Quote:
Originally Posted by smartcat Back from a 1,400 km Home - Mysore Road - Wayanad - Madikeri route - Mangalore/Suratkal/Udupi - Charmadi ghat - Home trip...
- because I had this strange fear that the tyre would fall off! |
tyre falling off ..Ha ha..What fear man!, Imagining the context, I laughed out hysterically. My 2 smilies per post quota is just for this. Lovely trip report, I so miss bangalore and around at times.
Okay, so here's what BRV is up to in North.
An avid hunter is one who on his way back from wilderness contemplates more daring hunts for the next time so as to satiate his hunger longer. True to this spirit, the hunters in my family on the return in last trip envisioned some place quieter and something not done, for the next trip in May.
@Shashanka provided some interesting options in Kumaon range but for some reason the guys on the other side weren’t as excited as I was when it came to bookings. (Shashanka: could you please share pandey ji’s & other KMVN phone numbers again).
In parallel, I started looking for other options that could provide respite from blistering NCR summer, away from madding crowd and most importantly – something different. ‘Camping’ is something I had been hesitant with an over enthusiastic pet and 'Dangal' kids, as the last attempt had the other campers complaining of too much “life” (read high db sound/screams) in ‘that’ camp. But then I thought to myself that the kids and the pet have grown a year wiser (hopefully quieter per society’s benchmark) so all should be okay. With this optimism, a campsite was booked higher up in Narkanda, some 50 kms from Shimla. The 1000 kms escapade for the month of May was well underway.
Route options:
Faridabad-Del-Chandigarh-Solan--Shimla--Kufri—Narkanda
This is the route some 20,000 visitors to Shimla take per day during this season. So, I had serious apprehensions despite my family wanting to see Shimla. I cajoled them for coming to Shimla on the return.
Faridabad-Del-Chandigarh-Solan—Kandaghat—Chail--Kufri—Narkanda
This one is off the beaten path, bypasses the Queen of hills-Shimla and I was happy to stay away from the city due to the colossal traffic on narrow roads. Rather I'd whistle through scenic Chail which was just 25kms longer.
Started from Faridabad (NCR) at our usual 4ish AM, steered BRV through the latter route and the additional 25kms drive turned to be absolute bliss. With cloudy afternoon, cool breeze and winding through hills with zero traffic what more could I have asked for. Someone correctly said, contrarian approach pays. Finally reached the camp site after 10hr drive.
The stay was fun, family level adventurous and very healthy. I filled up my lungs with deep deep breath and really connected with Nature – listening just the birds’ chirping, feeling moist grass and meditation. Well, all this was only till the kids woke up and the dog realized that his walker is missing.
After an year, as feared the kids and pet have only grown noisier and their sound pollution must have bothered the guests and fauna around. But as we were there for just 2 days & 1 night, I didn’t bother the noise makers with the usual parental warnings and let them be.
Picked a couple of apple juice crates, boxes of red cherries and local fruits as mementos.
Here are some pics and some description where they don’t tell their story.
FE: Ahem Ahem.. from 11ish to 17kmpl, vooh hoo.. It continued like this for next 200 kms till the hills started. Driving style as usual sedate to mildly aggressive. Things done differently this time - cleaned air filter prior to trip, checked all tires' pressure for 33psi from 2 shops which were right next to each other. Imagine their amusement. Overall trip FE: 14.6
This happened perhaps 15 or so minutes before I passed. A truck had hit another and the one in front toppled over closing most part of 3 lanes. Lucky passing this spot on time.
Here the XUV had hit the median, rolled over and crossed over from the other side
Hills of Himachal in sight
Local taxis (mostly Altos) habitually zip fast without a care in the world. And then life gives them time to introspect and relax
The Camp, bonfire, trekking, serenity (and dog bark, kids' excitement we can't hear here.. ha ha)
Break to re-center the brain affected by the zillion twisties on the way down
Now this Duster's driver (green T) was in some real hurry. Twice he bothered me with close shaves coming down the hill and then I saw him unsuccessfully trying to muscle his way in back into the lane seeing oncoming traffic. He learns a lesson in patience.
Last accident seen on the trip. This stretch is just when long drive down through hills is over and tarmac on plains welcomes you, tempting to speed up but just then another vehicle in front of you brakes hard .. oops.
Until next, drive safe.. cheers! (:thumsup ha ha)