Cycling expedition to MaakaLidurga on 26-12-2008

After few days of preparation and amidst my parent's strong opposition, I set out to my longest cycling excursion (till now) in my all new "Hercules ultima shox dx" geared cycle. Actually it was MADE all new, since both tubes were out a few days back and got replacement with a long seat rod to ease my legs. "Total Overhauling" cost me around 230 bucks(looks like I had kept it in good shape). Motto: Take care of your companion so that it takes care of you :)

It was pure fun and most important of all I had been a long way far from all the bondages with this real world for few hours.

Preparation was the most important of all the phases. So I tested myself before setting out by taking it around 20 kms per day within the city for the last weekend.(20th,21st December 2008). Also, I had been to my friend's place on 25th December riding it about 24 kms to and fro Kalyan-nagar from where we went to morning show-ghajini movie. Its going to be all different post so not detailing it out here ;)

Thanks to "The Nomad" and "roastedneutons" travel blog which helped me out in route and also mentally get prepared for this journey.

I packed up the following things before :
1. Lunch (Puliyogare from home)
2. Water (2 bottles of water)
3. 1 pack Glucose + 2 Electral sachets
4. Dates (very rich in minerals)
5. Hand Pump (heaviest of them all)
6. Knife as a tool and also for safety
7. Bandages
8. Relispray
9. Hexagon tool and spare tubes in case of puncture
10. Digicam
11. Cap
12. Towel
13. Torch

Having checked out the route on google maps and having visited Ghati subramanya (10kms from maakaLidurga) a week back, it was not a problem in finding directions.

I started at 5:45 am in the morning and it was still a bit dark coz it is still winter now. As i reached Yelahanka it was getting brighter and soon the orange sun exposed himself at the horizon, behind the trees amidst the fog. It was beautiful to see... time around 6:30am.

(Sunrise view soon after crossing Yelahanka)
(The morning life had already started in the country side by that time.)

The roads were not bumpy and actually were in good condition, properly asphalted. However, It did make me sing the song "bum bum bole" after a while though!So far so good ;) Re-hydration was done every half an hour till I reached Dodballapur at around 8:30am. I had breakfast(4 idlis+coffee+2 bananas) on the way at around 9:00am and again carried on my long journey. Water was not a problem till then as some or the other village approaches for every 3-4 kms of travel.(The only thing is that you should not be totally dependent on mineral water.) I reached destination at around 10:15am.
(My companions on State Highway No. 9)(Bangalore-Hindupur Train leaving from MakaLidurga station as soon as I arrived)(Destination MakaLidurga)(Red mud roads- A deviation to the hill base)(Perfect Countryside)
(Really broadguage!)
(Meet me @ Infinity)(Untouched lake nearby)
(That somebody's me!)
(Bunch of BMS Mech 2nd year students who had camped there a day before my arrival)(Got company for trekking)(The same lake view from half way climbing of hill)
(A centipede-like train below)
(MakaLi Fort still standing)
(Small temple atop)
(Myself, second from right with awesome cook next to me!)
(Supposed to be the birth of the lake water, It was too deep like a well!)

There was a small ganesh temple at the base of the hills. People of the temple are so sweet that they even offered me Ragi balls for lunch after climbing down! They also took care of my parked cycle till I came back (without removing any of the nuts and bolts or monkey testing of working gears or the air in the wall tubes).

After Cycling for about 50kms+Bathing in lake for half an hour+Trekking nearly 3kms+having lunch+sleeping for 45 mins and then climbing down, with half the glucose packet empty, 1 electral sachet remaining and my lunch box empty... I had lost time to plan my journey back and thanks to lorry driver who hitchhiked me back to Dodaballapur(for about 16 kms) which saved me more than an hour and a half or so in my return back to Yelahanka-towards hebbal-back to my place. I took very few breaks and pedalled at constant speed on my way back and reached home at around 5:45pm. It was a memorable 12 hour butt-wrenching journey but(t) also my best ever. I had traveled around 80+ in my cycle! I feel good after the journey. It has increased my appetite a lot ;)

I would like to go for long distance cycling expeditions seriously along with some cyclists/trekkers organization to keep up my passion. Can anyone help me out please?

Cheers,
Karthik Bharadwaj H

Weekend trekking

It was a long time since I had been somewhere with a bunch of friends or colleagues. The last weekend was indeed a memorable trip.

We all rocked!

In Pic, L->R: myself kneeling down, Rohit above me, Sundar sitting down, Rajesh(a), Sunaina, Prashanth, Vani, Shilpa sitting down, Manasi, Joe with cap, Namarta, Shiv with sunglasses, Shreyas, Sonu.

Bali and Sneha missed out this group pic at top of Ambukuti Hills beacuse of "Heights" in being afraid of heights! :P

It was an awesome journey on friday night. After leaving directly from "Virtual hell" (Sundar's quote in one of his mails, meaning office) at 9:00pm, to reach the heavens of kerala in the morning. We all slept till the sun’s grand arrival at the horizon just over the silvery clouds.

In pic, Sun rise views from cottage.

In pic, Enroute to cottage.

In Pic, Our temporary residence for that weekend. (Valley view cottage)

In pic, chaudvin ka chand :)

Many poets have tried to explain about the nature’s beauty in words, but in vein. So I am not commenting about the awesome scenery around. All that one can do is just see and enjoy it.

Must important of all, I found myself closer than ever with my buddies on the way. Even my best pals around were surprised to see me in such a different kind of mood, when we sang songs of our likings all the way (I could clearly read it from shiv’s and joe’s face). It was surprisingly interesting that I heard Sunaina saying “Sensitive!”(or did I overhear that?) looking at my choices of Md Rafi’s Oldies and “Patho” songs. Many thanks to Shilpa, Sneha and Sunaina for singing my dedications (Hope I didn’t trouble you) and taking me to wonder land.

Also I found myself very bad at dumb-charades after hearing to “ziddi” (supposed to be a hindi movie) as “zeti” (some damn English movie) and trying to show the action in kannada “e-style”! [:D] hehe… soon after that every one lost hopes of playing it, I think. But it was fun.

It was pure stress buster in acting crazy at the pond half way up the chembra peak, like going to the other end of the pond and meditating, hanging half way from the tree skimming the surface of the water!

And how could I forget my act of balancing on one leg on the peak!

How can any one forget “I am the king of the world” dialogue by our great mighty “Joe” young ;)

What a “LOVE”ly place this is!

Together we reached the heights as we believed that mountain is not too high until we reach the top.

It was really tiring for all them and I was the one who made you follow all the way till the peak. Thank you fellas for keeping my energy levels up all the way. If you have anything to scold me for taking you up there hungry and thirsty, you can send it to my personal email-id. But also I made sure everyone came back safe literally at each step. Thank me for those fellas ;)

With just one argument over “judgment of friendship” with Manasi, I got to know how good she is at heart. I don’t remember how it kicked off.

Special thanks to Shreyas for entertaining us so well and being a sport for all our jokes and everyone else who made these moments ever last in my memories.

I uploaded the collection of photos from all the cameras at Picasa web album for all of us to rejoice these memories and especially Sonu and Sunaina who certainly can’t access out shared file system at office.

Link: http://picasaweb.google.com/karthikhb/WaynadPics?authkey=K2_XJ8Dy4rU#

There are just 500 pictures in the album!! Happy rewinding back your memory as "today's beautiful moments are tomorrow's wonderful memories" :)

Cheers,
Karthik Bharadwaj H