The Lady in the Blue !

I was going through my archive when I found this write up. I read it again reliving the moments. It brought back many sweet memories...what a way to start the weekend. Posting it again...so here it is : The Lady in the Blue!

The key that I carry in my pocket, most of the time, is not just a piece of metal which unlocks my bike. Sometimes it has similar effect on the rider too. It unlocks me. It is like a magical wand with the touch of which the beauty gets a soul and then she roars back to life! It is my key to happiness, to madness, most of all to breaking away and fading out into the wide open.

And this time when I unlocked her, she galloped leaving behind some more extraordinary moments.

The initial ride plan was Bangalore-Munnar-Kochi-Athirapally waterfall-Ooty and back. When mail was sent out announcing the ride, there was huge response from almost everyone. Around 10 people on 5 bikes and in 1 car were supposed to set out for this trip. This was the initial picture. Once the initial excitement settled, the usual thing started. That is, people started backing off. Some had official urgency, few had personal reasons and few because of the hype created around the Babri Masjid verdict scarred the shit out of them. The ride was from 30^th Sept to 3^rd Oct. At last it was just me and my navigator Jeevan riding to Munnar. Alok was waiting for us there with his bike.

As we had to cover nearly 500 km, it was decided to start the ride early in the morning. Before every ride I have to kick start two things - one my bike and second Jeevan. I kicked him out of his dreams this time also at 3am. Jeevan being a lazy ass didn’t pack his luggage. So that activity also had to be completed by 4am, the scheduled time for starting our ride. By 4:15am everything was set and we were ready to roar. I thought of the moment when we were going to Kochi on our first ride. It was a similar cold morning. Only difference being I was bit more organized this time or may be I am used to being unorganized while going on trips, hence not feeling the difference. Well, who knows?

Bangalore-Salem- Kangeyam- Dharapuram - Udumalaipet - Chinnar – Munnar was the route which we decided to take. We crossed Silk Board junction and were heading towards Electronic City toll bridge. It was amazing to ride on the toll bridge at that time. No traffic and the roads look like a runway. The bike was touching its top speed even when it was fully loaded with two riders and the luggage. The beautiful beast was getting fully unlocked, what else. Soon we were engulfed with a thick blanket of fog, so heavy at times that the visibility was drastically reduced. I had to slow down. Jeevan’s helmet also ensured that he does not freeze like a chocobar. After crossing Hosur, we stopped for fuel. Second stop before sunrise was at Café Coffee Day before reaching Salem. Posed for some snaps and ordered cappuccinos. The coffee tasted so good like never before. All credit to the cold weather outside.

Soon we crossed Salem. The sun was coming out slowly. It is always wonderful to see how the first ray of light triumph over the darkness. We had breakfast from Perundurai. From there onwards the 4 lane highway gave way to single lane state highway. Nice scenery, but the roads were not in that good condition. After crossing Dharapuram, the weather started changing. By the time we were in Udumalaipet the weather was becoming cold. There was a forest check post, after which started the jungle ride. Then the rain started. I was not expecting that. “How come you don’t like rain?”  was one of my friend’s questions when I narrated her the trip experience. Well I like rain. But rain, pot holes and cold weather is a very bad combination. From there onwards it rained till we reached Munnar. Once we were in Munnar the sun came out laughing at us. There after it didn’t rain at all.

I called up Alok, who had reserved room there for us also. So how did Alok reach there before us? Is that what you are thinking? He was on a solo two week bike trip and had reached Munnar by the time we reached there. Me and Satya rode along with him till Thanjavur when he was starting his ride. From Thanjavur he proceeded further and we came back. That was a 850 km weekend ride for us. Visiting the Brihadeeswara Temple, when it was completing its 1000 years was a rare experience. We joined him back in Munnar and had planned to ride to Kochi-Athirapally waterfall-Ooty together. Once in the room, we changed the wet clothes and went out for lunch. Came back to the room and I slept. Got up in the night to go out to eat again to come back and sleep. The day was over like that.

Next day the plan was to roam around in Munnar and head towards Kochi by evening.

Munnar is famous for its climate, spices, its flora and fauna like the Nilgiri tahr, Kurinji flowers and her breath taking beauty. 

Like Cinderella’s rags to princess story, once in every 12 year, Munnar gets her chance to play a Cinderella. This is the time when kurinji flowers blooms, painting the valley with a hue of blue! She sheds her old dress to don the new gown. With the regality of a princess, the lady in the blue waits for her prince charming. Here it is the Mother Nature who cast her spells on this even otherwise beautiful place to make it even more stunning.

The entire place is so beautiful that one can just ride around and enjoy. We decided to go towards the Devikulam area. The lake there is closed for general public. It can be visited once you get a prior permission from Tata’s Office. As we didn’t have that we went to a waterfall in that route. Lockhart view point was also en route. I need to especially mention about the roads. With the magnificent beauty all round, these roads takes you one step closer to heaven. And with the curves and curls, my bike was performing a perfect waltz all along the way. She swirled, she twirled like a ballet dancer extraordinaire. We took some amazing snaps. That was when Alok informed us that he doesn’t want to come any further and want to go back to Bangalore as he was too tired of roaming around. So there was change in the initial plan. Finally it was decided that Alok will head home and we will proceed to Kochi. What were we going to do in Kochi that was not yet decided. As me and Jeevan had already been to Athirapally waterfall, we didn’t wanted to go there again. 

After saying tata to Alok, we started our ride towards Kochi, which was 126 Km from Munnar. Now the second round of pouring started. I was thinking why were the Rain Gods crying so much. Because of the rain and the narrow zigzag roads, I could only ride very slowly. After Adimaly the road was through proper jungle. It was raining so heavily that it was like somebody slapping you left and right on the face. Now to add to the adventure, my bike stopped. I tried to start it but it didn’t. Then I noticed that there was no power supply. Luckily there was a shed, a bus stop, till where I pushed my bike. Both of us waited there for the rain to stop. I took my mobile out to call my mechanic and wow there was no signal also. Plus the time was 5 pm and it was getting dark. Jeevan said, “Ok fine, I think we can sleep here in this shed. It looks good” Well, those words were not that encouraging. When the rain reduced, I opened the tool box to check the fuse. The fuse was intact, but still no power. Then I opened the battery box and there it was- it rained so heavily that water got into the battery box and short circuited the main wire. Luckily I was carrying the basic tools. Pushed the bike inside the shed, reconnected the wire and we were back on the track. I thanked God for pulling us out.

 Once we entered Ernakulam the roads were in a mess. Big potholes filled with mud and water and bad traffic. Finally we reached Kochi by 7:30pm. Called up my cousin staying there and gave him our location so that he could come and pick us up. We were going to stay with him. Got fresh, went out to eat and called it a day.

Third day we got up bit late. I had checked with my cousin, while starting from Munnar, which all places near to Kochi are worth a visit. He said Kumarakom is one option but there is noting much other than the back water. 

As there were no other plans we decided on Kumarakom. It is at a distance of 60 km from Kochi. We started the ride without high expectations as told to us. But the initial signs when we started were so good that I started expecting more. And I am happy that I was not wrong in expecting more. First it was the road. There was a 4 lane highway in good condition till Chertala. I zipped through there. I could see Jeevan stretching his arms and flapping it like wings. It was fun. After Chertala, it was a single road but it was in good condition. Soon we begin to come across the flourishing paddy fields, swinging coconut grove and the slowly drifting backwater. I was wondering why my cousin told us not to expect much from this place. May be they are so used to this place that they forgot to appreciate its beauty. Both of us were enjoying it. Went to the Kumarakom Boat Jetty, hired a boat to sail in the Vembanad Lake. That was a completely new experience. Again took some amazing snaps. The place was so peaceful yet so vibrant. Once the boat ride was over we headed back to Kochi. On the way back I got my bike washed. They did a pretty good job as my bike was shinning again. By 5pm we were back in Kochi. Took some rest before we went out to accomplish the second agenda of visiting Kochi, i.e. to eat and eat and eat as much local food we can. In the evening we roamed around eating from different restaurants and road side food joints. Food was amazing. I love Kochi for that reason. Jeevan was searching for prawns, which he couldn’t find. Finally he gave up. I was ok with that. During night it rained heavily again. I was praying for it to stop by morning as we had to start our ride back home. It was decided to start by 4am from Kochi so that we will be home early.

Next day morning, we were on the road by 4:30am. Before sunrise we had crossed Thrissur and were 20 km from Palakad. The roads and the scenery were stunning except for the occasional potholes. We stopped in between for photos, tea-coffee and lunch. By 5:30pm we reached Jeevan’s flat. One more trip completed, few more kilometers added to the odometer and planning for the next ride.

So in the end, what was this trip all about? Well, it was about the kappa, fish curry and karimeen fry from the local toddy shop, 2 hours of drifting in Vembanad lake, 500 plus shots which captured every slice of life which we wanted to treasure, reliving the moments when two rookies set out on their maiden trip and 1400 plus km. In short a Sweet Ride !