[star_aqua]

Drive through the forest!

YouTube - On the way to Soligere

This was the trail awaiting for us after Gypsy's breakdown!

YouTube - forest drive

Next part: Breakdown coverage! Coming soon..

[dhwanit]

So, this has been my second OTR experience thus far with the first one just the weekend before at Ramanagaram. That time at Sholay hills, the very first rock face was daunting to look at from the bottom but with adrenalin pumping it was a breeze up and down several times once I overcame my initial apprehension. But what transpired yesterday at the Soligere OTR made the whole Ramanagaram/Bidadi OTR seem like child's play!

Three of the four 4x4s that were involved took some sort of damage. A rock hit either my front transfer case or steering system that is making a griding sound that I need to find the cause for, Vijay's jeep ran into a broken starter relay at the beginning, followed by a loose exhaust pipe at the end on the highway. Mukund's gypsy was the one that took the most abuse, managing to get back to Bangalore after being worked on at least 6-7 times during the whole OTR as well as once on the highway! Shahnawaz's gypsy was the only one that I think came away "unharmed" :-)

I think a picture story will be better (unfortunately no videos)...
Just got out the camera after crossing Kanakapura


The drive towards Muttati



That's where we are headed


On the road again



Here's where we got off the road onto a cattle trail


First glimpses of the rocky terrain yet to come


Break time... I switched over to 4L at this point



More to come...

[dhwanit]

Here's where we discovered Vijay's starter relay gone bust. Crank the starter and the relay would just click.


He first tried to jump start by putting it in reverse and free wheeling down backwards. When this didn't work, we realized that a tow jump start is necessary.

I reversed to tow his jeep for the jump start thinking that I didn't have a hook in the back (it was hidden by a bumper extension that I discovered later)





More pics of the trail... this was all the very easy part (pics are a bit hazy thanks to my windshield)



Shrubs were now slightly bigger than the grassy meadows above


Trees now come into the picture


And tall grass!





More to come...

[dhwanit]

A pit stop on the way above. Stopped here for a bit of banter and quick smoke break. We looked at watch here and its just 9:30am! We thought that we'd have this whole OTR wrapped up by noon and start heading back down after enjoying the view on top. At 9:30am it sure seemed that way...




This is me after Mukund pointed out that my jeep had a towing hook at the back too. To jump start Vijay's jeep




Driving through thick foliage



The convoy at the first technical stop


Survey of the soft mud (although not quite slushy) to maneuver through


Mukund going first


Followed by me



More to come...

[khan_sultan]

Dhwanit & Vijay, Some really nice pictures & videos you folks have captured. After I have seen sooo many great photographers at OTR's I have literally stopped taking pictures at OTR's knowing fully well that fellow off-roaders will upload some great pictures to relive the moments.

Yes, after an OTR to soligere, the one's at some other places do look like child's play but each one is special in it's own unique way.

I am sure both you & Vijay have lots of pictures to pictorially storyline the 'Mukunds Gypsy' 3 hr movie show and the subsequent 30 minute serial episodes.

Cheers,

[condor]

khan_sultan : This is what happened in the middle of the OTR and kept us busy the whole day.

Tools required: 3 hydraulic jacks, 1 hi-lift jack, 3 tyres and lots of rocks...

I think Khan Sultan's Gypsy's rear fell off ! Apart from the tools listed here, other important thing used was the tow rope to tie the section to the rest of the Gypsy. The frequent stops were to tighten up the ropes again.

[rangan]

star_aqua needs to punished!!!
he made us push-start his antique on numerous occasions on the sakleshpur OTR!!

but, i agree, these are the things that make trips memorable!! cheers:

[khan_sultan]

Originally Posted by dhwanit

..... Shahnawaz's gypsy was the only one that I think came away "unharmed" ....

Originally Posted by condor

..I think Khan Sultan's Gypsy's rear fell off ! Apart from the tools listed here, other important thing used was the tow rope to tie the section to the rest of the Gypsy. The frequent stops were to tighten up the ropes again.

He he he.. Good one condor. Touchwood, My Gypsy has been rock solid till now. touchwood again.!!! Having said that, I had my share of trouble in 2007 Coorg OTR where I blew my clutch and had to come back to Bangalore driving without a clutch and it took me some 12 hrs to do so.

Oh yes, here's my pictorial contribution to this thread :-).

A single flower in forest looks so good. In total harmony with the thorns, tall grass, trees, shrubs around it. (It is also the first time I have actually stopped on an OTR terrain while navigating a path to take a pic)

[condor]

khan_sultan : Touchwood, My Gypsy has been rock solid till now. touchwood again.!!!

Oh, Ok. So there was no gypsy a.s.s around the country-side, roaming all over the place there .. .

khan_sultan : I had thought I had seen it all in my off-roading experience, but this one was unique.
khan_sultan : Having said that, I had my share of trouble in 2007 Coorg OTR where I blew my clutch and had to come back to Bangalore driving without a clutch and it took me some 12 hrs to do so.

Looks like your OTR experiences have been as rich & varied as the terrains that you have been exploring. Keep them coming !

[Iswear]

Lest people start calling me a stalker, I just LOVE Vijay's CJ500d.

Once I am back in blore, I think I will haunt him and give him sleepless nights till he lets me touch and hug it

[rangan]

myself and star_aqua were discussing the tools that were carried on OTR's.
another friend of ours was wondering if there was a first aid kit that was carried.

so, just curious, did u guys carry a first-aid kit along as well???

[khan_sultan]

Originally Posted by rangan

.... so, just curious, did u guys carry a first-aid kit along as well???

Yes, my toolbox has a basic first aid kit (the one that comes with cars). It's always there with me when I go for OTR's.

Cheers,

[sreerajunnithan]

Guys i am still waiting for the Breakdown story. Come on, 2 days are more than enough for breaking the suspense.

Thanks
--Sree--

[star_aqua]

Originally Posted by sreerajunnithan

Guys i am still waiting for the Breakdown story. Come on, 2 days are more than enough for breaking the suspense.

Thanks
--Sree--

Sree, Just waiting for Dhwanit to share the pics as i did not find much pics in my cam .

[whitemm550]

Originally Posted by dhwanit

So, this has been my second OTR experience thus far with the first one just the weekend before at Ramanagaram.
----
Break time... I switched over to 4L at this point
Attachment 64302
Attachment 64303

More to come...

lovely pics mate, love to join you the next time round.

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