December 2022 - A Ride-Sleep-Ride Back Trip to Kodaikanal
Gave up riding about 7 years back due to back pain and got married in between and lived peacefully thereafter. A 2-day gathering of our biker clad was happening in Kodai and my old partners were calling me to join (like every year), but this year, couldn't say no. No leave and budget constraints, shrunk the plan to gate crash them and return with them the next morning. Dusted up my gears and bought a new lid. Luckily everything fit though the glove took some effort to size up. Supposed to start by 4:30-5, but delayed by a friend as usual. Started off by 6:30 AM.
We were 4 in 3 bikes.
Greenery always made me stop and click.
Also the love for windmills. The ZMA couple carried the household and they were touring further to Hampi and returning through the length of Kerala. With pillion and load, they were doing 100-120 kmph with ease. I had a hard time catching up with them. I preferred to stay at 90-100 kmph.
Reddiarpatti Hills, Tirunelveli, the point where we feel like leaving the home territory (though home is 150 km away and passed state border 107 km ago).
Astonishing mileage, 37 kmpl.
PowerPig!
More green.
Lunch break at Adyar Anand Bhavan, Andipatti inside BPCL COCO outlet. Reached there after lunchtime and there was hardly anything left in the menu. Wanted curd rice, ended with coconut rice.
Last break in the valley with some tender coconut.
More and more green.
Started seeing mist.
Good old Safari Dicor.
Destination. 412 km 8 hours. The rest of the team reached a day back and explored Kodai.
Night view of Kodai.
Dinner from AR Rahman Restaurant. Swiggy would've delivered to the hotel, but opted to ride out in the cold and did a quick tour around the lake.
Hardly slept 2 hours, stayed awake all night thinking of the ride back. Supposed to start back by 5:30 AM, but I was the only one up at 6 AM. Was wandering in the morning with jacket, jumper, and raincoat over top and shivering.
Kodai mood changing at blink of an eye.
and again.
@DEViANCE 's
Sir Thump! My Heavy Crank Bullet 350X
Just Ashwin things.
Had a fall during the night food run. A 45-degree slop with an acute-angle turn and filled with potholes. I let off the throttle, but the bike maintained rpm to prevent a shut-down and things went out of hand. I was under the bike before my pillion could get up and lift the bike. No harm. Pillion lost some paint from ankle and knee. Leg guard got the hit. First task was to remove it and the horn before the trip. Had to wait for others to wake up for the tools.
The clan had all sorts of bikes, Gixxer 150 to 2022 Busa.
Me tip-toeing.
Ride back started by 9:45AM after breakfast, 4-1/4 hours late.
Faster bikes started disappearing on my mirror and company till the valley was
@DEViANCE riding at 60 kmph. He took a detour and I took a fuel stop. Already late and frustrated, hit the highway alone thinking they all had passed me. Steady 100 kmph and after almost 150 km on highway, the 650 catches up, who was more frustrated as the whole gang was behind taking pits-tops every time they saw a tender coconut or juice stall. He got furious after they stopped for a brunch and took off from there. Moral, ride is always fun with a smaller gang. Mileage was climbing up on constant cruising. Reached 39 kmpl later.
Stopped at Kovilpatti CCD, only reliable pitstop when we tripped that way 10-15 years back. With lots of restaurants budding up in between, this place lost its significance and became dearer.
With the luggage, I could only get on standing on the foot peg and the adventure pegs gripped well.
The CCD brand ambassador
, may be the last time there.
Butterflies and flies were suiciding on our visors and had to stop and clean in between.
By 5 PM, we were off wider highways, to narrow 2-lane highway. While having tea, got update the rest of the team reached the CCD, which was 140 km back.
Weekend traffic was building up and got worse once we entered Kerala. Traffic was almost standstill at many places. Took 4 hours to cover 350 km on highway with breaks and another 2.5 hours to cover 60 km as it got narrower, especially after re-entering Kerala. In addition to that mess, the clutch cable holder snapped, but luckily 15 km away from home just before the beginning of 4/6-lane stretch. Tried for help, but nothing availed. Searched for metal wires nearby, couldn't find any. Grabbed the cable ties in the bag, managed to tie the holder together. Started the bike and took byroads to avoid the heavy traffic till the wider stretch and successfully made it to home. At the time of snapping, experienced same accelerating to prevent knocking, but shut off the engine before getting out of control.
Another 412 km in 9 hours with minimal breaks and a break-down.
My first long run on the Duke, always preferred the FZ. Turned out to be the better choice. Better posture without stress on any part of the body, no back pain, an effortless cruiser, but susceptible to crosswinds if unprepared and after all gave better mileage than FZ (highway speeds).