Well this was the second real trip I took on my Bullet. And the anticipation of the sheer thrill of cutting across two forests and then doing a steep climb on the bike was well an experience that was perhaps as good as the real deed and then its fond memories...
Been going nuts doing too many things and therefore this post really is a post from the past. Something which I should've done a while back. But then, here it is...
Trip start point: Windtunnel Road Bangalore. 6:00 AM
Break point: Mysore junction
Trip end point: Hotel Khems, Ooty
Distance covered: 295
Accessories: Saddle bags, new double horn.
Well the start as we'd done it many a time in the morning, the road to Mysore was well a road! clipped at an average of about 80 through. So we were in Mysore by 9:00 AM that was quick and no-nonsense.
Hunted for some breakfast joints where we could leave the saddle bags as is and continue but could not find an open Idly vada joint, so it had be packed so that we stopped on the Mysore Bandipur road and ripped open the leaves and squatted on the roadside and hogged and washed it down with mango juice... everything around was suddenly different, the trees greener, the roads cleaner, the vision clearer and less pollution.
Cut to smaller road and through lanes clustered by trees on both sides off went the helmet and down came the speed. The feel of a cool breeze, the sound of the thump of the Bullet and the top of the world euphoria of chuggin along the roads less traveled (yea less than city at least) was amazing...
Chugged to Bandipur the first forest road and went through the single roads anticipating wildlife, but none at that time; we were well past that time when the creatures come out. Anyway out of Karnataka border and into Tamil Nadu and Mudumalai and the same continues, the roads meander and wave and cave in all over...We decided to take a short break at the foot hills before the climb. And decided that the weather gods and the hard work of the ride earned us at least a bottle each of beer... So chilled beer it was for both of us. From the wanderers look of us, the restaurant chappie did not want to us to sit in the family section instead we had to go to the regulars... a dungeon like hole... fortunately, we were the only ones around so gulping the beer down was easy... and both were actually eased up after the drink...did us wonders to sustain the 30 km steep climb to Ooty.
30 Kms, 33 hairpin bends and the incline really steep. The Bullet could run only on the first gear and at times on the second. At times, I feared weather it would over heat! Thankfully it did not and we caught the first wave of the smell of Eucalyptus trees around, the Scotland of south india was close at hand.
The town centre was more crowded than we'd seen a few years back, the place was dirtier, but hey it was clear, cleaner fresher than the city life we were used to. Asked directions found the hotel, check-in. Lonely Planet guide was good. This joint was not bad at all. It was 1:00 and we were thirsty and hungry... quick round of beer and food and crash... the hot water tap worked only in the mornings and evenings so we had to postpone the shower for the evening.
The evening out was incredible in the small town. We went around town, looked around for anything quaint but then, in the midst of drizzle it was becoming a pain so we decided to head back to pavilion soon enough.
The next day (April 15) was the day out for sights around Ooty. The place had become so touristy and so bloody crowded the old world charm was gone and the crowds took over... Some home made chocolates happened and then we decided by early evening to break for the day and relax by the boating house.
Conoor was perhaps the secluded heaven that one seeks... the short ride via Wellington and then to reach this quaint hill station complete with an old world charm was what we both were seeking for a while... wish we'd planned to park ourselves here. We would be back here again. Magic. Chill out zone was at the Taj Retreat we sacked out for almost 4 hours, idling over a few beers and snacks...Pity we had to leave as the sun was getting covered both by the clouds as well as the dusk... A quick but short dash back to Ooty and also bundled with an encounter with the rain. Decided to get wet and go through for the heck of it... The rain drops really prick at you especially since its cold out here as well. Anyway, reach back all wet wet wet.
After drying and rum we were back in action to take the town by the evening. This was the last evening before we headed back next morning.
What the heck, we thought nice and sozzled, let it be a bit late morning will ya?
And so it was late and we started out at 9:00 and yea downhill was as tricky as uphill but the confidence that one gets on a bullet is something else, rock steady. So we went past the forests, and tree lanes and were in Mysore by afternoon for lunch.
Bangalore we reached around 3. But then, from the entry point to Windtunnel road 3 hours with the traffic snarls, honking and dirt, I was completely tired and washed out in the city ride... next time its best to leave early. So that, the exit is clean and so is the entry in the afternoon when the traffic is lesser.
That's that till the next log.
