204) Kabbaldurga trek: (11/6/2024)

Place: Kabbaladurga trek

Distance: 100kms x 2 = 200kms

Directions: Bangalore > Bidadi > Channpatna > Kabbaladurga > Kanakpura > Bangalore

Krew: Karthik (Sp)

Bikes: Pulsar                                                                                  

Previous Visit: Huliyurdurga trek.

Budget: Rs 400.

IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:

Okay, so birthday’s I have this funny ritual of travelling solo to one of the tough climbs – Kabbaladurga and a place which I revere a lot. It feels like hitting a re-boot / re-set button of your life. Helps you get centred. So, this visit was no different.

INTRO & PLAN:

Previous evening I went out and had some chats at Shivas (Hanumanthnagar) and then fuelled up my bike and rested well at night. The day before a solo travel always is slightly jittery, but hey overcoming that jitters is the whole point.

TIME: 22:00 (10/6/2024)

ASSEMBLE & LEAVE:

Yeah, was up by 4am, stretched out. Was ready for the trip. Had breakfast at home itseld, 3 nice dose and was ready head out. The skies looked gloomy, well good sign to ride, but not a great sign when you want to climb a rocky hillock.

TIME: 05:30

RIDE 1: (Bangalore– Ramngara – Channpatna - Kabbaldurga)

As I headed out, it was a weekday, but the traffic on mysore road never ends. I was little shaky in the beginning and though it was not even 6am, the skies were bright. Listening to some Chinese songs I zoomed ahead full steam. After a while, I could see the sun rise on my rear-view mirrors and that felt great. On to the left a train zoomed by, smiling at all the passengers, flipping off a few I made it to Ramnagara. Here I had lost my way last time, so cautiously took the old Mysore Road and reached Channapatna.

After Channapatna, the country roads welcomed me with two broad arms, and I just left the bike dictate the terms of the ride. After all the rains, the surrounding had turned green and it was so calming on the mind. Once I had a chance to spot Kabblu, the top was shrouded in clouds it was such a beautiful sight to behold. Shouting aloud that 1hr I will be there, zoomed into the town, parking my bike and with a mountain goat’s spirit wide awake, I was read for the trek.

TIME: 07:15

KABBALDURGA TREK:

Okay, this trek was slightly different. Past one week I had taken a rest week from workout. Hence I knew this trek would be okay but slightly harder than usual. It took me 40 minutes to reach the top. But if you are trying for the first time 90-120minutes should be considered.  Okay here we go with four stretches again:

i) Initial stretch

ii) 3 point stretch ?? – wait what!

iii) Viper stretch

iv) Final Stretch

So ready? Here goes nothing!

i) Initial stretch:

Usually this stretch is so chaotic that I never take the right route, but somehow get passed this. But this time, it was different. From the get-go all things fell in place and I took the actual route from the first step until I reached the favourite spot.

ii) 3 point stretch:

The 3-point stretch which was my favourite, steps had been carved out.  I mean yes, it helps but shit, feels bad. “Helping boys become men” – KA tourism dept. I got off the steps and was climbing up the mountain like a lizard, when I could feel someone watching me and slowly catching up. When I turned back it was dog wagging its tail wondering why I was struggling so much with the climb.

iii) Viper stretch:

At the viper, the dog found its own puddle and quenched its thirst. I did not stop, but on the go I had a sip of water and relaxed a bit. The dog and me had a conversation going.  I mean the effortless climbing of a dog is just a bliss to watch.

iv) Final stretch:

During the final stretch, the legs were showing signs of fatigue. But I kept pushing it.  And at the final moment, the dog wanted me to reach the top first and I want it to go ahead and lead the way. I sat down and so did it next to me. Finally I started running up and then it overtook me reaching the top first.

TIME: 08:00

TOP:

At the top, we visited the main temple first and paid our respects. Then with the dog wondering why I was removing my shoes and putting it back on. Then, I started making way to the shiva temple and my sleep spot. Once the shoes off I entered the temple and crashed on the floor. The dog was confused whether to enter or not, I sat near the door and try convincing it to enter. But it was outside. Once I started dozing off, I could hear light footsteps enter the temple in a confused manner hehe. Finally, the dog had also found its own sweet spot temple and was resting peacefully.

I was explaining how the past year had been the ups and downs of the year. Few of stories it genuinely listened with interest, rest of the times it just dozed off. After about 30mins or so, we decided to head back.

TIME: 08:30

TREK DOWN:

The trek down was an easy peasy one. It took me 20-30 mins of non-stop trek. The final and viper stretch was finished off in a matter of minutes. Then during the three point stretch, met a few people making it up, offered them water and then looking at the stairs I felt sad. Then decided to jump of the rails and go wild and climb down like a lizard I always am. Then the final stretch I just ran to the bike. Then met a person and started conversing with him for 20-30 minutes.

TIME: 09:15

RIDE 2: (Kabbaldurga – Channpatna – Bidadi-Bangalore)

This was 100kms ride back, decided to take back the Mysore road. As I left Kabblu, with still sweat dripping down my forehead like a small stream I washed my face in the town. Then as I started riding my bike, started cooling down. Whew! As I rode on about 3-4km, I turned back, promising her a return I zoomed into the town of Channapatna.  Upon reaching the old Mysore Road, I felt home. There is something so different about the mysore road, it is simply more enjoyable to ride on. It was a straightforward ride to home.

TIME: 11:00

CONCLUSION:

Upon reaching home, had some 3 dose slept for a while, then got up and then had proper pappu rice and all and dosed off again. Then Koof called me and said to meet at Blue Wings. So went to BW and crashed there for about an hour so, then after coming back did 50pullups, 100pushups and 100squats in total of 15minutes. Happy birthday to me, FTW!

Cheers all \m/

203) Huliyurdurga Fort Trek: (1/6/2024)

Place: Huliyurdurga trek

Distance: 100kms x 2 = 200kms

Directions: Bangalore > Nelamangala > Kunigal > Huliyur > Ramnagar > Bangalore

Krew: Dileep (Koof) > Karthik (Sippy)

Bikes:  Pulsar                                                                                                  

Previous Visit: Ratnagiri Trek

Budget: Rs 350/head

IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS:

Alright, this was one chapter that shook up our core beliefs. This trek saw a lot of funny and intense moments. It was a thrilling trip from getting lost in the thick forest to riding back in slashing heavy rains. Loved every minute of it, so here goes.  

INTRO & PLAN:

Friday was lazing around at Blue Wings, Koof called me and asked if any trek was planned for the weekend. Since I had nothing to do, we decided to head out. Oh yeah, the camera was non-functional. It had been my loyal companion since um, 2016 I think. I was down, but were more about the experience, and photos next.

TIME: 20:00 (1/6/2024)

ASSEMBLE & LEAVE:

Yeah, I was awake by 3:30 am, stretched out, and got ready. I left my home at about 5 am and picked up Koof from his home. As we were riding, we saw what stood once as Laxmi bar. Years of memories at this place hit us hard.

TIME: 05:30

RIDE 1: (Bangalore – Bidadi – Ramnagar – Maddur - Huliyurdurga)

This was a 100 km simple ride to the Huliyurdurga. As we hit Tumkur Road, speeds picked up. The skies were filled with dark heavy clouds and the forecast for the day was a downpour. Once we took the deviation from the Nelamanagala toll, we continued on the Mangalore highway for about 20 kilometres and pulled over for a nice breakfast.

TIME:  06:30

After the breakfast we a kick-ass coffee which shot up energies and we hit back the roads. Once we reached Kunigal we took a left deviation, and the roads just became superb. We enjoyed cruising on this road to reach Huliyurdurga. Asking the locals for directions, we reached the old temple and parked our bikes and with the Astral goat’s spirit wide awake, we were ready to climb.

TIME: 08:00

HULIYURDURGA TREK:

The proper trek is only 15-20 minutes of intense creepy climbing. But ours took about 60 minutes. Let me explain.

Lost in the Forest:

Ok, once we parked our bikes. I was in high spirits and barged into the thick forest explaining to Koof how we had to find a temple from which the trek started and all. But we had entered at the wrong point, and it was a pretty thick forest. The silence of the forest was quite spooky. We could see signs of wild animals all over. A skull of probably a dog was left on a rock, a wild rabbit hopped past us, and then a chemboth was walking peacefully. All these signs suggested that we were seriously off track. So, we decided to head back to the place where we started. 

 

We had spent about 45 minutes, and we were drenched in sweat, and I was down and out. Once we made it back, we tried to step back and try to read the mountain, there seemed no climbable spots. So, I decided to go back and ask for directions from the locals. As I was heading back, head held low in dejection, kicking stones out of the path, I saw nicely laid steps, my eyes followed the steps and behold I spotted the starting point of the trek, an old temple.

Actual trek:

I called Koof, and explained how the neat steps had misled us. We laughed about it, but we were both pretty beaten up by the forest adventure. So, we climbed the steps and sat and rested at the temple. Then the actual trek began.

 

The trek started by ascending steep rock faces. It was challenging and nice. Then a narrow path runs through boulders, one must squeeze through these narrow spaces to make it to an opening. Here the trickiest part lies, seasoned climbers can climb without any support. Otherwise, it is better to allow somebody to climb and pull. Once we both were out of the tricky spot, then it was a straightforward climb. Slow and steady we took steps, keeping an eye on the skies. Dark clouds were heading our way from afar, we knew it would pour by evening.

TIME: 09:00

TOP:

We spent about 30 mins at the top. We wanted to spend more time, but because it could rain, we decided to head back early. At the top, we just had one piece of chocolate and drank water and slept. The winds caressed us and almost put is into deep sleep in a matter of minutes. Once we were up, we discussed the route to take back. We decided to explore a new route via Ramanagar.

TIME: 09:30

CLIMB DOWN:

The climb down took us 15 mins. At the tricky spot, I decided to head down first and then Koof could just jump down I would catch him haha! Even though the climb is short one, it is pretty tricky and gives you a super feel. Once we made it back down, we visited the temple at the foot of the hillock. Picking our bike, we left, as we left we saw a group of young buffalos grazing, it got scared by the bike and started running, and from afar its mom started chasing us. We got out of town with a buffalo chasing us away! :D

TIME: 10:00

 

RIDE-2: (Huliyurdurga – Ramanagar – Bangalore)

This was an 85 km ride back. We decided to pull over at a bakery for some Stings. After gulping down, we felt energetic and took the Magadi route. This route went through Huliyur forest, and the ride trust me was fantastic. From that point, we took a right and entered into the country roads. The atmosphere was so peaceful and greenery all around, we just cruised enjoying every bit of fresh air we could take in.

As we entered the town, we were in such high spirits enjoying the ride, we failed to notice fresh cement that had been laid on the roads and we rode off directly into it hehe. Somehow calming down the construction workers we made it out.  After reaching Ramnagara, we picked up speed once again, discussing chameleons, monitor lizards, and Komodo dragons we entered back into Bangalore. We could see a few juice shops open, so the ban of sales was not taken seriously after all, eh? So, we decided to hit 7Hills Dhaba for a quick drink and munch.

TIME: 12:00

 

We spent about 3hrs at the dhaba, speaking about work and other stuff. Once we left, there was a slight drizzle, we loved it and as we rode towards Koof home. But once we reached Uttrahalli it started pouring cats, it was the heaviest downpour for 2024. Monsoons in Bangalore were surely underway.

I asked Koof if he was okay to continue, and he was A-okay. And riding slowly at about 30kmph we glided our way through gushing waters and onslaught from the skies, but what a beautiful ride it was. I dropped Koof at this place and rode back and it was a joy, at traffic signal was looking up at the skies, and after much-awaited months, the rains had finally returned.

TIME: 15:45

CONCLUSION:

“There is an old saying, - there are only two types of people, those who love riding in the rain and the irrelevant. “

Until next time, Cia \m/