20.10.2007 – 23.10.2007
Mannavanoor (Kodaikanal)- Silver Bullets 5A
“Silver-Bullets” is 5 years old. Looks less than one year old though…
Celebration is at Mannavanoor- around 35km from Kodaikanal. It was like a private family gathering. No guests or invitees… it’s just a club meet…
Originally known as Tvm-Riders, the club is now home to many bullet enthusiasts and riders.
On 20th early morning both Tvm and Bangalore guys started their rides to meet up at Koadikanal before sundown. Total of 20 riders… TVM guys had to wait long for us. Continuous rain delayed us and we made it to Kodai like wet chickens. Rode the 35km forest rode to Mannavanoor together in the darkness. The road was wet and the small leaves made it real slippery. Each step (!) has to be careful.
Overslept Moshaii’s late start and solo ride…
reaching the place first, amazingly missing everyone on the way…
runaround at Mannavanoor to find the camp in the darkness…
the mixed emotions that run through his mind with the doubt that he is at some wrong place…
the decision to go back to Kodai through the forest alone at night…
and finally the life he got back when the line of 20 headlamps popped up one by one at the next hill side…
Priceless…
The food served at the campers club is truly appreciable. The name campers club suits the place very much. The accommodation is basic with few brick cottages with bare minimum facilities. I liked that. No one wanted anything more than that. The view from the camp… simply wow… great view of the valley and mountains… The chilling climate proved to be the icing on the cake. Bonfire seemed to offer its effect at a very less range.
The people who had to head back the next day missed out the nicest experience of this ride.
The short rides to inside the forest, to explore the old Munnar route which is useless now and is road to only mules and 4w drives only when land is dry… I could hardly walk up in slush to have a look at the condition of the road further up.
Return on Monday proved to be one of the most exciting rides.
Through the forest till Kodai town and then till Palani negotiating the awesome mountain side roads negotiating countless twists, turns and hairpins in chilling climate with clouds around…
then the ride through the valley and to Thoppur bearing the intense heat…
From there to add flavor to the party a nonstop rain till Bangalore…
Whew… Oh Boy… What a day that was... Thankfully there wasn’t any puncture or breakdown to anyone to add fuel to the party.
Ride in Shre's Perspective
