First Run
We left late. Too much work to do at our Mapusa office. We thought we would ride to Gokarna or thereabout and bed in for the night. Instead, we managed only 85 kms at a lovely place just North of the Karnataka border, just south of Canacona.
Navigating through the thick of Christmas holiday traffic, we rode from Mapusa, our spirits high and fuel tanks full despite the bustling roads. Canacona, with its serene calmness, welcomed us for a peaceful dinner and overnight stay due to fully booked hotels on locations further ahead.
All geared up, we hit the road again just as sunrise was flickering on the Eastern hills. A long ride ahead, we were eager to conquer the remaining stretch to Bengaluru. As we cruised along NH66, a wave of nostalgia washed over me, rekindling memories of my first motorcycle ride with my Bajaj Pulsar NS 200 on this very highway, over a decade ago.
Marvanthe Once Again
The #Maravanthe beach, a breathtaking spectacle where the highway kisses the coastline on one side and a river gracefully flows on the other. It is my favourite spot on this road and as is customary, we spent some time recording content and taking in the positive vibes. You can see on the pics how beautiful the morning sun shone. The bluest blue, the brightest smiles. Marvanthe Rocks!!!
The landscape shifted dramatically as we ascended into the verdant hills of Belanoor and Chikmagalur, surrounded by lush green and scenic coffee plantations. The winding roads welcomed this spanking new RE Himalayan 450 as it breezed through the ‘no roads’ and fast corners. Many sections actually tested the ‘no roads’ marketing line with potholes or pot canyons. Verdict pending.
Hassan, The Night Ride
As we descended into the flatter terrain, the pace picked up. We sprinted through three toll gates Hassan, reaching Nelamangala for a much-needed dinner break. Finally, after a long and exhilarating day on the road, we reached our Indiranagar hotel around 12:30 am, exhausted but exhilarated.
This short ride tested our on road co-ordination, the machines and gave us an insight on what to expect on the mega ride. This indeed was an eye opener and yet an awesome way to conclude the year and enter Chefs Ride 2025.
Savio Tavadia
