'Bring home the Paaus (Rains)’
Since getting home 'Olive Oyl' (my RE TB350) on May 1, I was
dreaming of a ride to get the paaus
home. In short, to ride and get home along with paaus. It's been more than a month and a half but due to some or
the other reason I was not able to 'ride' as such except for one time when I
rode to office up to Nahur. But it was not a ride as such. The reason being,
hardly any of the weekends I was at home. Also a small issue of Allen key not
in the bike (with which you can open the tool kit) was nagging. Quite
surprising as the service station guy said it's not there in the bike. Finally
got it fixed.
Saturday was a lazy day as thought of being at home. The TB
does not have a guard on right side of the rear wheel (the saddle back gets
torn if there is no guard) so you need to get it fixed locally. Roamed for
that, but was not possible anywhere in Kalyan, so need to get it fixed it in
Mulund at shop of Pratik (Motta) Sir's friend. (Pratik is one of my
inspirations for pursuing RE).
Anyways I was not thinking of riding with luggage so that
was not relevant. Finally decided to ride to Kolvan (near Paudhe-Pune) for work
related to home. (Preetam-my wife's ancestral home is there). Got up in the
morning 5.30 on Sunday but something was pulling me back. Not sure whether it
was 1st solo long ride blues or something else. So opted out.
I was thinking that what was it which was holding back.
Yes.. it was paaus.. I mean no paaus. Its around 19th of June and still
no major paaus.. at least one major
spell happens every year by this time. But I had to go out today. It was as if
crossing the mental block.
Slowly the clouds were building up as if the tears waiting
to flow. It wasn't paausing but one
could sense that it will paaus today. It had to! Even weathermen had predicted
that monsoon would arrive in Mumbai by June 18-19.
Then something clicked. Shekhar (my close friend Prof.
Chandrashekhar Deore) texted about what's the plan for Missal Paav. So first
had idli from Divakar (dada had got home in morning) and stepped out of home.
So decided let's go out n then decide.
We had Missal at our regular joint which we call as
"Prati Vitthal". Asked Shekhar about his plans.. he was game for it. So we used Prasad and
Pratik (Rane) if they could join us. However, they were occupied. So dropped
Shekhar at his home so that I can put on my riding gear and came back to pick
him up. We finally started around 9.30-9.45 am. They destination was quite
obvious.. Mashej Ghaat !!!.
The road is NH222, extension of Murbad road takes you to Alephata,
where you cross Pune-Nasik highway and then to Ahmednagar. Mashej ghaat
is a favourite monsoon destination with scenic landscape, hills and valleys. It’s
especially bikers favourite, thanks to curves and slopes which riders enjoy the
most especially Bulleteers. Every weekend you will find number of rider clubs
taking their rides to Mashej. This
road is special as unlike other NH’s today, it has only 2 lanes sans divider
taking you through picturesque locations. The road goes like this.. Kalyan-Shahad-Varap-Mamnoli-Murbad-Saralgaon-Tokawade-Mashej
Ghaat. Around 90 KMs from Kalyan,
it must be equi distance from Pune
too.
As we cross the hustle & bustle of Kalyan and Shahad and let
‘Olive Oyl’ be stomach full (fill in the fuel) (thanks Shekhar ;)), near Mharal, the traffic flow starts
receding. We cross Goveli (Titwala Phata)
and from here onwards the pleasure of riding starts.
The landscape looks like freshly roasted with summer and
fires set on by locals. Trees are sans leaves and there is no green patch on
land as the paaus is yet to set in.
We cross a patch with trees on either sides of the road, but as I said with no
leaves. I have never understood why locals set forest land on fire in summers,
despite it being a crime. Along with dries grass, the fires also take a toll on
trees. We are riding at an enjoyable 60-70 kmh. As we cross Mamnoli, we look out for our regular pit
stop, but miss it.
We cross Murbad
and stop for a pit stop before Saralgaon
near a couple of fully grown but burnt peepal trees facing the brunt of human
nature, must be for the just behind plot of land as the trees must be an obstacle
for the scenic view from the plot. Although burnt, there was hope for new life
as we could see a new branch coming out. Audacity of Hope.. isn’t it !!
As we start, we plan to take a halt near the spot where “Nhane Ghaat” trek starts. We cross Saralgaon and then Tokavade. As we ride further, it becomes slightly greener. Green
shoots on the sides of the road telling the recent spell of paaus a few days back.
This year, monsoon has been late. Last year, it arrived early
and then disappeared. But it’s better to be late and then having a long
stayover. Let’s hope it stays for a long time as the parched land awaits a long
wet weather.
As we move on, the hilly area and near Nhane Ghaat, the smaller patch of ghaat section starts. This being
my first long ride with ‘Olive Oyl’, I am more careful and slowdown on curves. Especially,
with its weight, an RE can be difficult machine to control on curves if you are
in speed.
As we near the Nhane
Ghaat spot, we could not see any tapris
(makeshift shops) for tea and bhutta
(corn). The landscape again appearing baked and roasted and trees sans leaves;
we move ahead and plan to stop at a small hotel (which we call waatana spot) just before the check
post. We reach there by 11.30. It’s been around 1.5-2 hours and we enjoy an
awesome masala tea. The location is just perfect overlooking the Bhimashankar Hill Range of Sahyadris. We could see clouds up there
but no paaus. Even the vehicles which
are coming from ghaat side are dry,
telling that there is no paaus up
there. It’s around 12 when we are done and yet unsure about going further. Finally,
as we see a wet bus crossover from the hill side, we decide to go ahead. I don’t
know whether the bus was wet with paaus
or it had a new colour ;).
We start. As we ride further, still there is no paaus but the climate gets cooler with
winds and clouds .. and a few paavsache
themb (Rain Drops). We cross the stretch which is decorated with waterfalls
when paaus set in, now totally dry.
Hardly any vehicles despite being a weekend as again.. no paaus.
As we near the Bogdeshwar temple and cross the tunnel, a few
enthusiasts like us have come to drench, to welcome the paaus. I park ‘Olive Oyl’ after the tunnel letting her rest for
some time. We stroll down to newly constructed Valley View Points from where we
could see the entire valley which would be filled clouds when paaus is in full flow. As we start
again, here arrives what we have come for….YESSSS the Paaus…Finally… A sense of
satisfaction.
We plan to go further up to
Khubi Phata crossing MTDS resort and go down near the dam. Here the
road is muddy and stickier. We go upto the spot where we can have a good view
of backwaters and hills. This road further takes you to
Harishchandra Gad (Fort), the dream of every trekker in
Sahyadris. We stop for a while, click
some photographs with ‘Olive Oyl’. As we start our return journey, we spot a
dhaba type hotel near
Khubi Village for a Tea. You know what..
you get best food on these types of hotels.. noting can beat its taster and you
would certainly cherish the memories of awesome
bhajiya or
vada paav you
had there.
It’s around 1.15 PM now and although stomach is full with Idlis and Missal, with the welcome change in climate we feel hunger and order
kanda bhaji only to change the order
to Bhurji Paav. It’s still paausing..
not that strong kind of paaus but
persistent. Paaus.. a nice view to
enjoy and Steamy Bhurji Paav to feast
on, then tea and first ride in Paaus…
Bliss.. what else do you need in life !!!
We start around 2.00 PM and now with
paaus being there for more than an hour or so, we could feel the
chill. Although I am wearing my riding jacket, as its breathable, I get wet.
Shekhar is not carrying any stuff like a jacket and rain sheeter. ‘Olive Oyl’
slows down further as we could feel the combo pack of
paaus and wind give our faces a feel of “Acupuncture”. We stop near
a spot with a nice view of hills in the background to click some photographs,
wear the rain sheeter I am carrying and start again.
With now, protection from
paaus, ‘Olive Oyl’ moves faster. We plan to have a stop near
Nhane Ghaat again as the road there
gives a nice view at a particular spot. It gives you a feeling of slide down
hill and uphill.
Malshej ghaat has
various scenic spots but this one is unique. By the time we stop, we are wet
and so are our handsets. So we dry the handsets looking out for the portion of
the clothes which is relatively less wet. After this small photo session, we
stopped at the
Nhane Ghaat spot and
spend some time.
Riding can be fun for the rider; however, for the pillion
same might not be the case every time. Bums
get sore giving you a feeling like “paapad” (I hope you get what I mean ;))
making the pillion adjust his position now and then. So we were taking breaks
every 20-30 mts.
The climate now has simply become mesmerising, with clouds. Trees
sans leaves, some also chopped with marks of brunt faced by human nature. View
of ‘Nanacha Angtha’ in the
background. Paaus has stopped for a
while.. birds chirping in the valley.. a group of RE’s pass by making the familiar
dug dug dug sound.
We start again in 20 odd minutes. Next stop… a Vada Paav stall where we halt every time
while returning from Malshej. As we
descend and cross Tokawade and near Saralgaon, the paaus has become strong. But now with double protection I ride at a
comfortable 60 kmh aided with some first hand on experience of negotiating the
turns. Now there is paaus everywhere;
entirely in contrast to the scene on our way to Malshej ghaat. We were hoping that paaus must have been reached Kalyan
too.
We reach our
Vada Paav
spot around 4.15. Shekhar can have vada paav any time. He is a Vada paav buff.
I opt to have only tea. As I remove my jacket and knee guard, the guy at the tea
stall makes usual enquiries.. How much for? Where to get from? Etc..etc.. He told
it would be useful for him too as they travel to Ghaat frequently. Some people
might feel that the riding gear can be for flaunting; but trust me it is not.
Don’t leave it for learning from experience. The experience might not give you
a chance for.
Finally, we start around 4.30 pm and reach Kalyan by 5.00.
Reflecting upon, I felt this was the thing I was hoping for.. To ride to bring
home the paaus.. It was like BINGO..
Law of Attraction works !!!
It was a dream first ride. And as always as Shekhar says..
the journey should be enjoyable, manzil
to waise bhi pohochna hi hai. It’s always the journey you will remember of
and not the destination. Once you reach destination, it’s past.
So true are these lyrics … Hum jo chalne lage… chalne lage hain yeh raaste… ha.. ha.. ha.. ha..
Manzil se behtar lagne lage hain yeh raaste !!!
हे सांगण्याचे कारण कि साधारण ७-७.१५ च्या सुमारास लोकल कान्हे आणि कामशेत येथे पोहोचते. म्हणजे साधारण सूर्यास्ता च्या वेळी.. त्या वेळी हा परीसर खूप नयनरम्य दिसतो. संधीप्रकाश.. उंच सखल टेकड्या आणि त्या मागील कार्ला डोंगर...आणि त्या वरील पवन चक्क्या... पुढे कामशेत आल्यावर तर हे वातावरण खूपचा स्वर्गीय होते.. उजवी कडून वाहणारी आणि बारमाही पाणी असणारी इंद्रायणी ... आणि वार्याची थंड झुळूक.. आहाहा... हे सर्व अनुभवायलाच हवे. पुढे जशी लोकल मळवली आणि पुढे जाते तसे एकविरा-कार्ला पर्वता वरील लुकलुक करणारे दिवे आणि त्या बरोबर ग्र्ह तारे खूपच छान दिसतात..
