Saturday, December 15, 2007

Day1 - The Tragedy




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Day2 dec 15 Saturday:
We got up early in the morning.. had a quick shower and was on the dinning table by 8. nothing was ready by then.. so I had bread omlet and my frnd settled for idlies.. We know its gonna be a long stretch so poured in a little more engine oil and lubricated the chain.. last night I felt the pressure in the front tyre was more.. but I ignored it as its jus gonna be a high way ride..
Bikes on Saturday morning :


Checked out and was ready by 9:15. We asked the locals for route to NH and everyone guided us to the east. The roads were bad and narrow.. crossing the narrow rail crossing was a head ache.. then after 15km we reached a 4 cross road.. there again inquired the locals and they sent us on the left road.. from there we rode for few more kms and road was getting narrow and narrow crossing a few villages.. we both thut it shud be a short cut instead of the Highway and after 50 kms are so there were no roads.. I stopped a suzuki fellow how looked to be little educated and asked the road to raneberur.. we said we ve come some 50 kms away and we need to track back.. the time was 12 noon..

I got a little frustrated.. I felt we need to speed up a little so that we can reach pune by 1 am @ night.. I took a lead and was driving around 80s.. And at a right hand curve I saw a truck moving slow and there was another truck in coming in the opposite direction.. I accelerated a bit to 90s and passed between the trucks and there I see... NO ROAD IN FRONT OF ME.. its was all medium sized gravels.. tried to steady my bike a little but the front tyre was dancing(high pressure playing its game).. I felt a fall is inevitable.. To worsen the situation there was a pillar stone in front and a dog lying beside it.. and am on my 90s dancing on the gravels.. I made a quick decision avoid the pillar, the dog and the keep my line off the truck beside me. Done! then had to break now else I will down into the ditch.. applied a little break(both).. thats it the bike danced a lot and started falling.. at the end I fell down and made sure am rolling instead of dragging on the surface.. The next moment I see a huge dust in the sky.. and my helmet has rolled off from my head(i didnt latch it). Got up and saw my friend stopping his bike and running towards me.. I asked him to search for my specs and he found it.. meanwhile I gathered my helmet and went near my bike Head light is crushed completely.. and the tachometers cups are broken.. dent on the petrol tank and T stem was little bent. Mudguard bent on the tyres. Then I felt a brush on my hip.. the cramster jacket has moved up a little exposing my hip.. and a pain in my left ankle.. My frnd headed to call a tow vehicle.. meanwhile I did first aid to my wound and inquired the locals for RE service station..
There was one available at Davangarae.. we took it there... while uploading the vehicle I saw that the disc hose is punctured.....

At davangarae the RE guy didnt accept even to get the vehicle down.. He said U better do it in Bangalore and he has got more vehicles for the day.. My frnd was adamant on dropping the trip. he took the tow vehicle to VRL for parceling..

Then I spoke to that fellow and some how convinced him.. the deal was he will start the work after he completes his days work but he will make the bike runnable to pune... Fine! called my friend to bring back the bike.. left the bike there... meanwhile my pain in the ankle was increasing.. got another hotel, lunch and dozed off.. I was real need of rest... This statement echoed within me.. (U tried to save 10 mins.. and now U ve lost a day.. never think of the 6K km U gonna do.. just concentrated on the current run..)
Well got up at 6 and my friend went to the service station.. the Bike was still on touched.. Fine we are in a demanding position... got a TT injection(to be on safe a side) and a gel for my sprain... By 9pm we went to service center.. He was removed everything that was broken and had just put a new head lamp.. I was like shit.. Did I wait for 8 hrs to just see this... Then the worst part he didn't ve a spare brake fluid hose => no disc breaks for me... This pissed me off.. and we claimed that the electric start wont work as he was removed the connection.. I was like f**k why the hell did U disconnect that... Paid him the cash.. thanked him and came back silently.. Starting the bike on the slopes was difficult as I need to kink start and I need to support the bike from rolling down using my sprained leg..
came back to hotel and dozed off. My confidence on doing th trip decreased.. A sound sleep refreshed me and my first word in the morning was.. Yes I can make it.. got down to my bike.. started it. and packed the bags..(walking straingt was a problem for me.. used the medical elastic strap to suport my ankle..) went the petrol pump fueled up(we had drained it as we were making it ready to parcel back..) and reduced my front tyre pressure to 25.. it was previously 33) and came back.. and there I noticed.. I didnt kick start my bike.. man the electric start is working... I was jumping in joy
We then started off.. and this time we asked the locals the route to NH4 instead of pune/ranibennur..

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About me

Hi Tourers,
Im Prabhu, a born tourer. I just like touring touring and touring. An addict to riding Photography and space research.

You can reach me at prabhubravo@gmail.com