Honk if you are an Idiot

Well, I have stuck is sticker which says "HONK IF YOU ARE AN IDIOT", at the back of my motor bike. There is an even better sticker which says "HONK IF YOU ARE CONSTIPATED". Until recent, none of the fellow motorists on Bengalooru traffic had noticed it. I was in a traffic signal when a hand touched my shoulder. I turned back, an aged person smilingly asked me from where did I get such sticker. After I answered, he appreciated it and said its good, and was about to get into deeper conversation in the middle of traffic :D. Finally somebody noticed it!

Ride to Bilikallu Betta near Kanakapura

As usual Harsha had chalked out a plan for a cycle ride on Sunday morning to Bilikallu Betta near Kanakapura. Bilikallu means white stone, and betta means hill. The plan was to meet at Family Mart junction at 6am on Kanakapura road, ride to the foot of the hill, trek to the top and back in 3-4 hours, and ride back to Bangalore by 5pm. There even is a motor able road to the top of the hill from Kanakapura. We were supposed to take Harohalli (on Kanakapura road)- Maralavadi - Devaralli route.

Harsha called up on Saturday night and told that he might not join as he had severe tooth pain. So I started on Sunday morning at 5.45 from home hoping to see at least two people at the Family Mart junction. Family Mart just 10 minutes by cycle from my home. Soon after I started riding on Ring Road, another cyclist in Trek 3700 went past me. I was wondering this might be one of the guys joining for the ride. Indeed he was, and introduced himself as Prasad. 3 more guys, Adarsh, Pkota and Satya also joined us at Family mart junction.

After exchanging hellos, we started towards Harohalli. We planned to ride non stop till Harohalli. But then, we couldn't resist to stop and look at the beautiful sunrise on the tank bund after Kaggalipura(?). Prasad took out his camera and shot many photos. Through out the ride, he was regretting not getting a better lens. Adarsh had got new Trek 4300 bike recently and this was the first long ride after getting the new bike. He was in full josh and was always in the front. We reached Harohalli by 7.45 and Pkota took us to the road side hotel where we munched delicious tatte idlis. It seems the hotel guy remembered Pkota's last visit and greeted him! After a visit to a cycle shop to fill in some air, and packing some chocolates, water and biscuit packs, we left for Maralavadi, which is about 10km from Harohalli. One needs to take right turn on Harohalli - Jigani road, just within Harohalli. This road offered perfect country side view with fields and trees along it. We stopped near a Mantapa along the road, to take few pictures.
We continued to ride appreciating the cool breeze. Most of the ride was downhill, and we all were expecting the journey back to be difficult under the hot sun. We reached Maralavadi at 9.45 or so and packed a kg of banana, few packets of Electrol. Pkota was complaining that this was not the same Electrol specified by WHO :D. Somebody added that we do not need Electrol, as it was given to those having lose motion! He had to be explained that since we dehydrate a lot during the pedaling and a trek after that, we would need it to avoid muscle cramps. After Maralavadi we took the road towards the Bilikallu betta. This too offered a nice view with small hills around it. We could see lot of birds chirping around, and regretted the fact that we couldn't name any of them except for Myna and Kingfisher. Again we stopped to appreciate the nice view around. Prasad shot some photos of the country road with a man grazing the buffaloes :D.

Soon the asphalted road ended, and we were at a small village where we were supposed to park our bikes and take to trek trail to the hill top. Some villager offered a shed thatched with coconut leaves. Lot of curious children gathered around us asking for a ride. We asked them not turn/touch the gear shifters and promised to give a ride once we were back from the trek. Some local boy even tailed us till the foothill until he realized that we would not offer any of the eatables to him. There were lot of locals in the fields who promptly pointed us towards the trail leading to the top. As we started climbing we felt the sun getting hotter. We took out the electrol packets and mixed with water and the appreciated the taste. The trail was nothing great, but we were happy to find one such near to Bengalooru. All along the trail we could see the Elephant dung(?). We were wondering how could the Elephants climb the hill! We also saw place where the Elephants might have stayed over night, where there were lot of footmarks. It was 12 by the time we reached the top. Pkota was ahead of all others and we found him taking a sound nap at the temple. We were expecting the hill top to be a deserted place. Instead, there were lot of people around the temple. There was some road repair and other works going on as the annual feast(jaatre) was just 15 days away. Luckily there was a water tank where we refilled the water bottles.

The hill top offered a nice view of a small valley towards Bannergatta. Again the camera was out and there were shots, while Adarsh was trying to take a nap, as he had planned to go to office directly after cycling! This guy had turned up for the ride directly from office without taking any rest and now he had planned to go to back to work! Crazy chap! We quickly finished the Banana and other snacks we had packed along. Rested for few minutes, and started back. While returning we found a couple, climbing the hill. Soon our imagination started flying, hehe.. :D. To add to that the guy mentioned that they did not plan to climb till the top. One of our boys wanted to reply that we already knew of it! Soon, we were back at the village and paid some money to the villager who had offered the shed for parking. We were back at Harohalli at 3.30 or so. Ride back to Harohalli was not that tough as we had thought earlier. Had Onion dosa for lunch at Vasu Hotel. Pkota took off soon after the lunch saying that he had to visit some relative. Adarsh too followed the suit. Rest of us started riding slowly sipping 2-3 tender coconuts along the highway. Harsha called up during one of the pit stop and told that he bought a new Trek 4300! Harsha and I have a secret deal, which still remains secret :D. Ride back was really slow and we were back in Bengalooru by 7pm.

Distances covered:
Harohalli is 37km from Bengalooru. From Family Mart it may be around 30km.
Bilikalli betta is around 12km from Harohalli.

Some pictures from Prasad's camera:














Sunrise.
















The roadside hotel at Harohalli where we munched delicious idlis :P
















Mantapa on Maralavadi road.
















Country road
















At the foothill.






















A tree
















View of the valley from hill top
















A local tried to explain to us that this rock exactly looked like elephant! Adarsh seemed to be whispering to the rock elephant.
















The huge rock at the top under which the temple is constructed.






















Me
















Prasad's photography.

Sunday morning cycle ride to Nandi Hills

This was pending for long. I and Sreeharsha were planning this for very long time. Some how the plan never worked. Now that Sreeharsha was away on trek on the Sunday (16-Dec), I decided to go solo. I had never done a solo long ride, except for some 50-60km rides, if you call them long rides! I did not tell anyone that I am going to Nandi hills. I did not wanted to end up with a faster rider, who would make me gasp for breath . I wanted to go at a pace comfortable to me.

Plan was to be at the foot hill at 8am, and reach the top within 10am.
I had planned to leave at 5am. I had kept an alarm to wake up at 4.35 AM, but somehow I woke up and 4 AM and waited for alarm to go off . I took two bottles of water, some chocolates, and tools like spanners and Allen keys. I usually used to wear a woolen cap, but this time I decided to sport my helmet . So I started exactly at 5 AM from my home (BSK 3rd stage). I decided to go via Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha, then Bellary road. I stopped on Hebbal flyover to check the time, it was 5.55 AM.

There are two ways to Nandi hills. One is, continue in NH7 till Devanalli, take diversion towards left to Nandi Durga road. Second one is, take diversion to Dodballapur just after Jakkur, from Dodballapur, there is a small road to Nandi. I decided to take Devanalli route.

As I cycled on NH7 towards Devanalli, I saw a Porsche(?!) zooming past me. Later I saw it parked near International Airport site and lot of curious people around it. I kept cycling, looking for a hotel to take a break. A motorist showed thumbs-up and zipped past me. When I stopped for first pit stop near Devanalli, it was 7.18am. I gulped 3 yummy bananas, bought few chikkis (ground nut cakes) and started again. Just after Devanalli, I took diversion to Nandi Durga road. A milestone read 22km to Nandi Betta.

As I moved on, I saw some small hills towards right which were covered in mist. I was yet to get a glimpse of Nandi. It was 8.15am when I reached Karalli junction. I ate 2 bisi bisi tatte Idlis. The hotel owner told, that yesterday too there was someone going to Nandi from Yalahanka. He couldn't recall his name though. He gave a word of caution to keep to the left. He added that, 'enne hakikondu gaadi odistare, husharu!', meaning people drink and drive . I could see that there many people zipping on their bikes. As I left the Karalli junction a milestone showed, 12km to Nandi hills. Now I could see the Nandi romancing with the clouds. It was completely covered in mist, only foothill was visible.

I reached to foothill, the point where the ascent begins, at 8.40am. Stopped to apply sun screen lotion, gulped one more banana. I wanted to climb the entire ascent not stopping at any cost. I relieved myself and started the ascent at 8.45am. As I kept climbing, I could see the Nandi still romancing with mist, but mist had started to clear. Now I was going against gravity, and to add to that, strong wind too started blowing against me . Thankfully the wind subsided after a kilometer of climb. I saw milestone saying 7km. Saw two more telling the altitude, 1138 or something and one more saying 1218. I don't recall exact value.

After 5km milestone, there was flat stretch, which was welcome break from continuous climb, though it was very short one. I remember Sreeharsha telling me that first 5km of the climb is easy and it was. Till now, I was using F2-R1 gear, now I had to shift to F1-R1. I saw 3km milestone, then 2km and 1km . I could feel my heart pumping hard when I climbed to last curve which leads to the fort entrance! I didn't stop there, continued till the next entrance where those two morons stopped me . I yelled at them and came back to rest at the bust stand.

I checked the time, it was 9.45 AM. So, I had taken 1 hour for continuous climb . I was happy! I don't know if its good or bad. I was wondering, what might be the best time taken for climb.

Sadly, I didn't carry camera . I was not interested in roaming around there as I had been to Nandi on motor bike 3-4 times earlier. Was lying on the grass for sometime. Some curious motorist came to me and asked,
"Boss, did you come by cycle?!".
I nodded.
"Hats off to you!".

I took sometime to call home and tell that I was on Nandi. I ate a cucumber and rested till 10.15 AM. Decided that it was time to go. Started descending. Boy, I liked the speed at which gravity was pulling me down. After 5 minutes, maneuvered a curve to see two more cyclists climbing. Said hello to them and continued. I didn't apply brakes after first 3km as there were not many curves. But some stupid guy in Innova, trying to overtake the slow bus from opposite side entirely blocked my way . Downhill ride was very fast and I was at to foothill at 10.30am. Continued towards Karalli junction, took diversion to Devanalli.

Journey back was slow, with sun making his presence felt. I stopped near Devanalli to sip a tender coconut. I love to sip tender coconuts on my cycling journeys. I tend to stop where ever I see tender coconuts . When stopped near Yalahanka to sip two more tender coconuts, it was 12.40. I felt that my bike was not going fast enough, no matter how much ever I tried . I continued at slow pace. After crossing Hebbal flyover, I got opportunity to do some off roading as well, as the road was dug for construction.

I decided to through Majestic as it was near. I was feeling damn hungry. I stopped to gulp one more banana. Did not stop anywhere else. When I reached home, it was 2.30. Luckily none of my body parts complained at the end. But my legs from knee to foot had turned dark :( . Had nice lunch went out for shopping in the evening, recalling the ride.

Start time was 5 AM and end time 2.30 PM. From my home, Nandi hills is around 72-73km. Total ride length may be around 140km. I guess Nandi hills altitude is 1479 meters. The foothill altitude is around 950-1000 meters.

I keep a Hero Thunder MTB. I used the same bike for 'Mountain to Sea' (Ooty to Kasargod) cycle tour.

A very satisfying ride.