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IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:
When 17 facelift Ford EcoSport came together and decided to drive and meetup at Dandiganahalli dam, an unexplored jewel of Chikbalapur district, Karnataka. The serene waters of the dam and a required open place to park more than 25 SUVs served as a perfect recipe for a weekend meetup.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Many of the EcoSport owners were in touch as a part of FB EcoSquads Group. People from Bangalore were desperate to meet each other since quite a long. Finally the day has come and we all decided – let’s make a plan and execute it.

INITIAL PLANNING:
As it was a first meetup, so we all decided to have a half day or maximum one day drip to know each other and to make it a memorable one. Due to hot weather it was decided not to bring kids. On 3rd Mar, we jotted below four places and created a poll to seek the response.

1. Dandinganhalli Dam
2. Shettihalli Church
3. Mekedatu/Chunchi Falls
4. Lepakshi Village

Response was tremendous and with Dandinganhalli Dam as most preferred option. Hence, we closed on it, to move for further planning. As a basic step for planning we created a Whatsapp group and added all the interested owners. With an overwhelming response we added 21 people into the group in next 4 days, by 7th March.


To have handy information of all the members, we created one shared Google Sheet and asked each one to update it. (Personal information has been removed).


Many travelogue from Team Bhp helped us to decide, to move in a convoy for this drive. Two members were chosen to decide the convey positions based on the colors of our Beast available. Suggestion came to have same color of EcoSport together like a plain layout or to have a mosaic pattern. Finally we closed on mosaic pattern and followed color scheme as RWBRWGRWCRSRWBRWGRBCR (R=Red, W=White, B=Blue, G=Grey, C=Canyon Ridge, S=Silver).

We designed the stickers with convey# to be pasted at rear windshields. One of the sample is:


To make the event lively and memorable we thought to have a dress code. To get the flavor of people, we created a quick online survey to decide between Blue Jeans+White Tee or Blue Jeans+BlackTee. Blue Jeans+Black Tee got more votes.

But as few desired wear white tee, it was decided to wear both Black and White Tee to make everyone happy and also to have good deadly combination of black and white.

We thought to have certain Do’s and Don’ts so as to keep the momentum high and not to have any hurdle during the event. We issued below Basic Safety Guidelines:

• Seat belts compulsory for all passengers in the car.
• Children below 10 to be seated compulsory at the rear seat.
• Overtaking strictly from Right only, if required. Otherwise we would be moving in Convoy only.
• Speed limit under 100 Kmph (mandatory).
• Maintain safe distance between cars.
• EcoSport Sport Model would be leading and rest all would follow him.
• No littering anywhere (request and mandatory).

HOW WE PLANNED THE ITINERARY:

• We decided to meet in smaller groups based on start points.

1. Esteem Mall at 7:15 AM: Owners coming from Hesaraghatta Main Road, Basavanagudi, RK Hegde Nagar and from Bilekahalli.
2. Opp Wells Fargo at 7AM: Owners coming from Singasandra, HSR Layot, Carmelaram and Electronic City Ph-2.
3. HP Office at 7AM: Owners coming from Whitefield, Hoodi and Brookfields.
4. After Devanahalli Toll Plaza at 8AM: Kadugodi, Yelahanka and Vijaynagar.

• We decided to gather at 8 AM, immediately after paying and crossing Devanahalli Toll Plaza.
• Pasting serial no. sticker on rear windshield in next 30 mins was next on the card.
• To create an impression, we decided to move in Convoy from Devanahalli Toll Plaza to Dandiganahalli Dam. The position of each EcoSport will be as per the sticker affixed on windshield.
• To save time, we decided not to have breakfast. We all carried snacks to have at DAM direct, which also gave us flavor of potluck.
• We decided to spend as much as time possible at DAM dependent on weather and other activities.
• We chosen to follow same Convoy to return and have Brunch. The venue for that was to be discussed and closed at DAM.
• After Brunch, we can return to our respective home.

Route taken:


HOW THINGS WENT:
On the D day, finally 17 EcoSport out of 21 made it. Spouses and Friends of few of the members joined, total count was 25+. As planned all of us assembled by 8:15 AM at Devanahalli Toll Plaza. We had initial intro and after that we started pasting of the Convoy Position Stickers.


Position #1 at Convoy:


Position #2 at Convoy:


Position #3 at Convoy:


and so on till #17.

Here are few pictures taken once everyone graced at Devenahalli Toll Plaza.

Classic line up shot using selfie stick with GoPro cam. Bird’s-eye view from front:


And Bird’s-eye view from back:


Panorama shot taken from other side of the road to capture all 17 EcoSport in a single pic:


Time to show the female power:


Gorgeous ladies with beautiful cars:


Time for Guys now:


Another selfie click:


After capturing few good clicks we started from Toll Plaza at around 9:30 AM. Yes we were late by 1 Hr, but all were happy with good round of photo-shoot, which is the key to make any event successful.

EcoSport beauties lined up in all their glory:


Started well in a convey on NH44:


Somewhere after passing the Chikballapur:


Time to show the presence of baby SUVs on muddy roads:


After driving 4 km of very bad stretch we reached at DAM around 11 AM. It was a hot day and there was not a single tree for shade. We parked all the 17 Cars, the scene was simply awesome. Few of the random clicks as below.

EcoSports with aesthetic beauty of DAM:


Parked in an arc:


DSLR on action on Tripod:


No place was left unturned to capture the scenery. Few found this beautiful spot to click a perfect moment but someone clicked their pics which is also beautiful:


Yeah we had few photo enthusiast who even went opposite side to capture the beautiful line-up:


Needless to say they captured this beautiful shot:


It’s enough shoot for time being, let’s have Breakfast now and all the items put together, brought by each individuals.


And the home made beautiful yummy cake too:


Let’s celebrate the meet by cake cutting and have breakfast after that.

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...Continued:

Few clicks of serious discussion, about next steps after breakfast:






Meanwhile, some were having their own fun time:


And someone was busy in his own selfie:


Another round of photo-shoot started and with modelling by gorgeous ladies, who joined us to boost the morale:





Lets try B&W too:


From the eyes of GoPro Cam:



Ah.. someone clicked the selfie man:


One more to add wonderful clicks:


Owners with their respective EcoSport:



Final group pic before parting ways:



And a million dollar pic, worth of framing:


It was 1 PM already and many of us decided not to have Lunch, due to heavy breakfast. As the kids were having the exam on next day, so we decided to disperse and to head for our homes in same convoy.

Thanks to FB Group, "EcoSquads - The GANG of Facelift Ford EcoSport" for making this happen. A good day indeed! Thank you Ford for making the EcoSport a versatile baby SUV!

Hope you liked this short travelogue. Cheers and Happy Motoring !!!

[BikerSuz]

Thanks for putting up the thread Nitesh. Nicely mentioning about how we planned it and executed it.

It was indeed a great meetup/short drive. Meeting the other 16 EcoSport owners whom I had only interacted online previously.

[Rakshith220]

Good post Niteesh Kumar Mittal...! Next time willing to be a part of a group road trip like this in the near future! And kudos to you and all the people in the group who made this happen!

[nkumarblr]

Originally Posted by BikerSuz

Thanks for putting up the thread Nitesh. Nicely mentioning about how we planned it and executed it.

It was indeed a great meetup/short drive. Meeting the other 16 EcoSport owners whom I had only interacted online previously.

Many thanks BikerSuz for joining and helping in proper planning and execution. Lets rock together in future events too.

Originally Posted by Rakshith220

Good post Niteesh Kumar Mittal...! Next time willing to be a part of a group road trip like this in the near future! And kudos to you and all the people in the group who made this happen!

Thanks a lot Rakshith220 for your kind words, it means a lot for me. I would also love to join a meet-up with you anytime. I will inform you in well advance for any future event, so that you can plan to join the same.

[ankan.m.blr]

Nice meet and great photos 👍. Is the road condition of last 4 km too bad? Do able in a hatchback?

[nkumarblr]

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Nice meet and great photos 👍. Is the road condition of last 4 km too bad? Do able in a hatchback?

Thanks Buddy. No, its not too bad and very much drivable with hatch. But you will not enjoy the driving on this stretch for sure. Be little careful, that's it.

Please do share your experience once you visit the DAM.