I can see clouds but doesn’t look like its going to pour.
Wheels roll at 615 hrs.
Hit a drizzle at Kharghar! Can make out rain happening towards the Bombay-Pune side. Fortunately I am headed Bombay-Goa.
First stop at Kalamboli, Mc Donalds – rations & a coffee. Service is slow early in the morning.
Turn into the Panvel-JNPT toll road to avoid Panvel town – two wheels, no toll!
Hardly any traffic on NH-17 and make good speed. Things are familiar up to Wadakal Naka.
Next stop at Kolad (100 Km.) at 810 hrs to check for directions. I locate SH 60 that goes to Pune and turn into it. The road looks inviting. Hardly any traffic. Nice mettled road lined with greenery on both sides. Starts to get pretty twisty. Underestimate a curve, freeze when I see gravel and wham! Couldn’t pull my right leg out from under the bike. Struggle a little and I am up. A car stops, I wave him past. Try to lift the bike – I can’t. Fortunately a truck comes by. They help get the bike up. Get away with scratches on the faring.
I take it easy after that and enjoy the 79 Km ride to Mulshi – a nice cool breeze for company – stopping often to take snaps.
Check with locals for directions to Lonavla. There’s a narrow road, they point out, that’ll get me to Lonavla. Part of the 60 Km road I am told is rough. Explorer me decides to leave the comfort of the state highway.The road tests me mentally and physically. Rough is an under-statement and its getting hot. Every time I start thinking about turning around, somebody turns up to say the road would take me to Lonavla and that the patch up ahead was bad but it’ll be good thereafter. Now half way down that rattler, turning around is not really an option.
I guess I must be a novelty in these parts – with a shinny new red Pulsar, Red wind-sheeter, cargo net and a jazzy AGV helmet; I have kids running behind me in one of the villages I pass.
I guess I must be a novelty in these parts – with a shinny new red Pulsar, Red wind-sheeter, cargo net and a jazzy AGV helmet; I have kids running behind me in one of the villages I pass.
That road finally brings me to (Surprise! Surprise!) the Amby Valley golf course. A few kms on a broad road then brings me to the Lonavla - Amby Valley road. The road feels like heaven after that rattler.
Stop at Tiger Point for a brunch and a sip of water.
Lonavla to Bombay is, well, a breeze.Distance & Time Line:
Roll 615 hrs.
Kolad 100 Km @ 810 hrs.
Mulshi 179 Km @ 1030 hrs.
Lake view brunch.
Amby valley golf course 210 Km @ 1215 hrs.
Tiger Point view brunch 2.
Lonavla 230 Km.
Home 312 Km. @ 1430 hrs.
Whew!
Exif:
