Just a weekend drive

sudev · 14th July 2009, 18:14

Hmm on the trace map I see a directer route to Bijnor but then who know what quality of road that would have been. Having passed through some bone jarring state highway I could perhaps see the logic of mapmyindia to show longer route as faster one.

A confirmatory phone call came in from our friend in Bhimtal
He: Kahan ho?
Me: Between Muzzafarnagar and Bijnor
He: We are having a party at yest another friends place
Me: @##$$$ wait bhi nahin karte
He: Socha to tha par tum bahut late chal rahe ho. (It turned out that it was wedding anniv of the other couple who had come from Delhi and spirits wre soaring high)
Me: Koi baat nahin. Sari raat sone nahin denge

Having crossed Muzzaffarnagar and on way to Binor we started to look for a decent dhabha to stop for dinner. I was getting past 2100hrs and I was surprised to see so many vehicles - mostly trucks - on the road. Some busses and cars were to going along. Spotted a joint at a tri junction of roads coming from Meerut, Muzzafarnagar and Bijnor. We sat down on outside table and ordered our food. Soon three more vehicles with lady passengers stopped at the same place. Interesting. I have seen this happen many time.

akshay4587 · 14th July 2009, 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by phamilyman

This is fun. I also had a similar weekend!

Drove to Mcleodganj, ascended Triund and came back

PS: That is SLOW. My graph would've been full on red all through - 120+ in driving rain near kurukshetra yday!!

Ok now you get an infraction from me for overspeeding on stock tyres
and again passing by without informing.

Next time would invite a Ban for driving\riding on Nh 1 from ambala and Nh-22

@Sudev sir nice log,and these over speeding traps are mostly between Karnal and Ambala
and you were at ambala,so next time you are here,think of the sole bhpian from ambala

sudev · 14th July 2009, 18:37

At about 2330hrs I get a call from my son "Dad how does it feel like driving at 140+ in corbett area?" The guy is tracking me on his computer and knows we are skirting corbett around Kalagarh at that time. He (and his wife - yeah I am that ancient) have gone and come back after watching a movie and here we are still driving in persuit of that hot cup of tea in the hills!

For record we saw innumerable foxes and jakals, dogs and a couple of owls who swooped and flitted across. There were some hares who jumped long distance and frogs who came on the road due to rain. Sorry but some got squished. And there was a traffic jam just outside Kashipur on the road to Kaladunghi.

Just some stats for those so inclined: The first 200kms was covered in four hours from 1730 to 2130. And the next 200 from 2200 to 0100 - three hours. Half of first was in daylight the entire second at night. The first was totally in plains while last 25~30kms of second was hilly. The first was completely dry while it rained in patches during the night run.

Our friends at Bhimta - Naukuchiatal to be precise as the party was hpeening there - called us a few ties in between and I could hear the tenor and tones improve with each call. Yeah they were having a party.

Just past One AM we were entering Bhimtal when last of these call was made and promptly our host turned up at the lake side to escort us. We were delighted to parkthe vehicle and get out. We had been in our moving home a shade over 12 continuous hours.

sudev · 14th July 2009, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by akshay4587

@Sudev sir nice log,and these over speeding traps are mostly between Karnal and Ambala

Akshay I have seen many being caught between Ghraunda Panipat and Panipat Smalakha. So watch out.

Quote:

and you were at ambala,so next time you are here,think of the sole bhpian from ambala

This time it was single aim as you would have gleaned. Next time sure.

sudev · 14th July 2009, 19:19

We were ushered in to the bedroom of our hosts and told in most friendly and no uncertain terms that this is where we will sleep. They would sprawl over in the other bed room. (Thanks friend this was most touching and just for this I will forgive you for partying without me)

We hit the sack around 0230hrs and my internal clock woke me up at its usual early hour. i tip toed out and caught this lovely dew drenched flower that had me enraptured for a long time

After I took this picture I just left my camera and car keys in the verandah that runs on the outside of the rooms and took off for a walk. Breathing in early morning fresh and chilly air was itself elixir enough to send me to raptures.

A brisk walk uphill - always try the uphill route because if you get tired you can walk down downhill slowly but try doing that uphill - showed me some amazing sites with clouds rolling from the plains over the saddle between two hill. I knew it was a mistake to leave the camera behind.

So I am borrowing - like the beds -- from my host some more pictures.

sudev · 14th July 2009, 19:33

Once I was back from my walk about I could see activity on the verandah and on entering it I found my hosts up and ready with the much looked forward to cup of hot tea

The verandah runs round on three side and is a lovely place to sit and chat and swap stories. Later we were joined by the anniversary folks and another couple who have equally amazing property on the shores of Naukuchital. Many cups and brunch later sadly it was time to go back home. Monday meetings and schedules were waiting.

The route back we followed was this

Later we found that there was a slightly shorter route but what the heck we were enjoying ourselves and some of the conversations we had are not for this or other forums.

Only just before we reached home my wife suggested that we take a detour and celebrate the end of trip with a plate of "gol gappa" (a.k.a pani puri or puchka). A perfect end to the trip.

The total trip was of 955kms. A bit costly cup of tea that was but what a weekend drive!

tsk1979 · 14th July 2009, 19:55

Why did you come back via Rampur, take the forest highway(turnoff from Moradabad!) Basically from Haldwali you turn towards Kashipur, and then from Bazpur take the arrow straight high speed forest road to Moradabad.
With easy driving Moradabad-Nainital is 2 hours on this route

sudev · 14th July 2009, 20:20

Tanveer while passing through Haldwani I missed the Kaladunghi / Kashipur turn (used that route going up) and since the town was so rushed I continued on Rudrapur-Rampur route. The road is well maintained although a bit longer.

StarVegabond · 14th July 2009, 20:22

Hi Sudev

Driving 955 KMs over 2 days for a cup of tea with your good old friend
is indeed fantastic way to spend a week end.

wonderfully written travelogue.

sudev · 14th July 2009, 20:24

@StarVegabond: Indeed and sometimes it is good to do plain crazy things. A good car and will to drive are only essential ingredients (some money in the purse too).

StarVegabond · 14th July 2009, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudev

@StarVegabond: Indeed and sometimes it is good to do plain crazy things. A good car and will to drive are only essential ingredients (some money in the purse too).

when you mentioned money, you reminded me of the guy in that advertisement, who wants to go to his neighbour's friends sisters son's marriage at Kolkatta. Only good thing is that you take your better half with you.

sudev · 14th July 2009, 20:38

Would not dream it without her in the navigators seat.
That is why I could not understand some comments in another thread where some newly hitched guy was complaining that his wife does not like to travel with him. It has to be shared passion with a bit of give and take

(okay more give than take)

f1fan · 14th July 2009, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudev

@StarVegabond: Indeed and sometimes it is good to do plain crazy things.

Its always fun to do those unplanned trips. Great narration.
BTW one thing never changes i.e. Wives never lose any arguments

StarVegabond · 14th July 2009, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudev

Would not dream it without her in the navigators seat.
That is why I could not understand some comments in another thread where some newly hitched guy was complaining that his wife does not like to travel with him. It has to be shared passion with a bit of give and take

(okay more give than take)

I fully agree with you, I would like to narrate a incidence
we (myself, wife and daughter) were driving (in my old palio) through a (appeared to be) naxalite affected jungle area in the middle of the night, i had a flat tyre, eventually i had to stop.

in fact it was the first flat i had to fix in my driving life of 6 years (at that time), i had never done that. i was very much scared to get down the car
after a while i tried to stop some vehicles, but none would stop to help us.

i could evenutally replace the tyre with help from my wife. those 45 minutes were indeed fabulously scarry. Without my wife's assistance i could not have replaced the tyre myself on that day.

In Indian marriage it is referred to as "companionship"

sudev · 14th July 2009, 21:10

Exactment
This is what enjoying time together is all about not the quantity but the quality.

14th July 2009, 18:14	#16
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Hmm on the trace map I see a directer route to Bijnor but then who know what quality of road that would have been. Having passed through some bone jarring state highway I could perhaps see the logic of mapmyindia to show longer route as faster one. A confirmatory phone call came in from our friend in Bhimtal He: Kahan ho? Me: Between Muzzafarnagar and Bijnor He: We are having a party at yest another friends place Me: @##$$$ wait bhi nahin karte He: Socha to tha par tum bahut late chal rahe ho. (It turned out that it was wedding anniv of the other couple who had come from Delhi and spirits wre soaring high) Me: Koi baat nahin. Sari raat sone nahin denge Having crossed Muzzaffarnagar and on way to Binor we started to look for a decent dhabha to stop for dinner. I was getting past 2100hrs and I was surprised to see so many vehicles - mostly trucks - on the road. Some busses and cars were to going along. Spotted a joint at a tri junction of roads coming from Meerut, Muzzafarnagar and Bijnor. We sat down on outside table and ordered our food. Soon three more vehicles with lady passengers stopped at the same place. Interesting. I have seen this happen many time.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 18:37	#18
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	At about 2330hrs I get a call from my son "Dad how does it feel like driving at 140+ in corbett area?" The guy is tracking me on his computer and knows we are skirting corbett around Kalagarh at that time. He (and his wife - yeah I am that ancient) have gone and come back after watching a movie and here we are still driving in persuit of that hot cup of tea in the hills! For record we saw innumerable foxes and jakals, dogs and a couple of owls who swooped and flitted across. There were some hares who jumped long distance and frogs who came on the road due to rain. Sorry but some got squished. And there was a traffic jam just outside Kashipur on the road to Kaladunghi. Just some stats for those so inclined: The first 200kms was covered in four hours from 1730 to 2130. And the next 200 from 2200 to 0100 - three hours. Half of first was in daylight the entire second at night. The first was totally in plains while last 25~30kms of second was hilly. The first was completely dry while it rained in patches during the night run. Our friends at Bhimta - Naukuchiatal to be precise as the party was hpeening there - called us a few ties in between and I could hear the tenor and tones improve with each call. Yeah they were having a party. Just past One AM we were entering Bhimtal when last of these call was made and promptly our host turned up at the lake side to escort us. We were delighted to parkthe vehicle and get out. We had been in our moving home a shade over 12 continuous hours.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 19:19	#20
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	We were ushered in to the bedroom of our hosts and told in most friendly and no uncertain terms that this is where we will sleep. They would sprawl over in the other bed room. (Thanks friend this was most touching and just for this I will forgive you for partying without me) We hit the sack around 0230hrs and my internal clock woke me up at its usual early hour. i tip toed out and caught this lovely dew drenched flower that had me enraptured for a long time After I took this picture I just left my camera and car keys in the verandah that runs on the outside of the rooms and took off for a walk. Breathing in early morning fresh and chilly air was itself elixir enough to send me to raptures. A brisk walk uphill - always try the uphill route because if you get tired you can walk down downhill slowly but try doing that uphill - showed me some amazing sites with clouds rolling from the plains over the saddle between two hill. I knew it was a mistake to leave the camera behind. So I am borrowing - like the beds -- from my host some more pictures. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 19:33	#21
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Once I was back from my walk about I could see activity on the verandah and on entering it I found my hosts up and ready with the much looked forward to cup of hot tea The verandah runs round on three side and is a lovely place to sit and chat and swap stories. Later we were joined by the anniversary folks and another couple who have equally amazing property on the shores of Naukuchital. Many cups and brunch later sadly it was time to go back home. Monday meetings and schedules were waiting. The route back we followed was this Later we found that there was a slightly shorter route but what the heck we were enjoying ourselves and some of the conversations we had are not for this or other forums. Only just before we reached home my wife suggested that we take a detour and celebrate the end of trip with a plate of "gol gappa" (a.k.a pani puri or puchka). A perfect end to the trip. The total trip was of 955kms. A bit costly cup of tea that was but what a weekend drive!
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 19:55	#22
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,718 Thanked: 22,829 Times View My Garage	Why did you come back via Rampur, take the forest highway(turnoff from Moradabad!) Basically from Haldwali you turn towards Kashipur, and then from Bazpur take the arrow straight high speed forest road to Moradabad. With easy driving Moradabad-Nainital is 2 hours on this route
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 20:20	#23
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Tanveer while passing through Haldwani I missed the Kaladunghi / Kashipur turn (used that route going up) and since the town was so rushed I continued on Rudrapur-Rampur route. The road is well maintained although a bit longer.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 20:22	#24
StarVegabond Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,891 Thanked: 42 Times	Hi Sudev Driving 955 KMs over 2 days for a cup of tea with your good old friend is indeed fantastic way to spend a week end. wonderfully written travelogue.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 20:24	#25
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	@StarVegabond: Indeed and sometimes it is good to do plain crazy things. A good car and will to drive are only essential ingredients (some money in the purse too).
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 20:38	#27
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Would not dream it without her in the navigators seat. That is why I could not understand some comments in another thread where some newly hitched guy was complaining that his wife does not like to travel with him. It has to be shared passion with a bit of give and take (okay more give than take)
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 21:10	#30
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Exactment This is what enjoying time together is all about not the quantity but the quality.
	() Thanks