Sorry Varun for the super delayed posting!!!
For a change I (Varun) am writing a blog.
This trip had a nice build up. TRI (my new company) trip supposed to be on 23rd getting cancelled and the guys still rearing to go came up with the idea of a bike trip.
Well, the idea caught on. What started with 2 bikes and 4 people; Saurabh and Anand being the riders and me (Varun) and Mohit the pillions; ended up with 6 bikes and 12 guys.
Fahad and Saad – HH Karizma 225 cc
Saurabh and Mohit – Bajaj Pular 150 cc
Subhash and Harish – Bajaj Platina 100 cc
Vimal and Vaibhav(birthday boy) – Bajaj Platina 100 cc
Vijay and Soumil – TVS Apache RTR 160cc
Anand and Varun – TVS Apache 150cc
We had planned to start at 6 from Mumbai so as to reach Kashid; which is 160 kms from Mumbai; by 10.
Most of us got up on time and things were looking good for us to leave Mumbai by 6:30.
Then one by one, things got delayed. Vimal seth calls up and says that his bike is with his friend at Powai and will have to go there and get it. Mohit and Vaibhav were waiting at Gandhi Nagar signal for Saurabh to turn up. After all were set to go, we had the worst moment of the day and the trip had’nt started yet.
Anand and I skidded near Ghatkopar bus depot with Andy suffering a number of injuries and bruises. I got away with few cuts on the fingers and a small bruise on the shoulder. Andy tore his jeans, got a bruised on the elbow, knee and knuckles. From here the next obvious question on our mind was that should we go ahead with the trip?
Well since I am writing this it was obvious we did not allow anything to pull us down. We went to a 24 hour medical shop got some anti-septic, gauze and tape. Patched up the wounds and got on the way.This turn of incidents delayed us by an hour and we all finally met up at Vashi.
After a few pics and explanation to others as to what had happened with us we were on our way.
The engines roared and all the six bikes set off. The morning ride was really pleasant with not much traffic and cool breeze. We took the Mumbai-Goa highway (NH 17) and reached Panvel via Palm Beach Road (easily the best road in Mumbai to drive with no potholes and well leveled surface).
Our first pit stop came at Panvel. Vada pav, poha, tea were on the menu. Once everyone was refreshed we were back on the road. Post Panvel we went through a string of small villages. We ran into a bit of traffic there which slowed us down a bit. After that came Karnala and the drive here was an absolute pleasure. Beautiful roads, awesome tarmac, trees on both sides, no irregularities on the road – just a breath taking drive for 10-12 km. The bikes breezed through this section. Pappu (Saurabh Palan) especially went berserk and was going at 100 kmph. This road is a must drive for any road trip enthusiast.
Then we reached the place called Revdanda from where we took a right towards Murud. The road from herein was just 2 lane and also patchy. The shock absorbers really took the brunt when we weaved our way through a number of villages with narrow cement roads and coconut trees all around. The pillions really started feeling the bumps on the road. The guys sitting at the back already had sore a@#es and had to go through this torture as well.
Well, after that we reached the stretch where we could see the sea. We knew that our destination was close now. The ride here too was great. Water on one side of the road and trees on the other. The view was simply great. We rode through Alibaug all the way to Kashid.
Kashid is a superb place. The ride was tiring and the numb backsides got a much deserved break. We parked our bikes and headed put to the white sands of Kashid’s beach.
Everyone got into the water except for Subhash; who did the babysitting for the bags. The place wasn’t as crowded and the majority of it were couples trying to get some privacy [:P].
Well we played in the water for a good one and a half hour and then headed out to lie on the hammocks next to the beach. The hammocks were extremely relaxing. After all the water sports (read kick boxing vimal) all were starving so we ordered some snacks from a beachside stall and enjoyed it on the hammocks.
But this just proved to be the appetizer, with all our stomachs still grumbling, we rode till Murud which was another 10kms from Kashid for a proper lunch.
After a sumptuous lunch which was served with the pace of a tortoise, we were ready to drop ourselves in the hammocks for another 40 winks, but with time not being on our side we decided to continue our journey back to Mumbai.
A few all charged up raced the other till kashid and enjoyed another , if not 40 definitely 20 winks on the hammocks. As soon as everyone reached, the early birds to Kashid were kicked and woken up, and we resumed our journey.
The daylight soon started receding, and everyone in a bid to reach quickly to their respective homes, got scattered. I stuck to Vimal as a wingman who was pretty un enthusiastic to get bag, majorly due to the continuous riding and a the lack of another beer. The return journey was not without its own events, of wrong turns, overshot corners, cooling down breaks etc.
We rendezvoused at Vashi to celebrate Deshpandes birthday with a nice chocolate cake. Deshpande was already in a foul mood because of (yes you guessed it) Vimal and hopefully our cake soothed his flared up senses.
Finally we headed back to our homes as the another fantastic trip neared its end.
