Rendezvous

Just went through Guru's blog about the ride that we did on the day of the choreo night at IIT-M Saarang '09. Check out his blog for more details about the ride. I'm way too lazy to write it. It won't be realistic too as it will miss all the vigour that would have been there had it been written then. I know all these are just mere reasons for my laziness, but guys I can't help it.

After my first crash fall enroute to Pondy, it always used to haunt me whenever Guru proposed a plan to Pondy. I even hate travelling through ECR. But I felt that it was time to slay the demons and finally, I decided to ride out my fears off at night!!! How bizzare can it get?? I managed to do it comfortably. ( My Dad just came by me and thank goodness that he didn't see what I was writing about. My parents are unaware about this ride :P ). I was so very eager that I, at one point of time, started to push Guru to do the ride irrespective of the condition ( He proposed to get back home if it was too unsafe ) and managed to convince him I guess.

The chill weather was amazing initially and then got worse as time went by. I was just wearing the T-shirt and didn't carry my woollen jacket which I carried on my last ride to Yelagiri. At one point of time, the going got so very tough as my intestines started to shiver ( Believe me or not. I experienced it ). Here are a few things that I won't forget :

• There was a turn along the ECR which I was taking at some 50-60 kmph when I saw a bus coming towards me at a faster speed with its headlight turned off!!! What was the driver A55h0le thinking?? My handlebars just missed the bus.
• The experience at the beach at 12.00 a.m. I've never been at the beach at that time of the night. The breeze and the sound was amazing.
• The ride through the dark road between Pondy and Thindivanam. It was some 40+ km stretch and it was a experience of a lifetime and I don't think I'll ever travel through such a road at 2 in the morning.
• The way I rode through NH45. I was happy with my sense of riding on a highway. I've come a long way and felt comfortable using my high beam-low beam combo along with my rear view mirror and indicators to good effect. This is the first time ever that I felt Guru finding it tough to keep up with me and finding it tough to cope up with the condition when I was just cruising through. He had genuine reasons though.
• Riding though thick mist was also special. I experienced it even during the Yelagiri trip, but then this was way too thick and way too dark. I wasn't able to see a vehicle that was some 10 metres from me.
• The last 50km to Chennai was my toughest ride till date. Even the dark stretch that I did during this time was ok. In the sense, I was way too sleepy. I wasn't tired though. I couldn't shut my visor as the visibility was poor. But when I opened it and when accidently some dust went into my eye, I used to find it tough to even open my eye after shutting it!!! I have no clue how I managed to ride till Guru's place.
• How can I not compliment my bike. The filter needs to be cleaned and it choked when we stopped for a long duration and started again. But once it started flowing, there was no stopping my blue coloured beauty. I'm completely in love with it.

The bikes again were my Pulsar 220 and Guru's Unicorn. For other technical details about the dsitance and stuff, check out Guru's blog and we seem to be getting along well as fellow travellers :P !!! This ride would be right up there in the list of the most bizzare things that I've done in my life. One small mistake would have cost me so much right from respect that my parents have for me to the most obvious, money!!!

Posted by Venkat at 11:03 PM |  

Labels: Bajaj Pulsar 220, IIT Saarang, Night ride, Pondichery, Pondy ride, Saarang '09, Unicorn