SOLO RIDE TO CHATEAU INDAGE, SHIRDI, KOPERGAON, AHMEDNAGAR, PUNE
Have posted links in Comments for easy copy paste.
https://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/nanduchitnis/album?.dir=/6ab8&urlhint=actn, ren%3as, 1%3af, 0
Chateau Indage is a quaint little wine-drinking cottage cum restaurant owned by Chowgule Vineyards. It is located on the Pune Nasik Highway at Narayangaon, some 75 kms from Pune.
Come Sunday, 12 Feb, Biswa, Debu, Medini my wife and self (all BikeNomads) were all set to ride out. Medini cried off coz of health issues, Biswa was called into Office for urgent work and Debu cried off as had to attend to his daughter.
Loaded and ready to fly, I contemplated a nice chill Sunday at the club. But I found myself riding out solo at 0730 hrs .
The distance to Narayangaon was just 75 kms and I arrived at Chateau Indage at approx. 1030 hrs.
The cottage is so beautiful, with the backdrop of the vineyards, I fell in luv with this restau. Smart staff, cool interiors. Great service. I quite enjoyed sipping a glass of champagne sparkling wine. Costs Rs 80/-. The pics tell the story of Chateau Indage. Some 100 wines to select from. Should you be keen to tour the Vineyard, you need to call up their Mumbai Office. They also sell some awesome strawberries.
What next? I could see that Shirdi was pretty close by, so I rode out there (No pics). Shirdi is now so commercial, with Water Parks, disco joints and liquor joints, resorts and what not. Commercial hoardings line up the highway.
I parked my bike, pushed the touts aside, stood outside the Shrine, closed my eyes, paid homage to the great saint. No way, Sai, you are in my heart. I need not come here ever again. I love you for the simplicity of your lifestyle and the simple sermons that you gave to the people under the Banyan Tree for decades while you lived.
This was not the Shirdi I visited when my mom took me there 1960. Believe me I have razor sharp memories.
Sai Baba has made many local Shirdi folks rich and happy.
Next I found a place, Kopergaon some 22 kms away where I linked up with a school cum classmate. We met some 25 years ago. He and his wife were shocked to see me in my riding gear and Avenger Bike!
I hit Srirampur to meet my long lost cousin brother, Dr Pradip Raje. Stayed the night at his place and rode out to Ahmednagarand then on to Pune. He has a great dog.
The roads were excellent to ride throughout this round trip. There are some pics of awesome Banyan trees near Yewle on way to Nagar fm Srirampur.
AHMEDNAGAR : THE HOME OF THE ARMOURED CORPS
Nagar is famous for the Armored Corps Regimental Center. They have set up a Tank Museum out there which is mind blowing. On an earlier visit I had taken pictures, which you need to see. This place is open to the general public.
https://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/nanduchitnis/album?.dir=75e5&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/nanduchitnis/my_photos
Few hrs later I rode out to Pune. Round trip some 445 kms.
All in all a nice easy ride.
I ride out tomorrow 04 March, with a group of 5 Mumbai riders to Harihareshwar. Anur W, I luved ur review and decided to do this ride.
Watch out for my nxt review on Harihareshwar and my photo album.