Day 1: Ride through the Hills.

I have my friends and cousin's who are hard core trekker. They always tell me about getting lost on their way and how adventurously then got back. As I'm a more of a biker then trekker ( though I do trek once in a while), I would wonder what kind of adventure I would have other than a flat tyre in a sunsan ellaka.. :-).
As if, god was listing to my internal conversation, answered me in this road trip.
The initial plan was MM hills and then to Ooty and then back to Bangalore, in 2 days.
When we checked the map, it was no way gone be possible. So we decide that we will got to MM hills and then to BR hills and back.
Even the number of people who were supposes to ride, changed just like our initial plan.
Chandan was supposed to get his bike which he had given for painting, which he didn't get. Krishna was supposed to join the ride. Didn't. As he realized that he had to attend a function. So finally Chandan, Mukund and I were the people to make this happen.
I was cloud number 9 'because with great difficulty I had changed the side stand of my bike and saw myself as a mechanic who could fix anything. :-)
Suppose to start at 5. Finally we were out of Bangalore at about 7.
The drive till Kollegala was pretty decent. It was punctuated with coffee breaks and nicotine breaks and also me using the word cynical instead of scenic and being the subject of the joke. :-)
At Kollegala, I decided that Chandan cud ride my bull and take the Pulsar which he was riding, which I thought was not the right thing to do... :-(
The road was just the kind of road that I had wished for. I couldn't find traces of Tar even if I were to hold a magnifying glass. I knew my Bull could take on any road but I was not sure if pulsar could take it.

I then consoled myself say that, it would be good opportunity to check if pulsar could do it on that kind of road. ( I bought a new pulsar 180 CC ). It’s always better to experiment on others bike than your own... :-)) I'm sure you will agree...
But believe me, Pulsar actually surprised me... It could easily do over 70. And shocks were really good.

When we were about 20Km away from MM hills. I wane to have a nicotine break. Mukund was neutral and Chandan wanted to reach MM hills and then rest. We agreed and then the unexpected happened.
Chandan trying to overtake a bus was very close the bus in front to see the bus coming from the other side and ended up between 2 buses. It was as if the whole thing just stopped. It was not as if he was badly down, but he was the last guy I expected to be in such a state. We pulled out the bike, into shade. My first concern was if he was hurt. Didn't bother about my bike, 'cos I knew I could fix.
After everything settled down, I decided to take a look at my bike. I was shocked..!! The petrol tank had taken a beating. :-((. The handle was bent, and the clutch yoke was damaged that clutch cable was out. I just didn't know what to do, but to snatch 2 smokes from Mukund and smoke it up in could of minutes which were like seconds to me...!!!!

Without the clutch cable in place I couldn't move my bike and we could not find any signs of help for hours, if we were to wait.. We somehow tighten the cable to its place with the key ring and Chandans bandana. (My first experience ...)
I was on my bike again. Scared to change the gears too often. Trying to run only on 2 or 3 and not to use my clutch :-) finally we reached the foot hills of MM hills where we had our Lunch. Post lunch, I tried to fix the handle and the cable. The Worst part was if the handle was corrected the cable would not sit on the groves that we had adjusted.
After spending about 30 mins, we decided to revert back to make shift arrangement and carry on. It was the beginning of the ghatt, with 29 hairpin curves. To make matter worse, the bent handle of my bike didn't allow me to turn the bike completely. I would hit tank, on trying to do so...
On one side I was happy with this kind of stuff as I though it was preparation for my Himalayan trip and on the other scared if at all I would be able to bike back home.
I really loved to turn my bike with the bent handle as I also had to bend my bike ( in which I consider myself to be good). The only problem with the gear change.
We made it to the top in good 1 hrs time. On reaching there the first thing was to find a mechanic. Local people directed to a puncher guy, where he right away said it would not be possible to fix the problem. However he did wire it up and said it would fix the problem.
We decide to cool our heels and take some rest. I and Mukund were keen to visit the temple, on the contrary Chandan decide to take a nap.
The temple was no close to our expectations. As in it was all painted and the not the usual temples that I had seen. People made to cross in between Shiva and the nandi which I have been taught and told not to do so... Especially if the nadir is small and in front of Shiva.
When we came out there were lots of pigeons and Mukund could resist capturing the moments on my cam. :-)

We returned, just to find Chandan dosing away to glory :-D
We decided to go to BR hills as we though that it would be a do-able.
Coming down MM hills was another adventure for me.. The bent handle forced me to bend the bike and the sound of foot rest of my bike rubbing against the road... wow..!! I had an adrenal rush... I was least bothered about my clutch.. Trying to do a good speed at the hairpin turns...
We didn't stop for long at the foot hills, just carried on.. As we had to make Kollagala before 5... Given the condition of the road... and we did it...
We then checked with the locals about the shortcut to BR hills.. then directed us through villages... and farms... and told us that it would cut down the distance 50-60 KM..

We reached the check post at 6:45.. The Gate was supposed to close by 6:30... After shouting at top of his voice.. The guard let us through... not before collecting 30 Rs from us... Though he warned us that it was dangerous..
The drive was just amazing.. it was getting dark... and then it started to rain..
What made it even worse was the fog on the road, mist on my Visor. I could hardly see the road.. I lifted the wizer to see the road .. My glasses was covered with mist...
The only thing that was on my mind.. was if I were to be very lucky and happen to see a wild animal.. Where do I run for shelter.. !!!!
I was the last rider.. to make the matter bad.. I just couldn't stop thinking..
All of a sudden Chandan and Mukund stopped... near a water body... I was wondering what made them to stop.. I was already 7.. and was getting really dark...
A herd of bison’s... drinking water... wow..!! It was just breath taking.. For me... to see it... not cos it was the first time... but to see it frees... me not behind glass of the vehicle..!! In the moon light... it was awesome... Can't actually put it down in words..!!
After freighting them.. by trying to take a snap... We moved on to reach BR hills by 7:30 just to find that there were no rooms.. to shelter..
After buttering the lady at Atree, we got a room for the night..

It was day that I can never forgot... for the accident, sound of my foot rest hitting the ground on hairpin turns, the beauty of the forest, fog hindering the sight, bisons in it free environment.. And lots more..!!
The next day was even worse..!