The Dosai Ride

Dosai, a typical South Indian delicacy, is a very thin pancake or crepe made from fermented rice flour and black lentils batter. Rich in carbohydrates and proteins, this dish available in different variations is not only a day to day diet of South Indians but has gained popularity elsewhere also. But in this case it represented something more, much more indeed. It represented a reason, a motive or in larger sense a lunacy which refuses to die. A lunacy reignited when I got my bike serviced after an 1800 km New Years ride. And out of that lunacy a ride was born, a ride code named Dosai.

Even though this is not the first time I am doing this but writing it down this time so that like minded people can also taste this insanity. The Dosai Ride is very simple. Take your bike, fill her up and then ride to Krishnagiri (which is around 100 km from Bangalore). Once you reach Krishnagiri, stuff yourself with different kinds of dosas, served with even different kinds of chutneys. When you hit full tank, do some chit chat, click some pictures and then ride back. Short and simple.

Rarest of the rare are those days when I wake up to see a sunrise. On such days I see the sunrise on the chrome of my bike while riding on the highway.

It was going to be a similar day. Time was 5:40 am and Mayank was already waiting for me in front of Pizza Hut on Old Airport road. Being the first ride on his new bike, he was excited and wanted to make it fashionably grant. So we went shopping the night before. Che Guevara print bandanna is what he was looking for, but could not find it. Checked for balaclavas also but couldn’t find that either. What both of us forgot to buy was riding gloves for the lack of which he paid a heavy price during the early morning ride through the cold and fog. At least he learned something from the Dosai Ride.

It was 6:00 am and Raghav was supposed to be waiting for us on Sarjapur Road after crossing Marathahalli. We were at the meeting point but no sign of Raghav, the avid traveler and passionate photographer but definitely not a biker. He wanted to experience how it feels to wander like this. The experience based on which he will chuck his Pulsar for a RE. Soon he arrived at the meeting point. From there we proceeded to BTM, the final pick up point, where Prafull was waiting for us.

Prafull had a severe cold. The kind which could not be cured even by hot brandy and black pepper. When that home remedy failed I recommended him a dose of the Dosai Ride. When the bike hits its top speed on a smooth, open highway, all you are required to do is close your eyes and stretch your arms. The wind will blow away all your ailment, pain and sorrows. Leaving behind a vacuum for you to think over and start afresh, if you wish to.

As my friend Mohith was saying, it is the initial 50 km of the ride which you will take to settle down, to be just on your own. I agree with him. After which your mind is cleared and your conscience is at peace. And when the beat of your heart matches with the thump of your bike slowly you become a part of the highway. Flowing in a rhythm, freely and calmly. That spirit is as pure as Single Malt and definitely more effective than brandy with black pepper.

As Prafull also thought on similar lines, he decided to be my pillion. So together we all rode with a single motive clandestinely represented by Dosai.

As usual on the Electronic City Toll Bridge my bike was cutting air like a samurai’s sword. Once Mayank couldn’t feel his hands anymore we decided to take a coffee break somewhere near Hosur. After which the ride continued. I thought Raghav would stop in between to take pictures, but he didn’t. May be he got used to taking pictures on these roads the same way I got used to riding on them. Sometimes I feel my bike and these roads are getting engaged in a silent conversation.

Raghav was riding fast and Mayank was drifting slowly and I was confused whether to rip the road or drift through. I gave company to both. It was not a long ride where you get those “Miles to go before I sleep” kind of feeling yet there is always something special about these roads for me. I have been through these roads innumerable times that this stretch of highway is almost like those lines drawn on my palm. A sense of belonging creeps in. I am not being nostalgic or philosophical. But at times these roads become your home and you long to belong there.  It’s like every milestone and signboard welcoming you with such happiness which can only be felt and not expressed in words. Have you ever felt so?

Once we reached Krishnagiri, we took left from the highway. At around 500 meters was a small town. And that was our destination. Opposite to the bus stand there was a small veg. hotel and was our regular joint - our Dosai camp. People were ogling at us like we were some aliens who have landed on this planet while going ahead with a space trip. We all ordered dosai and without wasting any time worked towards accomplishing the objective of the ride. The dosai tasted different and amazing from the kind which we usually get in Bangalore. Well, they had to taste different and amazing; we rode all the way for this.

Raghav had mentioned about the Krishnagiri dam when we were planning for this ride. We decided to go there also, if we felt like going there. When the accomplishment of the objective one of the ride was announced by way of a big burp, we decided to ride on. Raghav enquired about the dam and took directions and we followed him.

 The dam was at around 10 km in the opposite direction. The ride was through a country side. There was an entry fee of Rs 4 per person. It was not a place which you will ever find in a travel guide as a must visit destination or a weekend get away. But the fact that it was not infested with the typical weekend crowd trying to get a life, which otherwise you will find at all the tourist places within 100 km radius from Bangalore, made it a bit special and relaxing.

Raghav started clicking and we started posing. The dam and the water, the fishermen and the locals all became our photographer’s muses. There was also a small garden built besides the boundary wall of the reservoir. When we were done with the photo session we took some rest under the shade of a tree. I laid there on that green grass looking at the blue sky above. Dosai was showing its effect and I was slowly drifting into a trance. Peaceful and soothing, but I knew I had to go back and all this was momentary.

When we were done with all the fun, we decided to ride back. By this time Raghav was sure he wanted to travel more on a bike. Once he took a small test ride on my bike, it was clear that the bullet bug has already bitten him. That was birth of a rider. The Dosai Ride became a turning point.

Prafull also took a test ride on Mayank’s bike. He was riding after a long time. We started our ride back and stopped once in between for lunch.

80 kmph is the speed limit on the Electronic City Toll Bridge. If the alter ego who takes over you has characteristics of Schumacher or Rossi, then the only audience to appreciate your performance here are the cops with speed guns, cameras and tickets for over speeding. I don’t want to talk more on this. But, this is what I learned from the Dosai Ride.

Our ride ended at Prafull’s flat. Went to his flat, did some chit chat, drank some coffee and then charted the next ride plan. The hunger for dosai died but like I said: The lunacy just won’t die!