Wayanad Ride - Day Two

Sleep is the ultimate rejuvinator. As I woke up at around 0730 on Saturday, the 25th of June, 2011 all the aches and pains from the last day's riding had vanished and it was with a veritable briskness in step that I went down to the cafetaria for coffee. A refreshing bath also brought me thoroughly into the realm of the awake and now the question prominent on my mind was - "When do we start riding?" "Where are we riding?". Deciding to get ready early I was nearly getting suited up when I suddenly became aware that our stalwart leaders were still sound asleep and there were some more riders from Bangalore who had to reach Bathery.

Time was whiled away getting acquainted with xBHP'ians from other states and also getting to know better my fellow riders from yesterday, but an undertone of impatience to get the Hunk revved up and on road remained.

At 11 o'clock the bikes started coming off their stands as we started getting ready for the ride. As John gave a pre ride brief about our destination being Banasura Dam and information about the lead and sweep bikers, the throttle started growling in impatience to let itself rip on to the Wayanad twisties. Some photo snaps later the G2G ride was on its way as in a line astern formation we took to the roads.

The sheer thrill of riding in formation was something that I had never experienced before. Weaving in and out of traffic like a multi colored fire breathing serpeant our column rode out of Sultan Bathery. Out of the town we really started ripping the roads as even 60s and 70s became a faint memory as even us below 80s started maintaining pace nearing 80. But the 90 plussers became even more far ahead with the formation agreed upon forgotten in the thrill of the ride.

As we passed Kalpetta, the district headquarters of Wayanad, we realized that a group of us have totally lost our way. Stopping by a junction marked towards Ootty and Calicut we stopped to regain our bearings. A few calls to Swas and others later we realized that the route we were on is an alternate route to Banasura Dam, with the main shorter route being through a deviation right in the middle of Kalpetta town. After tanking up our bikes at a nearby fuel station we carried on with the ride to Banasura Dam.

The sights were simply spectacular with the cloud clad mountains providing a scintillating backdrop for our ride. Roads were of superb condition except for patches of craters and reasonable speed could be maintained. As we took the deviation to Banasura dam, however speed was reduced drastically. Curves upon curves brought us to the sight of landslides blocking various parts of the road and the narrow yet good roads were also ever present sources of surprise vehicles coming from the other side. By this time rain also was pouring reducing whatever traction the tyres had. As the rain started getting heavier some of my fellow riders stopped underneath trees or whatever shelters they could find but I kept riding on. Visor half closed, I was truly enjoying the ride in the rain. Monsoon time is when Kerala is at its most beautiful and if you cannot enjoy riding in rain, you are missing Kerala at its best. The speed was barely 40 kmph but I was having the time of my life.

As I reached a trijunction indicating 1.6 kms to Banasura dam, I saw several riders stopped by a tea shop for tea. Resting for some time to get the rain numbed bodies warmed up with Tea and hot banana pakodas and for the dragons amongst us to take the breath of death we pushed on for the short ride to Banasura dam.

At the dam we were faced with the unwelcome fact that the path to the dam can not be rode upon and we had to walk a few heights to reach the dam proper. After debating the pros and cons amongst everyone we finally started walking. Rain, unstable Wayanad clay and my innate clumsiness ensured that I would be at my most concentrated best for the walk. Wearing the riding jacket, the helmet, the gloves, the knee guards and the boots we had to walk a ways to a flight of steps and then navigate several scores of mossy and slipper steps to reach the top of the dam. Sure, I was wearing enough protection to ensure that any fall would not be very damaging but still my awareness of my generously proportioned girth made me walk slowly and steadily to the top.

As I reached the top I let out a yell of triumph for once again conquering heights and believe me for a person of my physique it is a challenge. The rain had not let down so it was with visible trepidation that many of my fellow riders dared to take out their cameras from multi layered cocoon of protection. The brisk wind flowing from the reservoir tempted one to take off the helmet and whenever I did that the head was drenched in the steady rain.

After getting our breath back and thoroughly mesmerized by the scenic vistas we trekked down to the tea stall at the base of the dam. As the group waited for everyone to rejoin I happened to notice a signboard indicating Meenmutty Waterfall, 2kms away. Bored as I was with much walking and no riding I rode out to this destination. The narrow road up to the Meenmutty waterfall was a pleasure of another kind entirely. The narrow rain slick road was of a very steep incline of the type I was encountering after a very long time. Revving up at 2nd and occasionally 1st gear my Hunk climbed up the narrow road going through residential areas presenting additional hazards of its own kind. As I reached the top I was faced with another parking lot and a further path to climb on foot. Compulsorily lazy as I am I did an immediate about turn and rode down to the Banasura Dam. Hearing my account a few other riders set off to visit the waterfalls, which as our friend Naveen described was spectacularly beautiful too, but not more as we started our return ride to Kalpetta where we hoped to find some source for lunch. Little did we know that time has slipped to 4 PM by then.

Return ride to Kalpetta was through the main road and as I followed Swas down the route I realized that the road which I cam in was much better scenically and tarmac wise. Reaching Kalpetta we raided the Hotel Woodlands and thoroughly clogged up its parking areas with our bikes. However the proprietors of the restaurant informed our growling bellies that all food was over. Setting up an agreement to prepare food for 36 riders within 30 minutes we waited our while in wait for the food.

After a barely satiating lunch, one group of riders returned to Bathery and the hotel while another group of us set out to visit the Pookote Lake. Reaching the tourist area smack in the middle of a tropical rain forest setting we were only 15 minutes after the official closing time. However the friendly authorities let us in ( after all they would be making close to 500 rupees in ticket sales in one go!) and we whiled away some time by the lake side watching the returning boats. Some disgusting simian antics and a short walk around the lake later we returned to our rides and as dusk started setting in started our return ride. Thankfully rain was little was we drove down the darkened roads to Sultan Bathery. Speeds maintained at around 65-70 dropped immediately to 50-55 as darkness fell.

As we reached back at our Hotel in Sultan Bathery a slight feeling of anti climax was marring the more joyous memories of the ride. Despite a whole day available for us we were able to ride hardly 125 kms. In many ways the day saw my expectations of a group ride reach its target and at times way below it.

By the time I shed my riding gear I had decided that for this G2G my group ride is over. The next day my return would be solo. I received information that a cousin was staying at a resort in Thirunelly and scouring of Google Maps and suggestions from Praveen and Vineeth made me choose Periya pass as a possible route.

Bone tired I said my good bye to all friends old and new who I met during the G2G. Though the riding aspect of the G2G was disappointing for me, the camaraderie part of getting to meet fellow bikers who share the same passion with you is indeed something that makes all the suffering acceptable. To meet with these band of brothers, to ride with them as a pack, even if it is only for a short kilometers I am now ready to suffer the hardships of group riding.

However be things as it may, the biker in me was still yearning to crunch the miles and wander around on two wheels and thus deciding to do the solo ride back home next day with a "slight" detour I went to sleep early. I missed the group photo sessions but not to worry, my memories of the G2G are seared deep into my soul. Camaraderie and brotherhood are welcome things, but at heart I am a solitary rider and for the ride yet more sacrifices were made.

Wayanad Ride - Day One

Imagine a group of men climbing up Asia's second largest earthen dam clad head to toe in heavy riding gear in continuously pouring rainfall. Imagine going on a trek in wet and unstable Wayanad clay soil while wearing heavy armored jackets and knee guards biting into your legs. Imagine the sheer awesomeness of 30 odd bikes revving past you in line astern formation, all with riders in full safety gear. If this sounds crazy, read no further. If this tickles your fancy, read on, for you, my friend are attuned with the spirit of biking.

The day started for me at around 3 AM as after a fidgety sleep racked by anxiety and thrill for the day's ride I woke and got ready for the ride. Saddle Bag had been backed earlier itself and only last minute stuff remained. As per a call received at around 0415 from Swas I contacted Titus and decided to meet up at North Fort Gate Junction in Tripunithura ( My home town).

The potent for the monsoon ride was quite good as I rode down from home regaled by a light drizzle and in a spirit of things to come our dear friend Titus was late by a few minutes. Together we rode upto the IBP Pump at Edapally, the designated rendezvous from which the plan was to start at 5 AM. 5 AM passed and went and then 6 AM and so forth. Fully decked up in riding gear, a couple of us waited out for the organizers and other riders to come up. A slight electrical fault in Jayamohan brother's Pulsar and an unimaginable wrong turn by Noel Don later we finally started out at around 0745. By now the rain had steadied into a constant affair and the line of 16 odd bikes revving past in the morning air must have brought quite a sense of wonderment in passers by as evident from their slacked out jaws and constant referrals to each of ours' brightly lit head lamps.

Well designed plans had been made earlier for two teams of 8 bikes, but all came to naught as we decided to just go as a group. Even then soon two adhoc teams emerged, the 90 plussers and the 80 minussers, with yours truly in the slower group. Though it had been barely half an hour since we started riding our spirits were quite low as it was giving a true reflection of the status of our own gastric system. Our longing for food was finally addressed as the lead riders stopped at a place near Triprayar called Valapad where we all surprised a little roadside fast food joint with our remorseless hunger. Our sheer joy of smelling food was only matched by the bright twinkle in the manager's eye as he sensed a jackpot morning for his business, a guess he did not have to correct as we all tucked in mightily. Despite rains forcing some of the riders eating outside to run for cover carrying their plates, it was a good meal which energized us for the ride ahead.

Starting again in due order we continued down NH17, the Edapally - Panvel highway which soon got confusing in its route as it went through the towns of Kodungallur and Kunnamkulam. Nearing Chavakkad we decided not to go via the Ponnani route and instead follow NH17 via Kunnamkulam where I distinctly remember me being almost the last in the pack. Riding through steadily falling sheet rain my onus was far less on speed and more on just moving forward and avoid the perils of the maddeningly fast traffic on the Trichur-Calicut stretch. Fully expecting to see the lead riders waiting for us slow turtles at some joint ahead, imagine my surprise at seeing all the 90 plussers coming from my rear!! The equation was totally bonkering for me and was only solved later in the day when we analyzed some crazy traffic snafus at Kunnamkulam which took the 90 plussers on an unnecessary detour.

After regrouping in the middle of the highway in the streams of water we finally set off. The further ride upto Calicut was more or less uneventful except for a point after Kuttipuram where I had to stop and rest for a while owing to a developing cramp in my right thigh. The knee guard I put over my jeans and under my rain pants was really constricting free movements and me and Titus who graciously agreed to wait for me carried on with the ride. Our lunch stop had been at Calicut, through some stretches of rides of which I have barely any recollection due to the pain in my leg. At the NH17 Bypass junction at Calicut we stopped for lunch and met up with the remaining Kerala xbhp'ians like Sreejith Krishnan and Vineeth. After a mediocre lunch and duly refreshed we set out for our final stop for the day, Sultan Bathery in Wayanad. Riding in formation again, we xBHP'ians wove our way in and out through the various speed breakers and traffic on the Calicut bypass road to finally get onto the Wayanad road. The roads went immediately narrower but degraded not at all in terms of tarmac quality. It was a delightful stretch of groovy twisties and stretches of straight to get the revs high. As we neared the town of Adivaram the looming peaks of the Thamarassery Churam (Pass) started intimidating me. I had not had much experience in Ghat roads except for short stretches in the Vazachal - Valparai so imagine my excitement as I reached the first of nine hair pin curves on this mountain pass made legendary in the anecdotes of a late comedian of malayalam movies, Kuthiravattam Pappu. The roads were severely cratered, at certain instances I really feared for my tyres as the rubble and exposed rocks were sharp to tear huge chunks out of the rubber. Thanks to the Almighty nothing spoiled our fun. Resting for a moment after the ninth hair pin we took some pictures and resumed our ride. The ride henceforth was again eventful as we negotiated the comparatively milder twisties of Vythiri, Kalpetta and Meenangadi on the approaches to Sultan Bathery.  As dusk started approaching our various aches and sores started being more evident but before dusk we reached Sultan Bathery and after a short snafu on my part for being over reliant on Google Maps we finally reached our halt camp for the G2G, Issac's Hotel Regency. Getting off the bike had been hard but the beds in the room were extremely soft and comfy. After a sumptuous meal where we utilized the utmost and almost bankrupted the hotel for the buffet we went to sleep with the memories of the ride tantalisingly fresh in our mind and hopes and expectations for the next day's ride teasing us away from sleep. Our fellow xBHP'ians from Coimbatore had arrived and riders from Bangalore were expected in the morning. Thanks to the resourcefulness of ever wise Lijok, our nerves were smoothed by generous measures of the Royal Uncle's Medicine and Mallya's Finest.

Thus ended day one of the Inter State Get ToGether, Wayanad a day of much frustrations and ultimately much joy for me, a novice group rider.