Hi Folks,
Here's a brief account of my Exodus to mantralaya.
I had decided to go to Dharmasthala the last saturday (alone) catch some fresh air & enthu.However my better half had some other plans, spontaneously came up with Mantralaya as the Destination and that she would be the pillion!!!
Hmm, sounded good to me and preparations were done on friday evening .. everything except the bike.Suddenly remembered that the chain was rattling and that its death was imminent.The sprocket teeth was worse than my grannys (just kiddin)However i remembered it a tad too late and 10:30 in the night and i am about to leave at 5 AM the next day.
Just got a bout of strong nerve, decided that let the hell (or chain) break loose, i am getting along with the ride.
Accordingly, got up at bang 3:30 had a hot bath, packed my saddle bags and started at 5:20 AM.
The ride was mundane till we entered Chikkaballapur, damn those 6-lane highways.. no fun.. just keep a rigid accelerator at 90 kmph.Reached Bagepally in no time by 7:10 AM.
KM done : 110
After Chikkaballapur, u get to see the real indian Highways (2-Lane) where the oncoming lorries will literally put you off the road when they are overtkaing another lorry / bus.Need to be very cautious in that highway as it is not too wide.
Had an excellent black top road all the way till Penukonda.Had a breakfast at the only manageable hotel in the town and swiftly road on to Anantpur reached at 9:15KM Done : 235
The unforgiving heat started to show its true colours once we crossed Anantpur. Gooty came and went in a flash and we headed towards Adoni.Its really admirable in Andhra that even the state highways are well maintained and are of top class.Hats off the ChandraBabu Naidu era. He has made sure that even the remotest areas of the state has good roads connectivity.
The real Rayalaseema unfolds after crossing Gooty, flat barren lands, black soil and hot rocky hillocks in the Brown Black Due only to be torn into 2 halves by a dream road.Riding through the virtual desert like conditions, the mind is at atmost peace not worrying abt anything, it helps to scratch the inner souls.
Did I mention that I hadn't cared to rectify my bull's chain before leaving.Ohh yeah, it started to create a menace only we crossed Aspiri. The chain started a deathly rattle which incessantly kept threatening to rip off the sprocket.Stopped at the next immed mechanic shop and got to tighten the chain only to get the shock that the mechanic condemned the bike not to last more than 10 KM uproad
Damn......
Anyway, no other way to go except to carry on forward we reached Adoni only to find our hopes shattered that no Bullet's spares are available in the radius of 100 KM!!
Only possibilites are Kurnool / Bellary.
PS : Bulleteers planning to do this stretch are fore warned to carry enough spares like spare tube, spark plug, clutch - brake cable etc
What to do now.. Its 12:30 in the afternoon, my butt's baked in the heat and wandering aimplessly on the roads.Just prayed once to God and decided .. to Hell with the chain. we are going ahead come what may...
We progressed at a steady 60 KMPH without reducing the acceleration at any time for the fear of the chain ripping off the sprocket.By the holy grace we reached Mantralaya at 1:30
Route : Bangalore- Chikaballapur - Anantpur - Gooty - Adoni - Yemmiganur - Mantralaya
KM - 405
Here's a brief account of my Exodus to mantralaya.
I had decided to go to Dharmasthala the last saturday (alone) catch some fresh air & enthu.However my better half had some other plans, spontaneously came up with Mantralaya as the Destination and that she would be the pillion!!!
Hmm, sounded good to me and preparations were done on friday evening .. everything except the bike.Suddenly remembered that the chain was rattling and that its death was imminent.The sprocket teeth was worse than my grannys (just kiddin)However i remembered it a tad too late and 10:30 in the night and i am about to leave at 5 AM the next day.
Just got a bout of strong nerve, decided that let the hell (or chain) break loose, i am getting along with the ride.
Accordingly, got up at bang 3:30 had a hot bath, packed my saddle bags and started at 5:20 AM.
The ride was mundane till we entered Chikkaballapur, damn those 6-lane highways.. no fun.. just keep a rigid accelerator at 90 kmph.Reached Bagepally in no time by 7:10 AM.
KM done : 110
After Chikkaballapur, u get to see the real indian Highways (2-Lane) where the oncoming lorries will literally put you off the road when they are overtkaing another lorry / bus.Need to be very cautious in that highway as it is not too wide.
Had an excellent black top road all the way till Penukonda.Had a breakfast at the only manageable hotel in the town and swiftly road on to Anantpur reached at 9:15KM Done : 235
The unforgiving heat started to show its true colours once we crossed Anantpur. Gooty came and went in a flash and we headed towards Adoni.Its really admirable in Andhra that even the state highways are well maintained and are of top class.Hats off the ChandraBabu Naidu era. He has made sure that even the remotest areas of the state has good roads connectivity.
The real Rayalaseema unfolds after crossing Gooty, flat barren lands, black soil and hot rocky hillocks in the Brown Black Due only to be torn into 2 halves by a dream road.Riding through the virtual desert like conditions, the mind is at atmost peace not worrying abt anything, it helps to scratch the inner souls.
Did I mention that I hadn't cared to rectify my bull's chain before leaving.Ohh yeah, it started to create a menace only we crossed Aspiri. The chain started a deathly rattle which incessantly kept threatening to rip off the sprocket.Stopped at the next immed mechanic shop and got to tighten the chain only to get the shock that the mechanic condemned the bike not to last more than 10 KM uproad
Damn......
Anyway, no other way to go except to carry on forward we reached Adoni only to find our hopes shattered that no Bullet's spares are available in the radius of 100 KM!!
Only possibilites are Kurnool / Bellary.
PS : Bulleteers planning to do this stretch are fore warned to carry enough spares like spare tube, spark plug, clutch - brake cable etc
What to do now.. Its 12:30 in the afternoon, my butt's baked in the heat and wandering aimplessly on the roads.Just prayed once to God and decided .. to Hell with the chain. we are going ahead come what may...
We progressed at a steady 60 KMPH without reducing the acceleration at any time for the fear of the chain ripping off the sprocket.By the holy grace we reached Mantralaya at 1:30
Route : Bangalore- Chikaballapur - Anantpur - Gooty - Adoni - Yemmiganur - Mantralaya
KM - 405
Got ourselves a very decent room adjacent to the temple and hit the bed only to wake at 4 well in time for the darshan.Had an excellent darshan, roamed aimlessly on the town streets before the sleep beckoned us.
Next day morning , again had a good darshan and started off at 7:30.Had an uneventful, calm and serene ride all the way till Bangalore as I couldnt speed up more than 60 KMPH. Atleast my wife is happy that here back ain't hurting of the smooth 60 ride.
Total : 810 KM
Anyway, a satisfying ride for me, a new experience for her, a breather of a life for my bull.
