Wednesday, 26 September 2007
The Next Bit
Hiya, been away for a while, doing all sorts of life stuff. Now We"re ready for a new trip. This time we are off to Morocco on our Moto Guzzi 950 California --- yee ha! Not quite sure when we leave yet but itll be for around 3 months. Staying with mates in France, Spain and Portugal wherever possible. Havnt been to Morocco for around 28 years or so, I expect itll have changed a bit.
Friday, 23 February 2007
Hanging up the helmets
Well, back in Goa again, we stopped off in Murdeshwar for a few days, which is dominated by a 30 metre high Shiva statue on the cliff top. Unfortunately his right arm [ or one of them ] blew off in the monsoon and is now being supported by scaffolding. Upon searching for a shore temple we could see in the distance we came across a way onto the beach which didnt involve riding across too much dry sand - so we did what everyone dreams of doing-rode along a deserted beach , on the surfline wearing the biggest smile ever. A fantastic experience, which we recorded on video and stills [this computer is not recognising its own U.S.B. port so I cant post any photos yet.] We didnt get to the shore temple as a lagoon got in the way , but it didnt really matter.
Found the way to the temple the next day and , guess what, there was a whale skeleton laid out in front of it! The temple itself was small with carved wooden deities, all brightly painted - they get changed annually and we left with 2 of the previos years gods for good luck.
The ride up the coast was un eventfull, but enjoyable - the Goa border not being a problem as we snuk in behind a big 4x4 which was being pulled over - we emerged at the last minute, they blew whistles and shouted at us to stop but we laughed and carried on.
So this is it, the end of a good trip. We fly up to Rajasthan on the 28th Feb for a few days, then Delhi then home.
There are a few of us in Goa[ 5 ] looking to store bikes so we are collectively trying to rent a room where our babies can stay, nice and secure, dry - ready for next time.
joes bike got repaired and cheaper than he expected - but still 120 quid which is a hell of a lot over here, so he is storing his too. Perhaps we"ll do it all again next year!
Found the way to the temple the next day and , guess what, there was a whale skeleton laid out in front of it! The temple itself was small with carved wooden deities, all brightly painted - they get changed annually and we left with 2 of the previos years gods for good luck.
The ride up the coast was un eventfull, but enjoyable - the Goa border not being a problem as we snuk in behind a big 4x4 which was being pulled over - we emerged at the last minute, they blew whistles and shouted at us to stop but we laughed and carried on.
So this is it, the end of a good trip. We fly up to Rajasthan on the 28th Feb for a few days, then Delhi then home.
There are a few of us in Goa[ 5 ] looking to store bikes so we are collectively trying to rent a room where our babies can stay, nice and secure, dry - ready for next time.
joes bike got repaired and cheaper than he expected - but still 120 quid which is a hell of a lot over here, so he is storing his too. Perhaps we"ll do it all again next year!
Sunday, 18 February 2007
The last of the mountains
Mysore to Hassan was a breeze, we just went there to extend the luxury. Having said that, the hotel has really gone downhill-and has put its prices up, oh well.
Hassan down the mountains tho- well thats a different story. Its a long road from the plains, over the western ghats to sea level.The road itself isnt that good anymore [ it used to be but its been badly repaired ] but it is very exciting as it has lots of hairpins and spectacular curves.Its also full of traffic, so sometimes you are stuck behind a truck for a long time. The air is full of the smell of burning brake linings and burning out clutches. Inevitably some vehicles dont make it[down or up ] and drop off the edge or get suspended in trees overhanging rivers and cliffs etc.
We managed to grind another 6mm off our centre stand tho, and I chamfered the sides of my shoes- so we did get a good ride out of it.
The last time we did this route was with Joe and it was a right old ding -dong all the way down, as Joe and I ride the same-always pushing a bit harder.
So , now we are in Udipi again- this time at our favorite hotel, overeating and exploring new beaches. The bone in the photo is five and a half feet across, its definitely a vertibrae and must be a whales-I really wouldnt want to meet a shark that big! It makes you wonder how big the creature was tho.
Only 300km to go before we get to Goa and put the bike into storage. Its getting its final service today. There will be no more mountains, we cross some hills at Gokarna and then again as we enter Goa, but these are real pussy compared to the ones weve just done recently.Still dont know whats happening with the Bullwtwallas bike-- I might be able to sell it -but we are only in goa for a few days, so I shall probably store it--- Anyone interested in a bullet for next season at a good price??
Hassan down the mountains tho- well thats a different story. Its a long road from the plains, over the western ghats to sea level.The road itself isnt that good anymore [ it used to be but its been badly repaired ] but it is very exciting as it has lots of hairpins and spectacular curves.Its also full of traffic, so sometimes you are stuck behind a truck for a long time. The air is full of the smell of burning brake linings and burning out clutches. Inevitably some vehicles dont make it[down or up ] and drop off the edge or get suspended in trees overhanging rivers and cliffs etc.
We managed to grind another 6mm off our centre stand tho, and I chamfered the sides of my shoes- so we did get a good ride out of it.
The last time we did this route was with Joe and it was a right old ding -dong all the way down, as Joe and I ride the same-always pushing a bit harder.
So , now we are in Udipi again- this time at our favorite hotel, overeating and exploring new beaches. The bone in the photo is five and a half feet across, its definitely a vertibrae and must be a whales-I really wouldnt want to meet a shark that big! It makes you wonder how big the creature was tho.
Only 300km to go before we get to Goa and put the bike into storage. Its getting its final service today. There will be no more mountains, we cross some hills at Gokarna and then again as we enter Goa, but these are real pussy compared to the ones weve just done recently.Still dont know whats happening with the Bullwtwallas bike-- I might be able to sell it -but we are only in goa for a few days, so I shall probably store it--- Anyone interested in a bullet for next season at a good price??
Tuesday, 13 February 2007
Down the mountains
We had to leave , in order to make our way back to Goa in a leisurely manner. We left at 8am and it was a bit cold, the sun had not yet broken thru- the first time ever since we stayed there. About half way down it started to warm up, the ride was great- you could have freewheeled down the 80 km but using the engine spiced things up a little. When we reached the level ground at the bottom, a digger was taking up the whole road surface, there was no road at all- just sheets of upturned tarmac. Hels had to get off and I had to stand on the footpegs to get over the disaster that was in front of us. Luckily this didnt last for too long, only about 400yds, then we had to ride on recently rollered rocks for about 1km which was terrifying as the bike felt like the front wheel wasnt attatched.
We were heading for Coimbatore, as it looked like a big enough town to have a decent hotel, when we arrived we decided against staying as it was a noisy dump. We carried on, got lost, got found and ended up in Satyamangalam for the night. A nice name for a town but unfortunately it was a dump also-still it was only for one night.
Next morning, up and away at 8 - the ride up over the mountains is really exciting-- 27 hairpin bends on the climb up onto the Deccan plain! It started off warm but it got colder the more we climbed, we ended up right in the clouds-- losing the view, not that I had time to look much as I was having to dodge spilt diesel, potholes and monkeys. A coach had broken down just out of a hairpin , blocking the road to all but motorbikes - a great ride up!
When we hit level ground again, it was onward to Mysore, riding thru forest and jungle for 40km untill we reached civilisation-which meant people, vehicles, towns and sleeping policemen the size of small hills which catapult you skywards if you dont see them [ not signposted of course! ]There were great signs in the jungle, beware of crossing elephant--unfortunately we didnt see any.
So here we are again in Mysore, just having it large in the luxury that we would like to become accustomed to. Next stop Hassan - - again more luxury Im afraid--- you just dont believe how much we suffer out here!!
We were heading for Coimbatore, as it looked like a big enough town to have a decent hotel, when we arrived we decided against staying as it was a noisy dump. We carried on, got lost, got found and ended up in Satyamangalam for the night. A nice name for a town but unfortunately it was a dump also-still it was only for one night.
Next morning, up and away at 8 - the ride up over the mountains is really exciting-- 27 hairpin bends on the climb up onto the Deccan plain! It started off warm but it got colder the more we climbed, we ended up right in the clouds-- losing the view, not that I had time to look much as I was having to dodge spilt diesel, potholes and monkeys. A coach had broken down just out of a hairpin , blocking the road to all but motorbikes - a great ride up!
When we hit level ground again, it was onward to Mysore, riding thru forest and jungle for 40km untill we reached civilisation-which meant people, vehicles, towns and sleeping policemen the size of small hills which catapult you skywards if you dont see them [ not signposted of course! ]There were great signs in the jungle, beware of crossing elephant--unfortunately we didnt see any.
So here we are again in Mysore, just having it large in the luxury that we would like to become accustomed to. Next stop Hassan - - again more luxury Im afraid--- you just dont believe how much we suffer out here!!
A bit about Munnar
Munnar is a hill station in Kerala, its at an altitude of between 6500ft and 8800ft and is part of the High range of Travancore. It hosts the highest tea estates in the world and its absolutely wonder full. The scenery is stunning- the butterflys are huge- about 6 inch wingspan, and the birdlife is magnificent. Its the most stimulating place we have discovered this trip-hence we stayed there for 8 days.
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