Jokes apart no damage was done except that Karthick scraped his elbow and his indicator and throttle cable took most of the fall. Finally we reached Mysore. There after going through the city guided by Nitin we reached the outskirts where we proceeded towards Hampapura. Pradeep_thunderbird had a small skirmish in the middle of the town which resulted in his bike losing his tail light.

Meanwhile at HD Kote we realized that we lost three from our pack. Jehangir, Sijan(JFK) and Guna went off another route. We stopped near a tree and tried to get signal by Nitin climbing up and waving his phone. Then two or three took turns in climbing a tree trying to contact them who had taken another deviation off Mysore road and continued via Gundalpet. After reassuring that we would be meeting them we were on our way.

 
EGAD !! ( GAWK OUCH RATTLE RATTLE (went my bones)) that was my first reaction for the road which was fast disappearing from beneath the wheels..

And for a short stretch of road ( I would say some 12 kms stretch) it was the most painful road that we experienced but it was fun all the same . We had absolutely no road to go on and we were dirt biking and it seemed that the road would never end.

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The road took its toll and Prateek's centre stand came off. He could not get down from his bike (he didn't have a side stand too) due to which he had to make do with sitting on the bike while Shalini had something. So while everybody was having food Prateek patiently waited and then Srini helped him so that he got a break.

By evening we reached Kalpetta where we met up at Hotel Haritagiri where the guide was waiting for us to take us to our destination. We were supposed to meet him at the hotel at 3:00 but as usual we were late and met him there at 5:00 pm. At the hotel we had rotis which were kinda tough on the outside and tough on the inside and the ambience was dingy to say the least but above all the service was ok.. Prateek meanwhile had to go and fix his stand. The long lost Jehangir, Guna and JFK joined us here

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   Pradeep and Ravi along with Rocky and Keerthi scoured almost all of Kalpetta and well no sign of a wine shop. Then they managed to communicate to a bugger what they wanted where upon they were instructed to go through the lanes and then VIOLA !!! there it was !!But well acquiring a bottle was not that simple a task as in "namma Bangaluuru" !!

   You got to wait in the queue to get a receipt and pay and then make another queue to buy the bottles. Whew!! That's a long process when you have ridden a long way and just want to chill out. Anyway after buying the booze and some snacks, Keerthi and Rocky made their way to Haritagiri restaurant where we were waiting to go reach our destination. Sure enough when it came to who would be drinking everyone raised their hands. YIPEEEE we knew it and weren't we lucky that there was enough booze for everyone!!!

   So much for the Buy Your Own Booze policy!!!! Anyway that was sorted out later. At that time the pillions were given the responsibility to carry the dinner. It was already dark and by 5:30 pm we started to climb the mountain with the help of our guide who was patiently waiting for us to finish our "lunch" to get going. It was a good ride up the mountain but we missed the best part… the view. We were crossing slopes of tea or coffee plantation and it would have been a great area to take some beautiful snapshots. It But we had to make do with admiring the plantation slopes whenever the lights of the bikes fell on it.

We were eager to reach the house and finally we reached the lane which led to the house from the main road. It was 9:30pm and dark and we could not see how bad or good the lane was for the tyre to have a good grip or for the riders to calculate and balance on the weak spots. It reminded me so much of Shillong. The lane was a combination of only mud and stone, very typical of mountains. But it was not enough to balance our bikes because there was a hump in the centre and deep tyre tracks on both sides. It was dark and the little stretch was treacherous. Praveen could not help but slip on the way and take Madhvi with him. Rocky almost slipped too but he managed to keep whatever fine balance that was required. Atta Boy and Bike !! Shalini was wise to get down and walk the little path.

After a few hours everybody was fine and while it started to rain earnestly, we all refreshed ourselves and had a look at the big house which housed many rooms but only two loos of which we did not think much till the next morning.

It was a nice feeling being in a group with good food and good liquor and the rain pelting outside. Thanks to Arjun and Madhvi for that great place and many thanks to guide Chandraetan & caretaker Vijayaettan.

Karthik meanwhile was getting impatient with everyone since he was hungry for buffalo meat to take his revenge at the buffalo. He searched everywhere for the beef and ultimately we girls also decide to help him and VIOLA !! he gets his wish and some make a beeline for the table. The lazy ones are left wondering and pleading for one plate to be given to them. Karthik was too tired to come up with the usual PJs. He was still reeling from the action with the confused buffalo.

But Keerthi had a gala time throwing his wits around with Wyanad or whynat ? He also makes a beeline for the table and screws his face up at the "silly fish" thing which the people were hogging. Next time we should remember to take some chicken since many are not beef or fish freaks unlike few of us who freak on every food. We had a concoction of Malabar beef fry, beef fry, chilli fish. All tasted good after a long ride.

Pradeep very proudly said that he led a very healthy life and well he reduced 20 kgs or something by exercise and we applauded him for that. Atta boy ! I can understand the feeling of achievement since I also managed to reduce 12 kilos from my body weight by swimming and eating right though that does not mean that I am a svelte femme he he far from it !!! But then the point was that hard work and exercise has to be appreciated.

Kartz and Pradeep made a beeline for the veranda after having finished their dinner and said their goodnights and after a few blinks they were off like a light. WHOA wait, another light just came on. The odyssey of snoring began and well Pradeep started his rhythmic beat of ZZZZs and went on to ROARRRRRRRRR. And poor guy he told us later that he deliberately slept outside because he did not want to disturb us. Well he need not have worried as there was a symphony going on the whole night anyway and everybody was a unconscious willing participants.

As they were catching up on their ZZZ Guna and Jahangir sparred like two kittens poking each other here and there, Sijan suddenly would wake up in the middle and tell his stories and then he would go back to his slumber… again… and well time just flew and at 12:00 and some moments later all retired. Madhvi took the bed. Arjun took another room with Keerthi.

The last thing I heard was Karthik coming and telling me how they went out for a walk in the mist and how Keerthi and Karthik had torchlight fight; like that of the jedis in the Star Wars and how Karthik ( thought that he had ) won. I was too sleepy to comprehend the rest.

As I hit the pillow I was hit by big ZZZZ and small zzzzzz and then big ZZZZZZZZZZ small zzzzzzzz and then I also went into my ZZzzZZzzZZzz. Rocky and the rest were still chilling out. Later on I woke up in the middle of the night disoriented but then was reassured with the different levels of ZZZzzzzzxxxxxxxxxxxzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Day 2: 6th July2003