It was quite sometime since I went out on a long drive and every time I looked at my Avy, it was as if it was begging me to take her out in the open.....I too was itching for an uninterrupted drive devoid of those traffic snarls and the honking and also for a short adventure trip.
Then came this thought..Why shouldn't I travel to Mysore out. Yes it was just Mysore and nothing else. Not supposed to be quite exciting, but then there was this opportunity to throttle out free. There was a marriage party at Gudalur and I was supposed to join my parents at Majestic railway station early in the morning so as to board the Mysore express coming from Chennai. I was already riddling myself on as to how to reach over there @ 4 AM. Then, the previous day, I solved it. I was going to drive across and park my bike at my colleague's place and then join my parents and bro at the railway station.
So, next day, I took out my backpack, stuffed in some clothes and then was off @ 4:30. I was confused on as to whether I should take the Nice Road or should I go to Kengeri via the usual road, the reason being that Nice Road will be deserted at such early hours..but then I braved myself and ventured on. Nice Road came up in a very short time and when I cruised my Avy to 80+, the helmet started to wiggle up and down and was gyrating too much. I tried adjusting, but then it wasn't of much use. I kept to 90 and at times reached 110 over short stretches careful to ensure I was under control. The backpack too, was shifting onto the left side, blocking my rear view mirror. I accelerated on, although skeptical with a little degree of uncomfortness but the smoothness of my bike and my willingness for the early morning air nudged me on.
Upon reaching Kengeri, I adjusted the gear once again and the other view mirror. It was better, but something was still not right and I couldn't find out what was wrong. I wasn't comfy and the ride seemed rusty. The visibility was getting better bit by bit and in a few minutes, I wouldn't need to pull back my visor. After about 3o kms, I stopped. Enough is enough. Either ride comfortably or dont ride. This drive seemed as good as driving @ 10 aM in bangalore city through the traffic. "This is not what you wanted sid..." - I told myself. I checked what was wrong. Helmet - Yeah - the Visor cover had given way in the wind and was wobbling, the knob had come off - I adjusted it and It was OK. Next thing - My Mirror - took out my tool kit - tightened it and there it was - perfect view...! Next was my backpack which was slipping towards the left side - The weight of the bag was not an issue...The straps were. I adjusted them out first left them loose. It was good for some distance but then the straps came off my shoulder..!lol - It was just too loose..I couldn't feel the weight at all,as it was completely resting on the rear seat, but then - It was getting out of my shoulder in the wind. It finally dawned on me what was wrong! I just had to tighten the straps!!!!!...! phew - it worked. And off I was..finally. I slowly unleashed her and she was responding as if a cheetah was left free after a week in the cage. 90...100...110...120 and then 125...! never could go beyond that..! something or the other crept up....But I was happy that I had worked her out. A chai at Mandya ..after filling up fuel and was cleaning my helmet visor as the morning insects had rammed and died...!and my mom called up saying she had reached Maddur. ! Sh.... - didnt tell her I was biking - she would start cribbing..! But I knew I had to catch up or they would overtake me.!
I revved up again...Soon I reached Mysore.
The trip to bandipur was exciting. Two other people who accompanied us, apart from my family were my uncle's friends..! One face seemed deeply familiar - I realized it was none other than my professor at college - Dr. T. Murugavel. I picked up conversation and then I found that he became involved with my uncle through Wildlife activities. Throughout the trip we were engaged in deep conversations and great man he is, went sharing with us his activities on saving the endangered Olive Ridleys at the beaches in chennai and the save black buck campaign..! He also shared with us his findings on why the house sparrows are becoming endangered in chennai.
As we entered Bandipur, the terrain changed. We entered into the forest, but the forest was surprisingly devoid of the greenery it normally present itself with. The last time when I had driven to Wayanad, the greenery was enchanting. I was puzzled at this greyish picture Bandipur had painted itself with. As we trudged along, the temperature was getting warmer...! Even more puzzling. I was trying to come terms with what I was coming across with this strangeness when we suddenly stopped. They had spotted an elephant. And in the distance she was..! A lone female....sucking in and throwing mud on her back and lazing herself near a waterhole.! It was quite a distance and with the 75-300mm we couldnt zoom in to her quite enough! We ventured bit nearer and then came her calf...running to her in mock fury cos she seemed to have left her..! and then closely following the calf was another big female..! We spent some time taking pictures and then drove on..!
The Gray Langur monkeys are common in these parts and It wasnt difficult to come across them. ! There were lots..unaffected by the traffic and the sound of the horns that the traffic creates..! They seemed to have pretty well adjusted to this and find solace closer to the roads..! They posed very nicely for the photographs.
We reached our homestay near Gudalur. It was a cosy little place tucked up on a little raised construction by the roadside good enough to grant us with a nice mountain view of the nilgris. We had to hit the road soon again and we were back at the camp lodge for the evening activities.!
