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-   -   Life's a Beach...Damn, it's those Fortuners again! (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-excursions/147735-lifes-beach-damn-its-those-fortuners-again.html)

A long overdue Winter Drive !
Feb 9, 2014.
Participants: The Toyota Fortuner Owners Group (TFOG) Gang from Mumbai & Pune - Karan, Manish(BHP), Satyen (Monaro), Venkat & Y's Truly.
Drive Spot: Kashid Beach, near Alibag.

Have enough snaps to go yakkity yak. Let them do it.

And the show begins at 6.00 am. In Mumbai & Pune.

Mumbai - The Fortuners form up.


Karan & Manish grin awaiting a fun filled day.


Karan & YT.


I knew it in my bones that it would be a superb day. Splendid weather. Clear blue skies, crisp cool breeze all throughout - even at the zenith of Sun's travel.
Clean & neat drive. We went via Mumbai - Pune E-Way till Khalapur tool booth.


Sun peeks out.


The wait for the Pune posse after taking the U-turn at Khalapur toll booth. The large detachment of cops were eyeing us suspiciously. Thanks to the large scale violence against toll booths by a political party in Mharahstra.


Debating the way to go to Kashid. The directions speak for themselves.


The Pune posse drives in.
Monaro (2nd from left) & a serious Venkat (1st from right). Venkat was woken up after a long night, at a party. It shows.


Now with you know who.


After the Khalapur toll booth we took the Pen Connector Route.
And were hit immediately by a thick pea soup fog.




At this point nothing was visible beyond a couple of meters. Thanks to Monaro's skillful driving we navigated the stretch of about 15 KMs peacefully. Hats off to you mate, Monaro !

And suddenly as it came, it cleared up as well and a bright cheery day ahead.



Some scenes on the way.




And a quick break as Monaro's nerves were shot to pieces in the fog. For a bit of personal plumbing & smoke checks.


Meanwhile leadership programmes advice us not to work in silos !


Back on the delightful drive again...





That dilapidated bridge was quite something.

Breakfast time. A small village joint which called itself a 'Resort'. But the fare was good.


Back on the road again. The additional noise you hear in the background are satisfied burps. And not really the vehicle engines acting up.



First sight of the sea !




And the drive continues through some fabulous patches of scenery.


(To be cont'd...)

Saw the teaser pic from Karan on watsapp group, and was eagerly waiting for this clap:. Let the tanks roll :D.

Con't...

Near Kashid - A quick break to get our bearings right and to locate a good spot on the beach.



Finally the spot located. Couldn't have been better !


The first Fortuner in - Karan, guided by Manish.


And the rest followed in a trice.


We decided first to have a photo op and then proceed with the beach drive and 4X4 runs.

Great rears.


Whirring cameras in action now.



And my favourite shot of the day:

To my mind it captures everything. The bright sunshine, the cool breeze and the surf. Can anything get better ? Sigh !

Meanwhile the rest.


Rearranged the Fortuners to give 'them' a different view !





We then decided to check out the true horse power of the vehicles. We found it to be as stated in the specifications in the manual.


Evidence of the effects of repeated oil spills off the beach.


Karan's checking the sand for traction.


This group that walked away took plenty of snaps posing next to the Fortuners line up. They were delighted.


Looking forward to...


Snapping the snapper.


Life's so funny. This ATV ridewallahs sprinted up to us and asked whether there was any campaign on. We replied in negative and we got talking amongst ourselves as to how this baby was the real thing. And we heard the two guys chat between themselves and mention how the parked vehicles were the ekdum solid, sahee cheez for the roads and off it. Well, as usual the grass is greener on the other side I guess !


And the beach ride. Short and simple. Spinning wheels, only gently throwing up sand, traction loss sometimes and quick end not wanting to create a mess and commotion. But the Fortuner's capabilities (AWD & 4x4) were once again checked. Though I dindn't engage the HL or LL at all on the Admiral. We avoided the water completely and with a good reason too. Uncle Corrosion was lurking somewhere there.


Some folks did sense the clutch burn smell on aggressive pushes.

After the beach run. Karan decided to check out his Continental tyres and the 4x4 system a little more than the rest. The bullock cart owner was mighty amused.



Meanwhile the rest checked out the vehicles and the sand contents inside.


Meanwhile Karan was still at it.


And finally it was time to depart.


The Mumbai folks came back on NH 17 via Panvel and Pune posse went back the way they came via Khalapur.
Again a peaceful drive back home which ended for the Mumbai chaps at 3.30 pm and at 4.30 pm for the Punekars.

Thank you Manish (Chief Planner & Coordinator), Karan, Monaro & Venkat. Was sheer joy being there.

Ahmed our Snapper in Chief & Kedar Johnnie Walke'r were missed this time around.

As ever, the TFOG outing was sharp, crisp and memorable.
Couldn't ask for anything more really, could we ?

And now would request my partners to add in their side of the event & snaps from their cameras here.

Aloha !

Hi Folks,

Great Day of fun. Did not know of this, else would have joined from Pune. Well my loss....

Would be surely interested next time you guys plan a get together.

Regards,
Jumbo

Spotted Monaro and Venkat on the Expressway

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...-car-1901.html

Thanks Guderian for the start up to the thread with a wonderful set of pics & write up.

It was one of our shortest but tiring drives we hav done but indeed a action packed sunday.

Some pics from my side;

Driving in tandem was good fun;



Manish(bhp!) explaining the importance of having a 'heavy' breakfast;



A Wagon R encroached the Fortuner line up - kinda CUTE IMO, lol



Dense Fog was definitely unexpected & was a wonderful experience. Temperature dropped to as low as 14 deg C



The 1st look @ the SEA;



All Forts lined up & cant wait to hit the Beach





Seen here is Admiral & My BRUTE-FORT;



Some encounters got Deep, had to engage HL to get myself out of;



& some 'S'and drifting;

Wow! Awesome pictures and a crisp write up!

The one with the tree, sea & Fortuners take the cake!

Lovely morning spent on the beach and some great pics there, Guderian. Am willing to bet good money it was your idea to have the Fortuners lined up by colour :D.

Met Monaro_CV8 the previous evening and he looked like an excited little boy with his first toy at the prospect of waking up at 5 am and heading for the beach meet. Now I kinda get why!

Please keep making such nice memories and posting them on the forums. Just one question: is it safe to go that close to the water with your 2-ton vehicles?

That's truly a pity Jumbo ! Especially since you own a Fortuner. If you can let us have your contact particulars then it'd be great.

Nice snaps there Karan.
Driving on NH17 is a mother mighty pain isn't it ? And down right dangerous too. And the ST buses drive like they couldn't care less. It was indeed rather tiresome.

Thank you getsurya. If we could get you and Boss around these parts or we come down to your neck of the woods it'd be great !

Hey noopster, Long time.
Thank you for the kind words.
I'll be damned ! We never realised that the Fortuners were lined up by colour...no, it wasn't me but one of life's happy coincidences. Now that you mention - yeah it sorta looks nice.

We were indeed worried about the waterline and hence were very clear that we wouldn't even venture to where the moisture line was visible. We did walk about and stomp to see the water collect at some points and decided to stay far away from that line. Yeah, beached whales aren't a pretty sight really !

Hi Guderian, Kind of you to say that! I would love either ways or a middle point also works for me. :)

I feel jealous sometimes, that I do not stay any near for all the fun you guys have with your Fortuners.

Awesome fun you guys had!Would have loved to join in.
Great narration guderian sir and lovely photography just love the pic of Karan's Fortuner launching in the sand.
Also hope you guys have washed your underbody thoroughly after the sand bashing.
Enjoy!

Herr Guderian, awesome thread as usual! A great, fun-filled day indeed. Kedar and Ahmed, missed you guys! Here are a few snaps from my side.

The guys in action:

Guderian




And Karan



Selfie time :)



Monaro, HG, Karan and Manish



Manish explaining to Karan the finer points on beach driving



Manish, Karan and Satyen (Monaro)



Karan, Satyen and Yours truly :) (a couple of us trying to desperately tuck the tummies in!)



My Blue Tank - Callandor

And now the vehicles in action. Could catch Satyen, Manish and Karan performing their dare-devilry :)

Satyen





Manish in action





Manish and Satyen going at it together!

And finally..Karan and his dare-devilry :)





Probably the best image of the day

Hi Venkat,
Those are some fabulous shots ! The last shot is the piece de resistance...those Continentals are truly sand miners, aren't they ?
Thank you.