Bangalore <> Pondy -- Weekend Getaway (DAY1)...

Between the passions of cities..
and pale towns,
lie unrequited distances;
empty stretches of unnamed landscape,
curving and lifting in a sleep of light
where the soul travels far out into wide fields and wilderness. ...

It had been a long time since my soul travelled far Out into the wide fields and wilderness, i had been planning for a Long bike ride for quite a long time now. It was high time now.. My buddy Anoop was bugging me for quite sum time about mystical stories of Goa and Pondicherry... the Blue waters.. white sands.. cheap beer.. most importantly the BABES. A weekend trip to Goa was not possible unless WE were riding a R1 and provided that our Roads were like US interstate highways..

Logical Solution > Trip to Pondy, even though our hearts were still stuck to Goa (for the beaches and various other obvious reasons which I assume you all Know)

So finally the TRIP 2 Pondy.
Crew : Me and Anoop
Machine : ZMA (Courtesy Shiv Kiran(My another riding Dost))
Location : Bangalore

Date : July 4th 2008

I had packed my bag and taken it to Office in My CBZ, and Anoop took the ZMA to his Office, my office is in ECity, so that enrute to Pondy. All was planned, i was supposed to Bunk work and get out at 4:30Pm, Anoop was supposed to reach ECity at the same time... Both of which dint happen as always... the deapture was delayed by 2 hours.. :-) We reached Hosur by 7PM and filled up the Fuel a.K.a PETROL, its cheaper there u SEE.... spent another 30 mins in Hosur trying to get a Visor for my Helmet as i managed to break it at the last moment and it was cracked. the SEARCH was unsuccesful, decided to ride on with the crkd Visor. and 15 - 30 mins of Phone calls to YOU KNOW WHO, filled with advices and usuall bakwaas.. finally back on the road at 8.30 wid another 290Kms to the beach haven...

It was a long ride ahead... the Road upto Krishnagiri and onward towards Chennai were Silk Smooth -- Thanks to Vajpayee chacha's Golden Quad. But we sere supposed to take a diverersion towards our right after we take a left at KrishnaGiri on the road to Chennai.. from there need to Ride to Chengam..

Now this Chengam - TV Malai - Tindivanam - P'cherry was unventured territory... I haven't been thro this road, none of my friendz knew anything abt it either... But i have read from another blog about the terrors of these trcherous roads.. Anoop dint know abt this.. Well I decide to give it a shot.. and rode on.. Well am addicted to this ZMA, i have done many thousads of miles on this baby.. so wen i ride.. no one else gets a chance to ride.. they can navigate from behind ;-) Anoop wasn't bothered about that coz he hates to ride.. all he wanna do is sit behind and enjoy ... LAZY A$$...

The initial Idea was to ride upto Pondy, reach there before 12.. but since we screwd up the timings riding upto Pondy was a lil freaky.. so quick chnage in plans We had dinner near KrishnaGiri Where i usually do on all the rides on that side.. If U r goin that side.. there are a some Roadside hotels when U take a left towards Chennai.. they selll cheap but tasty fud... filled up there and carried on towards the deviation .. contrary to our beliefs the Road was pretty good, actually they were were Guuuud... lil bit of traffic no potholes or anything... But sum patch work here and there (well we live in a poor country after all)

Dint see many trucks but there were many Pickups loaded with Veggies and all crap .. trying desperatly to to beat a ZMA in full heat .. since it was night, and the rear tire wasnt that gud.. i put my racing instincts to sleep .. and let those fools go by ... Well another 30 - 40 KMS .. we were in for a rude ""SHOCK""

Location: SamalPatti.. Time around 10 PM.. We were caught in a Railway Crossing.. there was a short cut under the railway lines.. but i decided to wait for the train to passby, i cud see the Quaint lil railway station at a distance.. with a few flickerin tubes, and a Guard with a Green lamp for the passing train... We both decided to strecth our legs there untill the train passed by...
Then we carried on.. there was heavy police security at abt 10PM in a remote Village, anywys dint stop to find out Y.. after the railway crossing the Roads infact were a tragedy to ride on ... nuthin more that 25KMPH... this strech was delaying our already delayed trip and we r startin to her sleepy.. and it was gettin frustratin NOW> held on to hope and rode on .. the bad patch was for about 20 ODD KMS.. then it ws gud roads again.. took abt 40 mins to cover that hellova road... once out our Targets changed Pondy was no longer possible, cut short the ride that night to TiruVanna Malai. it ws abt 45Kms from there.. just hoping to get a room at midnight we rode on ..

Dark winding roads, devoid of humans or traffic... with spooky curves bends and graveyards... quite unnerving.. finaly city lights .. <> rode into the city tryin to find a room.. found one jus nxt to the temple .. on the bend of the road.. may b due to the huge sturcture of the temple and the bend in the road.. the hotel was very windy ... and the room was just 200 bucks... and hard to believe it has a color tv with cable and a neat bathroom, and wardrobes.. hmmm..


To Be Cont...

What to Carry ..

Part of the fun of travel has always been the packing. But when you're setting off on two wheels, packing takes on another angle too, a very serious one. Apart from your clothes, your favorite teddy bear (!) and maybe some of your favorite snacks, there's a kit you'll have to make up for your bike too. This kit could mean the difference between being stranded on some lonely highway, and blasting along the tarmac, adding new miles to the journey of your life.

For you:

- Flashlight
- Waist Pouch (Handy for change and small items)
- Camera + Rolls
- Swiss Knife
- Books to Read
- Balaclava
- Gloves
- Credit Cards
- Rechargeable Batteries & Charger
- Walkman / Cassettes
- Shaving Kit
- Towel, Napkin
- Slippers, Sandals
- Calculator
- Pen, Notepad
- Sweater / Jackets
- T-Shirts
- Swimming Trunks
- Casual Shirts
- Jeans
- Trousers
- Socks
- Toothpaste, Toothbrush
- Hair Brush
- Medicines / Face Wash
- Shampoo
- Soap, Soap Strips (keep some in your wallet)
- Deodorant
- Cap
- Sunglasses + Night Riding Glasses (White/Plain)
- Tool Kit
- 2 Bungee Cords - to tie your bags onto your Bike
- A fuel can
- Cell/Electricians tape
- Spare oil for bike
- Tank Bag
- Cable Lock for Luggage + Wheel
- Helmet
- Duplicate Bike Keys (Keep separately)
- Spare Parts (Condensor Point, Spark Plug, Clutch/Accelerator Cable, Headlight Bulbs)

During your rides you may cross into another state or may be stopped by the Traffic Police, at which time you may need to produce certain documents, which are as follows:

- Certificate of Registration for your bike
- Insurance Certificate
- Lifetime Tax Certificate
- Emission Certificate
- Driving License


This above list might be a bit exhaustive, but try to carry around as much as possible. I mean think about it, what would you do if you loose ur bikes key in the middle of the night; in the middle of nowhere; 200 kms from home, no mobile network or STD booths in sight ???

Well it happend wid me .. and i wasn't carryin a spare Key.. but then I was on the saddle of a Bull.. and with biking in my blood... I HOTWIRED it n rode on .... ;-)

Trippin...

Hi folks..

Just though wud post a few tips for all aspiring bikers to begin wid..


Biking is all about freedom.The freedom to go where you want, when you want, and how you want to. Yet, taking off on a ride without making basic plans can make the entire experience go sour even before you're halfway through. So while luck and fate do play an important part in how much fun your ride turns out to be, a little planning at the outset won't hurt. Here's how we recommend you go about making a ride plan.
This checklist may help:
Step 1 - Decide on how many days you can spare, and then put aside a day (or half a day) for eventualities that might crop up.

Step 2 - Average a maximum of 450 kilometers and a minimum of 200 kms per riding day, and see what places lie within your reach given the number of days you have, and the distance you are comfortable covering.

Step 3 - Make up a route plan with a good, reliable map. And if possible, make up an alternate route to, to take if there are eventualities to cope with.

Step 4 - Plan your night halts. Riding after dark should be avoided wherever possible, and riding through the night is not recommended at all. Check to see if there is decent accommodation available where you plan to spend the night. If you plan to rough it out, then make sure you are carrying basic camping equipment, and avoid sleeping outdoors if you are riding alone.

Step 5 - Make out a rough budget, based on your food (and drink!) habits, your bikes fuel average, number of kilometers you hope to cover totally, and the number of nights you will be staying out. It is better to carry this money in the form of a debit card, and only carry about a third of it in cash.

Step 6 - Get your bike serviced and checked over by a mechanic you trust at least two days before you plan to hit the road. Ride the bike in the city before you set out so if there are any problems, you'll be able to get your mechanic to correct them well before you leave.

Step 7 - Make sure your mobile phone bills are paid, roaming is activated, and you are carrying the addresses and phone numbers of people who need to be contacted in case something goes wrong. Inform relevant people about when you are leaving, where you plan to go, where you plan to stop for the night, and when you plan to return. Also see check with your bank/credit card company if you can use your card in places you are going to, and see that you have adequate available balance in your account.

Once Steps 6 & 7 become a regular discipline, you will find that planning a ride is at best a 4 hour process. So its just four hours between you and the time of your life, everytime!


Well these tips were borrowed from another site... Hope you find it useful...