misc

Other trips:

1. Bangalore - Shakleshpura (2012)

A short 1 day trip with wife on avenger, and 2 (Anush, Shylesh) colleagues. Started @ 3 in the morning, as we woke up early. Good roads till Bellur cross CCD, and later roads being constructed. Trekked to the fort @ Shakleshpura, and returned back to BLR. Wait for the 4 laning to complete.
Pics @ Album

2. Bangalore - M.M hills (2012)

A day trip with colleagues who had picked up new RE's (Rahul, Vishwanath, Sac and my wifey). The roads past Chamarajanagar was average. Avoid this place during dry seasons, the heat waves are bad.

3. Bangalore - Annchetty -Pennagram (2013)

A half day ride along with a Ramesh. The start was slow, as the visibility was down due to fog. After getting lost, we finally found the exit to TVS factory near Anekal. Good for half a day trip. On the way back, we screwed up in deciding to return via Kanakapura. Avoid @ all costs, the road disappears.

4. Bangalore - Hogenkal falls (2013)

A short ride planned till Krishnagiri, led to 3 of us (Kishan, Sunil) to Hogennkal. After innumerous declines for fish and massages, we headed back after having Goli soda. The ride was really enjoyable till I met with a minor accident near hosur. Very good roads, till close to Hogennkal, just watch out for speed breakers (bridges under construction) after the check-post.

 

5. Bangalore - yercaud (2012)

A long overdue ride I owed to Venky, and we picked yercaud, as it was approx ~200km from Bangalore. The roads were good post krishnagiri, and the climb to Yercaud post salem the highlight. We passed the town, and went straight @ the intersection of the city, and stopped @ a tea estate. A cab driver was shocked to know the cost of the bike, and shook his head in disbelief, as he could have owned 2 taxis. On his advice, we continued on the interior road, which actually happened to loop around the hill. We encountered some streams, and were flanked by tea estate. A quick Veg meal in the noon, we were back in Blr before evening.

6. Bangalore -Chennai (2012)

I was down with measles when HD called with the news of the bike now being available for delivery. After waiting for months, they had to choose this wrong moment? All the sickness just disappeared, and I finally rode home the bike. Then my wife caught the bug, and we were again not able to ride. But HD Chennai had a founders ride planned, and I was intent on riding out. The plan was to ride out @ 4am, but I headed out @ midnight as I just couldnt sleep. I took it easy, as I was still getting used to the bike, and reached chennai by 5am. A quick nap @ CCD, and headed out for the show-room.

The city was still waking up, and I was struggling for directions, when to my luck few personnel from the showroom spotted me. I followed them, and after the Founder's ride met up with few riders from Bangalore who had come on the previous day. They invited me to ride back with them, and I accepted. The ride back was really fun, and thoroughly enjoyed the company and the bike. That's when I got introduced to few of the riders, and had to join FB to become part of the group :p.

7. Bangalore - Mahabalipuram - Chennai - Bangalore (2012)

We had our managers wedding @ Chennai, and Mahabalipuram being so close, and one place I love to visit, we hatched a plan to club both. 3 bikes, and a car later, we started late in the evening, and ended up cleaning out a local road side eatery of egg and fried rice, as all the hotels were closed @ Kanchipuram. We reached the resort late, and partied till the sun came up. The next day noon, we started for Chennai, and after navigating the notorious chennai traffic, we finally reached the reception. Few more colleagues had travelled in a van, and after Dinner, we started for BLR. All the bikes kept pace with each other, while the car was here and there, depending on who was driving (Raj/Koushik/Venky). We kept running into the van ferrying our colleagues, and we reached BLR around 6am, and most of us just took off (It was after all our Manager's wedding :p)

The highlight: Amar's wife riding the RE, and I dint even realize it till my wife told me. And later we realized why Koushik was on the call 24hrs, he just had got introduced to his fiancee.

8. Bangalore-Coimbatore-Valpari-Saty-Bangalore (2013)

This was a road trip with office colleagues in a car, and a memorable one at that. The roads are amazing, specially the climb upto valpari and dimbam ghats(Saty). We saw quiet a few wild life enroute, and stay put in a old british bunglow in the midst of a tea estate. The food served was excellent, specially the deserts post dinner. One another place to mention, "Sri Annalakshmi mess" @ saty, apparently a must stop for meat lovers.

9. Bangalore-Mysore-Kannur-Mysore-Bangalore (2012)

We headed to Kannur (yes, again kerala :P ) with our family friends to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. We had booked cottages at a home stay. It was raining heavily, which added to the whole experience, and also helped in keep every cozy. Good food, good time with friends and family was the highlight. Pathetic bus drivers though.

10. Charity run to Vanshree, bachodi, Nagavalli, Shivamogga (2013)

This a school, that our family helps out when possible. They are located @ a small village in the middle of nowhere, around 100km from Shivamogga, towards Bhatkal. They had water supply problems, so with the help of my colleagues Amar, Rachana and Venky we were able to buy them a powerful motor pump, and pipes, so that the kids could stop having to fetch water from a near by stream. My aunt pitched in with the transport and snacks for the kids.

On the way back, we visited Bhimeswhara(Temples next to a water fall), Muppani(Sharavathi Backwaters), Sringeri and Chikmangalur.

11. Pondi (2013)

Undecided, and bugged, we headed to pondi, and was it one memorable trip. We stayed @ the promenade pondicherry, and just had a blast. The lunch/dinner at rendezvous cafe was memorable to say the least. We ran through bottles of wine, and the food was anything exquisite. The evening walk on the promenade, and the midnight walks to get some exotic coffees just added to the occasion. Next day was all about shopping, and this being the hidesign country, we splurged, and then found to our surprise a lounge in the shop. They do make some mean cocktails. Pondi is one place to visit with your spouse, and its preferable to stay in the frech part of the city.

12. Chikmangalur (2014)

 

After attending a friends wedding on friday morning, we started to chikmangalur around 11am. After a smooth ride to Hassan, we asked around for a good place to eat. The rickshaw guys recommended Hotel Ashok, and boy did it turn out to be awesome. We hogged, and were so stuffed, that we even thought of staying back in Hassan for the day. Close to belur, we saw dark clouds, and we put on the rain gear. The downpour till Chikmangalur was brutal, with heavy winds, but we rode on as we were quiet used to riding in rain. We stayed in spectrum home stay, as it was close to Mullayangiri peak. On our last attempt to climb the peak in a car with friends had gone bad, as the car over heated, and we needed assistance from cab drivers to get the car off the cliff edge. A good sleep, and next day we rode to the peak, and after satisfying ourselves of having conquered it, we headed towards Baba budangiri. On the way we stopped at Jhari falls (nothing great), and close to baba budangiri, we found the road was closed for construction. Luckily, we found a isolated peak close by, and took a break there. We headed to kemmangundi through the badra reserve forest, and was it a adventure. Post the forest check post, the road disappears, and for 12 km's its slush and water logged pot holes so big, that the bike foot pegs submerged quite a few times. It took us close to an hour for those 12km's, and the bike shut off due to over heating (only 1st and 2nd gear engaged the whole time). Kemmangundi was a disappointment, and we took the kalhat giri road back(Which was good, and the actual recommended route).

In the evening few more riders (Dr Pramod and Dr Srikanth) ended up at the same place with their group of riders, and it was fun meeting them. Next morning on the way back, we all decided to ride back together, but taking a loop from chikmangalur -> tarikere -> kadur -> chikmangalur as the roads were brilliant. Just watch out for crazy cows which charge at you, or some new Honda city driver who almost took us out. The traffic on Hassan->nelmangala road got worse, so we took the kunigal -> magdi -> nice road back home.

Group rides:

Since this was done with a large groups, I will share only the route details (What happens in the group, stays in the group)

 

1. Bangalore - Hampi (2012) : HOGS 1st southern HOG meet.

Blr- Chitradurga - Hospet should be your preferred route. Avoid Hospet-Bellary stretch (the worse road I've ever taken)

2. Bangalore - Goa (2013) : Rider's republic group ride to 1st National HOG meet

Blr - Hubli - Karwar - Goa has really good challenging roads. This was the best group trip, planned to perfection by the RR group. One hell of a party.