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...!