Nagalapuram to Tada trek October 26-28, 2012

Its been over 8 months of trekking as cycling has taken a front-seat. 

After attending a cousin's wedding in Koduru, Andhra Pradesh on October 25

went to work and was picked up by Jayanthan (organiser) of End-End Nagala Tada Trek.

We reached Pichatur around 07:00 AM had Tea & Idlies for breakfast in an eat-out just before Pichatur dam-lake. Trek started at 09:00 AM crossed 1st and 2nd pool our destination was to reach camp-site which is the Picnic pool. Due to the pace of the group and I deviated from the group during a descent to reach stream - group got delayed and we stopped much ahead of picnic pool to spend the night. Soup was served - missed to have soup cos I dozed off. Stayed awake with great difficulty to have noodles after which entered sleeping bag to sleep. I slept very well inspite of having couple of punctures on my bum which occured during the day.


Woke-up next morning to cover-up the distance which our group was lagging to reach picnic pool. In 2 hours or so finally managed to reach picnic pool. Had Tea and corn-flakes for breakfast. After an hour, Trekking resumed about 10:00AM  from picnic pool to touch historical trail for camp site. After couple of hours by noon, 7 of 17 guys decided to get back to base via dead-end pool. After brief discussion, 10 guys including organiser Jayanthan, Alappan, Girish, Gopi, Kalyan, Sandeep, Saraang, Shankar, Varaprasad & me proceeded forward to reach our camp-site for 2nd day. We trekked beyond day-light using torches until 09:30 PM. After reaching a peak-top, were there was enough place for 10 guys. We gulped little bit of whatever water was left with the group. Most of them slept without having dinner. There was slight drizzle for about 5-10 minutes or so.
Me, Girish, Jayanthan & Varaprasad were talking for a long time much after most guys had slept. 2nd night was not soo good as I had distured sleep.

Got up early next day soon after day-light appeared, watched sun-rise with some cloud-cover. Trekking started on Day 3 with a lot of ascends and descends eventually we reached our next camp-site near statue where we had Tea with rusks. We resumed our trekking by 10:00AM reached Tada plateau and finally crossed Tada falls and were stuck at 06:30 PM not sure of how to reach base of Tada(Ubulamadugu falls). 3 days of thorns tickling, creepers cutting, stones slipping and rocks hitting-hurting ankles ended.

Finally Girish, Jayanthan & Saraang seeked Peter's advice and eventually reached parking area of Tada falls around 09:15 PM. 2 autos dropped 7 guys until VaradhayaPalem at 11PM.
Got a bus to Koyambedu within minutes after we got off the autos. Bus stopped at an eat-out before Tada where we had dinner and said good-bye to Sandeep at Tada. I got-off at Padi Junction and reached home at 02:00AM.

Trek info: 3days and 2 nights
Distance: around 40km

Special Thanks to Jayanthan for his appauling navigating skills which made it possible for the group to cross the line. Saraang & Girish assisted Jayanthan and Kudos to all other members of the group who stayed together and supported each other at all times.
Super Sandeep should be really appreciated to complete the trek with a bee-sting.
Thank you all Shankar, Gopi, Varaprasad, Kalyan, Alagappan. Hope to see you all in some CTC event sooner or later. 


fotos to follow

suburb ride on 09 October 2012

Started at 04:30 AM from home reached Vepampattu via Ambattur, Avadi, Pattabiram, Thiruninravur. Reached home around 09:00 AM taking right from Thiruninravur railway station to get into SH 50A. On touching Indo-Japan lighting company on SH50-Thiruvallur High Road pedaled all along Jamin Korattur passing by Lotte Chocopie and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages limited - Vellavedu-Thirumalizhai until Chennai bypass near Poonamalle - Maduravoyal - Koyambedu - Anna nagar - ICF.




Distance - 74km
Time - 4hr with 30min break

Morning Sun

How do you rate the morning sun
After a long and sleepless night
How many stars would you give to the moon?
Do you see those stars from where you are?
Shine on the lost and loneliest
The ones who can't get over it

You always wanted more than life
But now you don't have the appetite
In a message to the troubadour
The world don't love you anymore
Tell me how do you rate the morning sun?

Stuck inside the rainbow years
And you could happen to me
Cause I've been close to where you are
I drove to places you have seen
It all seems so familiar
Like they've been sent to kill ya

It doesn't take an astronaut
To float in the space is just a thought
The morning brings a mystery
The evening makes it history
Who am I to rate the morning sun?

And the village drunk
Sadly passed away,
It was a shame I never knew his name
I wonder if he sat there every morning

Watched the sunrise

How do you rate the morning sun
It's just too heavy for me
And all I wanted was the world

If you were the star that lit the sun
Don't go wasting your time
Cause there is no finish line
And you don't see anything,
Not even love not anything,
The night can take the man from you
A sense of wonder overdue
The morning brings a mystery
The evening makes it history
Who am I to rate the morning sun?

September 28-29-30

Ganesh Visarjan & to meet friends met during Jalori Biking Expedition.

Posted invite in facebook group & booked tickets by June 3rd week.
On September 27th left Chennai Egmore at 06:50AM by Dadar Express.
2 Idly and 2 Vada for breakfast; Biscuits for dinner followed by sweet Lassi.

28 Sept
Reached Dadar railway station around 6AM on 28 Sept. Refresh at Dadar railway station and went for a walk around Dadar about 8AM -walked past Dadar-East; fuelled mobile at Mumbai-Poona bus stand. Had Pav Bhaaji and Tea in a hotel/eat-out at traffic signal circle.
Enquired at the shop and got advice to head to Charni road by 3-4PM to witness Visarjan.

I was to take Western Line to reach Charni road instead I got into train which arrived on opposite platform headed to Kalyan. Reason was train was half-empty & a fast train.
I was terrified by mad-crazy crowd pushing-knocking others-off to get themselves into train. After crossing Domivili, Nivedita calls up and welcomes to Mumbai. Ajinkya called when I was in Kalyan rail station platform -couldn't really hear a word of what he spoke.
Rested for couple of hours in A/C Dorm-entry at kalyan Rly. Stn.

Pranav had called & suggested me to head to Chruchgate-LalBagh to witness good number of Ganesha Idols. I decided to stay at Mumbai CST for a while. After which I went to Churchgate station where walked few lanes until reaching Pizza by the bay, Baskin Robbins Ice-cream shop. Took a train & got off at Charni road, spent some time taking pictures by the beach walk-way & finally got back to Dadar Station to rest for a while.

Reached Nariman Point -went to Atlanta building 17th floor -view was fantastic.
Met Pranav Shah around 6PM who explained the vital office locations around Atlanta building. After talking few minutes came down and had Bhel chat and sat by Marine Lines.
Kept yapping-exhanged lot of crap for the next 3 hours or so taking pictures and couple of times down the walk-way. Met blogger(sobertooth.com) Rohit Nair near Churchgate station about 9PM. Went to Fountain square sizzlers behind BSE. Both of them wanted to sit facing TV as India was playing Australia. Aussies raised off to 91 in  9 overs from 53 in 7.

Red Hot Chilli Sizzlier was yummmmmieeee; Thai sizzler was OK -a bit tangy with coconut flavour. Talked and talked time ran too fast that evening .......It was already half-past eleven. Pranav(Pramod) Shah too leave. Rohit & me headed to varshi-his place by train. Maybe we reached Rohit's home a bit later than 1AM. Met Rohit Nair's mom who welcomed and said friends are always welcome anytime ;) lol.


29 Sept
Slept soo much even after seeing daylight...finally got-up at 10AM wishing Aunt- Rohit Nair's mom Good morning. Quickly showered & had Roti with egg-tomato curry and beans poriyal for breakfast. Around noon Rohit & me went to main road to take the bus to Pune.
Met Nivedita Chavan who gave dairy milk. Both Nivedita & Rohit started running to and fro and I bought ticket to Pune & said goodbye to them as they couldn't come along to meet burrrah Ajinkya. Got off at Ninjewadi bridge & called Ajinkya Soitkar. Met him around 3PM ...went and had Maharastra thaali for lunch.

within 30 hrs He showed most of the places in Pune.

Visarjan on 29th evening in Pune --- loads of crowd.
visited Make A Difference MAD

went to Mulshi Lake 50km from Pune......INCOMPLETE

more fotos will follow