My First Long Ride

lazy bug within me has finally went to sleep today...i am feeling nice....woke up at 5:00 and exercised a bit...had to burn out the calories i ate and drank yesterday....its 7:00 AM and i have now decided to start my long pending story to tirupati.

My dear buddy vikas was to move to pune on 28th July'2007. He and his wife had planned to visit tirupati and then proceed to pune. As i was filled with the riding instinct and desire to complete my run-in period, i decided to join them on my "dosti". We had booked to the erly morning darshan in tirupati, so it would be a night ride for me. I was a still uncomfortable, but just decided to go by the spirits....my first long ride, alone, and that too at night...awesome!!!

Even though my jaanu was just 1 month old, I visited the RE service center to make sure that everything is good..Bought a pair of gloves...and a rope to tie my luggage. I started at 9:00 pm 27th july. Got the air checked up at Shell petrol pump i porur. Myself and vikas decided to follow the poonamalli, tiruvallu,tirutattani route to reach tirupati.

The ride started off quite well with being able to get off the city limits in 30 mins. ( given that i was in run-in period). Took a right towards tiruvallur from poonamalli. The ride was getting better and better. This route has very less traffic which made the ride even more pleasant. After Tiruvallur, i lost the cut towards tiruttani. Finally found that i was in wrong direction and got into the right way after riding 20 kms extra :-). As i was riding towards tiruttani, i could feel the air getting colder...there were thunders far away in the sky....I felt as if myself and the clouds were in for a battle soon. I dint care and just wanted to enjoy the moon lit roads as of now with trees on both the side grown into a form of arch. I felt like a king.

Finally it happened which i was not prepared for...Rains...! Started with a slight drizzle, which didnot stop me from riding. As i continued further...it turned into a downpour. I was still close to 8 kms from tirupati. With no rain gear and and a time line to meet i continued....rain bothered me...but i was determined to prove that no one can stop me....! My baby doll gave excellent support to me and reached tirupati at 2:00 AM after riding in a storm like rain....I was still not convinced that i rode in rain for 3 hours continuously. No wonder i was shivering and wanted some rest.

Vikas was waiting for me outside the hotel and we dint have much time....we hunted a while for a decent hotel so that i could change. But none were worth. I was shivering with every micron my my body drenched. As we did not have much time, we continued towards tirumala. I parked my bike and got along with vikas in car as they did not allow bikes to go up at 3:00 AM in the morning.

I would blame my dear friend for make me expose publicly and change to a dry clothing. Wore a short and a tee...! We were not allowed inside the temple as i was wearing shorts....what the F***? I had to buy a lungi to get inside. Rolled the lungi half up exposing my hairy thighs....then it was fine for those security guards...i dont understand it..... This is utter crap...!

Anyways, we finished darshan and came down. Vikas wanted to start for pune immediately via hyderabad...! I bid him a good bye...End of lovely six years we spent together....I would be missing him...!

I freshened myself in the common loos and started back to chennai at 10 AM. Now i was following the route of sri kalahasti, renigunta, tada...! It was a nice and different ride compared to one i rode last night...Sun was playing hide and seek and roads were empty. Due to some strike in Andhra, no shops were open. I was stopped by the protesters couple of time but later on let go because i was from tamil nadu.

I reached chennai at 2:PM...got stuck in a traffic jam in outskirts...finally back to the city chaos. I started missing those empty roads which made me feel that they were laid only for me. Reached home after having a sumptuous punjabi lunch. I kissed my bike and promised her many more such rides in future....

(I have been keeping my promise...More on the other rides later...gotta get ready for office...)

Phir Milenge...!

Life of my odometer

I have realized a dream... now i want to live it.

My dosti is a black machismo with lots and lots of chrome.... :-). I am going to put down the date, time and surroundings as i reach thousandth kilometre

999 kms - (22-Jul-07) - ECR... East Coast Road...On my way for a long ride.
2000 kms - (10-Aug-07) - Kathirpada Junction - On my way to office. Getting late for a meeting because of a lot of traffic
3000 kms - (25-Aug-07) - Got the second service done. On my way to Anna Nagar to drop sampath. He is leaving to US next week. Tomm is Madras Day ride. I thought that i would be touching this mark tomm during that ride...but fate had something else in store for me :-)
4000 kms - (02-sep-07) - On my way back from bangalore. Riding after taking a shelter from rain few mins back. Very close to the place where rajiv gandhi was assassinated....planning to visit that place now (photographs available in picasa gallery).
5000 kms - (19-sep-07) - Monday....On my way to office. Nearing airport right now. Did a trip to yelagiri with madras bulls the day before.
6000 Kms -(31-sep-07) - On the way to Talakaveri from Madikeri (coorg). A little bumpy here and there. Riding in such a picturesque surrounding is really a pleasure. Yes..! I did a ride from chennai to coorg in a single day... RTMC, Blore's 6th anniversary..I dont know how heaven looks....but for now this is heaven for me. :-)....need a separate blog to word my experience.
7000 Kms - (8-Oct-07) - Got it serviced yesterday. Shining crystal clean today. Starting for office. A busy week ahead.
8000 Kms - (18-Oct-07) - Coming back from banglore after meeting Anu bhabhi..! Outside Ramachandra medical college. This day last year, i lost my dear brother because of unavailability of medical care at right time.
9000 Kms - (11-Nov-07) - In Yercaud on a week end trip. On the way to the cave temple. Cannot forget this trip ever in my life. Full of break downs...!

10000 Kms - (dun rem date) - On the way to office...its drizzling

11000 Kms (Jan-08) Would remember this always. Bike in trichy, not in my control. It costed me...well 3 months

12000 Kms (20-Jul-08) Started riding after a long long time. Coming back from ahemm ahem....a dance class. Started going yesterday only

13000 Kms (14-Aug-08) On my way to trichy. Currently on NH45 riding with Ajith, Dosai and Bra.

14000 Kms (16-Aug-08) On my way back from rameshwaram. Wonderful ride. Right now outside Arvind Eye Hospital in Pondicherry.
15000 Kms (18-Sep-08) Shited to the new house on beasat nagar on 1 sep. On my way to office, currently in thiruvanmiyur.
16000 Kms (05-oct-08) coming back from yercaud. Had one heck of pardy..would always remember the words drinks and fall. Right now 20 kms before vellore. Got tanked up few minutes back.

17000 Kms (9-Nov-08) Coming back from vellore after the newbie ride to amriti forest.Supposed to be my last ride as a bachelor. Right now 20 kms from kanchipuram. Amazing sight of sunset. Would always cherish the memories of this ride.








18000 Kms (10-Jan-2009) - Happy New year.!! Passing through alwarpet to reach home. Wife Waiting (yes am married now..!). Spent full day in pudupet to get the seat plate framed. Lets see how the new seat turns out.

19000 Kms (23-Jan-2009) - On the way to Ooty for Rider mania 2009. 25 kms away from satyamangalam. Rode till Connoor. RM was FUN

20000 Kms (04-Feb-2009) - One Milestone in the journey. Near home and on my way to office. Life has been good.

21000 Kms (26-Feb-2009) - On the way to office. Had a ride to pondy with wifey over the last weekend..it was a nice ride.

22000 Kms (Dun Remember) - Dun Remember

23000 Kms (16-Apr-2009) - Got dropped at the airport. Flying to delhi to attend mohna's wedding. would be meeting wifey after 4 weeks. Bike is with mr. srinivasan for a thorough cleaning.

24000 Kms (15-May-2009) - Coming back from office. It's raining in chennai. Got little wet. It was raining till perungudi and was dry as thar after that.

25000 Kms(22-Jun-2009) - On my way to office. Had a chain set replacement recently done. Old one lasted only 4-5 thousand kms.