dichkaun
Well-Known Member
Oct 2nd 2021
Day 1: 714Km
Up at 0500 and out before 0600. This was to be my morning routine for many days. The morning was better than previous evening. There were a few clouds which would add color to the sunrise.
Stepping out of the hotel, I mounted my luggage and rode towards the beach road. I wanted to take a few pics of with the luggage mounted on the bike. That was to make an official ride start pic.
To my surprise the beach road was blocked by a large consignment of police. Apparently the area at the entrance of beach road and the temple were closed during weekends. The intent was to avoid crowds assembling to prevent COVID spread.
I requested a cop to let me go, pleading that I had come from Bangalore. He didn’t agree but recommended an alternate route to the beach road, which was perfectly fine with me.
Reaching the beach road, I found it quite crowded. Seemed like everyone knew the alternate route.
Since the day I thought of this ride, above picture is how I always wanted the ride to start. Fully loaded bike silhouetted against the morning sky with the Thiruvalluvar Statue and Vivekananda Rock in the background.
Hung around the beach road enjoying the sunrise and gulping multiple cups of coffee.
Though the cloud cover slowly increased, the sunrise was beautiful throwing hues of orange all over. I sat there enjoying the sunrise while fending off the various vendors of shells, pearl necklaces, magnetic bands, sunglasses and watches.
Around 0645 I left the beach road and began the journey North which would abruptly turn around just a little ahead of Srinagar.
Kanyakumari is more than just the tip of India with its beaches and its temples/churches. Its a rural town with some beautiful landscapes.
Joining the NH44, I scouted around for a good place to take some pictures of windmills. The previous day I had tried to take some videos which did not go well. Today I focused on stills.
Windmills, water and cloudy sky. It couldn’t get better than that.
Few Km out of Kanyakumari, I met Vinayak. Vinayak was walking from Kanyakumari to Leh to create awareness about sexual assault. Chatted for a while and wished him good luck.
Around 0900, I took my first break and a standing breakfast. Tea, coconut cream bun and chips. Walked around a little to stretch my legs.
Met an auto loader driver who spoke fluent English. We got talking and he fondly recollected to me a trip in his younger days to Vizag from Tirunelveli, sleeping in the loader and using wood to cook. I was glad seeing me he was able to recall some good old memories.
Since after breakfast, dark clouds overhead threatened to pour. Anticipating rain, I hardly stopped anywhere and made good time. The threat finally caught up with me a little before Karur. I took shelter at a petrol pump, but not before getting drenched as the rain came so fast that I had no time to put on the rain gear. By the time rain slowed and I was on my way, it was 1330.
A little after Dharmapuri, I took my 2nd break of the day. Tea with couple of puff pasties. The going had been slow and I was aware that it would be dark by time I would get home.
Yes, I was going to stay at my home at Bangalore.
Post Krishnagiri, I made good time till Hosur. In between stopped once when I saw a milestone marker for Varanasi. For some reason, political I guess, almost till Jabalpur the markers for Varanasi would keep showing up, saying as if that I should go there.
At Hosur, I decided to avoid going through main city and instead take a circuitous route from the outskirts to my home. It was dark and a little beyond 1900 when I ended the day.
Day 1: 714Km

Up at 0500 and out before 0600. This was to be my morning routine for many days. The morning was better than previous evening. There were a few clouds which would add color to the sunrise.
Stepping out of the hotel, I mounted my luggage and rode towards the beach road. I wanted to take a few pics of with the luggage mounted on the bike. That was to make an official ride start pic.
To my surprise the beach road was blocked by a large consignment of police. Apparently the area at the entrance of beach road and the temple were closed during weekends. The intent was to avoid crowds assembling to prevent COVID spread.
I requested a cop to let me go, pleading that I had come from Bangalore. He didn’t agree but recommended an alternate route to the beach road, which was perfectly fine with me.
Reaching the beach road, I found it quite crowded. Seemed like everyone knew the alternate route.

Since the day I thought of this ride, above picture is how I always wanted the ride to start. Fully loaded bike silhouetted against the morning sky with the Thiruvalluvar Statue and Vivekananda Rock in the background.

Hung around the beach road enjoying the sunrise and gulping multiple cups of coffee.

Though the cloud cover slowly increased, the sunrise was beautiful throwing hues of orange all over. I sat there enjoying the sunrise while fending off the various vendors of shells, pearl necklaces, magnetic bands, sunglasses and watches.

Around 0645 I left the beach road and began the journey North which would abruptly turn around just a little ahead of Srinagar.
Kanyakumari is more than just the tip of India with its beaches and its temples/churches. Its a rural town with some beautiful landscapes.

Joining the NH44, I scouted around for a good place to take some pictures of windmills. The previous day I had tried to take some videos which did not go well. Today I focused on stills.
Windmills, water and cloudy sky. It couldn’t get better than that.

Few Km out of Kanyakumari, I met Vinayak. Vinayak was walking from Kanyakumari to Leh to create awareness about sexual assault. Chatted for a while and wished him good luck.

Around 0900, I took my first break and a standing breakfast. Tea, coconut cream bun and chips. Walked around a little to stretch my legs.
Met an auto loader driver who spoke fluent English. We got talking and he fondly recollected to me a trip in his younger days to Vizag from Tirunelveli, sleeping in the loader and using wood to cook. I was glad seeing me he was able to recall some good old memories.

Since after breakfast, dark clouds overhead threatened to pour. Anticipating rain, I hardly stopped anywhere and made good time. The threat finally caught up with me a little before Karur. I took shelter at a petrol pump, but not before getting drenched as the rain came so fast that I had no time to put on the rain gear. By the time rain slowed and I was on my way, it was 1330.

A little after Dharmapuri, I took my 2nd break of the day. Tea with couple of puff pasties. The going had been slow and I was aware that it would be dark by time I would get home.
Yes, I was going to stay at my home at Bangalore.

Post Krishnagiri, I made good time till Hosur. In between stopped once when I saw a milestone marker for Varanasi. For some reason, political I guess, almost till Jabalpur the markers for Varanasi would keep showing up, saying as if that I should go there.
At Hosur, I decided to avoid going through main city and instead take a circuitous route from the outskirts to my home. It was dark and a little beyond 1900 when I ended the day.