Lepakshi Temple bike ride

Day: Sunday - 09/01/11

First ride of the year 2011,     
       The plan was to ride to Lepakshi Temple, Hindupur in the morning which was about 120km away from Bangalore. Saturday night filled up the tank and check the air pressure of both the tyre and went to bed anxiously waiting for the night to over.
       Got up early in the morning and freshen up & called madhu to check out at what time he might be reaching my place. I packed up the tools and went to check out the bike. Oh god! to my surprise front tyre had gone flat, it was 6 am in the morning no chance of finding any puncture shop. Madhu reach after 10 mins, went to look out for any puncture might have open, shop owner had put a  board saying 9am to 9pm. Dejected came back and planned it to push it till the nearest petrol pump. Informed the gang that we will be joining on the way. filled the air in front tyre and checked if any leakage is there, air was leaking from the valve pin so filled more air and planned to get it repaired on the way.
       It was already 7am when we started from Ganganagar. We were 1 hr behind the schedule, so planned to ride slowly and join them near the breakfast point, Kamat-Chikaaballapur on NH 7. On the way we spotted one puncture shop open in morning for business, check the tyre and replaced the valve pin and all set to roll once again. The roads are totally covered with dense fog. The visibility in some places was very less, so driving around 30-40 km speed. The weather was too chilled to ride but were enjoying the fogy ride. In fogy roads people used to drive keeping blinker switched on, it feels like light bugs are flying and we were chasing them on our bull. As the traffic was less after crossing Devanahalli, i asked madhu if he wanted to ride the bull. He was very much interested to tame the bull. Slowly the fogy roads were clearing and were into the clear sky, sun kissing the skin softly. We were enjoying the sun warmth after the chilled weather. We reached Kamat Restaurant by 9:am, already all the bulls are parked in the parking lot, still few more bull on there way.

Bulls resting!

We were too much hungry after pushing the bull early in the morning for 2km, I order for 1 plate idli-vada, 2 vada and then kesari bath, now i was feeling fully satisfied. 

       Now everyone all set to started the ride, once again i checked the tyre pressure to make sure it was not leaking anymore. All the bull running in 2by2 formation, thundering the NH7 with there thumping sound.

Riding in  2by2 formation

After driving for another 40km, after crossing the RTO check-post take left turn for Lepakshi road. This road is small one so we formed single row once entered the road. Lepakshi temple was around 16km from the NH7 junction.

driving in single line

We reached Lepakshi Temple by 12pm, parked the bulls where ever we find space to park in the parking lot. 

Few snaps of Lepakshi Temple

After temple visit started back for lunch. On the way we stopped to take photo of the Nandi. 

 

Nandi

Once again we regrouped  and started our ride back to Kamat Restaurant. We reached the lunch point by 3pm. I ordered for north indian thali, it was good. After finishing lunch we gathered for photo shoot. 

group photo

Once the group photo shoot session was over, all were ready to hit the road. Once again we drove by forming 2by2 formation. Royal Knights official photographer - Navin will always goes ahead to look out for location from where he can take lovely pics. 

We reached near Hebbal flyover by 4:30pm, we stopped there for last meeting point before saying goodbye to fellow riders. We were very thirsty, i had 2 tender coconut to quench my thirst. After say goodbye to rest of the rider everyone move to there final destination- sweet home. We reached my place by 5:30pm, madhu was too tired so he planned to not to take rest and head back home. Years first ride was good but my ride without any misfortune can't be completed. Ah....eagerly waiting for the next ride!

See you soon!

Route: Bangalore-Chikkaballapur-Lepakshi Temple-Chikkaballapur-Bangalore

Distance Covered: 260KM

Shravanabelagola bike ride

Sunday Morning bike trip to Shravanabelagola with Royal Knights Motorcycle Club. This was my first ride with any Royal Enfield motorcycle group. The group starting point was at Mekri circle by 6 am. Madhu was joining me as pillion rider, he came early in the morning from his place and then we left for Mekri circle.

By 6:30 am 16 bikes and riders were present and ready to ride. Naveen was acting as the group captain and rest of biker will follow him. NTR as the sweeper and the photographer. The road till Jalahalli crossing was in bad shape as metro works is going on, after that road is very good till Nelamangala, this stretch of the road was newly built 6 lane for congestion free traffic. Took left turn near Nelamangala for NH48 and stopped for first pit stop for tea break.

Tea time

bulls taking break!

After good tea break once again we hit the road, from here NH48 roads were under construction for 4 lane so some parts of the roads are good and some are still under construction. Now when ever we got good space we tried to form 2 formation for riding, it was a good experience to ride this way and maintain good average speed.

When the ride was getting good my rear tyre got punctured, i couldn't know it - Giridhar was behind me he spotted low pressure and asked me to check it out & and turned out a iron nail has rapture the tyre. As the trye puncture repair shop was 3km away we disengage the rear wheel and took to the repair shop. by that time one fellow rider also joined us there. Once the repaired trye was put in place and tested it, found out rear wheel was wobbling. So planned to ride till the next puncture repair shop and get it repaired. Due to improper trye adjustment the rear trye was wobbling, once again flattened the trye and filled it with air, fixed it back & now it was good without any wobbling.

let's roll

Once we were near Kunigal, the roads were in very bad condition because of road widening. Once we reach the outskirt we stopped for breakfast. Kunigal is famous for its big idli's( tatte idli), everybody was so hungry with in few mins we were running out of idli's, had to wait for the fresh idli's to be served. Most of the travelers who pass through Kunigal always stop here to taste the tatte idli. After awesome pet puja once again we were on the road. we drove for another 1 hour and took the second pit stop before  Channarayapatna town.

2nd pit stop

After good 15 mins break we started the ride, we  reached Channarayapatna and took left turn for Shravanabelagola. This road is small and goes through the villages but in good shape with few traffic.

 single line formation

driving for another 15km we reached Shravanabelagola, and parked our bulls little bit away from the park space as it was filled.

We have around 2 hours in our hand for temple visit. Few of them stayed back so that they can look for any restaurant for lunch and rest went for temple visit.

Few clicks

We spent good time clicking lots of photos in and around the temple. As we could not found any good restaurant near by planned to stop near Cafe Coffee day after crossing Channarayapatna town. Once we reached the the spot and parked our bulls in parking lot, headed to order for lunch. On the menu we could only get snacks and some rice item which took around 20mins to cook. It was a mistake who order for rice item they waited impatiently for the order to be served. when we finished our lunch it was already 4pm.

It was time for us to head back to Bangalore. We gather for the group photo shot.

group snap!

 After group photo shot finished, few people fueled up the tank and we were back on the road. Once again luck run out, it was not my bike bye the way. One of fellow riders rear trye got punctured, so we had to called for pit stop. Once again we have to take out the rear wheel, but this time it took lot of effort to take out the wheel as the bolt was slipping. Any how mange to took out the rear wheel and took it for repair.

 trying to figure out how to remove the rear wheel

prized possession took be Navin

 Because of it we got delayed by another 1 hr, finally we fixed the tyre and headed back to Bangalore. On the way once again stopped near Nelamangala Junction for tea break. After the break all gather and decide which route they wanted to take and get back home. Few of them took the NICE road, while few took Yeswantpur road and said goodbye till the next group ride.

    It was great experience to ride with Royal Knights. Now eagerly waiting for the next ride!