22 Dec
Met Sailesh at Madgaon railway station where he was waiting for my arrival for an hour.
Reached Madgaon bus station via auto-richshaw; took Kadamba bus service to Panjim bus station. Opened drinks account in Goa during lunch and reached Britona - our accomodation with Goa Tourism. Met Vidhya, Pranav, Niveditha, Neha, Pushkar and Ajinkya. Accidentally I was welcomed with luke-warm tea was on my head by Pushkar.
Evening we headed out to Panjim market area to check out to hire bikes. After a lot of discussion, checking out few places. Hired a splendor and 3 Activa. Roamed around to Calangute, Anjuna beaches till early hours of Sunday.
23 Dec
Had breakfast in Pooja eat-out/hotel; Left Britona around noon and headed to Fort Aguada beach. Me, Ajinkya and Niveditha trekked down to beach from the fort. After spending few hours at shore reached Baga beach where all guys entered Brittos to have lunch and ended up spending close to 4 hours in Brittos restaurant. After watching sun set by the Arabian Sea, walked around waka beach for a while and headed to Tito's --- few people were dancing on and on without ANY break. Had dinner by the beach and reached Britona late night.
24 Dec
Went to market area to return bikes -had breakfast at Kamat Hotel. Idly, Dosa, dahi vada was yummie. Checked out of Britona and reported at base camp, Panjim in Sports Authority of India ground, Campal. Completed the Day 1 formalities and went to Miramar beach after spending some time in Cafe Coffee Day. Again sunset was so beautiful in a peaceful beach. Being from Chennai & having witnessed only sun rise from horizon; sunset was a new spectacular experience. Walked by the shore and returned to base camp.
25 Dec
Day 2 at YHAI, Goa base camp -Panjim was Christmas day. After going through routine morning run, warm-up exercise we ended-up cleaning our bikes(cycles) for almost half-a-day. Later in the evening, went for warm-up ride to Dona Paula beach which is 6km from the base camp. Luggage was deposited at base camp & packed stuff needed for the next 5days of biking.
26 Dec
Goa Biking Expedition -GB 7 batch started our ride along with guide Praanesh & very own Sanjay ji- bike mechanic. All reached Dona Paula beach from where we reached Mormugao port by Ferry along with our bikes. After refreshing with sugarcane juice, we reached Varnapuri Gate, cycled all the way via Airport-BITS Pilani campus-Cansaulim/Arrosim to reach beach. Praanesh packed local raas-omelet (chicken gravy with omlet) before heading to beach. Sailesh, Ajinkya & me had bread-omlet & samosa.
After having lunch, Praanesh & Sanjay left us then we all started pedaling next 24km in the afternoon heat until Mobor beach. Most of the crew entered sea and had great time until sun bid adieu for the day. From where we hit road again then took a ferry to cross canal or stream. Finally reached Assolna sports stadium after almost 12 hr. Slept for around 5 hours after having dinner. Day 1 was real tired-hectic day.
Distance covered on Day 1 = 40km
27 Dec
Left Assolna camp, confusion started right from the beginning as few members of the group took a long route to reach Cuncolim market. Via Forest Office, Balli -Adrsem - Cavrem sub-health center reached Cavrem Pirla Panchayat Ghar.This stretch of the road was not so good as too many trucks plying in-out of mining belt must be reason. Just before Don Bosco farm, we had lunch from there road was in nice condition. At Kudri, there was a temple with Buddbudem pond. It was madatory-formality for everyone to visit this place after which Sagar and me reached Tanshikar farm, Netravali took a much-need refreshing bath and had banana milk shake at eco-friendly SPICE farm at Tanshikar farm.
This place was so lovely with too many trees. As you enter they had lot of Old Items being displayed at the entrance with catchy words "DONT PANIC ITS ORGANIC" Everyone loved this place. Thanks to Tanshikar family who still lives and preserves their 250+year old home & for their hospitality to host Youth Hostel party at their farm. Welcome drink here was tender coconut water. Dinner & Breakfast was too good. Guest houses made of md walls were named after spices & we spent a very-very cold night at Tanshikar farm.
Assolna-Netravali camp = 41km
28 Dec
Day 3 began with we passing Kurdi forest range, Kurdi Village Panchayat Ghar, Bhatti Panchayat health centre, Ugem chruch, Timblo bus stop, Kalay until Kale railway station.
By this we had done 22km for the day. After having lunch under trees in front of a house, we started pedaling forest patch-open tunnel-coconut farm enroute until Shigao Junction.
After a heavy lunch here, cycling party was back on the road until we reached National park. Really horrifying scene & sad thing happened were 3 members of a family was in shallow waters. Our group got down to the tragic scene and was able to resue 1 life. Forest guard got 2 people out of water and few guys took a dive to get boy who was not to be found at all. After re-grouping, we finally crossed forest gate with members hardly talking to each other and most of them left that place in total sadness.
For the next 9km until Anand Gaonkar house just 1.5km before Dudhsagar falls it was completely off-road full of ups and downs. Red-brownish dust almost covering the road in most places and en-route to camp site we had to cross 2-3 small streams as well.
Day 3 = 58km
29 Dec
After spending sometime at Dudhsagar waterfalls in the morning. We had to take de-tour via same off-road track for about 9km and 11km on road crossing Satpal Arboretum until Bondla arch. Again we were pedaling inside National park with about 8km of jeep-trail.
While cycling inside the national parks, we would witness Youth Hostels trekking party once a while & there were at times I was totally pedaling all alone with jungle noise to my company. YHAI is very innovative in displaying the signs where to take left-right.
Finally reached Bondla camp where the restrooms were awesome. Pushkar, Yogesh, Sailesh & Mrs.Anis played their part in cooking yummy chicken curry which all of our taste-buds were craving for non-vegetarian dish. Even veggies ended-up eating chicken curry without chicken ;) lol
Total of 35km with 24km was off-road.
30 Dec
Total down-hill of around 6.5km until base of Bondla camp. Our destination was to reach base camp, Panjim through Gangem, Usgao-E-Merek-Kundhil Ispat Industries, Khandapar-Usgaon Junction- VP Khandepar Y Junction, Betki health centre, Marcela Market, Khamburjua ferry, crossed river via boat, Old Goa circle, Old Goa, Ribandar, Panaji bridge to base camp, Miramar. Final day = 52.4km
Total distance pedaled = 226km
31 Dec
Say bye to YHAI friends specially to meet Jalori-Jokers gang again soon in the future.
left base camp, Campal, Panaji after breakfast to airport.
Met Sailesh at Madgaon railway station where he was waiting for my arrival for an hour.
Reached Madgaon bus station via auto-richshaw; took Kadamba bus service to Panjim bus station. Opened drinks account in Goa during lunch and reached Britona - our accomodation with Goa Tourism. Met Vidhya, Pranav, Niveditha, Neha, Pushkar and Ajinkya. Accidentally I was welcomed with luke-warm tea was on my head by Pushkar.
Evening we headed out to Panjim market area to check out to hire bikes. After a lot of discussion, checking out few places. Hired a splendor and 3 Activa. Roamed around to Calangute, Anjuna beaches till early hours of Sunday.
23 Dec
Had breakfast in Pooja eat-out/hotel; Left Britona around noon and headed to Fort Aguada beach. Me, Ajinkya and Niveditha trekked down to beach from the fort. After spending few hours at shore reached Baga beach where all guys entered Brittos to have lunch and ended up spending close to 4 hours in Brittos restaurant. After watching sun set by the Arabian Sea, walked around waka beach for a while and headed to Tito's --- few people were dancing on and on without ANY break. Had dinner by the beach and reached Britona late night.
24 Dec
25 Dec
Day 2 at YHAI, Goa base camp -Panjim was Christmas day. After going through routine morning run, warm-up exercise we ended-up cleaning our bikes(cycles) for almost half-a-day. Later in the evening, went for warm-up ride to Dona Paula beach which is 6km from the base camp. Luggage was deposited at base camp & packed stuff needed for the next 5days of biking.
26 Dec
Goa Biking Expedition -GB 7 batch started our ride along with guide Praanesh & very own Sanjay ji- bike mechanic. All reached Dona Paula beach from where we reached Mormugao port by Ferry along with our bikes. After refreshing with sugarcane juice, we reached Varnapuri Gate, cycled all the way via Airport-BITS Pilani campus-Cansaulim/Arrosim to reach beach. Praanesh packed local raas-omelet (chicken gravy with omlet) before heading to beach. Sailesh, Ajinkya & me had bread-omlet & samosa.
After having lunch, Praanesh & Sanjay left us then we all started pedaling next 24km in the afternoon heat until Mobor beach. Most of the crew entered sea and had great time until sun bid adieu for the day. From where we hit road again then took a ferry to cross canal or stream. Finally reached Assolna sports stadium after almost 12 hr. Slept for around 5 hours after having dinner. Day 1 was real tired-hectic day.
Distance covered on Day 1 = 40km
27 Dec
Left Assolna camp, confusion started right from the beginning as few members of the group took a long route to reach Cuncolim market. Via Forest Office, Balli -Adrsem - Cavrem sub-health center reached Cavrem Pirla Panchayat Ghar.This stretch of the road was not so good as too many trucks plying in-out of mining belt must be reason. Just before Don Bosco farm, we had lunch from there road was in nice condition. At Kudri, there was a temple with Buddbudem pond. It was madatory-formality for everyone to visit this place after which Sagar and me reached Tanshikar farm, Netravali took a much-need refreshing bath and had banana milk shake at eco-friendly SPICE farm at Tanshikar farm.
This place was so lovely with too many trees. As you enter they had lot of Old Items being displayed at the entrance with catchy words "DONT PANIC ITS ORGANIC" Everyone loved this place. Thanks to Tanshikar family who still lives and preserves their 250+year old home & for their hospitality to host Youth Hostel party at their farm. Welcome drink here was tender coconut water. Dinner & Breakfast was too good. Guest houses made of md walls were named after spices & we spent a very-very cold night at Tanshikar farm.
Assolna-Netravali camp = 41km
28 Dec
Day 3 began with we passing Kurdi forest range, Kurdi Village Panchayat Ghar, Bhatti Panchayat health centre, Ugem chruch, Timblo bus stop, Kalay until Kale railway station.
By this we had done 22km for the day. After having lunch under trees in front of a house, we started pedaling forest patch-open tunnel-coconut farm enroute until Shigao Junction.
After a heavy lunch here, cycling party was back on the road until we reached National park. Really horrifying scene & sad thing happened were 3 members of a family was in shallow waters. Our group got down to the tragic scene and was able to resue 1 life. Forest guard got 2 people out of water and few guys took a dive to get boy who was not to be found at all. After re-grouping, we finally crossed forest gate with members hardly talking to each other and most of them left that place in total sadness.
For the next 9km until Anand Gaonkar house just 1.5km before Dudhsagar falls it was completely off-road full of ups and downs. Red-brownish dust almost covering the road in most places and en-route to camp site we had to cross 2-3 small streams as well.
Day 3 = 58km
29 Dec
After spending sometime at Dudhsagar waterfalls in the morning. We had to take de-tour via same off-road track for about 9km and 11km on road crossing Satpal Arboretum until Bondla arch. Again we were pedaling inside National park with about 8km of jeep-trail.
While cycling inside the national parks, we would witness Youth Hostels trekking party once a while & there were at times I was totally pedaling all alone with jungle noise to my company. YHAI is very innovative in displaying the signs where to take left-right.
Finally reached Bondla camp where the restrooms were awesome. Pushkar, Yogesh, Sailesh & Mrs.Anis played their part in cooking yummy chicken curry which all of our taste-buds were craving for non-vegetarian dish. Even veggies ended-up eating chicken curry without chicken ;) lol
Total of 35km with 24km was off-road.
30 Dec
Total down-hill of around 6.5km until base of Bondla camp. Our destination was to reach base camp, Panjim through Gangem, Usgao-E-Merek-Kundhil Ispat Industries, Khandapar-Usgaon Junction- VP Khandepar Y Junction, Betki health centre, Marcela Market, Khamburjua ferry, crossed river via boat, Old Goa circle, Old Goa, Ribandar, Panaji bridge to base camp, Miramar. Final day = 52.4km
Total distance pedaled = 226km
31 Dec
Say bye to YHAI friends specially to meet Jalori-Jokers gang again soon in the future.
left base camp, Campal, Panaji after breakfast to airport.
