Another memorable ride to Bhimashankar

For those who have not read earlier post, I will suggest reading this post first.

Day : 12 Feb. 2011
Bike : Thunderbird twinspark (me - alone :) )

Taken almost immediately after starting return journey

My home (near Kothrud Stand) to Bhimashankar(Pune => Chakan => Khed => Chaskaman => Wadi => Bhimashankar) : @120 Km.
Bhimashankar to home (Bhimashankar => Ghodegaon => Manchar => Chakan => Kothrud stand) : @ 120 Km.

First of all, I was very very frustrated on this day because nothing was going right in life. I eagerly wanted to meet Shambho and wanted his blessings. Fortunately I did not face much opposition to go alone, probably my family knows it very well about the bonding I share with GOD.

I started from home @ 6.25 am in the morning, it was almost dark around me. Good that I was wearing hand-gloves and a jacket, otherwise it was quite cold morning. There was almost no traffic on the road, I should say that the road was almost empty :). I did not click even a single photo while on way to Bhimashankar, but took some quick photos using my E63 on my way home.

Early morning road :), must be taken @ 9 am or so..

I could ride till Chakan or probably till Rajguru nagar with speed of 70 to 85 kmph. I think I even touched 95 kmph sometime. After Rajguru nagar the road goes through village and the condition of road is not so good. My speed varied from 45 kmph to 70 kmph depending on road conditions but again there was absolutely no one around me on the road.
I gave lift to a 4th std. school kid by name Gokul, the kid was very shy. He started crying when his father asked him to go with me, but afterwards he came with me happily.
I had another opportunity to give lift to one elderly person (age 85 years!), when I dropped him he asked me to come for tea. This is something particular I have noticed about village people, if you give little help to them they will offer you something. Really innocent people :).

I reached Bhimashankar @ 8.45 am (quite earlier than expected). This time probably first time I got opportunity to do Pooja directly on the Jyotrilinga pindi. I could feel the blessings of GOD and felt very happy for my efforts.

I started my journey back from Bhimashankar @ 10 am. While coming back also the roads were almost empty.

I tried clicking few photos while on the bike, which might encourage you to go for this ride :)

The road goes through jungle, tried to take snap of trees before entering jungle area

Riding all alone through this jungle area was really a very different experience

Through the tress - you are all alone on this beautiful rode :)

I would like to share/ note one feeling I had during this ride. "It is a myth than I am driving and it is also a myth that the bike belongs to me/ the bike moves because of me. The truth (what I felt) is GOD is making me feel that I am the doer and he is the one who is moving me and the bike. He - the almighty is the one who moves the world, I should be glad for the life / experiences which he has given me. I am nobody but probably a small part of dream which the almighty is seeing. His decisions are beyond my brain to understand but I should have a faith on him that whatever he does is done only for the good."
To put it in a simple quote "Believe in GOD the way a kid trusts his parents, do not doubt just have the faith"

I reached Pune @ 1.15 am. I wish I could have taken few more photos. Somehow that day I did not feel like taking out my S5IS and tripod but I am surely eager to go for another similar ride with camera and tripod!

Pune -> Ahmednagar -> Pune

Bike : Thunderbird Twinspark (Solo trip)

Distance : Round trip ~300km

Date : 23 and 24 Oct. 2010

Average driving speed : 55kmph to 70 kmph (Pune to Shirur)
75kmph to 95 kmph (Shirur to Ahmednagar).

Road condition : SH60 is Mostly good - 4 lane road, excellent condition after Shirur

Lessons learned (Got some tips from my riding Guru - Harshad Sharma):
1. Using TBTS's front disc break efficiently
2. Engine breaking - breaking using gear shift
Also learned few very good photography techniques from Harshad :)

I started from Pune (Kothrud) @ 2pm, it took quite time for me to cross city traffic and touch Nagar road (SH60). Nagar road is 4 lane road (and luckily also has road divider)

Till Shirur there is lot of industrial development, one does not get feel of highway. People driving from wrong side, villagers coming suddenly from fields is common on this highway. Once you cross Shirur/ Supe road condition is great. I touched 95kmph first time on this beautiful road.

I went for quick visit to Harshad's house in evening and next day went to his home again @ 9am. I got to see very beautiful photos of his Leh-Ladakh trip on his 32 inch Mac screen.

We went to a place called Candbibi's makbara. I learned good many photography related tricks from Harshad there. Aftewards I took delicious lunch at his home and then started my return journey to Pune.

Sharing few photographs here -

Inside of Chandbibi Mahal 1

Harshad Sharma

Chandbibi Mahal

Chhat of Chandbibi Mahal

Captured By Harshad using my S5IS

Pune - Kalamboli - Pune quick trip

Day : 15 Aug. 2010

Shrenik / Me / Shrenik's friend

Bikes : Thunderbird Twinspark (Me and Prajesh)
           Thunderbird Twinspark (Shrenik and his friend - forgot his name)
Distance : Round trip 264km
Average driving speed : 65kmph to 80 kmph (Pune to Kalamboli)
                                     55kmph to 70 kmph (Kalamboli to Pune) = in day time traffic increased.
Road condition : Mostly very good (I would say excellent)
Lessons learned :
1. Take break if you are tired... there is very less difference between driving of tired person and drunk person :)
2. Use indicator while overtaking

Note : quality of photos is poor - taken using my Nokia E63

I started from home very early - 4.45 am :), met Shrenik at Wakad chowk and started for Kalamboli @ 5.10 am (we both reached the spot earlier than decided 5.15 am).

This was my first experience of night (early morning) riding. As compared to my earlier ride experiences, NH4 is completely different experience. Thanks to Shrenik for teaching me few riding lessons.
From the start itself we were riding quite fast, mostly the vehicles around were heavy vehicles (and some very very heavy vehicles). In the early morning there was very less traffic and we could maintain speed of 70kmph + almost throughout ride.
We reached Lonawala @ 6.15 am - the view of Lonawala was very beautiful

Beautiful view from Lonawala 

Glimpse of NH4

On the way...

Road condition is mostly good - while going to Mumbai, ghat section is not much difficult to drive. We reached Kalamboli @ 8 am. There we met our friend Harshad Sharma (who went as a journalist with RE trip on NH17).

Harshad Sharma - aka Hiway

Another good thing was we got to see so many Royal Enfields in a row!! (and almost all varieties of them) -

Royal Enfields !!

Royal Enfields !!

Our return journey was equally good (except the traffic we experienced in Mumbai). In return journey the ghat section is little difficult to drive, the turns are sharp and you have to climb a lot. We took some photos near Lonawala.

Huge container

Monkeys

We reached home @ 2pm, that was a real quick trip :).