Lonar: A wet ride from the big hole

[bblost]

21-Mar-2008 2200

I cannot sleep.
Tossing and turning, counting sheep, cows, hens and starting to feel hungry.
But still no sleep.

Started reading a novel, pages turning, slowly relaxing, but still cannot sleep.
Finally at midnight start trying to visualize my route.
I sleep but keep waking up at the turn of almost every hour.
Finally knock of the pretense and start heating water for my bath.

22-Mar-2008 0500
Call up Maurya. I am ready.

22-Mar-2008 0530
Bike warming up, slow riding till Somajiguda to pick up Maurya.
Maurya and I went to the same school and also did our under graduation together.
The best of friends.

22-Mar-2008 0600
Out of Somajiguda stop over at an ATM.
Fuel up is in the HP bunk at BHEL.
Patancheru flies by and we are slowly warming up to the ride ahead.
My bike starts her power jerks but we are close to SangaReddy.

22-Mar-2008 0715
Moti Mahal Dhaba just before SangaReddy on the left hand side.
Rotis, Paneer Masala and tea later, I replace my spark plug.
This solves the power jerk problem.


22-Mar-2008 0825
Jogipet, A short pit stop.
As we sip some hot tea two guys start checking out the bike.
The younger of the two swears he has never seen anything like it.
But is a little sad that the rear tire is not as broad as in an Enticer.


22-Mar-2008 1245
There is spot called Deglur and around it are bad roads.
Nanded is entered via a bridge. Then you are suddenly in a typical traffic jam.
Lots and lots of motorcycles and donkeys.
I have never seen so many donkeys as I did in Nanded.
However I have seen better asses in Bangalore.
As I leave Nanded, I want to top up on fuel.
All the bunks are dry, except for reliance.
Filled the tank to the neck with 6.34 liters of petrol.
That’s a mileage of almost 40 kmpl.
Price was 59.25 per liter.

22-Mar-2008 1435
The road up to Hingoli is bouncy.
A rough and distorted surface ensured more comfort at higher speeds.

22-Mar-2008 1530
Risod welcomed us with rain.
Stopped under the parking lot of SBI.
Had thumbs-up as no tea was available.
Met an ex army chap who now works as a security guard.
He advised us to be careful as every one is drunk and riding fast.

22-Mar-2008 1620
Lonar. The view of the crater takes my breath away.
Its beautiful.

Opposite the crater is a MTDC guest house.
Our accommodation has been taken care off in a hotel opposite the Bus Stand.

I watched the inddie thumpers ride up in style.

There were riders from the WanderLust, InddiThumpers, Highway Nawabs and even a Beaster.
and of course my club the Wanderers.

All the clubs met up and the party started.

The food was finally served at around 2300
The two main food groups chicken and mutton were available.

Rode back to the hotel.

23-Mar-2008 0000
Maurya is tossing around like a drunken duck.
He hits the bed and is lost to the world.

23-Mar-2008 0347
stories on stupid things, smart things and all kind of things.
Guys I got to go and sleep now.
I get over and actually sleep till 0500.

23-Mar-2008 0510
Get ready to meet up with Irfan and his wife at MTDC.
Irfan's bike has something broken in it.
You don't need to be a mechanic or even a biker to know it.
You hear it and know that there is something wrong.
Guri of the IndieThumpers advised that we change the oil and ride her thru.
The advice worked.


I don't have time stamps beyond this.

We took a route slightly different from yesterday.
For about 40 kms rode a narrow strecth of road bound on both sides with slush.
I would ride behind iffi and sometimes take off.
Its better to fly low than crawl on a bad road.

Took a nice spin off when I had to get on the shoulder to let a bus pass.
My cargo trousers developed a tear thanks to a spanner I was carrying.
That is getting bigger and bigger and my thigh is feeling cold.

Had breakfast at a roadside dhaba.
The roti' were the only thing good.

Rode on till we almost reached Nanded.
Stopped to buy 2l of engine oil for iffi' bike and replaced the same.

A short pitstop for drinks and tea.

Fuel up at Reliance. Bike took in 7.5 liters.
The petrol has lasted all the way to Hyderabad.
The rain is hitting hard.

Took a cut off at Naigoan for Biboli.
Rode on till Nizamabad.
Stopped at a bakery for puffs and stuff.
My GPR Helmet dropped on the floor.
The visor lock mechanism came apart.
I put it back together but its missing a spring.
It needs a new lock now.
Can anyone help me find it please.

Swapped helmets with Maurya.
I am now wearing a open face helmet and the rain is stinging hard.
But Maurya cannot see anything as the visor is a dark on and has to be closed.

Meet Pammi from Highway Nawabs.
He is getting a puncture fixed on his bike.
I am grateful for the stop as we get some hot tea here.

Bike is ready and we take off to realize that the tire is again loosing air.

I luckily have a spare tube.
The tube is replaced and we had no problems after this.

Its getting dark and we are riding in heavy rain.
Awesome fun.

A couple of bikes keep stalling as the spark plug wire gets hit by water.
Loosing time and feeling very cold.
I am shivering from the cold and ride in almost pitch dark conditions.

Scared and cold.
But we have committed ourselves to the ride and there is no turning back.

I look at the riders along with me.
Each one a warrior.
All of us are scared and cold. But the man is us is shining right thru.
We love our life so much that we actually live it.

Pammi is on my left.
We are about 100 kms from Hyderabad.
I spot a huge pothole coming up.
Less than 5 feet away from it so I steer right.
The pothole is a good 5 to 6 feet in width.
I am not getting my bike into it.
As its filled with water, I have no idea how deep or long it is.
I dump my bike on the road.
Maurya and I get cleanly off the bike.
But the next few moments when I turn to look back to check if something is coming in.
You need to be scared to understand fear.

Lucky that there was nothing behind us.
I overtake only if I can create a gap of more than 1/2 km.
Especially so in the case of riding in these conditions.

My bike' rear brake shaft had come loose.
I disconnect the assembly and fit it right in.
Its sits in place as Maurya helps me do it.

We continue riding. One stop for refueling and another for tea.

Meet up with Govind who has my bag.
Manish and Govind arrived almost 2 hours before the rest of us did.

I drop off Maurya and finally reach my house at 00:30 on the 24-Mar-2008.

[bblost]

Couple of more pics.

[spadival]

Nice travelogue. Reading it reminded me of Ewan Mgregor and Charely Boorman on "Long way around", though the trip was a lot shorter.

[kkr2k2]

hey badboylost,

good travelogue, almost all the travelogues bore me but this one is simply amazing. More so because its simple.

can you post some pics, of all the riders while riding if your pillion has taken any pics.

BTW, how did you calculate the kmpl when your bike doesnt have the speedo cable??

I think, know the guys you mentioned:
pammi (i guess pramit from Highway Nawabs)
manish(also from HN)
govind(govi???, also from HN)

dont get offended, i felt as if you are going to commit s****** when i saw this pic: (as if you are vexed with the life and would never want to return back, i dont know why)

[bblost]

pammi (i guess pramit from Highway Nawabs) -yes

manish and govind are both from the Wanderers.

I don't have a group pic in my cam.
However when I get it from someone, will post it here.

Glad you liked the write-up.

About that pic, I just kinda liked it.
Was clicked by Maurya as I walked down to see if I can spot any other rider.

[theMAG]

Very refreshingly writen - nice read! And for the first time I now know that the Indian mainland has a crater

[kaushik_s]

Nice travelogue, reminds me of my days on my bike.

BTW, " A couple of bikes keep stalling as the spark plug wire gets hit by water." Is it a issue with only RE bikes ? Cause I never faced such problem although I've ridden many a times in incessant rain.

[bblost]

The bikes were stalling as they hit the water at high speeds.
Am sure that most bikes if they hit water at that speed would stall out.
Plus the bike, which stalled the most was almost 15 years old.

[condor]

Very nicely written. Did capture the mood of the ride in a succinct style.

theMAG : And for the first time I now know that the Indian mainland has a crater

It's an impact crater, possibly the only one in India. Created by a meteorite/ comet.

[kkr2k2]

Originally Posted by condor

It's an impact crater, possibly the only one in India. Created by a meteorite/ comet.

Is this the meteorite part of the one which killed the Dinasaur and another part/piece fell around Mumbai.
(aisa meiney suna tha)

raj.

[manaa45]

enjoyed reading your travelouge. very neat and makes it easier to read as you have left reasonable spaces.

thks

Mansi

[bblost]

More Pics by Anukaran of the WanderLust
Gaddha Mania: The Lonar MeteoRide :: Fotopic.Net

[adc]

Refresing to see a bike travelogue, the uncommoness of the place does make it a better.

Oh yes also remember your last title of your last travelogue

Girl with curly hair (Kuntala) , just kidding.

[PVS]

A poetic travellogue must I say!! Refreshingly different, written in a sing-song manner. Nice!!