there is no tomorrow and tomorrow never comes. It started in a hurry and it was as if the gods wanted to empty their buckets at the earliest. We waited for the rains to settle down but it seemed like going on for ever and I tried to get some cash for the journey ( no lunch yet and we were hungry but with lot of tea during the breaks). Unsuccessfully I tried to get money in three ATMS in the rain and all three were either locked down or no cash.
We started as soon as the rain slowed down probably the buckets were being refilled. On the way to Kottigehara we reached a place called Ibbani ( A restaurant ) where we were the only two bikers there and they prepared "Neer Dose " for us. Given our hunger and the way it was prepared it was heavenly.
then onwards we were on a downward descent into the valley and it started raining again. Since we were already wet we continued.
The journey from Kottigehara to Kalasa on bike is amazing, you have winding roads going downward with coffee estates and waterfalls, quite a lot of them on either side of the road( depends on where you are sometimes on right and sometimes on your left) .
We were not able to enjoy the greenery due to the rain and the water was finding every hole in the body and soon we started shivering while driving. The Jacket that I wore was not much help in the torrent and the wind. The contents in the bag that I carried were wet and there was not a single dry part on/with us. We saw several landslides on the way and somehow reached Kalasa with frozen fingers and soaking wet ourselves.It was a time when you really feel like kissing your bike for managing through the rain,slush,cold wind etc.,
Then we started a search for a place to stay as it was already 6.00 pm and we badly needed some warmth. We found some friendly guys in Bynekadu plantation and decided to stay there.
The drying process was something unique you want to warm your body from inside as well cover it up from outside. There was not a single dry item in the bag and we dried every single thing in the room including the Wallet and all the contents in it. I can tell you it is an adventure when you reach a relatively cool place with wet clothes. The blood was completely drawn from the body to supply to, god knows where and I wanted to hug the bike because the engine was warm. Sure a little bit of Vodka helped to stay warm.
The next day we visited Horanadu about 11 km from Kalasa. The temple is nestled in the valley with a beautiful view of western ghats all around you. The temple is famous for serving food to all those who go there. There is a beautiful river Bhadra flowing peacefully. Then we started our journey through Kudremukh forest range to Sringeri.The forest range is beautiful to drive through and make sure you check the google when you reach the place where there is an intersection. After that the road became winding and then the thighs and hip joints started aching because of continuous usage to balance the bike and by the time we reached Sringeri we had to have several breaks to stretch and find some respite.
From Sringeri we started our journey back to Bangalore on the same day. The trip was something to remember, On the way back we had to rely on Google and we got completely lost running in small village roads and lots of insects hitting the helmet shield. By the time we reached Belur we had become tired frustrated and almost automated to driving.
I love lots of things about my bike but headlight definitely is not one of them. It was pathetic with a dim light trying to reach Hasan with insects hitting the face or the shield and the opposing vehicles almost blinding you. From Hasan we started towards Bangalore and the rain started. Since we were experts in rain driving now, we continued and reached Bangalore by midnight.
It is really interesting the way we try to notice somethings and recognise though we cannot really pinpoint what we have observed. My Nephew has a Classic 500 with a different colour scheme. I still cannot say what I was observing to say he was following me or what I was following when he was ahead of me in the night But there was a certainty that the light I was following or the light behind me was his ..... Guesswhat? 90% of the time it was correct.
Brain has some kind of an algorithm to identify patterns which defines the person /object for what it is.
We reached Bangalore late night and driving in Bangalore with the rains was anything but adventure all through.
I came home with a list of things to have before I make the next trip. First on the list was a rainproof bag.
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