Sunday, 18 February 2007
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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