My first long solo ride!

I just completed my first long solo ride! So, I decided, this would be
the perfect time for me to start blogging about bike rides. Though I
had started riding in 2008, I had never blogged about it. People
always asked me about it, and I just replied that I wasn't motivated
enough to. That, however, does not mean that the rides weren't

significant enough. The truth actually was that at the end of every
ride, I felt VERY exhilarated and penning down that exhilaration was
next to impossible for me. I'll try doing that now.

This ride, Bangalore to Jog Falls, had been planned long ago. The
initial plan was just to see Jog Falls. Then, I realized I would be
having a 3 day weekend (13th,14th and 15th August). Thus, I roped in
my good friend and fellow biker, Sarat. Both of us planned a 4 day
ride, covering Gokarna and Mangalore too. We then sold this plan to a
third friend, Akash, who was to ride pillion with us. Things were all
planned, I got my bike serviced, bought some stuff I needed and was
basically very excited to start off. 2 days before the ride, however,
Sarat dropped out due to a personal problem. That left me and Akash.
We decided to drop Mangalore from the itinerary, but I still had
second thoughts. I was never comfortable with a pillion, especially on
long rides. After grappling with the problem for a while, I decided
and told Akash that I would ride solo. He was understanding about it.
This decision, however, had mixed results. We drank on 12th night and
I slept early.

13th morning, I woke up late, at 6.20. I was still slightly foggy in
the mind since the effects of the beer had not yet worn off. I got ready quickly and started off. I had decided to implement Bulls on Parade's (BoP, a
Delhi based Bullet club) 100 km pit-stop strategy. I had bungee cords,
but since it was already 6.30, I kept off packing till the first stop
for breakfast. Finding my way out of Bangalore, I hit the NH-4. NH-4
is a six laned slab of Amul butter. I touched the 100 kms mark soon
enough, but rode on, since I was enjoying myself. A sign board
appeared, directing me left, towards Shimoga. From this turning, the
NH-206 starts. I rode for 15-20 kms, keeping a sharp lookout for any
good hotel. None appeared. I was regretting my decision of not
stopping for breakfast on NH-4 when some hotel appeared. I had
something called 'thatte' idli, which was just about average. I washed
it down with a glass of tea and took out my bungee cords to figure out
a way to pack. After 15 mins, I managed to tie down the bag. Happy
with the result, I started off again. I had only progressed 3-4
metres, when I noticed the bag slipping down slowly. I tied it down
again, differently this time, but the bag continued to slip off.
Having no option, I shouldered the bag for the rest of the ride.

The NH-206 is one of the best highways I have ever had the pleasure to
ride on. It is two-laned, for the most part, though it expands to 4
lanes for a few kilometers in between. The road curves like a gentle
snake through villages, green fields and forests. It is smooth too,
though you will come across bad stretches in between, ranging from a
few meters to 3-4 kilometers. The cloudy sky made the weather perfect
for riding. I came across great scenery, but I wasn't in a mood to
stop and take pictures. It drizzled slightly in between, so I stopped
to wear my raincoat but that's about it. Passing through Shimoga and
Sagara, I finally reached my destination, Jog Falls. The Karnataka
Tourism Ministry had made it a perfect tourist spot, with parking
facilities and restaurants nearby. I started looking for a hotel and
asked the guard there. A small boy materialized and offered to take me
to the Youth Hostel and other hotels in the vicinity. When we reached
the Youth Hostel, there was nobody there, so we went to another
lodging facility nearby. There, however, the owner steadfastly refused
to give a room to a single person. The boy told me that nobody in this
area gives rooms to single people. There was a village called Kargal,
5 kms away and it was the same situation there. Downcast, I decided to
see the waterfalls and then ride back to Sagara (30 kms away) for the
night. At the parking, a local guide came up to me. He scolded the
little boy and assured me that I would get a room in Kargal, if he
came with me. It was worth a try, so off we went. At Kargal, again, 2
lodging facilities refused to admit me. The third one, Hotel Sampath
Lodge, was dingy place to stay in. The owner initially refused too. I
was informed that single people have the tendency of committing
suicide and that is why, nobody gives rooms to them. The owner asked
me if I 'had any problem'. Meaning, if I planned to commit suicide. I
managed to keep a straight face and assured him that I was a happy
man, living a perfect life. He relented finally. The price of that
tiny room was Rs 700, but I bargained it down to Rs 400.

I freshened up, deposited my bag and went back to Jog Falls to see
what was there to see. Jog Falls are the highest waterfalls in India.
There are 3-4 different viewing points. The waterfalls actually
consist of 4 falls- Raja, Roarer, Rocket and Rani. The view is
magnificent and the setting serene. I took some pictures and sat on a
secluded bench to think what to do next. It was just 5 pm. It suddenly
hit me, that I was bored! Jog Falls were great to look at, but what
now? The plan was to ride to Gokarna the next day, but I almost knew
what would happen there. After visiting the beaches and the temple, I
would again be faced with the same problem- what to do the whole day.
Without anybody along, I had thoroughly enjoyed the ride. However, it
is at the destination that one feels the need for companionship. A
couple of friends along with a few beers would have made this more
enjoyable. I thought for a while before taking the decision- I would
skip Gokarna too. It felt ridiculous, shortening the ride again, but I
thought it was for the best. It started raining and a mist was
covering the falls, so I went back to the hotel. My room wasn't the
most interesting place to be in, so I again stepped out to look for an
internet cafe. At the cafe, the lady asked for my ID proof and
address. She ended up completely confused, when I cited the facts- I
am from Andhra, that is why I am speaking Telugu; my licence is from
Uttar Pradesh, which is where I reside; I am currently staying in
Bangalore; and for this night, I am staying in the hotel nearby. She
asked me to write the address of the hotel in the register, in case I
came up with the name of some other place.

By the time I finished, it was dinner time. I stepped into the only
hotel nearby. The dinner I had was one of the worse meals I have
tasted. I gobbled it down and turned in early. My phone battery was
dead and the only plug point in my room was two-pin point. The hotel
peon told me that the owner's room had a 3 pin point and I could use
it when the latter returned from the masjid. The blessed owner never
turned up. I woke up every hour to look for him, since I wasn't
comfortable with riding around with a dead phone. At 3, I slept off
for good. When I woke up, it was 6 am. The owner had finally returned
and provided me with a pink plug converter. Thanking him profusely for
his 'timely' help, I charged my phone for 10-15 mins, while I dressed
up and had tea. I was out on the road by 6.20 am.

As I crossed Jog, I came across a strange sight. On the edge of the
road, a gunny bag was walking. It looked eerie, yet funny, seeing a
gunny bag walking. I came closer and realized that a villager had
draped on the gunny bag to cover his upper body completely. There was
a light drizzle, so I guess it was to shield him from the rain. He had
just left a small hole near the head to see through. Strangest things
one comes across during rides!

The rest of the ride was uneventful. While coming to Jog, it took me 8
hours to cover 400 kms. I thought it was a bit on the slower side, so
I speeded up and took only 2 breaks this time. By the time I reached
Bangalore outskirts, it was 1.45 pm. Another 45 mins in the city
traffic and I was home, having successfully completed my longest ride
ever- 821 kms!

Ride stats
Length- 821 kms
Route- Bangalore-Shimoga-Sagara-Jog
Highways- NH-4 and NH-206

Tips for riders
1. Eat on NH-4, in Kamat Upachar, maybe. NH-206 is awesome, but it
loses out on good places to eat.
2. If you are very low on fuel, tank up in Sagara itself. From there
till Jog (and another 30 kms ahead), there is no petrol pump. You can
get petrol from a puncture shop in Kargal for Rs 80/liter. Along with
the cost, I think the fuel is of questionable quality too.
3. As it happened with me, it is hard to get a room if you are alone.
But, if you catch hold of one of the guides in Jog, it'll be easier
for you
4. Lastly, enjoy the ride! The last 60 kms to Jog are through forests
and it is truly a magical experience

I'll end this with a 2 liner I came up with while riding on the smooth
curves of NH-206
"I love curves
Of both roads and girls!"

So long!