Kanakapura and Back

      The weekend before this and the following week turned out to be pretty eventful :) lovely memories with close friends :) But there are still times when you feel your mind goes into infinite loops of thoughts where sleep or quiet time at home cannot work their magic on you.And that's when I head out,not looking for a conversation,not looking for mountain of dreams to conquer.Just plain free time doing nothing at all or just plain riding ;)
       That's when I decided to head out on Sunday afternoon for a ride on Kanakapura road.My friend suggested to go for a ride on this road,as she loves the scenery on both sides of this road.I must say,I totally agree with her.I remember three memories about this road,first one being my first ever bike ride to KSIT college on scooty pep,that day we had felt like as if we had conquered the world,even though majority of the students of that college travel on two wheeler:D Second,visit to Art of Living center in bus though with mom which was further than the college.Third,My ride with Bangalore Bikers to Nethengere Village with was further than Art Of Living center.Once I finished that mark,I new I had entered new territory where my brain couldn't map out anything.
      A lot of lakes closer to Bangalore had dried up. Weather was ok,sunny but cool wind.This road is known for being a little dangerous because the road is small and no divider.There were a lot of times where I would just go in the mud path just to give the overtaking bullies some more way.Apart from that it was a good ride.From dried up lake beds to lake with brown water to lake with green water to lake covered with water lillies.Mango trees,Coconut trees,occasional green fields.Tress on both sides of the road,mostly Banyan trees.Passed temples,petrol bunks,villages.

   
      Just me and the sound of the bike's engine for company.Riding,riding realized I had reached close to Kanakapura town.Finally the mind's chatter reduced considerably,mind listening only to the sound of the bike's engine.

     Just went a few more yards from this point and took a U turn back to Bangalore :) Didn't feel like stopping anywhere. NH209 road is super smooth after Jain Residential School.Left for the ride by 3pm and was back home by 5:30pm and slept like a baby.Riding alone has it own magic no matter what the distance and it's more fun when it's outskirts of any city to connect with another world where agriculture and livestock is still a part of life,gives one a different perspective about living.The more we discover places around the city we live and beyond,the more we discover about ourselves. :)

Finally Manchinbele Dam!

      On another Sunday afternoon decided to go for a ride to Manchinbele Dam with friends.My friend Ditty had come down to Bangalore and she said this time she wanted to go for a ride :) So,this ride was just for her :) Ditty,Edwin,Ditz's cousin Amal,CJ and I met up at silkboard junction,from there headed to Bannerghatta road to take the nice road all the way to Mysore road.Nice road always Recommended :) any time of the day,any time of the year :)

Pic Courtesy:Ditty,Edwin,Praveen :)

   

To reach the dam you have to pass the big Banyan tree,so that was our first stop.Admired the beauty of the tree from outside and headed to the dam.

An Emu farm on the way,surprising!

   

 Winding down the country roads...

First look at the dam,Beautiful!!!

    Unfortunately the way till the lake is guarded and unless you have a way with the officials to get what you want,your allowed only to stand at this distance and admire the beauty of lake.We wasted a lot of time trying to get permission and even though Savandurga was just another 14 kms from there,we couln't make it to that place too.While feeling bad we couldn't make it to both the beautiful places,Edwin suggested why not just trek up the hills that we can find for fun and that turned out to be a brilliant idea I must say and everyone agreed to that. :)

 
   
           Joking around,photo sessions,munching and again just when you start to settle down at a place it was time to leave.On the way back we stopped to have tea and then took the nice road again but this time rode all the way to electronic city.The ride from Mysore road to Electronic city taking the nice road was AWESOME!!! that to in the night. Cool breeze on my face and on my hands.Their was traffic at night but the lorries on the nice road turned out to be the most disciplined vehicles,they just kept to the middle lane and the left lane was given to us two wheel riders.The day just ended on such a beautiful note.The nice road ride and amazing company made up for the Manchinbele Dam.
       

New Year Ride to Anthargange,Kolar

        Hello 2013!!! :) When you wish upon something that you really want,it does come true :) My frens Pradhumna (Moon),Praveen(CJ),Rahul and I were discussing about a new year ride,but the boys had other plans.Celebrated Beginning of new year with family.At around 2:00 am, got a message from CJ that jan 1st ride to Anthargange is so on.Moon's bike had issues and till 1 in the noon,we were supposed to wait for his verdict.Thought that he had forgotten,so when I msged him,he still had bad news from his side that his bike wouldn't start,but where there seems to be no way,there's always a way :) Rahul dropped out from the ride and we made Moon pillion for this ride.
       When I go riding with these guys I feel like as if history's is repeating itself,when I was in 3rd std,I remember cycling with a bunch of kids,covering every road near my place.Once in a while taking to the main road only to be caught by parents for having pulling out the so called dangerous stunt.That time it was bicycles,now it's just bikes with motor.
       Picked up Moon around 1:30pm reached KR Puram near the hanging bridge to meet up with CJ and handed over Moon safe and sound on to CJ's bike :D :P I knew that the road to kolar is a good stretch,but didn't know it would turn out to be this awesome :) and I mean it.This highway is everything a rider could ask for.After Hoskote the landscape changes,you start to see the hills with boulders and lot of rocks at a distance and it is a sight to behold.Took a small tender coconut break and headed towards kolar.
Pics Courtesy: Praveen,Pradhumna

     

When you reach kolar,you can ask the locals the route to this place,the place is quite popular because of the Shiva temple and the surrounding.Green,Green everywhere,beautiful place.



          Visited the Shiva temple and then headed for the top of the hill.

Let the pics do the talking :)

     The trek up the hill was more beautiful than I could have imagined.None of us really wanted to leave.When we were just settling down in a nice shady place,realized it was time to leave.Finally by 5:45pm we left.The sunset was another view we experienced.I have traveled in car to many places,but don't really recall enjoying the sunset on the highway,I guess that what's special when your riding a bike :)

     This turned out to be my first night ride. Wasn't really prepared for it.All of a sudden there was so much traffic on the highway,it was like somebody had opened up the hell gates,so many loories and cars.Somehow getting back from a ride always turns out to be a rat race :D Reached Bangalore around 7pm.Was happy to reach Bangalore,because my bike happened to be low on fuel and they were no petrol bunks on this side of the highway.Their are plenty when your heading to Kolar.

    When we reached KR Puram it was around 7pm and the Bangalore Traffic greeted us with pleasure. CJ was like,at the rate I travel back home,I could really say goodbye to rides.So had to switch from being the rider to a pillion on my own bike and let Moon take over.That's when I had realized how much I had underestimated my bike.I always thought of her as a delicate darling until Moon took over her,you could say this was the third part of the day's adventure.From the hanging bridge till I dropped him off my heart was in my mouth,while he was finding ways to get through B'lore traffic,I was coordinating with the traffic behind us by showing hand signals and letting them know I think my partner here want to cut through. :P Within 35 mins we had reached our destination which would have atleast taken me an hour.But anyways He's still an awesome rider,I had fun.I realized that a women whether she rides a gearless or gear bike,her style is so different from that off how men would ride the same machine.It's always nice to have different styles to riding.
      A Perfect Ending to a Perfect Day! :) Happy New Year! :)