Goa!!
Well, we all know and have either heard about it or dreamt / fantasized about it (at least I have) with its pristine beaches and party atmosphere. And I’m sure that a lot of people wanted to ride to Goa on two wheels. This is a short description of sorts of how my solo journey on two wheels went about.
After failing to make the trip to Goa due to several appalling reasons last year, I wasn’t going to let it slip out this year. The rain or the sun of one of the hottest Indian summers yet, nothing was going to hinder my resolve. However, the build up to the day of the ride wasn’t smooth and was littered with dilemmas. It was constantly changing between a series of decisions, from yes to no to maybes. So I had to ask, how do motorcycle riders ride solo for several days?. The sheer mental strength required to keep forging ahead bearing the pain from the hard seat radiating to the hind regions, to the dwindling wallet resources. In any case it did teach a good lesson on patience and endurance for the better I suppose. So the night before the day of the off came and I hadn’t put any thoughts into the accommodation or the ride itself and decided to do all that after getting there. However, the plan was to make it a two day ride from Chennai to Shimoga halting for the night there. Then from Shimoga all the way to Goa Via, Gokarna and Karwar. As ever, this would change as it mostly never goes according to a plan.
On day of the ride with the usual long-distance-ride mood cloud hung over me which is always a good thing, I started from Tambaram, Chennai at exactly 05:20 Am and headed towards Shimoga via Vellore - Bangalore – NICE ring road – Tumakuru. Reached the entrance of NICE ring road around 10:00 am and proceeded towards Tumakuru and the route options displayed in the GPS were between Kunigal – Arsikere - Shimoga or Tumakuru – Tiptur – shimoga and the third option which was 30 kilometers longer than the first two options : Tumakuru – Chitradurga – Channagiri – Shimoga. I, being as daft as ever, took the long route because it was the quickest as shown in the map. Not sure if I would’ve reached sooner had I taken the other routes but after meandering around the rocky hills of Chitradurga and Channagiri, reached the hotel where I had booked my stay at 16:20 pm. Channagiri deserves a special mention with myself being unfamiliar with the midlands of Karnataka, found it to be a small village with a touch of 'Sholay'-ish feel to it which to me personally, was stunning. As soon as one enters the town, you are hit with a spectacular image of a small town around a hill fort. And so, the mileage for the day was 628.6 kms on the trip meter. After checking in at the hotel I had booked, rested for a while, planned for the next day, fueled myself up and retired to the comforts of the cozy bed.
Roads
The roads from Tumakuru to Chitradurga are smooth and excellent. From Chitradurga to Channagiri the roads are village highways which are good but not the best. From Channagiri to Shimoga, the roads are a mix between smooth stretches and broken stretches dotted with pot holes. Fuel stations are present plentiful along the way.
Day 2
The next, courtesy of the hard seat and the pain, had to reconsider the route that I had planned earlier and changed it to Shimoga – Hubli – Panaji which is a more straight forward approach. Started from the hotel at 06:20 Am and headed towards Devangere - hubli. The roads have tolls (for cars) but are very uneven at several stretches past Devangere and Haveri. It poses a serious threat and could make any vehicle to lose control and veer off. Hope the council responsible for the roads take a look at it soon and make it better. After passing through Hubli and Mollem, reached Panaji around 13:30 Pm and retired to the hotel at 14:30 Pm.
One thing that needs a shout is the presence of small speed breakers on the highway at junctions between Devangere and Hubli. Sure, they're there for good measure but would be a jolt in the nerves for the uninitiated. Stay alert on the roads people, even on wide empty stretches.
Roads
Shimoga to Devangere is a state highway and is in fine condition. Devangere to Hubli is four to six laned and is in good condition as of May 2017. As I stated earlier few stretches between Haveri and Hubli are uneven. Hubli to Dharwad to Panaji is a beautiful piece of tarmac, gorgeously knitted amidst forests and villages, though would advice anyone who plans on doing this bit to fuel up before Mugad as there aren't any Petrol stations for around 100 kilometers.
Fuel stops: (Towards Goa)
1st stop : Krishnagiri, TN
2nd stop : Channagiri, KA
3rd stop : Devangere, KA
4th stop : Dharwad, KA
5th stop : Baga, Goa
6th Stop : Hubli, KA
7th Stop : Devangere, KA
8th Stop : Electronic city, Bangalore, KA
9th Stop : Ranipet, TN
Route info : Chennai - Bangalore : Smooth six lane highway with Toll fee for four wheels and up.
Food and Petrol stations available.
Bangalore to Chitradurga via NICE ring road : Good six lane highway with Toll fee for
two wheels and up
(only on the NICE road bit).
Food and Petrol stations available.
Chitradurga to Channagiri : Small narrow village roads, some parts under construction though motorable and some smooth bits passing through small villages and fields.
Road side dhabas and Petrol stations available.
Channagiri to Shimoga : Roads are a mix between small broken village roads to smooth four lane parts.
No toll fee, Petrol stations available.
Availability of food is a question.
Shimoga to Devangere :
A ribbon of state highways across villages and picturesque fields dotted with fuel stations and restaurants.
Devangere to Hubli :
Six lane highway with tolls, Fuel and food stops are plentiful.
Hubli to Dharwad :
Two lane highway, though smooth is a risky piece. Be alert for oncoming cars and trucks as they tend to use the opposite lane while overtaking.
Dharwad to Panjim :
Smooth well maintained two lane road is a gem through small villages and forests/ghat sections. Availability of restaurants, Fuel stations and amenities are scarce till Mollem.
Mileage: Tambaram, Chennai to Royal Orchid Central, Shimoga : 628.6 Kilometers
Start time : 05:15 hrs
Reached at : 16:20 hrs
Royal Orchid central, Shimoga to Nazri Resorts, Goa : 376.3 kilometers
Start time : 06:20 hrs
Reached at : 14:30 hrs
Nazri Resorts, Goa to Cotton County club resorts, Hubli : 192.1 Kilometers
Started at : 09:30 hrs
Reached at : 13:30 hrs
Cotton County Club resorts, Hubli to Tambaram, Chennai : 723.5 Kilometers
Started at : 05:56 hrs
Reached at : 18:45 hrs
Day 3 and Day 4 :
Rode around Goa in the wee hours of the day and started for home. Planned to reach Hubli by evening and call it a day and do Hubli to Chennai the next day via Devangere - Tumakuru - Hosur.
About the bike: Kawasaki Z250
A couple of weeks before the ride, had the bike serviced by JMB Hyosung, Kilpauk, Chennai and they did a good job of it as well.(They were taking the reins from Bajaj and setting up shop for the brand new Kawasaki dealership(JMB Kawasaki, Chennai) in Chennai. The shop was in construction at that time) It was just a standard service to check the coolant levels, to change the engine oil and check the battery as well. Everything on the bike is bog standard and it did a fine job all through the way. Efficiency was good and the large 17 litre fuel tank helped cover longer distances between fuel stops.
On the down side, the Kawasaki does have a hard seat which is a pain. Really!
And would love for you guys to help me with a few things:
1) How do people ride for longer distances on a hard seat. Is there any way to reduce the pain? does Ride-on Air do any good? or are there any other alternatives?
2) I usually ride at speeds between 90 - 105 Kmph on the highways. Does riding at such speeds for longer durations, increase the chances of fatigue and pain in the limbs? What would be a good cruising speed?
Thanks and with that I'll end my narration and post a few pictures taken while on my travel.
Somewhere near Hosur with my bright lime green MT. The dealer said the pattern reflects light at night. Pity I wont be able to see that. NICE ring road. Nice BA, Nice!! Onwards to Tumakuru and Sira.
At Shimoga Somewhere near Channagiri Stumbled upon this in Shimoga. All I could picture was Ammunation from the GTA series. At devangere Anjuna Beach, Goa Baga, Goa Just sit and watch time fly by