I can say this is an opportunity for me which came as a surprise, My husband was mentioning that he would like to go to cycling expedition which is been organized by an external group (Tandem Trails) in his office, and this time it is open to all, But unfortunately then he got to know that there was no place for 2 of us.. But on the weekend it suddenly so happened that two people who registered has to drop due to personal issue.. Which gave us an opportunity to join this..
I was little hesitant in the beginning as this is the peak monsoon time in Coorg, and many avoid this time to Coorg.. But then decided that I would anyway join, if it’s raining then will stay in room else will be cycling.
On Friday night(July 23rd 2010) 20 of us started towards Coorg via Mysore road in 3 different vehicles. Our cabs were loaded with geared bicycles on top of it. It was looking funny and most of the people on the way were surprisingly looking at it..
Our driver drove us safely to Coorg-Kakkabe at 5am on Friday even though the cab dint have a headlight :O with the help of other two vehicles, one in the front and the other at the back..
Our adventure started in that dark early morning itself as the road towards the cottage we stayed is full of slush as it had rained as expected. We were not able to see the muddy road and all our clean shoes started showing up the color already :). Finally we made our way to the cottage, we all collapsed on the bed but only for an hour or so, as we were suppose to start our cycling expedition by 8AM. We finished our morning routine in an hour and all were ready by 8AM after having nice Poori and Chole.
All were excited and the Tandem trail group leaders gave each person one geared bicycle(Ladies cycle had 7 gears and Gents had 21 gears.. I don’t know what for so many gears.. In car we finish in 4 to 5 gear. Here also we hardly used 4-5 gears only:)) and a helmet and gloves and explained a bit about how to change the gears to starters like us. We all wore the Helmet and Gloves and were ready to start our journey as professionals.
Starting itself it we got a uphill road and I thought I can’t ride even a kilometer (By the way we were suppose to ride for 55Kms..)But then somehow we managed to cover that uphill by trying to change the gear to which ever we feel comfortable :P then we learnt that lower gears for uphill and the higher gears for downhill and when in speed(Same concept as in cars) The road and the scenery was amazing, We all used to stop on the way and take the scenic beauty of nature. In that rain also we were sweating like anything since the coorg road was completely uneven with uphill/downhill. All through the way we were getting the Juice & Chocolates as two vehicles were following us, incase if someone gets tiered they can sit in the cab and come.
After 43 Km of tough travel in that way enjoying thoroughly we reached a falls Kakkabe falls. Since it was raining from some time in Coorg the falls was just amazing. We enjoyed the beauty of Milky falls for some time and took snaps. We all were hungry by then, they had arranged for small snacks to all of us. I was totally exhausted by then and I decided to sit in the Cab. But I should really appreciate the others as all still had the strength to cover another 12 Km. Finally they reached the target completing 55Km of cycling expedition. It was just wonderful in the midst of the beauty of the nature and I can only say that we should experience once in our life time :)
By then people were so hungry and tiered, they just wanted the food and a bed to sleep. As soon as we went the food was ready and people just hogged the food, We felt it was so tasty, Only when we are hungry we realize any food will taste “Amruta”.. I was totally exhausted by then every where it was paining for everybody.. So most of us took bath and slept off.. But couple of them went for rock rappelling also. We had the plan for kayaking and rowing But due to heavy water current we dint do it. Night all the guys enjoyed their drinks, dancing and singing the good old songs in the fire camp.. We all slept and snoring witnessed our sleep :P
Next day morning everyone was all set for Trekking to Thadiyendamol peak after having very soft and hot idli and sambar. Today it was raining little bit more, But still every one’s enthu was at the peak to reach the peak..!! Our cab was supposed to drop all of us to base camp, but due to Driver’s smallest negligence, the cab skidded and got struck in the gutter :) luckily all were safe and got down from driver’s door. We walked from there itself but as I mentioned it was so beautiful, full of greenery and tall trees and also small small water falls on the way.. We dint miss to capture them in our cameras..Ofcourse most of the people had leech bite and one was so friendly to the leech he left it on his leg until it get satisfied from his blood :)
On the way we missed the route to the peak, after 2 hours of trek we came back and visited Nalakkanad Palace, which is a hiding place for the king then. We finally came back to the resort and had food… no no!! hogged food as usual and got ready to come back to Bangalore..
What a wonderful expedition we had!! All were enjoying in the cab singing antakshari on the way and reached Bangalore at 12PM. Thinking of Monday as we have to get back to our routine, which is inevitable :)
I was little hesitant in the beginning as this is the peak monsoon time in Coorg, and many avoid this time to Coorg.. But then decided that I would anyway join, if it’s raining then will stay in room else will be cycling.
On Friday night(July 23rd 2010) 20 of us started towards Coorg via Mysore road in 3 different vehicles. Our cabs were loaded with geared bicycles on top of it. It was looking funny and most of the people on the way were surprisingly looking at it..
Our driver drove us safely to Coorg-Kakkabe at 5am on Friday even though the cab dint have a headlight :O with the help of other two vehicles, one in the front and the other at the back..
Our adventure started in that dark early morning itself as the road towards the cottage we stayed is full of slush as it had rained as expected. We were not able to see the muddy road and all our clean shoes started showing up the color already :). Finally we made our way to the cottage, we all collapsed on the bed but only for an hour or so, as we were suppose to start our cycling expedition by 8AM. We finished our morning routine in an hour and all were ready by 8AM after having nice Poori and Chole.
All were excited and the Tandem trail group leaders gave each person one geared bicycle(Ladies cycle had 7 gears and Gents had 21 gears.. I don’t know what for so many gears.. In car we finish in 4 to 5 gear. Here also we hardly used 4-5 gears only:)) and a helmet and gloves and explained a bit about how to change the gears to starters like us. We all wore the Helmet and Gloves and were ready to start our journey as professionals.
Starting itself it we got a uphill road and I thought I can’t ride even a kilometer (By the way we were suppose to ride for 55Kms..)But then somehow we managed to cover that uphill by trying to change the gear to which ever we feel comfortable :P then we learnt that lower gears for uphill and the higher gears for downhill and when in speed(Same concept as in cars) The road and the scenery was amazing, We all used to stop on the way and take the scenic beauty of nature. In that rain also we were sweating like anything since the coorg road was completely uneven with uphill/downhill. All through the way we were getting the Juice & Chocolates as two vehicles were following us, incase if someone gets tiered they can sit in the cab and come.
After 43 Km of tough travel in that way enjoying thoroughly we reached a falls Kakkabe falls. Since it was raining from some time in Coorg the falls was just amazing. We enjoyed the beauty of Milky falls for some time and took snaps. We all were hungry by then, they had arranged for small snacks to all of us. I was totally exhausted by then and I decided to sit in the Cab. But I should really appreciate the others as all still had the strength to cover another 12 Km. Finally they reached the target completing 55Km of cycling expedition. It was just wonderful in the midst of the beauty of the nature and I can only say that we should experience once in our life time :)
By then people were so hungry and tiered, they just wanted the food and a bed to sleep. As soon as we went the food was ready and people just hogged the food, We felt it was so tasty, Only when we are hungry we realize any food will taste “Amruta”.. I was totally exhausted by then every where it was paining for everybody.. So most of us took bath and slept off.. But couple of them went for rock rappelling also. We had the plan for kayaking and rowing But due to heavy water current we dint do it. Night all the guys enjoyed their drinks, dancing and singing the good old songs in the fire camp.. We all slept and snoring witnessed our sleep :P
Next day morning everyone was all set for Trekking to Thadiyendamol peak after having very soft and hot idli and sambar. Today it was raining little bit more, But still every one’s enthu was at the peak to reach the peak..!! Our cab was supposed to drop all of us to base camp, but due to Driver’s smallest negligence, the cab skidded and got struck in the gutter :) luckily all were safe and got down from driver’s door. We walked from there itself but as I mentioned it was so beautiful, full of greenery and tall trees and also small small water falls on the way.. We dint miss to capture them in our cameras..Ofcourse most of the people had leech bite and one was so friendly to the leech he left it on his leg until it get satisfied from his blood :)
On the way we missed the route to the peak, after 2 hours of trek we came back and visited Nalakkanad Palace, which is a hiding place for the king then. We finally came back to the resort and had food… no no!! hogged food as usual and got ready to come back to Bangalore..
What a wonderful expedition we had!! All were enjoying in the cab singing antakshari on the way and reached Bangalore at 12PM. Thinking of Monday as we have to get back to our routine, which is inevitable :)
