GopalSwamy betta - Elephant Paradise contd

We then went a few steps up to the point were we went last time. As there was no fog we could see a path on the near by hill. If we cross that hill then we could reach the area were the elephants were there. But how to reach there? We just moved a bit further to check if there is path. It was a bit steep initially and there was a trench dug out so the elephants and other animals do not enter the temple premises. We jumped into the trench(not a big one jus 5 feet) and got out. We checked Soon we were on the narrow path that we saw earlier. and checked if the elephants were still there. Only one was there and the other 2 ve moved down a valley


we reached a spot where there were a few broken walls.




From there we checked for the elephants but they were not there (to late).

we took a much needed rest. after a full 15 mins we decided to go a bit further to another hill top and check if the road ends there. on the way see meet a few fellows, they told us nothing was there. So stood half way.



Then I felt let me chek if the elephants are down the valley. The guys were stopping me but excused a few metres everytime.. and at one point we saw a heard of elephants. But before I would click they moved down further. But some 3 stayed back...

















After some 20 mins they too went out of sight. I thut of folowing but Rahul said 'THis is the risk in coming with you.' I know he ment overdoing things so turned back. Now where is the path to go back. we didnt want to climb up all the way and then climb down so decided to take the hill along the circumfernce. The grasses were as tall as us and lot and lots of elephant dungs




After we crossed it and reached the clear path we say another one down below the valley




But ut has already starting heating up( we carrying the jackets too ) so decided to head back as soon as possible.

Pic by rahul




Then we headed back to the temple. I was so thirsty (for water only ) and got a few sips from this group



It was getting hotter and hotter so we quickly drove to a near by Jungle resort. its was 11:40 and we need to wait for 1:15 mins for lunch. wer relaxed there under the shades. Then had food and drove back to Banglore

GopalSwamy betta - Elephant Paradise

It was long since we had a ride together so me and Rahul planned for a small morning ride of 580kms to GS betta

Riders:
Rahul - ZMA R
Christopher - p200
Prabhu - TB

Date- 9Mar2008


I and Rahul had a small chat on that Friday and it was clear that we were frustrated by the city heats and work. so dedided to go for a quick ride on Sunday.

Around 3 am in morning I meet Rahul and Cristopher near the CMH coffee day.



Exchanged few leg pulls and started off. I was a good formation ride of around 70s. Whenever I accelarted a bit to 80s I found the guys dropping behind.. First break came in a bit quick and when I asked Rahul about it he said he is doing 90s Then I reallised how is the culpirt. Previously I used to do 80 and 3K rpm. but as days passed It required 3.3K for 80 and it was difficult to touch 120.. I thut its time to change the clutch plates(I ve a new chain/sprocket) So its the speedo error I had work on Saturday too. so couldnt fill in full tank. had around 4L so thut I can fuel up at mysore but I was not so lucky. After some 50 odd kms.. I found my bike struglling a bit when I cross 2.5K immaterial of the gear I am. So I thut there might be some blockage in the petrol pipe. Jus shook the bike so the petrol in the tank shakes. then pulled the fuel pipe and let some 250 ml to drain. I used the same to clean the airfilter. refitted eveything and kicked the lever. The bull sprung to life with full force Everything I did in 10 mins. and rode back and found Rahul waiting for me some 100 m away from where I stopped. Then we all rode to Mysore and reached there by 5:30. I topped up my fuel.


As we moved towards gundelpet it started to dawn.


U would observe the clouds in the shape of lions head. It was not a easy shot(atleast for me) but tried to get it..




Liked this house...



managed to take a pic with min shutter spead.


Then what I saw was very amazing. I saw a farmer ploughing his field in that early sun. It brought me all memories of my childhood. When I was in school I used to go to my grandpas palce for my summer vacation. As it was summer, the ploughing will start in early mornings and I used to sit with a blanket and watch men ploughing. sometimes I jus sleep there itself. It would be so quite with a few birds singing. hmmm No all I hear in the early mornig is men roaring there vehicled and milkwalas horns










Then by 8 we reached Gundelpet. had breakfast



and moved towards GS betta. The roads were worn out. I wondered how did they conduct those up hill rallys in these roads. then Rahul corrected me that it was Chamundi betta and not GS betta


To our dismay there was no mist/fog we ment around to see the temple then we heard ppl mummering about some elephants. we used the cam to check them (24x )


Yes this confirmed that there elephants. But the path was soo long to see them close and chrostopher was not that very confident in doing it. But what can stop us a mins later we found a path and started trekking...



contd...

Day 2 kannur - Kuruva Island - bangalre

Previous

Day2 - Kannur - Kuruva Island - pulpally - bathery - Gundalpet - Mysore - banglore - 420

Vinal woke at 6 itself and started waking up others.. The plan was to wake up630 only.. and am like a guy who will never get even a minute before the planned time..(dont assume that I get up the right time thou ) None was ready to take bath so brushed and left the resort.
We spent a lot of time in cleaning the disc breaks and lubricating the Chain(Thanks Sunil - For the chain spray ) We same to highway and stopped for bun-T break(no bubblies thou ) There we saw the chain lub had made a protective coating on the chain.. The spray was awesome..



We inquired the route and moved pretty fast.. the roads were sloppy and narrow but good. and ppl had a lot of traffic sense(I find it through out kerala).
At a break..




Tried some macros but it was windy and didnt ve the patience to discover the settings...





Suddenly everyone started complaining that the fuel we git was not good as the bikes were not reving and pickup was slow. I too faced the same issue but soon realised that there was slight elevation through out and soon we recognised that we we almost on top of a hill. the gradient was so small that we didnt recognize it. We then stopped for a small break..









Soon we were out on the mananthavade route.. It felt a little familiar for me and way it was the kuruva island route and we took on Gp2. Then a quick decision was made. i visited the island. There was little water on the other side so that we can cross on the rocks itself. The island had tall tall trees and some trees and we did some monkey things..












HAHA..




We had lunch there a normal kerala meals and soon we left towards bathery via pulpally. It had one of the best roads. Though the forest was dry it had greens towards bathery. had some excellent twisties and it was not a blind curve we could see through the woods.


Alien in the middle












We did a little off roading...






And then reached bathery.. had some tender coconut and bide adieu to Vinal and promised him to visit his home again(ya we confessed that its for food and nothing else.. ) and we left towards mysore.



We(me and Sumit) maintained good sppeds initially and then slowed done for bad roads to pass. Sumit went over the pot hole that Iwas speaking in the onward ride but almost at zero. then we picked up speed. A imported mitsubishi Montero for company and this is the first time we saw it flesh.
We did a few turns at 100+ scrapping the foot pegs and he too did it (ofcourse not scrapping his )

but once we crossed the forest we lost sight of it. We took a break after Gundalpet. A good 80+ km covered in 80 mins.. (guys its an approximation dont raise questions on this figure)

We got a msg from Vinal that he is jus 40 kms from calicut








We then drove towards banglore and took a long break at MCD. There Sumit raised a concern - His front wheel was jumping a bit at 80s on the mysore Road. He is the third after me and Sunil to notice that. "The Mysore to Banglore is like that - One would get a small vibration when we are around 80s. " He was relieved


We left MCD around 10:30 and reached home by 11:30 An eventful ride he had Thanks Sumit and Vinal