From
|
To
|
Route
|
Start
|
End
|
Distance
| |
18 Aug (Sat):
|
Bangalore
|
Thane
|
Bangalore- Belgaum – Pune – Mumbai- Thane
|
5 AM
|
00 AM
|
1063 Kms
|
The day started for us at 5 AM. With Pandu arriving at our house instead of at Avinash, prompted me to start the day with a phone call to Avinash. 3 – 4 follow up calls with DJ was another series of calls to begin the day. Extended surprise from DJ finally was unleashed with 5 luggages of various sizes. Packed a few in the reserved space for his luggage, and accommodated the rest in Scorpio.
Avinash came over here for a TRIP METER RESET and a flag off from our family members. Bandi to joined with his family brigade. As most of his luggage was packed up yesterday, he was expected to walk in almost barehanded. But the story was otherwise. Last minute cooked home food for our butti was in his hands.
 |
| Pandu, Avinash, Badari, Dheeraj , Bandi . Shilpa will join us in Srinagar. |
Bangalore was still in its slumber when we escaped the Nayandahalli junction. The drive outside the town was less eventful. We bade goodbye to Bangalore. National highway and our car would be our home for next 20 odd days. The weather was pretty overcast and driving through the fresh countryside air was pretty refreshing. We met Bandi’s cousin in Belgaum during our lunch break from the food that we had carried. Crossing over to Maharashtra was a free affair. Stopped to fill the tanks as we had covered more than 530 kms. The first lesson of the trip was learnt when we were shaved Rs 15 per cup of tea which was not even worth a dime. So made up our mind to keep the menu card check before we order anything on these highways. We concluded it was an one off case of “mukha nODi mane hAkiddaru”. We were supposed to catch up with HVK by around 9 pm for dinner, however, it was around 10.30 when we could meet him in Thane. The meeting went on well with we clarifying further doubts on the route and road conditions. On our question for challenges ahead of us for crossing Rohthang Pass, he said you PUSH IT. This was the mantra for us all through the trip.
After customary greetings, joined him for dinner and it was 12.30 when we were done. After bidding him bye, we were on our way towards Surat / Ahmadabad Even though we were fully enthusiastic to drive through, torrential rains that was very persistent. We had to pull over into a petrol bunk for filling once again. Also decided to take a quick nap break until the rain recedes. It was around 5.30 we realized that we had taken a longer break than what we planned. To our novice experience, we had kept the car blower ON whole night and it had drained the battery. As a result, we had to push and ignite the car. Drove into a motel on the way to freshen up and continue the drive for the day.
 |
| Dinner with HVK |
 |
| With the famed HVK (GURU) |
 |
| Dinner with HVK |
 |
| Dinner with HVK |
No comments:
Post a Comment