An Old post from my other blog....about a memorable trip!!
When you are with BKG the level of Uncertainity & Vaguness is high, as it happened this week end we started from IIT at 4:00 in the morning. Only thing I knew was we are going to Guhagar somewhere in Ratnagiri distt. and we are going on bike :). Rest how are we going 100% bike or mix with some ferry transport not known, it will depend on the situation. What are the attaractions? we will go to some beach place, some fort, along the sea bike. Thats it nothing much in detail, you will know only once you go there and explore and discuss. Any ways since it was 700Km+ biking I blindly said yes. So there were 3 Bikes and only four people to (Long gone are the good IIT days where number of people was more then the number of bikes*2).
By 5 we reached Panvel, everything Ok except the nature call :P. Good that petrol pumps are improving these days so the problem was solved. Next stop was the unintended one. Puncture, not in my bike. Aditya's splendor (BKG's colleague). It so happened that he noticed the bike puncture when we were turning right. So CMS used this as an opportunity to sleep on the bike. CMS is lying on CBZ legs on the handle and immediately a ST bus comes from back & turns right by the screeching noise of breakes CMS wakes up just to find the ST right on top of his head, he was scared like anything and rest all were laughing like anything. After one hour or so we were ready to move again. Finally we reached Aagardanda (a jetty port), to take a jetty to cross else bike for around 200Km to reach other side, at 11:15 types. the next Launch was at 12:30 so what else now cards, poor Aditya had to learn bridge bdding for half hour and then to his poor luck had to play one game also and go 2 down. We had parked our bikes just at the pont of boarding of ferry. By the time ferry arrived the water level had risen by 8" and if ferry hadn't come for some more time the bikes might have drowned :(. We boarded the ferry with Bikes. Interestingly they used lever principle there. lift bike from front and pust it inside and then rest it on the edge and the stand of bike and then pull the bike inside. After some 25 min of the ferry ride we reached the place called Dighi. The best part here was the drive almost along the sea & mountains. Amazingly smooth & clean roads and no traffic and also the sunlight was also OK not too hot for our good.
Somewhere BKG had read there is a light house nearby. So we went looking for Nanvel village & Light house. After some 5 Km uphill & downhill drive we reached the nanvel village. They had placed fish skins by the side of the road to dry so it was stinking very bad all the way. We walked down from one and had to climb up another to reach the Light house made in 1997. By the time we reached the light house we were short of breath and drenched in sweat. By now the sun was on top. Light house was pretty clean and well maintained. The place had a few government quarters with electricity supply, water supply and a communication dish. A proper setup of all the requirements. (Naval Guys are pretty neat in their works). We wentt on the top of the light house and the view & breeze were mind blowing. Almost like for 15-20 min we slept on whatever space available :). we got down and came to pick the bikes and start for Sree vardhan. The ride this time was difficult as my bike was making the standard noise and I was a bit scared as if it breaks down we wont be able to tow it further. (Looks like I am becoming more and more NABDU these days :(( ). Finally we found a Bajaj Service station at Sree Vardhan. He checked and tightened a few screws and it was Ok. Finally we had a late lunch or a early dinner. And had to catch the Launch to Bankot from Baagmandla. After getting down we headed for Harne or Aanjurli whichever provided us the opportunity.
We started for Harne. The road this time was worst. Not even a few meter stretch without pot hole. Small roads at night in the mountains all the worse conditions for driving (luckily we didnt had rain :P). Finally we somehow rached a Harne, they said there are two forts but locals told that we cannot go there at night so we left that place and headed for a nearby place called murud which had a beach after two rounds of the place finally we managed to somehow find a place for beach.
For Half an hour four engineers broke their head at the problem to put up a small tent and after lot of effort the IITian sense prevailed and lethargy took control. we decided lets spread the tent and sleep on it. As it is we were so tired that in notime all of us were asleep. I dont know but some time in night the water level rose and it almost touched us. then quickly we shifted a little higher place. In the morning around 7:30 I got up, BKG was already up, and for the first time I enjoyed the morning walk on beach. The clamness & soothing breeze cools down. Also I drive bike on the beach :).
Now we started for Dapoli, a big town nearby where we can get Breakfast and attend to other major issues :D. From here we headed for Dabhol where we will get a actual ferry to cross to Veldoor. From here we just went around the Dabhol Power plant :). Huge complex and still under construction. Then we went to the ultimate place Gopalgarh fort. The road to this place was interesting either 60deg sloping up or 60 deg sloping down. Located on hill all green and just rising on the sea. We went inside the fort which looked more of a mango plantation :). We went down the hill just at the last few rocks and enjoyed the clean sea water (i.e. free of soil, of course salt was there :P). A truly satisfying experience at the end of the trip. (Special Thanks to Bharat Garg for recommending the place :)). Sun was up and we were famished so quickly we dried and set off for final place Guhagarh. The hungry party was looking for fish but intially we could locate only the pure veg resturants, eventhough I would have loved to have food there. Finally we located the Lagoon, we had food and at 3:00 we set off for Mumbai for a wonderful ride on NH17. Inspite of heavy rains for most of teh stretch the road was good except for some patches which were real bad. BKG's bike semi broke twice and then I needed "good" quality speed petrol so we wasted another hour in Chiplun. Finally around 12: we reached Vashi (BTC) but the place was closed so some how we drove back to Powai and had Aalu parathas made by Bhaiyaji (the fourth member of Bridge quartret). I came back to my place and took bath with hot water and slept till 11:00 in the morning.
Tyson!
When you are with BKG the level of Uncertainity & Vaguness is high, as it happened this week end we started from IIT at 4:00 in the morning. Only thing I knew was we are going to Guhagar somewhere in Ratnagiri distt. and we are going on bike :). Rest how are we going 100% bike or mix with some ferry transport not known, it will depend on the situation. What are the attaractions? we will go to some beach place, some fort, along the sea bike. Thats it nothing much in detail, you will know only once you go there and explore and discuss. Any ways since it was 700Km+ biking I blindly said yes. So there were 3 Bikes and only four people to (Long gone are the good IIT days where number of people was more then the number of bikes*2).
By 5 we reached Panvel, everything Ok except the nature call :P. Good that petrol pumps are improving these days so the problem was solved. Next stop was the unintended one. Puncture, not in my bike. Aditya's splendor (BKG's colleague). It so happened that he noticed the bike puncture when we were turning right. So CMS used this as an opportunity to sleep on the bike. CMS is lying on CBZ legs on the handle and immediately a ST bus comes from back & turns right by the screeching noise of breakes CMS wakes up just to find the ST right on top of his head, he was scared like anything and rest all were laughing like anything. After one hour or so we were ready to move again. Finally we reached Aagardanda (a jetty port), to take a jetty to cross else bike for around 200Km to reach other side, at 11:15 types. the next Launch was at 12:30 so what else now cards, poor Aditya had to learn bridge bdding for half hour and then to his poor luck had to play one game also and go 2 down. We had parked our bikes just at the pont of boarding of ferry. By the time ferry arrived the water level had risen by 8" and if ferry hadn't come for some more time the bikes might have drowned :(. We boarded the ferry with Bikes. Interestingly they used lever principle there. lift bike from front and pust it inside and then rest it on the edge and the stand of bike and then pull the bike inside. After some 25 min of the ferry ride we reached the place called Dighi. The best part here was the drive almost along the sea & mountains. Amazingly smooth & clean roads and no traffic and also the sunlight was also OK not too hot for our good.
Somewhere BKG had read there is a light house nearby. So we went looking for Nanvel village & Light house. After some 5 Km uphill & downhill drive we reached the nanvel village. They had placed fish skins by the side of the road to dry so it was stinking very bad all the way. We walked down from one and had to climb up another to reach the Light house made in 1997. By the time we reached the light house we were short of breath and drenched in sweat. By now the sun was on top. Light house was pretty clean and well maintained. The place had a few government quarters with electricity supply, water supply and a communication dish. A proper setup of all the requirements. (Naval Guys are pretty neat in their works). We wentt on the top of the light house and the view & breeze were mind blowing. Almost like for 15-20 min we slept on whatever space available :). we got down and came to pick the bikes and start for Sree vardhan. The ride this time was difficult as my bike was making the standard noise and I was a bit scared as if it breaks down we wont be able to tow it further. (Looks like I am becoming more and more NABDU these days :(( ). Finally we found a Bajaj Service station at Sree Vardhan. He checked and tightened a few screws and it was Ok. Finally we had a late lunch or a early dinner. And had to catch the Launch to Bankot from Baagmandla. After getting down we headed for Harne or Aanjurli whichever provided us the opportunity.
We started for Harne. The road this time was worst. Not even a few meter stretch without pot hole. Small roads at night in the mountains all the worse conditions for driving (luckily we didnt had rain :P). Finally we somehow rached a Harne, they said there are two forts but locals told that we cannot go there at night so we left that place and headed for a nearby place called murud which had a beach after two rounds of the place finally we managed to somehow find a place for beach.
For Half an hour four engineers broke their head at the problem to put up a small tent and after lot of effort the IITian sense prevailed and lethargy took control. we decided lets spread the tent and sleep on it. As it is we were so tired that in notime all of us were asleep. I dont know but some time in night the water level rose and it almost touched us. then quickly we shifted a little higher place. In the morning around 7:30 I got up, BKG was already up, and for the first time I enjoyed the morning walk on beach. The clamness & soothing breeze cools down. Also I drive bike on the beach :).
Now we started for Dapoli, a big town nearby where we can get Breakfast and attend to other major issues :D. From here we headed for Dabhol where we will get a actual ferry to cross to Veldoor. From here we just went around the Dabhol Power plant :). Huge complex and still under construction. Then we went to the ultimate place Gopalgarh fort. The road to this place was interesting either 60deg sloping up or 60 deg sloping down. Located on hill all green and just rising on the sea. We went inside the fort which looked more of a mango plantation :). We went down the hill just at the last few rocks and enjoyed the clean sea water (i.e. free of soil, of course salt was there :P). A truly satisfying experience at the end of the trip. (Special Thanks to Bharat Garg for recommending the place :)). Sun was up and we were famished so quickly we dried and set off for final place Guhagarh. The hungry party was looking for fish but intially we could locate only the pure veg resturants, eventhough I would have loved to have food there. Finally we located the Lagoon, we had food and at 3:00 we set off for Mumbai for a wonderful ride on NH17. Inspite of heavy rains for most of teh stretch the road was good except for some patches which were real bad. BKG's bike semi broke twice and then I needed "good" quality speed petrol so we wasted another hour in Chiplun. Finally around 12: we reached Vashi (BTC) but the place was closed so some how we drove back to Powai and had Aalu parathas made by Bhaiyaji (the fourth member of Bridge quartret). I came back to my place and took bath with hot water and slept till 11:00 in the morning.
Tyson!
