Being an overnight sold out event, all expectations were sky
high as I looked forward to the HVK Monsoon Drive @ KL.
My Cheetah bought last year around this time, did not permit
me both by skills and love for new car to attend the MD 15, which I regretted very badly
after seeing the pictures. In fact, I regret not being part of any MDs till
now.
This time being in the GODS OWN COUNTRY, though I have
driven in Kerala rains earlier in small cars, MD KL 2016 pumped up my love for
driving in rains once again.
Dead silence on the event page, must have intrigued not only
me but also many other participants. I could not hold and prompted for a reply
from the organizers. The first formal reply came up only 3 days before the
event, indicating a creation of WhatsApp broadcast group of the primary participants from
each registration. I had teamed up with Satish Bandi, with whom I share many
similarities (except the choice of the music) including passion for driving.
As the updates started pouring in that the base location
would be around Kochi, my plans were pretty clear to reach the base by the
scheduled time. Though a couple of participants planned for a convoy drive
right from Bangalore, I did not actively persuade as my starting time was still
tentative.
We started off on 8th July from office at Electronics City,
Bangalore after a few unscheduled meetings that delayed our start by almost 75
minutes. Drive on the highway was uneventful almost till Salem, except for a
few patchy showers that indicated the weather to follow.
While we were about to start off from Salem, came across
HVKian Darshan and Mrs Darshan who had just stopped by for refreshments. A
small Hello and an introduction meeting, we bid bye to each other looking
forward for a longer meeting during MD.
The weather held on till Coimbatore. It was around 1900 we
reached Coimbatore bypass, which had a Anjaneya tail queue (mostly of trucks)
to cross over. One gentleman on a sedan guided us to pass by to enter the queue
nearer to toll booth. The road widening work combined with rains and potholes
did not permit a zip drive all through the stretch till the border. The Walayar
- Wadakancherry route, recently converted into 4lane provided ample opportunity
to make up for the losses and future losses of time. The heaviest of the rains
was between Thrissur - Kochi where we had to negotiate almost on the central
lane tailgating the vehicle in front of us. There was hardly any visibility
even to drive at 50 KMPH.
By 10 PM, around, the message started pouring in on the base
location (HOTEL ELEGANCE) at 0900 hrs. tomorrow.
Usually, the night before such drive is so exciting, we don’t
feel sleepy. But this drive had drained good levels of energy which had to be
recouped through a well slept night.
9 Jul 2016
We were awake pretty early (courtesy: heavy rains at 0400 hrs.
for pretty long time), fresh and rejuvenated, to have time to get the car back in
shape for a nice drive and photo sessions through the drive. Reached base
station at 0905, to be baffled to see none of the organizers at the venue. Were
we the first to arrive? Did we arrive at the right location? ... many questions started pouring in. In a
few minutes, few more cars (Manoj Makadia, Darshan, Ramki, Mansoor Ali, Sujith,
Darshana.) came in. So were the messages on WhatsApp. Each of us received
messages at different point in time, though leading us to the next location (a
point after bridge across Periyar river, after driving through Angamaly).
Though a bit baffled (as to where were we led to / no presence of organizers /
no convoy drive), we started off to reach the next intermittent destination.
Once we shared the next location, we were directed to another location, 30 kms
ahead of us. The plans of the organizers
started unfolding as we took our first pit stop at a "chAi kaDa" at
Tattekad Bird Sanctuary. Sujith was already there, we stopped by and Ramki came
in a few minutes later.
The interesting part of the drive unfolded much more here.
We were in for some amazing route directions (HVK database updated just a
couple of days back !!). We received 2 of the 5 messages, where as Sujit and
Ramki had full info till the next point where the data connectivity would be
once again available. We decided to piggy back on them as there could be no
other split directions within the forest. The mountainous single lane route
took us through some of the unexplored forest sections of that area, sparse
traffic and splintered human occupation almost gave a feeling of deep forest
drive. The next 12 odd kms took us an hour to drive through. We came across the
slowest participant in the MD, but we could not accommodate him in our drive. A
tortoise, we left him back in his home habitat. A small water crossing where we
had some detailed photoshoot of water splashing as we crossed it, was even more
memorable than the drive till now. We came across small civilization here and
there, mostly of the farmers as we drove through the circuitous route to reach
Oonukal. The end of the directions, led us to the NH49 connecting Kochi -
Munnar.
The next treasure hunt instructions were to find a dining
place on the highway, zipping through the empty highway in a pleasant weather
was fun by itself. By now we had our own convoy of 3 cars, sharing the pilot
role in turns. At lunch (at Appisons) we met Joe Danzbiker who was on his KTM
enjoying his own version of MD KL 2016. Post lunch, at Adimaly, once again we
deviated from the main route, toward Idukki. The route was not as picturesque
as the one before, but offered good off-roading all through due to potholes
liberally spread through the route. We had a photo session break at
"Kallarkutty Dam" where we met Biju Jose and his team crossing our
route in exactly opposite direction!!
Though we were once again baffled, we had come to terms with
the TREASURE HUNT concept of this drive. The final instructions to reach the
Resort came in shortly. We reached "PRAKATT Resorts by around 1630, almost
as per the schedule defined by O-Team.
Once we refreshed ourselves in the newly built, 20-day old
resort, we had the rituals of Conference at the banquet hall. Elite members of
the group Kalim Ma, Biju Jose, Cee Cee Mathew shared their experience of
driving and photography, after the O-team spoke about the elaborate planning
that ensured a safe and timely arrival of the cars at the Resort. One of the
team also shared a video of the Toeing that was needed to pull out of the slush
on the route. Participants were too
tired to participate in Camp fire, and I believe poor turnout made the organizers
to call off the event.
Good rains overnight ensured a good monsoon convoy drive for
tomorrow.
Though till now I have narrated my version of the story, I
bet there are 40 more versions available as each one of them saw today's drive
in their own perspective as they had an exclusive route to reach the venue.
10 Jul 2016
The ritual of convoy drive was planned for 0900. By then we
were done with our breakfast and checkout. Courtesy our tiredness, all of us in
the room had a snoring competition, and I bet our roommate won it hands down.
We were in not competition with him.
We were part of batch 2 of the convoy led by Biju Jose in
his Linea. Driving once again through the circuitous route, drove through GAP
roads, crossing into MUNNAR- THENI highway to reach the destination point
" ANE IRANGAL". Words fall short to explain the virgin beauty of the
place. What a find by the O-Team which has spent almost a week doing reccee (reconnaissance)
to find such a location. Words do injustice to explain the beauty of the place.
Each one of us spread out to explore the place by walking around and there was
plenty of opportunity for photo sessions.
After a formal group photo session, from an elevated view point of the
location, Chief declared the MD KL 2016 formally closed exactly at 1300.
On way back to Kochi, we recapitulated the memories of the
drive which had made a deep root into our heart. It was a memorable drive
indeed. At the end, HVK and O-team extolled the virtues of a true adventurer in
each one of us to create these memories. He has not only made a traveler in
each one of us, but instilled a belief that we can negotiate any terrain as we
explore the world on our wheels.
Kudos to HVK and O-Team. They deserve a standing ovation.
Take a bow for HVK.
