[SS-Traveller]

This morning, we had a most pleasant drive through the hills around Saputara, breakfasting on blackberries (?) ('kalajamun') and exquisitely tasty and sweet strawberries (the best I've ever had). As a result, we were delayed a little before hitting the NH-8, and continuing towards Ahmedabad.

It so happened that we started looking for a decent 'dhaba' about 2 pm, before Vadodara, around 40 km before hitting the expressway - and found none. Without an option, and with no lunch, we entered the NE-1. There seemed to be a food joint attached to the Reliance pump after the Nadiad turn-off, but without any markers; we overshot it and had to carry on.

Finally found a place called "Gamthi" where the food was excellent though the temperature outside was not. A half-hour in the heat was bad enough to set off a heat stroke, plus the fact that we calculated that we'd reach Mt. Abu after 8:30 pm - without a confirmed hotel reservation - swerved the decision towards stopping over at Ahmedabad. Checked into a small hotel near the highway that SatGuide located for us, and at Rs.900 for an AC room with a clean bathroom and a working TV, it's a great deal.

So we've decided to defer climbing up to Mt. Abu till the dawn tomorrow...

[Sudipto-S-Team]

How could I miss this for so long?!? Guess was busy with my own travelogue and didn't look anywhere else. But where are the pictures?
I guess you should be given the most footloose team-bhpian award.

[StarVegabond]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

mine lasted for about 6.3 seconds, I suppose.

Prayer over, I was on my way out, when I got hurt. As it is, my back was starting to play up despite wearing a lumbosacral support belt, after being pushed and jostled in the very unruly and poorly managed queue. Then there were these uncouth guards at the end of the queue, herding people out (like cows) after their 6.3 secs. One of them managed to shove me exactly where my back hurts, and the sudden pain almost made me stumble and fall.

I know how you feel, there is a provarb, "to get GOD's darshan, one has to really struggle". generally most of the famous temples viz. Tirupati, Shirdi, Pandharpur etc one is made to really feel that the proverb is true.

take car of your back, especially considering you have to drive long way back .

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by Sudipto-S-Team

But where are the pictures?
I guess you should be given the most footloose team-bhpian award.

Trip completed last night, back home after 3970 km added to the odo - now completed 97k km. Drove from Mount Abu to Delhi in 13.5 hours - about 840 km. The traffic after Jaipur was frustrating, and added 1.5 hours to my planned 12-hour run.

Thanks for the offer, Sudipto-da! Any award is always welcome!

Here come the first few of a lot of pics - this from the Day 1 run from Delhi to Pune. My camera was packed away when we left at night, and I wasn't fishing around in the dark to find it. So no night shots, and a few shots in the morning.

The place where I got my overflowing cup of tea in Gujarat...


Crossroads on NH-8


Some pics from NE-1





It was really, really hot outside (I believe it was 44*C), and the temperature meter started edging above its usual position once I was on the NE-1 and doing 140+ km/h with the AC full on. Backed off to about 120-130 km/h, and the needle gradually fell to normal and stayed there. Car showing its age a little, I guess, but I'm not complaining...

A helmetless biker doing 80 km/h around Vadodara on the NH-8


Some Reliance petrol stations in Gujarat have started operating since the last 2 weeks, selling only diesel and AutoLPG - no petrol. This one is at Ankleshwar.

[harishnayak]

Some Reliance petrol stations in Gujarat have started operating since the last 2 weeks, selling only diesel and AutoLPG - no petrol. This one is at Ankleshwar.
Attachment 142449[/quote]

You're right , I recently did Delhi Karnataka on my Chevy Spark and stopped by for a refill from a reliance petrol pump , it had petrol too. Here is a picture of that

This was in december'08

[SS-Traveller]

A few more pics (these from my mobile), of the road between Udaipur and the Gujarat border, with its twists and turns through the hills.





A few interesting events on the drive from Delhi to Pune:
1. In the middle of the night, somewhere on the Delhi-Jaipur section, I stepped out for nature's call. My LS belt was on the seat, and unknown to me, it fell on the road. I remembered about it 1km after starting off again, and had to do a 10km diversion to the next cut and back, to pick it up. Thankfully, it was lying on the road just where the car was parked. Without it, my trip would have had a bad beginning.

2. At the NH-79 >> NH-76 changeover, the construction of the interchange is not yet complete. We missed the turn in the dark, which is just a dirt track, and went on to the Chittorgarh road - a single-track potholed highway. The diversion cost us at least 30 minutes and 10 extra km.

3. In the afternoon, as we approached Mumbai, my map showed a route through Thane, connecting to the Mumbai-Pune expressway. We turned left at a junction with a gigantic Fountain Hotel sign marking the corner, and headed towards Thane. Switched on GPS -- and nothing. An error message was displayed, and the storage card where the SatGuide software was installed had been wiped clean! Something had happened and I didn't have GPS! Soon, we were pulling over at every other crossroads, and asking for directions. Finally, after an hour (or more) of travelling on city roads, through places like Nerul and CBD, and paying the odd toll on the way, we finally managed to hit the Mumbai-Pune expressway.

4. At the toll-gate on the Mumbai-Pune expressway, I paid Rs.140 and was handed over the change and the ticket. At the exit point at Pune, the guy asked for Rs.84 again. I ask him why, and he says I'm carrying a Rs,84 ticket! I told him I had paid Rs.140 and that it was the toll cabin fellow's fault at the other end. The fellow coolly lifts the barrier and says "Theek hai, jao...". I wonder what kind of a racket this is, but then onwards I've become wary and check every toll fee receipt I get for the correct amount.

[harishnayak]

4. At the toll-gate on the Mumbai-Pune expressway, I paid Rs.140 and was handed over the change and the ticket. At the exit point at Pune, the guy asked for Rs.84 again. I ask him why, and he says I'm carrying a Rs,84 ticket! I told him I had paid Rs.140 and that it was the toll cabin fellow's fault at the other end. The fellow coolly lifts the barrier and says "Theek hai, jao...". I wonder what kind of a racket this is, but then onwards I've become wary and check every toll fee receipt I get for the correct amount.[/quote]

I did'nt observe this througout my Journey , however its quite possible what you're saying. Maybe they try this on the outstation cars otherwise why on earth would he let you go without charging the balance amount.

[SS-Traveller]

Spent the first couple of days at a conference at the AFMC. The campus and the facilities were extremely impressive, and I had a great guided tour of the place, thanks to an old school friend whose department had organized the conference.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by harishnayak

Maybe they try this on the outstation cars otherwise why on earth would he let you go without charging the balance amount.

Exactly my thought. My cousins living in both Mumbai and Pune, who frequently commute between the two cities by road, report that such a thing has never happened to them. I wonder if anyone else on this forum has ever had such a thing happen to them.

[harishnayak]

I never knew that so many people from Delhi do Delhi-Mumbai/pune etc on their own cars. I thought i was one of the few who did it , also there was a lot of intereference from my parents and my in-laws for doing such a long trip on Spark.

Delhi rocks Cheers!!

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by harishnayak

I never knew that so many people from Delhi do Delhi-Mumbai/pune etc on their own cars. I thought i was one of the few who did it...

Lol... so I thought too. But that was before I joined t-bhp a few months ago! It seems now that there are many more maniacs like me in this country, criss-crossing across long distances and making the driver's seat their second home!

Anyway, to continue...

We made a fast trip to Mumbai on the 24th (Sunday) afternoon, and came back Monday early morning. Here are some pics from the Mumbai-Pune expressway.



I'm not sure why folks turn on their hazard lights every time they enter the tunnels, but it sure makes for quite a lot of irritation for the eyes of those following them. At least it does to me.





Entering Mumbai


Some pics from the 24th floor of the lights of Mumbai.



And we were back in Pune by 10 AM...

[SS-Traveller]

Now, Pune reminded me a little of Jurassic Park. Here's why...

The jungle of tall palm trees


The exotic appearance of the plants


The helicopter comes in



And the expensive SUVs standing by to pick up the guests

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

The highlights of today included a trip to Chitle Bandhu for Bakarwadis

Here are the photos from Chitle Bandhu and Kayani Bakery...










Back on MG Road


I find this Ducati parked on the side


We found some good 'shawarma' and roast chicken at this place...


... and some moderately good chinese food here.

[StarVegabond]

You seems to have visited Deccan Gymkhana branch of Chitale Bandhu.

Did you visit Naaz or Mahanaaz cafe on MG road ?, they serve special samosas (both veg and non veg), bun butter and irani tea. i miss such a restuarant here in bangalore.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by StarVegabond

You seems to have visited Deccan Gymkhana branch of Chitale Bandhu.

Did you visit Naaz or Mahanaaz cafe on MG road ?

You're right - this Chitle Bandhu was next to the Deccan Gymkhana. And no, I'm afraid we missed the Naaz cafe! But a friend did take us to the PYC Gymkhana Club one night, where we had a decent dinner.