Kudremukh Adventure Day 1

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The meeting point was set a Tumkur road metro and the starting time was 3 am. Almost everyone was late from office the previous day. I slept around 12 hoping to get up at 2 am. But then I got a sms from Praveen(unicorn) around 12:45 to bring the buggie cards. It was so loud that I woke up completely. So no chance of going back to bed. Switched on the TV, Star Movies aired a good movie forgot the name - "white Fox" or somethingsimilar. Was ready by 2:30 and the rain started heavily. I justed waited to give it a break. It eased in some 10 mins. Then I started my usual drama. Where is the house key? I used to get it in some 10 mins, but even after 20 mins I couldnt find it. Then I remember that I had already packed the keys in my camera bag. uff! Got it. saddled up and moved to meeting point. Surprising I was the first there. Within 2 mins all 3 arrived. And we moved ahead via Nelamangala to Kollegal.

Francis (ThunderBird) illuminated the road with his white HID and I did the sweeping. After some 10 kms I tried to feel the saddle bag behind and it was not there. Stopped the bike and to my luck it was almost hanging on the silencer. (Thanks to road work on NH4). Another lesson learnt. Always keep the tourch handy, becoz when I searched for it in my tank bag I dont know what all flew away and the inside of the bag was getting wet. When I about to catch them, I saw Francis and Mohan(RTR 180) stopping on the side. Mohan saw from flares coming from Francis Bike. I was like WTF. RE is not that bad. When I started the TB I smelt smoke from the right side, near the front sprocket. How come cmoke from there? we moved to a near by tea stall. Had some Tea and I took some time to think over the cause. I woldnt get anything. So decided to open the case to check the sprocket. But to my bad to check the sprockets I should open the full casing. Francis adviced not to. Okies. started the bike now and no smoke. By the time we wore our jackets and helmets. Again I smelt smoke. man enough is enough. Got a bottle of water and poured it near the sprocket with the bike on First gear. After a few seconds, a bunch of cotton came out of it. Uff! its the dirt that the chain collected and deposited on the engine casing, which roasted it happily. Around 7:30 we had food at Kamat near Hassan. And its time for some snaps.







It was raining almost all the way upto Hassan - Belur and Chickmangalore. we took
breaks as and when the Drizzle eased.





After the right towards Balehonnur, just when we entered the forest, the sun just peaked out. So time for some snaps.




Within 3 mins again it became cloudy and again started to drizzle. I took the lead and made sure the ride is not fast. many pot holes surprised us. I also felt my tire has gone flat. It was tough on slow corners, where the lean was less.
We had coffee near Balehonnur.



Check the bats Hanging



As we reached Balehonnur, we could see the Batra river in full force. we felt good coz now we are gonna ride along it to reach Kalasa. The planned stay for the day was the silent Valley resorts.

After some 2 kms on the narrow, we found that the river was over flowing and the roads were submerged. The kids near by said that its possible to cross if we kept to the middle of the road. Well how the hell will I know the 'middle' of the road when I see no road. saw a man crossing the stretch on his legs. He came out with Dry undies, which means its possible. Driving around bangalore on rainy days have taught me enough now to cross rivers of that depth. I voluntered to cross frist and asked them to see close to know the depth. I almost crossed 3/4th of it and then suddenly hit a pot hole and engine was covered it water. Good the silencer was still outside water. Pushed the bike out and started, bike sprang up live. Now others excatly know where to cross and they all did it fine.
sorry NO pics of this water crossing as ppl to busy looking at the path.

With a feel of acheivement we rode ahead and within another 2 km we found a massive river crossing. This time the Kids around said that I just grew big within 10 mins, which means the other River crossing too would be big now and no way for us to go back. When enquired they said that might be this big and it might be possible to cross. But even if we cross we might not be able to reach kalasa via Sringeri becoz there is another place between balehonnur and Sringeri where the river is over flowing. Which means to reach Kalasa, we should go all the way back to Chickmangalore, Mudigeri and kalasa. I just should a middle finger to myself. That time saw a bus crossing the river. The water splshed upto to his wind screen and drove away. For the first time I felt jealous seeing a mini Bus.

Then I said we can cross this. we pulled out the extra covers, scissors and tape we had. The dressing was made on my bike first. Inserted some cloth into the silencer and covered the silencer with the covers and taped it. I couldnt push the bike myself across, so called for Francis to help. The person is front faced so much force that he cold barely carry himself and hold the handle bar. The person at the rear could push the bike easily. We reached the other side. And now the "sathya sodhanai". While crossing the river only It struck me that The silencer had another CO hole and water will get in via that. Cranked the engine. The rear was ready to roar but the front cyclinder refused. May be plug was wet. Another crank and I could feel that the rear is pumping. Held the starter for some 5 secs and could feel that the Front is also pumping, then it started to roar. Hurrey!! we did it. Mean while Francis has crossed the other side. As soon as they heard the roar They showed a Thumps and started to dress their Silencers.
Again no Pics of me crossing the river.
Me on the other Side


Then came RTR 180, has that the smallest of the lot, if that fails then we need ppl on the other side to bring us a Pick up truck. It had it to the other side. Lifted the bike to drain the water from the exhaust. Some 5 kicks with ignition off. Then cranked it the engine started in 3 / 4 cranks. But was not revving more than 3K rpm. I said I will take care of this, You guys go and bring the Unicorn next. I opened the air box, to my surprise the Air boox was like a cup. So anything in the airbox stays in the airbox itself. Drained the water in the airbox with cloth and slowly the revs started climbing.



Check the Strain on the guy


Mean while the ThunderBird was all set to cross. It had its head up and the tank was fell above the water level. Now its time to work on the ThnderBord. Brings me some old memories. As usual drained the water from the Silencer. 4 / 5 Kicks with iginition off. Then 3 kicks with ignition, on the Engine roared and the engined revved to full glory, spitting out water fromt the silencer. Cool 3 up and 1 more to go.

Seeing 3 bikes crossing a localite to tired to bring the bike this side. Its a Slpendour. He tried to kick start but didnt work and In a Haste to open the plug he broke the plug. he said his friend stays near and he will push to his house.
Francis with the saddle bags

the Unicorn too crossed.


When We undressed the Unicorn I felt that it was a bit odd. well Francis said- Leave it man, this guy wanted scientific reason for everything so it was done his way! Starting the Unicorn was a bit tough, had to dry the Airfilter, clean the plugs and some 20 plain kicks and then some 20 kicks with Ignition on. And Bikes were roaring within 20 mins.




The Drizzle was steady untill we reached Kalasa. The river crossing has drained the energy we reached tired at the resort. Ordered for some lunch and Drinks. Lunch came first and Drinks came last. So kept the drinks for the night. And we took a walk around the resort.








In the evening around 7 we started our drinking session, A bottle of Rum, and some 9 bottles of Beer. The session went upto to 1 am. well a funny incident happend. Check praveen opening the Beer Bottle with his mouth after he saw me doing it. hear to Francis guiding him ;)




Another funny incident happened. Around 3 am I has woken up by natures call. When I opened my eyes I was ptch dark and the generator was switched off. I would see just one small ray of light and i creeped towards it carefully, felling all the bottles using my toes and luckily not breakign any. As I neared it I realised that its a mirro and the door was on the other Side!!! Mohan(The non drinker) saw the entire drama and caught me properly in the morning :)