After our Monsoon trip to Kondane caves, we
have not done any bike trip. We were planning for a two day trip to
Malshej-Bhimashankar(MAL-BHI) but it was getting delayed for a long time. In
between we managed to catch a day and started for Trimbak but it got ended
miserably because our Bullet Pandi(Pravin)’s robust bike failed during the
trip.
After that our worklife engaged us fully ,
not even giving us time to think of any bike
trip. Both of us were put in Aromatics Turn around. Pravin promised that we’ll do
our MAL-BHI trip on 8th and 9thDec'11. Destiny has something
else in its mind, the startup of NSU(
New Solvent Unit, I dunno how this plant is named New when that looks older
like a pre-independece era plant). I got my leave sanctioned but pravin got
struck in plant.
I was totally pissed off.. with 2 days of
leave in my hand and no hopes of any trip.
I managed to service my bike and gave new look with the latest Rear fender.
Finally Pravin managed to get one day off
on Sunday. With MAL-BHI dream shattered, we started for an oneday trip to
Lonavala.
Trip :
Starting Point : Mankhurd-Sion Fly over
Start Time : 0700, I arrived at 0720!
Riders : Who else? Me and Pravin
Total distance : 150 Km
Places visited : Bhushy Dam, Amby Valley
and Lohagad Fort
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| Skyscrapers- Enroute - Palm beach road |
We had our first break and Breakfast at
Dattaguru near Panvel. Fuelled our steeds in HP pump , NH4. Slowly we started
moving in super smooth NH4. Our speed never exceeded 60 km/hr. It was very
boring to ride like that in such a nice road. As always pravin is not yielding
to any persuasion. We reached lonavala and went directly to Bushy dam, there is
nothing to write about this dam except that it is a most sought after place
during monsoon.
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| with New Rear-Fender |
We went ahead to tiger’s leap and I
suggested going further till Amby valley. Its this stretch which made up for
the otherwise not-so-exciting trip. Being a place which is frequented by the whos-who
of country, road was well maintained and was super curvy. After leaning our
bikes for 20 kays,we reached Amby valley. As obvious, we dint enter amby valley and rode further to check out
sahara city.
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| Enroute - Amby valley |
While coming back, we stopped at a hairpin
bend and tried to photograph our “Bend it like Rossi” moment. It came out well !
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| A Royal lean by Bullet |
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| Bend it.. |
Our Next destination was Loheghad fort, we
had our lunch at McD and traced NH4 again. We reached the otherside of Lohagad
fort which made us to walk more than 6km. Am badly missing my GPS.
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| Single and lonely - part 1 |
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| Single and lonely - part 2 |
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| From top |
Climbing the path was very difficult ( only
for me, pravin was climbing with full enthu). We started climbing at 3 pm and
reached the top at 5 pm. After some photographs and “walk the talk” moment with
pravin and we descended .
We reached the bottom after dark and we need to
ride all the way in dark( It always happens).
With Pravin leading and me just slowly
tailing reached JNPT junction and finally home.
Highlight :
1. Road to Amby valley is well laid. and I'll revisit this place again and ll try my best to enter amby valley.
2. Lonavala is best visited during monsoon. Please dont go during summer, you will regret.
3. All said, this is the only easiest getaway from mumbai which can be completed in one day.
4. Lohagad fort can also be reached easily by taking a route from pavana lake. This will save couple of hours.
