Goa Ride.. One Bike , 6 Days !!! #Day6

Day 6 : Chitradurga - Bangalore : 204 Kms

Its a journey of 204 Kms . We started around 5 AM in the morning and reached bengaluru around 8 AM . Last day journey was a silent one . We two were silent for hours . i don't know how to explain that feeling . Hope my fellow riders can get it . The unique feeling I have on a bike is the freedom I feel . Yes , we are back to home after 6 days . Thank you my fellow riders for allowing us to share our journey Thank you XBhp and wanderers team for this wonderful opportunity .  See you guys back on road !! .. Lets ride ... :)    Total Distance covered : 1600 +  Route Details : Bengaluru - Yagachi Dam - chikmagalur - Kemmanugundi - Jog Falls - Murudeshwar - Honnavar - Mirjan fort - Goa - Doothsagar - Chitradurga - Bengaluru . Notes :  1, Road conditons are very good except doothsagar to Londa stretch  .  2, If you are planning to visit kemmanugundi , please carry cash on hand . There were no ATM's nearby .  3, If you are planning for Doothsagar trip , check with local peoples before you go . Permissions are getting denied nowadays to falls  #Ridesafe ...

Goa Ride.. One Bike , 6 Days !!! #Day5

Day 5 : Here is the plan for the day : Goa - Doothsagar - Chitradurga   We started from Goa around 7 AM after having a cup of coffee and we are heading towards Doothsagar falls . After few miles , I am able to see my indicator switch was not working . Since we know most of the showrooms open only after 10 AM . We thought to drive with it and fix it on the way . We checked with local mechanic on the way , He said the entire circuit needs to be changed . We checked few more shops nearby . Since its an R15 Version 1 , no luck for parts . We decided to reach chitradurga before sunset . But the god has decided to give different test for us . " Drive 600 kms without overtaking " ..  It's the time when pillion came to play , He will alert me while taking turns and now he is the one who puts hands outside to indicate others when we took turns . Rain started pouring heavily and we decided to park near a fish market in Panjim for sometime . When we started moving around the market , we are able to see its an market for Prawns . OMG !!!  " Do you know how much kg of prawn cost in Bangalore " , a word from my pillion .  :)

                                         

We started heading towards doothsagar falls .  We heard some naxel attack near doothsagar from fellow riders , Whom we met on the way . We decided to give  a try . We took left turn from Panjim - Belgaum Mainroad and reached Kulem railway station . Before the railway station , you will see a railway crossing , It's the base for doothsagar trekking . A lot of security personals where there and they said they have closed entry for Doothsagar falls , till the issue gets resolved . Since we are aware of it . We decided to leave . We started heading towards Chitradurga . Since we missed Doothsagar falls , we decided to spend sometime on the forest falls on the way to Londa . 

 

When we enquired truck drivers  about the road condition in falls . They have infomed us that the roads to Londa was terribly gone due to recent rain . We had some hopes . we started our journey to chitradurga . After the checkpost to enter inside karnataka , roads were terribly worse . Believe me guys , I have travelled in forest roads in Kemmanugundi to the worst roads in mandalapatti coorg . but these roads were no way near to that . It took 3 1/2 hours to cross the 62 kms mark between Doothsagar and Londa in rain . We lost our hopes to reach to Chitradurga before sunset . Since the patches on those roads where filled with water . It's too dificult to find it depth . We are about to see lots of breakdown vehicles on the way .  We settled in one Daba for rest , since my pillion got some hit .Thanks to those roads , here is the result .  

Once we reach dharwad , roads were good . We started catching up missed time on AH17 . Since indicators were out , we left most of the vehicles without overtaking after sunset . We dont want to take risk at this time . We reached Chitradurga around 10 PM . After having a dinner . We are set to sleep .   Lessons learned : Being a confident motorcyclist means being able to understand what’s happening in the environment around us , perceive relationship to what is happening around you and be able to respond correctly to those changes (or better yet, to predict those changes before they happen.) You don’t just hope that everything will be ok on your ride; you understand that you have an active, ongoing role in ensuring that and try to more smart when you are in worst condition . We learned a lot today , I will say " Best day of our ride " .. My blue girl has managed and adopted these different roads very well .  After a painful long ride , time to sleep . 

Goa Ride.. One Bike , 6 Days !!! #Day4

Day 4 :  Exploring Goa .

Why it's too good to visit Goa in Offseason !! .   I have always hatred crowded tourist places , starting my childhood . If you are not a party lover & Going to ride for relaxation . Yes it's the best spot to relax in all alone beaches . You can expect a mild rain everyday , with no sun to distrub you & cheaper expense rates ( Thats the main point .. !! :) ) . Yes , its rains a lot but its fine for us . Since we crossed karnataka in monsoon climax . We managed to get a beach view resort in an affordable cost . To be accurate , answer to this question depends on your expectation for  the trip. if you are visiting the place for peace, to get away from your monotonous life schedule or to run away from your laptop screen for a weekend, Goa in monsoon can be an ideal place for you. The weather is just awesome and its a bliss to stand at the beach staring at a roaring sea in drizzling rains . The place is so green that its very relaxing just to go around the city, visit the local markets and enjoy the sea food if you are a non-vegi. If interested you can also go for trekking behind Anguda fort . Most importantly, Goa looks more beautiful in rains that it generally is. The landscape looks like a still wet, shimmering painting that might smudge even with a single touch. A perfect time for the lovers of nature, solitude and photography . You'll also escape from the tourists who will march to Goa, as soon as the monsoon ends. Thus, for me, Goa is a good bet to travel to in rains. Still not convinced , let me show you the photos . We stayed in Baha beach , We decided catch up Ford Agoda in early morning . Fort Aguada is a  seventeenth-century Portuguese fort on the beach south of Candolim, at the shore of the Mandovi River .

On the way to Vasco , In an coffee shop , we were enquired by a motorcycle enthusaist from nearby ship building centre . Over the years , I have learned one of the best ways to rejuvenate my mind in any ride is getting well with new peoples in journey . You meet interesting people in rural convenience stores, Daba's and small shops . Some will watch as like alien ( Typical Biker feeling ) , Hope my fellow riders can get it . With the help of that good friend , Yes..!!! here we are on a ship building center @Vasco .They were building a new cruise . It's always feel happy to see like minded peoples .  

There are so many reasons to be in Goa , more than a drink. Goa is made up of number of churches & Forts . Every church in Goa has its own history , Some stand beyond centuries . Every church in Goa has its own history , some stand beyond centuries . Here is one of the beautiful churches of Old Goa . 

We settled in Baga Beach after partying for some time . Ofcourse you can do that . It's Goaa ..!!  :)

Goa Ride.. One Bike , 6 Days !!! #Day3

Here we are on third day of our Six day trip . As the proverb goes , ' A Good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving ' . Thanks to that  , we were now on Honnavar after 2 days of our journey through country side Karnataka . From the beautiful hills of Kemmanugundi to the misty mornings in Bhadra tiger reserve . Everything was different from one another in the past two days . Adding to that  , We are able to see residents who see these scenes regularly are also still watching like us jaws opened . Something which we didn't able to get it . Lucky Guys . :) After 600 kms of ride in the country side for past two days , we were going to explore Coastal side from now on . Lets Move ..

Journey so far : Bengaluru - Kemmanugundi - Jog Falls - Murdeshwar - Honnavar .  560 + Kms . 

To start off , Now we are heading to Goa through NH17 from Honnavar , 32 Kms down the line . We say a board deviating for Mirjan fort before Mirjan Village .  1 Kms out of the path , we reached Mirjan fort . Located amidst the beautiful surrounding of the river Aganashini , the historical monument is yet less visited . The fort has been declared protected monument by archaeological survey of india , which renovated some part of the fort recently . It's open for visitors after 9 AM , Since we reached the fort around 6 AM . We thought to take the ancient way to get inside ( Lol ) . After some unsuccessful attempts and planning , we were inside the fort atlast . Thanks to small walls on backside . According to the local peoples nearby , Queen Chennabhairadevi of Gersoppa (under the Vijayanagara Empire) was initially credited with building the Mirjan Fort in the 16th century. She ruled for 54 years and also lived in the fort . It acted as pepper export hub in these region in vijayanagara Kingdom rule . Best time to visit the fort is before they open in the morning ( Lol ) . I have enclosed few pictures of the fort in morning . Such a beautiful place to visit in morning breeze.

We left Mirjan Fort around 8 AM & started heading towards Goa . In the past two days , we were forced to tackle rain . Thanks to coastal karnataka , Now we have heavy wind too adding to that , One of my rider friend said few years back , Nothing ever comes close to the thrill of RIDING BIKES !! , i am feeling of every word of it . We have learned a lot in first day riding in the forest routes and it completely changed the way we approach rain weather riding. Make no mistake, no matter how tough you are, no matter how experienced a rider, no matter how good your physical condition is, if you don’t respect the rain , it will knock you out . Truck traffic was heavy on NH17 . We were forced to gave way for everyone  , Since i don't want to take any chance of risk at this point of time .

Beauty of Gangavalli River : Gangavalli River is one of the many small rivers that originates and flows entirely within the western part of state of Karnataka in India. The National Highway 17 (India) continues on the Hosur Bridge the bridge built over Gangavali River and the road continues to split the Ankolaand Kumta regions to connect Uttar Kannada district to Dharwar and Mangalore area. With a major part of the river lying in the Western Ghats, the Ganagavalli river basin receives a large amount of rainfall. Mean annual rainfall ranges from 1,700 mm (67 in) to 6,000 mm (240 in). About 95% of the rainfall is received during the month of June to September (July being the rainiest) when the southwest monsoon is at its climax , Thanks to that . we were there at exactly southwest monsoon climax ..

When we started our journey from Bangalore , many were curious about our journey . Six days with a pillion on back . " It's very tough boys " . thats the word which we heard from everyside . When it comes to gaining confidence on a motorcycle, there is no substitute for patience . When I first started riding on the road, someone I trusted told me “get through the first 100 miles, and if you don’t hurt or scare yourself, then get 1000 miles under your belt. When you hit 1000 miles you’ll know if you’re a biker or not.” He was right – those first 100 miles were thrilling, the learning curve steep. By the time I hit 1000 miles, I was addicted. I noticed that as my miles of experience increased, my riding got smoother. I anticipated things instead of just reacting. As the years rolled on, I noticed that I felt most confident in those years where I clicked off the most miles. It makes absolute sense – practice makes perfect! . After a solo ride to munnaar , it took some time for me to back on road  . As the days passed in our trip . I was gaining confidence . Yes , Here we are at the best part of our Journey . After 800+ kms now we are entering Goaaa ... 

We settled Baga Beach after a quick visit to beaches on the way . Time to signoff . :)