Ride to no Roads Land
Riders:
1. Navnit LekhsmiNarayan (Machismo 500)
2. Bhushan Dhade (Machismo 500)
3. Vignesh Iyer (Machismo 500)
4. Sudheer Pillai (Electra 5s)
5. Jackson KunjuMohan (Jacko) (Thunderbird)
6. Sumant and Debu (Swift)
Working in a software field has its own pros and cons. One of the cons is the frustration, and top it all working on a Saturday to meet the deadline. Since long I wasn't able to ride because of the busy schedule and I desperately needed a ride to break myself free from the frustration. Saturday evening I called up Navnit who was even more desperate for a ride as he just completed his exams. We decided to meet up in the evening. I reached our regular meeting destination and to my surprise our brothers (Riders) Sudheer, Bhushan, Debarsi (Debu), Jacko along with Navnit were already waiting for me and were all set to ride and roll.
We were zeroing in on the destination for the ride. It had been a long time since we did a ride to our favorite destination ''Tiger Point - Lonavala'' but Navnit was reluctant to ride as we had been there many a times and wanted to ride to Rajmachi. And as soon as Navnit called for Rajmachi everyone was stung by the keeda to ride to Rajmachi as the idea off roading at night was what everyone had on their mind for a long time.
Last moment Sumant and Debu (Sumants Wife) decided to join in. As his bike wasn't well he decided to drive instead of ride. So we decided to ride towards Tiger Point as Sumant won't be able to join us. Rajmachi is a complete off rodie and would be too much for a swift to handle. After a long convincing session we all finally agreed to ride to Tiger Point (tough everyone had Rajmachi on their mind). Since we were all hungry, we decided to have dinner at our famous Dhabha ''The Velvet Lounge''. To everyones surprise we all wrapped up our dinner within 45 mins. Everyone wanted to get on their bike and get rolling ASAP.
After dinner we started on NH4 towards Lonavala. Everyone was short of money as it was almost close to Month End. We all got an estimate of the amount of petrol that we have in our tanks and how much would be needed for Tiger point. Every filled up with little petrol that we could afford and continued to our destination. Everyone was cruising at constant speed to get the max mileage. We reached lonavala within no time as there is very little traffic on 4 lane highway. After reaching Lonavala, everyone stopped at the junction where the road splits for Rajmachi and Tiger Point. We all wanted to go to Rajmachi and after a long discussion we decided that Rajmachi has to be it or we head back home. So HURRAY!! Rajmachi was it. Sumant decided to ride (drive) as much as possible and they would wait for us there till we return.
We started riding to Rajmachi (one of the toughest terrain to ride onto). Just as we started on the rocky terrain we realized that we didn't have any spares and god forbid if anything goes wrong, we would have no way out specially at that hour of the day. But the desperation to ride made us care a damn and we started to ride on optimistic promise that nothing will go wrong. Navnit and Bhushan the experts of off roading took off like a plane from the runway. Myself, Jacko and Debu decided to ride slowly as Jacko just got a new short handle and wasn't too comfortable off roading with it. Sudhir decided to stay back to give Sumant a company.
The first time I came here I was just thinking how fun it would be to ride the same route during night but I could have never imagined how lovely it would be. 5 bikes roaring through non existing roads and all you could hear would be the thump and silence of the night. Tough I was slow I thought I was getting better as the last time I had tough time conquering the rocky paths. We couldn't make out where we are and how much we have to cover. Due to rough terrain everyone was on their initial gear (1, 2 cha cha cha) we were taking longer time than expected. Somewhere in the middle Debu's bike went into reserve but we still continued with our ride. After riding for some time we found a couple of people trekking their way to the top. We inquired about the kms left to the top. They said that we still have some 10 kms to the top. So that means 20 kms to top and back to the current postion and atleast a 20 kms back to the base and then odd 85 - 90 kms back home. We weren't sure that we had enough petrol. So we decided to head back to the base where Sumant and Sudheer were waiting for us. On the way back, Bhushan smelt something burning and it was nothing but the cutout and the attached wires that he had installed for the new big horns. That almost got the wires burning all the way to the battery. Jacky the mechy immediately jumped to the rescue. We got rid of the burnt wires and the cutout. And luckily there was no other wire in contact so no extra harm caused. That caused us some extra time and by now Sudheer and Sumant almost finished 2 plates of bhurji pav each. That made us even the more hungry. We all started to the ride towards bhurji pav (I mean the junction where they serve the bhurji pav).
After Plate or two of bhurji pav, we all decided to head back. On the way back debu took the lead and I followed him with others behind me. After riding for sometime debu suddenly slowed down, I thought he wanted me to take the lead as I had my xenons and he was on the stock bulb. After taking the lead, I realized that Debu almost halted. I was watching all this action from the rear view. I suddenly realized that I was about to miss a turn and get off the road. I braked (probably too hard) and the wheels skidded off the loose sand. I must be around close to 30 KMPH speed and that without my jackets or any protective gear except for the helmet. The skid caused some scratches on my bare elbows and small ones on my knee. The front guard faught a brave battle but lost in the end. I also had to kiss my right foot peg good bye. That left with a bruised elbow and no foot peg to rest my foot on and brake and the bull still roaring (thank god). Yet again Jacky the Compounder came to rescue with some basic first aid kit that RE offers free with the bike. After some basic maram patti, I was all set to ride again. But without the foot peg it was getting a bit difficult. At times the scratched elbow will send out a chill of pain through my body. Somehow everyone made sure that I was comfortable with two riders on the front and two on the back. Just like I was being escorted like a VIP. Truly it was a VIP treatment.
Everyone decided to ride slow with me as I wasn't in a mood to rip after the fall. At times, someone would rip full speed and then get back in line, just to ward off the sleep. Finally we reached Panvel almost in parallel with the Sun. we had a nice garma garma cutting. I decided to head to Navnit's place as I was very sure that my parents will get freaked out if they see me with the bruised hand and create a big fuss out of it. After a good sleep I got a proper dressing done and headed back home. Thank God things went on smooth at my place. So that there won't be any restriction the next time I talk about a ride.
Truly said
''Nazar hatti, durgathna ghatti''