Day 14 - Surat to Satara
Day 15 - Satara to Bangalore
Day 15: When we started from Udaipur, we had to cover around 1700km in three days. So that was arund 600 kms per day. Did not look like impossible as we have done close to 400kms previously. Also there were no places to see on the way as we will be just riding from there. We did cover already 500 km's so another 1100 kms to go. We knew there would be lot of traffic but we also got some route through which we could avoid mumbai traffic. But Akash , the one who organised the ride was very active in HVK group and he knew HVK through forum quiet well. Even the itenary for this ride was prepared by him. So Akash wanted to meet HVK in mumbai and then ride till Kolhapur. We started early and picked up good speed and reached mumbai almost by noon. HVK has invited us for the lunch :) I have heard about HVK from my biker friends but was never really into their groups. But it was as exciting as everyone to meet someone like him in person!
Early morning view.
His home was on the way we were supposed to go, so not much diversions we had to take. However we reached HVK home, and ringed his doorbell. It is a small middle class apartment, and some lean guy in lungi open the door. Took time to adjust my views as I was expecting some professional looking guy as I didn't even saw him in the picture. The energy of the guy is sky high! He would speak quick and loud on his voice. HVK took us for posh non veg hotel and ordered some nice fish fries and dishes! We were listening to some of his stories and I was embarrassed when he spoke about the routs of my hometown which I don't even know about!
Lunch with HVK
With HVK
Took few pics with HVK after the lunch , we wanted to get out of the busy city! But we have already spent almost 3 hours of the day without ride. We were sure that we could not reach till Kohlapur. By the time we reached Satara, it was 11 o clock in the night. So we planned to stay there and ride next morning to Bangalore.
Pune
Also it was Valentines day. And we were lucky to be our valentines already. So here is a pic with our beloved valentines ;)
Day 16:
The final day of the grand ride. We had to cover 750km in one day! I was very confident that we will do it without much hurdle.
There was one more joy. That finally we were entering Karnataka! That feel is awesome.. reaching our own place.. our own people!
In last four days we were in different states in each day. Rajasthan, Gujarath, Maharashtra and finally the Karnataka.
The road!
and when you get tired ;)
After the lunch we stopped somewhere on the field under a tree. Everyone collapsed and started snoring in a few minutes. I think we never took such a nice sleep on a bare land!
It was almost night 10 when we reached Davanagere. And how can you miss davanagere benne dose ;)
Final tea break!
That was my jeans on 16th day :D
And finally we reached bangalore at 3 am in the morning!!! Celebration at the nelamangala flyover!
A 16 day's trip, finally coming to an end. 16 day's of nomad life, life on roads, life with just the goal of travel and explore places. And i went on saying everyone who ask about the trip on next day when they ask 'How was the ride?' I would say ' That was life.. and this is shit' and i was not even exaggerating!.
When I look back I don't even remember the money i spent, it is only the memories. Those grand memories of seeing a white rann for the first time, getting struck in the salt surface, the feel of celebrity when girls getting pics with us, Never ending floor of salt, realizing it is not hate but love which we need at the Vigakhot pakistan border, Lit up faces of soldiers who are so happy to see bunch of bikers, Riding inside the streets of fort in Jaisalmer, strolling in the city high on bhang, entire school bus kids wishing at us, the curious looks of villagers at the gopro, A middle aged women in the car saying hi to gopro, Cute girl from rickshaw waving hands, Father explaining his kid about gopro, The terror of h1n1 at the government hospital in Rajasthan,Camel safari, Folk dancer calling our friend Salman khan, Unknown lady asking for a ride, the pain of seeing our bike getting damaged by the shipping truck, Happiness when we are getting our bike washed up, Listening to the story of a foreigner who is on a year long journey, the amazing night jeep safari in the thar desert, petting over excited dog at a restaurant, almost getting bitten by another dog!, the barren lands of Rajasthan, Straight roads, traffic of mumbai, Feel of venice at the Udaipur, Sweets and chats of Jodhpur, Legendary tales of Chittorgarh, Calmness of Pushkar, crowd of Ajmer, Royal life of Sam sand dunes, Five people in one room, Morning walk of Barmer, the number of Pulav's consumed, the number of chewing gums chewed to avoid getting sleep while riding, the amount of tea breakes, getting panic while missing the group, One jeans for all 16 days of the ride, the ice cream guy who use hands to cut the ice creams,the kind soldier who helped us to get the permissions, the traffic police curious to know about our rides, the cop in civil dress getting suspicious and enquiring, benne dosa of davanagere, the extra caring and kind people of Rajasthan, free tea from the villagers,Military officer stopping us and offering help,meeting fellow bikers from all over india, A guy from Mumbai offering to visit his place while returning, getting excited at a girl in Thunderbird overtaking us at 90+ kmph, drinking tea in saucer, first time camel milk, murder of masala dosa in 3 seconds, first time in a tent house, a lunch by HVK himself, feel of achievement when we reached Bangalore and many more. Few of the feelings cannot be described in words so i will just stop here.
Two day before we were set to go on the ride, i have posted this quote on my fb page. my favourite one " Twenty years from now you will be disappointed by the things you haven't done than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines, sail away from the safe harbour, catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream. Discover". Finally the one of the biggest of my ride is over, but again this is not the end. I said to myself, this is a momentary pitstop, but the journey goes on.
Regards,
Gopro Man