Biking in Yercaud hills May 12-13, 2012
May 12
I was thrilled on knowing that Nithesh would be joining due to few drop-outs. Thanks for them & our much-awaited cycling-biking trip kicked-off on early hours of Saturday. As usual, we met few members of cycling party in front of Nathan's cafe, CMBT. After loading all bikes in truck, we started at 3:40AM in a Fortuner, Spark, Indica & Santro. Our first pit-stop was for Tea around 07:00 AM after Vaniyambadi toll Plaza.
We reached Salem by 09:00 AM & had breakfast. After checking with the group, we went to Shervaraayan hills to wait for others. They were delayed as Truck carrying our bikes broke-down and had to be fixed. Eventually truck arrived in Yercaud around 03:30PM after 4hrs of our arrival.
Adidas GT9001 genius from Balaji cycles on Jones Road in Saidapet.
By 05:30PM or so 4 of us went passed Kaveri peak & started to descent to Yercaud from other side. Goutham and me stayed together as 2 guys went past us-that's the only thing which made us to proceed. Even as we knew there's no-one behind us, We decided to push/walk the up-hill & enjoyed pedaling the down-hill by talking and pondering when would we meet others. Finally around 07:30PM or so we met Ali almost at the starting point were cycling started.
All four of us said NO-WAY. We would be better off waiting there and would request Peter to drive down on his vehicle to get us+cycles back to camp-site. It was already 08:30PM & I decided to go in Indica along with ShanmugaNathan leaving bike with 3 guys.
When Indica reached Gouri estate, folks were pushing cycles down and was yet to find a camp-site. Not easy till we ultimately found a camp-site by abandoned high school which was around 11PM or so. Peter went on his fortuner to get back 3 guys & cycles. soup was served followed by noodles. I tasted few spoons of soup and slept.
Quickly soon after the bikes were off-loaded from the truck, almost everyone was raring to pedal as weather was perfect to get going. We started at 03:40PM and kept pedaling with few stretches of up-hill followed by down-hill filled with scintillating, picturesque sights of long-sky tall trees on both sides of the roads. It was such a special feeling which can't be expressed; only needs to be experienced.
By 05:30PM or so 4 of us went passed Kaveri peak & started to descent to Yercaud from other side. Goutham and me stayed together as 2 guys went past us-that's the only thing which made us to proceed. Even as we knew there's no-one behind us, We decided to push/walk the up-hill & enjoyed pedaling the down-hill by talking and pondering when would we meet others. Finally around 07:30PM or so we met Ali almost at the starting point were cycling started.
We followed ShanmugaNathan who told us that he would guide all 4 of us till camp-site.
When we asked him, where and How far is the camp-site - response was its 15km up-hill near Kaveri Peak.
All four of us said NO-WAY. We would be better off waiting there and would request Peter to drive down on his vehicle to get us+cycles back to camp-site. It was already 08:30PM & I decided to go in Indica along with ShanmugaNathan leaving bike with 3 guys.
When Indica reached Gouri estate, folks were pushing cycles down and was yet to find a camp-site. Not easy till we ultimately found a camp-site by abandoned high school which was around 11PM or so. Peter went on his fortuner to get back 3 guys & cycles. soup was served followed by noodles. I tasted few spoons of soup and slept.
May 13
Woke up at 07:40AM, glad to see 3 folks and bikes back. After tea & abundance of corn-flakes for breakfast. Day 2 started at 10:15 AM after cycling for an hour; took down-hill off-road for about 10min from where everyone baring (me and Vasanth)
went by foot to hill-top where there was a temple and view was breath-taking.
Me and Vasanth went down till the stream and then joined others by 12 noon after
which we reached Yercaud around 01:20 PM and had lunch.
went by foot to hill-top where there was a temple and view was breath-taking.
Me and Vasanth went down till the stream and then joined others by 12 noon after
which we reached Yercaud around 01:20 PM and had lunch.
Biking resumed by 2:40/3:00 PM with spell-bound, stunning views of Yercaud hills all over the route till end of cycling- distance of about 28km. In between we stopped beside coffee estate owned by Mysore Maharaja, where crew had a ball-of-time in small stream. It started to rain which didn't deter our spirits to keep going. After pedaling for a while
the final-stretch of up-hill was a bit-tedious but almost everyone re-grouped by 05:15PM.
Then came the final down-hill filled with lovely scenes on both sides of the road. It was very tempting to keep gazing the nature and to forget about keeping focus on cycling.
As all good things come to end, Cycling trip ended around 06:30 PM where Truck was waiting for us. We spent about an hour loading cycles on to the truck & started our
de-tour to chennai. We reached CMBT by 01:20AM on Monday morning and parted our ways. Thanks again to Peter & all organisers who made this this cycling trip happen.
We were fortunate to cycle in perfect weather conditions; pedal by night & in rain.
the final-stretch of up-hill was a bit-tedious but almost everyone re-grouped by 05:15PM.
Then came the final down-hill filled with lovely scenes on both sides of the road. It was very tempting to keep gazing the nature and to forget about keeping focus on cycling.
As all good things come to end, Cycling trip ended around 06:30 PM where Truck was waiting for us. We spent about an hour loading cycles on to the truck & started our
de-tour to chennai. We reached CMBT by 01:20AM on Monday morning and parted our ways. Thanks again to Peter & all organisers who made this this cycling trip happen.
We were fortunate to cycle in perfect weather conditions; pedal by night & in rain.
In all 30+10+30=70km of cycling mostly by Thar road in Yercaud hills was to stay in my mind for a very long-time to come.
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