Friday, July 29, 2016

One beautiful Ride

Hope you guys had a lovely weekend with your family and loved ones.

My weekend was one of a little impulse giving way to an unplanned bike journey. 



The impulse was indeed trivial: A desire to have piping hot Fish Ravas / Dal Rice and Chai served by the side. 



I could have enjoyed these twin delights within the comforts of my cream-coloured walls. But to consume them, surrounded by striking greens, seemed like an unlikely weekend adventure. 

Damn, all those excuses a wanderer can conjure just to step out of his home!


Maybe I was a nomad carrying on specific tendencies from my previous birth. Quite plausible, that.
But to have an equally nomadic wife who shares your spontaneity. Now that's a blessing.

So, off we went, me and my nomadic better-half, she riding  Royal Enfield Classic 500cc and I - who had taught her how to ride a motorcycle - pillion-riding.



Giving us company was my best friend who rode her personal Royal Enfield thunderbird 350cc. It was a march of Enfield Riders wearing their preferred brand of lipsticks. 



The day was as perfect as perfect could be; sunny and not a hint of drizzle. The destination we had in mind was Uran, but for this specific 
'Search for the Perfect Fish Ravas' Ride, we decided to explore an alternative route.



Which, at hindsight, was not a very good idea. 



For the alternative route was gravel-ridden and my wife lost control, swerved to the left, and before we knew she and I were sitting with our tender bottoms on hard gravel. She was depressed, Tina was. But, luckily, I had some sagely wisdom to offer: The more you fall, the more you learn. 



The motivational speech seemed to work as my wife got back to riding after a 5 minute break, and we soon crossed the 



villages of Whahal, Chirle, Veshi and Dighode in quick succession; a little mile-post here, a little shop name there alerting us about our exact locations. 



And then came the second big pause, and this time it was the machine and not the man that was at fault. The wires of my friend's clutch broke and her engine whirred to a grinding halt. But one of our engines were working in top condition, and these two girls decide to stay back 



I, rode for another 2 kms, before we spotted a local mechanic shop.



Now bear in mind, this was indeed a 'Local' Mechanic Shop, which made it an unlikely place from where to to purchase a Royal Enfield Clutch wire. But our Enfields are more versatile than we give it credit for, and with the help of a regular lengthy-enough clutch brake wire, our journey resumed. 

And stop we did not, after that. 



Finally, after riding for <3> hours and <40> minutes, we reached ahead of Uran, where beautiful views, amazing weather and our original dream - Fish Ravas / Dal Rice and Chai  awaited us. 



We relished each of these experiences in the spirit of 
a grand buffet, munching into their essence and taking pictures so that we could preserve the memory for an entire lifetime. 



Come to think of it was it was just a ride. And it was just some Fish Ravas / Dal Rice and Chai , we wanted to devour. But the ride with its stoppages and those determined ladies leading it, turned out much more than that. It become a Postcard for Posterity. 




Rides like these make me. I ride and therefore, I am. 

winter_wanderer

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/winter_wanderer/

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

306 KM TOUCH after been rejected by friends! LOL

A 306 KM Solo Journey after being rejected by friends! LOL
After making many request to friends, to join me for coffee or a get together or for a ride. I DECIDED TO HIT THE HIGHWAY;)

What an awesome ride (what a route). You guys should explore it. Check out my experience shared in the form of pictures in the link below: 
link: SOLO RIDE PICS (All pics click from Samsung Note 3)



Last weekend my love (wife) was away for an official conference
in Goa(1, 2photography is done by me.
So my daughter and I decided to spend the whole day playing, studying and shopping. After spending quality time with my daughter and family, playing cards and watching a movie, the Saturday was well-spent after telling my daughter a beautiful bedtime story.




You must be thinking why did I touch 306km? Here is the answer ;)










It was an ideal weekend for a get together or a ride, so I started asking my friends, colleagues to join me for it... 
But I got negative responses from everyone. Some were busy, some were not serious to meet. (LOL!)
 


Then I asked myself –"Akki, what you need is just the road and the machine (bike)...
First, I planned to go to Igatpuri , but I changed my mind later and decided to hit the  NH17 to Khandala for some OFF-Roading.
I packed my saddle bag (with emerergency Kit) for my bike. And all necessary stuff like:  jacket, Choclates, Water, Music, First Aid Box, Smart Anroid Mobile.


Heading on to the trail equipped with my emergency motorbike tool kit in my saddle bag, I checked the tyres and fuel.(Things you need to know before doing a solo ride
Solo ride is away different from other Group rides, because you are the only person who will need to manage everything by yourself...
So to have a fun ride and to avoid the breakdown has much possible.
Follow these simple steps:-
1] Do a full bike checkup -service at a proper Enfield workshop/ur proper enfield mechanic.
2] Check ur tyre/tube - avoid touch up tyres... like punture fix etc.
3] Carry Clutch cable / Accelerate wire/ Extra tube/ 
4] OIL - CHECKUP
5] Saddle Bag, Harness,Extra Petrol bottle (depends where ur headling) 
Check out the Link Below For Royal Enfield Bullet Motorcycle Repair. 
Motorcycle Repair



I started my ride at the onset of dawn. I experienced a feeling of undiscovered independence, ‘I can conquer anything' sort of a feeling.  My bullet thumped in sync with my heartbeat as soon as I was on the Palm Beach road (beautiful stretch).
Please note ride carefully -  Ride to live. 

In 20 mins I reached Panvel highway…















Here, if you go straight – you will reach Pune and if you take a right you will hit NH17 – Before heading further, I decided to halt for a breakfast at the famous Datta Vadapav corner - very popular among Mumbaikars.



After having a yummy Vadapav and cutting chai,
I once again, started my journey, listening to Lucky Ali, Dash Berlin and Tomorrow Land Songs.


2.5 hrs into the expedition, I had reached Pen. 
I took a different route from Pen, passing beautiful Mountains, Curvy Roads, Lakes, to Roha – Kolad, to reach Mulshi dam, then Kolechafesar, Kurvande and finally Lonavala.


The ride can’t be described in words and even it pictures. Ride it to believe it. All the trip pics on below link:- SOLO RIDE PICS


Wow! It was a beautiful experience as I felt closer to Mother Nature and also my bike

After reaching Lonavala – I bought the famous Lonavala Chikki  and Fudge. All in my saddle bad safely packed.

I took took an hour long break for lunch at a local restaurant (Ram Krishna hotel) and freshened up, and rode back to Mumbai, thus completing my awesome solo ride!

Old One day ride i went - PHOTOS
RIDER MANIA FULL JOURNEY VIDEO - VIDEO
LOHAGAD RIDE - VIDEO

Next Solo Ride -  Coming Soon