| A couple of days before the ride, I recollect trying different antics, struggling to meet deadlines, pleading to get my off’s swapped. And voila, everything slipped into place, and I got my projects completed, my leave worked out, and my bike ready (somewhat). The plan was top follow the In-orbit – JVLR – Thane – NH3 – NH222 - Kalyan – Murbad – Malsej. At Malsej, we were to meet up with the legendary foot peg scrapin’, ghat riding, Roadshakers. The ride kicked off with a Royal assembly line of 55+ Inddiethumpers. This time, we created history, everyone reached before time, giving birth to a corollary to the IST (Inddiethumpers Standard Time). At Thane:   The sound of 55 bullets riding in a snake like formation was mind-blowing.  A pit stop at Murbad, and of course a little wait for our dear Puncture King, Monish “The Dark Knight” Bhansal, who struck a flat rear tire. Finally we set off, the ride was awe inspiring to say the least, until we came up to a large squarish milestone shaped structure, which read Nani Ghat, after which, the ride was simply orgasmic. On the way to Malsej, Enroute, we passed a couple of small towns, and a couple of villages, the expression on the country folks’ faces were that of bedazzlement, and awe. We had some nice showers from the cliffs above. Enroute I saw a notice that read “Do not stop, falling rocks”. The winding ghats continued, fog infested, waterfall abundant, and of course the fresh air, was like a hallucinogen. A little later I understood the hidden meaning of that sign-post. A small rock (too big to be called a stone) came tumbling down from one of the cliffs, and decided to plunk itself on my helmet . Such is the riding experience of NH222.  In a little while we were at Sushant resort, a tiny little resort, who had no idea what they had gotten themselves into when they promised Manish (RS) the place the previous weekend. 55 thumping machines rolled in, with headlights flashing, and the Inddiethumpers horn sync blaring. Here I saw a decent patch of sludge like muck, and couldn’t resist getting into it, a couple of fish tails, and I silenced the beast within, for now at least. We all parked, and settled in. The parking lot of Sushant resort, was looking like someone was hosting a mini-RM (rider mania). 64 bullets.. Need I say more?   The meeting/intro sessions were entertaining, to say the least! Got a chance to get acquainted with a couple of Roadshakers, and of course meet up with a longtime online friend, Prasad “Doc The lead foot” Bhangale. The alcohol, food, smokes, coupled with the jokes, the introductions, the conversations kept us all awake well into the night. After which all you could see was enfielders fallin, here, there, and everywhere, deep in an undisturbed slumber. Surprisingly the nap was pretty comfortable, given the fact that 5 to 7 of us were sharing a single bed. The morning kicked in, with sleepy enfielders ambling about the place, washing up, grabbin a bite to eat, many bites in some cases , and of course the oh, so important chai and suttas. After a hearty breakfast, a couple of us headed out to Shivneri fort, the birth place of Shivaji. The road was disappointing, fortunately our noble steed did what they have been doing since the 1800’s, road taming, they were seemingly gliding over the rough so called roads. Now our puncture champ, felt a little bored, so he decided to pop another flat tire, which was fortunately fixed at a nearby fuel bunker, even more fortunate was the fact that we had to tow the bike downhill. Back to Sushant, we met up with the entire sleepy gang. The Roadshakers accompanied us back down the ghats (remember the footscrapin ghat ridin part??) We stopped at a nice little cozy place, with a fog filled valley to one side, and a steep rocky cliff on the other, where we had a crazy photo session, filled with fog, bullets, bulleteers, and of course, waterfalls.   A stop at the waterfalls, before we headed back to our corporate lives, and civilization.   One crazy experience, one hell of a ride, which I hope to replicate over and over and over again. Pictures from the ride: http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/christopherkeve/Rides%20n%20Trips/Malsej%20-%20IT%20-%20RS%20-%2007-08072007/?start=all |  | |
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