Startup
On line travel blogs really helps to know many noteworthy points about a place. From one of such blogs I came to know that other than via Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri, we can go via Raykottai and Pannagram cutting off distance to 150 kms. Stimulus can do miracles and here it give way to a wonderful and thrilling bike trip.
To Raykottai
We didn’t expect such a nice and recently tarred road. Sceneries on either side made the ride from Hosur more exciting. Nilby’s official calls on the way and Lijith’s concern about mileage separated discover from normal flow of our bikes’ formation at 70 – 80 kms per hour. As the third rider, I slowed down later to pick discover and proceed further as two pairs. Sunset caused opposite headlights drill down into our eyes. Slight shower followed by heavy rain gave us tea break before Raykottai.
Dinner halt and further ride.
Most of us wanted to go to ATM. Next SBI ATM that we saw on the way at Palacode didn’t save its purpose. SBI have many ATMs but a very few give what you expect. Vegetarian hotel with only Puri and Dosai served our dinner at 8.30 pm. Before starting from Palacode, I noticed the cracked wiser of my bike’s head light. This worried me a little bit due to the thought of spending a couple of thousands on the way. After 5 minutes, resuming the trip, this worry turned out to be a shock suddenly, as my bike’s head light busted with a sound, to feel mighty darkness.
Now I am the fourth rider, and I should follow Nirmal, the third bike at inches separation without any fail to avoid a complete black out or isolation. It was the time for a real co – ordination. Nirmal give way for me as third biker, tuning himself to fourth. Lijith was in front governing the speed to be at 50 – 60 kms/ hr, followed by Vipin. Long 40 – 50 kms of ride further as a uniformly packed four wheels of a vehicle, was a little bit boring but at the same time nice to watch at. My pulsar was not at all feeling that it doesn’t have a head light.
Hogenekkal at Night
Masala talks and comments along with wine is off course a good refreshment. If it is after a long bike ride and call for wake up at early 6 in the morning, how it will be? We enjoyed a great time on the terrace from 11 pm to 2 am evaluating great theories of life, before mugging into deep sleep which was allowed only for 4 hours.
Hoganakkal Falls
Shocking news of “boat men on strike” welcomed us in the morning. I don’t know the reason for strike but I knew that we were not going to board on any coracles. Some boat men gave some hope, bargaining at Rs 350/- per head for taking us for a ride. Off course that was a big budget for us after checking our own wallets. Since we were not able to draw money from any ATM on the way, we altogether had a “huge” sum of around Rs. 3000/- for everything including breakfast, lunch or snacks. We calculated, split the budget and decided to bargain and fix the price maximum upto Rs 250/- per head before boat men. But after breakfast, they told that strike was very serious and they won’t be able to help us. Thus core part which motivated Hoganakkal trip melted away.
Most important quality of a traveler should be the readiness and ability to adapt to any given situation. This evolved theory turned out as a solution for us at around 8 am. We started walking towards the falls and found that water flowing in the river is much lesser than what I saw a few years back. We proceed further to see a big mountain in the background of river and nearby trees and bushes which made the scenery much beautiful. After some debates regarding the cleanliness of water, we jumped into it feeling the warmth of natural flowing water. River was not so deep, but strength of flow didn’t allow us to swim or walk in the opposite direction. Some of us crossed the river by walking through it and enjoyed the sandy shore on the other side.
Return Journey
After seeing India – Aussies cricket match for some time, we packed and started our journey back at 11.30 am. Instead of opting for the nice road we came, the information of “just 120 kms from Hoganakkal to Bangalore” from hotel guy gave us the challenge of exploring the unknown path. It was Hoganakkal - Natarpalayam – Anchetty – Dahanikottai – Attibelle - Bangalore. We were also eager to see a shooting spot where malayalam film “Naran” with Mohanlal was shot.
Initial 6 kms were miserable with no tarred road, full of gutters and uneven stones paved, we even thought about going back to Hoganakkal. After that things changed a little bit. For another 5 – 6 kms road was very fine, then again bad road for another 15 kms till Natarpalayam. There was not petrol bunks or hotels on the way. Everybody were feeling hungry, and we comforted ourselves with tea, water, bun and biscuits.
Everybody were desperate for a break and some tea. No hotels were found there to have a proper lunch. Hosur was just 25 kms away and we decided to post pone the lunch till 2 pm. We were confident to reach Hosur at least by 2 pm with 80 km/hr avg speed. I got the chance to go in front and I don’t know why Nilby jumped on my bike to come with me. I had a label of rash driving and I thought this will be the right time to perform. Speedometer jumped to 90 as we started. Slight shower didn’t help to reduce the speed. Speedometer was ticking between 90 – 110 km/hr all the way for next 20 kms till we saw a diversion. One was to Attibelle and another to Hosur. We decided to take a halt, till others arrive. Nirmal’s TVS victor appeared first, then Discover and Splendor.
Unexpected accident
We opted to go to Attibelle for a shorter drive. Lijith started first, followed by Vipin. Myself started with a small delay as third biker and Nirmal as fourth. I picked up speed to see the bikes in front. When I checked the rear view mirror after some time, I was surprised to not see any trace of Nirmal’s Victor. I saw the other bikes soon and we proceed further. Suddenly Ejaz on Lijith’s Discover got a call and everybody stopped. Shocking news of TVS Victor’s accident was to follow. We hurried back, and fortunately accident’s impact was not so severe. We proceed to Attibelle for a hospital to dress Nirmal’s and Arun sarath’s wounds. We reached back at our Madiwala home at 4 pm.