Goa Ride 2006 - 2000kms

This was one of the most extreme rides I had! A ride from Trivandrum to Goa and back in 5 days covering 2000 km. Sounds thrilling, doesn’t it?

I joined other riders Jay – Royal Enfield 500 cc , Anil - Royal Enfield –Machismo 350 cc and me Varghese – Karizma

My friend, Sojish accompanied us to Ernakulam in his car. I was the lead who will lead the frontand Jay will be the sweep (tail-end). Group rides require some discipline and make sure we dont lose riders in the traffic and we have done extensive long distance riding together. We would interchange the lead and the sweep so that all get less stressed out.

Day 1: We planned to cover Trivandrum to Kannur

Trivandrum – Ernakulam – Kozhikode – Mahe – Kannur [506 km]

Riding with gloves, boots, helmets, rain jackets, cramster luggage and lots of thumping power from the RE Bullets. We started off at around 5.00 am in the morning. We were going about 80-90 km/hr on the bulls with practically no traffic early morning. I noticed that my Karizma seemed to have some kind of oil leak and decided to get a checkup done at the Cochin showroom.

We reached Ernakulam at 9.30 am. Chapattis and chicken curry. Philip, my friend, joined us on his CBZ. I left to get a check up for his Karizma oil leak. All three Bulleters and Philip on his CBZ proceeded from Ernakulam towards Guruvayoor. They stopped at a petrol pump where the attendant pointed out that Jay’s 500 cc bike’s modified exhaust was disconnected from the sub frame due to a break in the welding joint. We found a welder who skillfully fixed it.

My bike had an oil seal that was incorrectly placed and causing the leak, I got it fixe and joined the others on the Thrissur route. Bidding Anjath bye, we proceeded towards Kannur. The highway stretch had great roads – only chicken will not go over 100km /hr on a Bullet! We were all going in a single line formation in narrow roads and with a staggered formation in wider roads.

We maintained a second distance between the bikes in front of us. I must say we maintained good integrity and discipline during the tempting highway except for the speed. The highway cops could only have a glance at us as we passed by them in a flash! I think we were lucky that they didn’t have their speed radars with them.

We reached Thalassery at about 9.30 pm. Hotel Paris Presidency was more than we expected. John, on a Bullet Electra, joined us. He is Philips’ brother. After a full course dinner we strolled towards our bikes where we noticed that Jay’s 500cc bike had great thumping power that it shed the screws on the sub frame holding the exhaust pipe (the one, which was earlier, welded)! Jay and myself managed to find some metal wire in a shop near the hotel. John’s excellent tying skills helped keep the exhaust in place till the end of the trip.

We hit the bed to wake up at 4.00 am next day.

Day 2: Kannur – Mangalore – Udipi – Karwar – Panaji (Goa) [539 km]

At 5.00 am we were on the road racing away to get as much traffic free roads. Meanwhile some of our Bullet club friends from Bangalore had come to join us for this ride and were waiting for us at Udipi on their Bullets.

On the Kannur-Mangalore stretch, our pal Philip on the CBZ had a fall. He was negotiating a sharp turn on the 5th gear and unfortunately he lost control and hit the soft grass and a newly dug up trench on the roadside. The rest of the riders where a km ahead and John was leading on his Electra.

I rode ahead and signaled others to come back. Philip was perfectly ok. Only the bike had a slight bent brake pedal (loaded to crash and burn, we never learn!). One of the major things in biking is to have full control of your bike. You should be able to slow down or stop at the point you want to. Once you can get that under control, you are automatically going at the correct speed.

We stopped at Mangalore outskirts for breakfast where Jay got himself some spare screws for the exhaust pipe. Doc Philip had some medicine for my headache, thanks! You saved my day! After dosa breakfast, we proceeded to Udipi. I must say this is a great track for rallying. Its full of potholes and I suggest all shock absorber companies can test their products here.

We could hardly do a 20-km/hr speed. Sick. This road and Philips fall delayed our schedule. Our Bullet pals from Udipi called us and said they are going to chill out at some nearby beach and will be back on the NH 17 waiting for us. Those of you who want a bumpy ride please do hurry to this stretch – if the elections are around – you may find this as an extra smooth road!

We soon caught up with those guys and after a brief round of introduction. We had 13 bikes blazing away in a single line with their headlights on. JSR on Machismo led the group. He has just been back from a Bullet trip to Leh. With the noise of the Bullets and smooth riding, we could have easily carried a message of peace and national integration! There were children waving and cheering us on. This was totally unexpected. My heart thumped up with joy!

We stopped at Bhatkal for lunch. We wanted to cross the Karwar Ghat section before dark. That didn’t happen.

The Ghat section had a great view of 13 bikes thumping away and moving in a single line taking the steep curves with grace and the scenery dotted by the red taillights of the bikes.

After tea and samaosas at Karwar, we proceeded to enter Goa – We reached Navelim where we stopped and took count of our group.

BT led the group inside Madgaon city and on to Panjim city. We kept a speed of 60 km/hr. The Bullets had no problems during the whole trip. They were asking where next?

We soon found our hotel on the Baga beach at 11.00 pm where our friends from Pune, Navendu and group were there with their bulls. After a round of introduction, we met happy-go-lucky guys like Kamlesh, Pervez (Musharaf?), Sasikanth and many other guys. There was also Vimal, our old pal, who is now in Bangalore.

Well the dinner was delayed by over an hour. But when you are hungry, anything chalega! We finally got dinner at 2.45 am! After dinner we hit the bed at the Hacienda hotel in Baga.

We planned to have an exciting day ahead at the beach and return the next day morning (2 Oct). But life has its twists and turns and the next day we had to change our plans.

Day 3 – Oct 1, 2006

Early morning, Jay got news that his father was seriously ill and admitted in hospital. He was wanted back at home. He said he would ride back alone. I said absolutely not and I was riding with him. The others in our group also decided to come back with him. It was going to be a strenuous ride to reach Trivandrum the next day night, 1000 odd km at a continuous stretch.

But what the hell are challenges for?

On the way, John had a flat. Now to get a mechanic on Sunday! We were lucky. There was one at the nearby junction. So Varghese, Philip and John agreed to get John’s tyre fixed and join us later at Karwar.

So Jay, Anil and BT left for Karwar. On the way Jays 500cc Bullet had developed some shock problems due to which he felt his back tyre wobble. When we need to speed up in an emergency situation it is a terrible thing to happen, checked his tyre and alignment etc. All seemed fine and decided to go ahead.

Jay stopped for some mineral water. I too stopped. Trying to park, my leg slipped on the wet grass. Enjoyed the fall into the trench. Anil came rushing to lift my bike and stop the fuel from leaking. We had just made a full tank at Madgaon town.

All fine. We proceeded towards Karwar. Me and team joined the others after their “flat” adventure. John and Philip were headed to Bangalore. They would split at Honavar.

We stopped some distance after Karwar before the Ghat to refill some bread omelets at 7.30 pm. We knew we had to get some sleep. It was too dangerous to try to ride continuously. BT booked 2 rooms in Comfort Inn and asked the guy to wait till 12.00am.

We then left at a stretch to Honavar, keeping a steady 80 km/hr. We stopped at the Honavar junction at 11.00am, where the road split into 2 – Bangalore and Mangalore. John checked his Electra. It seemed to be giving excess smoke. It appeared as though the rings gave problem or must be excess oil leak from the piston.

After saying good byes we parted in two different directions, hoping to get together for another ride. Varghese led followed by Jay, Anil and me. We kept a good speed (70 km / hr) despite the wet roads and low visibility.

Day 4 or night?

At 12.00 am we stopped to refuel at a pump. I had a nap right beside the petrol pump. There were a few guys at the pump who were really amazed to see us on a rainy midnight. Usually, they get to see only trucks and 4 wheelers. They topped up our tanks and admired our bikes – asking about the mileage. I said with a Bullet we don’t look at mileage! Jay felt we should take a small nap to freshen ourselves so as to reach Udipi. So with their permission we lay down on the steps of the petrol pump-billing counter. I think we took a 15-minute power nap. And soon were on our way to Udipi.

We reached a restaurant at Udipi at around 2.15 am. We had Idli, vada and tea. Anil came up with a suggestion that we should sleep for at least an hour and half before we proceed for the rest of the Journey. More importantly, the Udipi–Mangalore stretch is so bumpy, that all the food we had would be out and we would be more dead tired. Better we tackle the stretch afresh after some sleep.

To hell with finding the hotel we booked. We asked the restaurant boss for some lodge nearby. He said there was one and soon called them up. Alas! No room, even the reception was filled with families sleeping. All of us said, “Lets move ahead” but BT was adamant

He pestered the restaurant owner about some space in his restaurant and he ultimately said okay and there was some space above this restaurant in the corridor. Great! It was dark like a dungeon, who cares we were the Biker Draculas! Jay lit it up with his small torch with weak batteries.Soon we were spread out and on the way to sleep. Jay set his mobile alarm to 4.00 am – so that we could hit the road by 4.30 am.

Whether the alarm rang or not only the alarm will know. When we woke up it was 5.30 am and dawn light was slightly making its presence felt. We hurriedly packed, had tea and left for the bumpy roads towards Mangalore.

Frankly, even now, thinking of those roads makes me sick. Imagine having to pick your potholes – either a mysterious water filled pothole or a plain one with sharp rocks (which one will you pick?).

Anyway we reached Mangalore. Jay and me were ahead.

BT and Anil called up Jay and asked us to go ahead with me since they had lost the way and where in the mangalore city and they would be coming at a slower pace. The ride was steady, we didnt try too much speed, since we where tired.

From Thalasseri to Edapally seemed like a never-ending ride. Ultimately we managed to reach Edapally at 7 pm.

Had dinner at KR Bakes. The return ride of over 1000 km at a near continuous ride (just a 3 hrs sleep!) was dead tiring. [Please don’t try this at home!]

Hell, I said if we have come 1,970 km, we could do 30 km more to finish the trip.

Dead tired we reached back, and I had a long sleep