Monday, November 16, 2009

Grand Tour 2009, Stage three - Gokarna to Goa

I spent a leisurely and relaxed ten days in Gokarna. Took a morning yoga class the last week of my stay. Spent a few afternoons at the beach, and drove to Om Beach one day.


There was quite a bit of rain in the middle of my stay, thanks to the cyclone in the Arabian Sea; it was nicer to be hunkered down watching it from my balcony than to be driving in it. I tried out several restaurants, and found that my favourite was Prema, right on the beach at the end of the road, opposite the Zero Kilometer marker.


The weather had mostly cleared by the time I was ready to move on, and I left early on Sunday afternoon. My intention was to cross into Goa and then find a place to stay, which I did at Palolem Beach. Although it's early in the season, Palolem was humming and busy. Many shops and restaurants, and lots of tourists without it feeling too overcrowded. If the global economic downturn is affecting tourism adversely, you wouldn't know it from the amount of activity here. Very heavy downpour in the evening, lasting nearly an hour.


Early start next morning, and took back roads via Agonda, Cabo de Rama, and Belim to Margao. It's a real pleasure to drive in Goa; the roads are generally very good, even the back roads. Stopped for lunch in Old Goa, and looked through the Cathedral, then headed for Vagator Beach, my next staging stop, where I'll spend the next four days at Royal Enfield's Rider Mania. Took a nice room in a guest house about a kilometer from the event venue, and spent the afternoon at Little Vagator Beach.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

The Great Circular Indian Rail Challenge

Two weeks on Indian trains, virtually non-stop, nearly 12000 km, literally all around the country, visiting the westernmost, northernmost, easternmost, and southernmost stations, and all four of the major metros. Is anyone crazy enough to do such a trip?

Apparently so, and I'll probably be one of them. The GCIRC is the brainchild of Mark Lester, who posted an invitation and a challenge on IndiaMike a couple of months ago, and already has more than a dozen Indianrailaphiles marking their calendars (February 2011) and arranging to join him.


The web page is here 


You can follow the discussion on IndiaMike here 

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Grand Tour 2009, Stage two - SACM to Gokarna

I left Sri Adi Chunchanagiri Mutt early Tuesday morning, heading north-west via Turuvekere, joining NH 206 at Tiptur. Stopped in Arsikere to fuel up and have breakfast, and continued via Kadur, Tarikere, and Bhadravati bypass to Shimoga.

There's a confusing intersection at the outskirts of Shimoga, one sign saying turn left for Jog Falls (the Agumbe road), and a few meters later another sign saying straight ahead. I asked two people; one said turn left, the other said straight ahead, into the city. Maybe there's a bypass if you take the turn to the left, but I went into the city, which is one enormous road construction zone. What a mess. 


Finally got through town and en route to Jog Falls, my planned overnight stop. Took a basic room at the Tunga Guest House right near the entrance, and strolled around the grounds. They are doing a lot of renovations at the moment. 300 km today.


In case you are carrying a clock (or anything else) that you don't want to lug around with you while visiting the falls, there is a "Clock Room" available, with a notice "Keep Your Matrials Authorise Clock Room".  :-)


Last year a fellow biker had suggested the road between Jog Falls and Bhatkal, rather than NH 206 via Gersoppa to Honavar, so I took that route next morning. Although paved, the road surface is not very good for a lot of the way, and I did most of it in 2nd and 3rd gear. Three hours for 80 km. Ok for one time, but I wouldn't want to drive it again. Had lunch in Bhatkal, and on to Murudeshwar to take a room at the RNS Guest House with an ocean view. 100 km today, 1000 for the trip so far.


RedWing is running like a charm. A sheer delight to drive. I've done over 2000 km total so the running-in is officially complete. Still haven't gone above 80 klicks. Petrol economy is a satisfactory 50 kpl.


("Klicks" is Canadian slang for kilometers - either speed or distance.)


Thursday morning I lollygagged around, had breakfast, and strolled along the beach, then into the town to look around. Checked out at 14:30, had some lunch, and drove to Gokarna. NH 17 is a bit dodgy, especially around Murudeshwar -- you can barely drive a kilometer without having to slow down for broken pavement and potholes. It really needs to be resurfaced. North of Kumta it gets noticeably better. The road from the highway into Gokarna is also in pretty bad shape. Took a room at Vaibhav Nivas where I had stayed last year. I plan to spend at least a week in Gokarna before heading north to Goa. 80 km today.