It was very sad that I had to miss, or rather, skip my annual Sankranti Trip this year owing to work pressure. I really was very disappointed. It was a very funny coincidence then, that one of my students, Praveen, insisted that I give him a tour of Goa as he had never been there. My brother was also eager to go to Goa as he had left almost all his Clothes behind (from when he used to work there) and wanted to go and get them.
It was so that on Saturday the 21st of January we decided to go to Goa. Praveen came over to our house that Night as we had decided to leave early (4 am). All of us were up and bright by 4:10 the next morning.
We left home, Myself, Praveen and my Brother (Mikhail), by 5:00 and proceeded to Amit pandey's room near KC Park. We had two Bikes: A Platina and a Karizma Sports. We picked up Amit and left for Haliyal by 6. The journey up to Haliyal was un-eventful except for the intense cold making us all shiver in spite of jackets and Gloves!
We stopped for Breakfast at Haliyal and had piping hot coffee instead of tea. My brother insisted that I pilot the Platina as Praveen was not keeping up speed. I took over the reins and maintained a steady 60KMph. We eventually reached Ganeshgudi after spotting a few Peacocks, Peahens and Jungle fowl on the road between Karka and Bharchi. Just after Ganeshgudi, we stopped at the viewpoint to catch a glimpse of the Supa Dam Reservoir and warm up with a Cigarette each. After a five minute break, we started off and crossed Jagalbet. A short distance after jagalbet is the Left turn for Chandewadi and castlerock. Once we took the turn, The road is almost as good as a National Highway and Mikhail zipped away on the Karizma at 120KMph! I, sadly, had only the puny and tiny Platina and managed to do only about 80KMph :-(. My brother eventually slowed down and I caught up with him and we proceeded together. After we crossed the Phandri River at Chandewadi, the road turned Single and very bad in patches and we were forced to reduce our speed. A little distance after crossing the Duski River, we reached Castlerock and stopped for tea.
After Castlerock, we came to the spot where I had crashed my Jeep (Armada) into the Hillside and stopped to have a look and wash our faces in the Cool mountain Stream nearby. We then proceeded amongst lush green forest and reached the NH4A where we turned left for Goa. After passing Anmod, the Ghat started and I enjoyed riding the bike in deep curves. We crossed the Boundary into Goa and Praveen was overjoyed to have at last reached Goa! In the middle of the Ghat, we stopped at the Temple to pay our respects, as has always been our custom, and then proceeded to Molem. At Molem, we showed our papers at the checkpost and proceeded towards Ponda. I stopped at Usgao for a cigarette and we all ended up having Vada Pav as the Breakfast eaten at Haliyal had disappeared from our bellies! I was really tired after havind ridden for nearly 100Km and asked Praveen to take over. We called up the guy who had my Brother's clothes with no success. His Phone was unreachable.
Just before Ponda, We took the left for Margao. Upon reaching Margao, we took the road to Colva and later turned right towards Majorda. We had a little trouble finding the Beach and wandered around a little. On the way, we found a wine shop (not very rare in Goa!) and picked up a few cans of Beer. Once at the beach, I got rid of my clothes and flopped down in the sand as my back was literally killing me! We had a beer each and attacked the sea. After a good battle with the waves, we came back, had a beer each again and splashed into the water again. We got out of the water at around 3PM, dried off, got dressed and started back. On the way, just before the circle where we turn left for Margao, we spotted a Nice little eatery advertising "Goan Sausages with Bread" and had a delicious meal for dirt cheap prices. After the meal, we proceeded back and eventually reached Molem. After a cup of tea, we crossed the Checkpost. The Platina, still piloted by Praveen, had a tough time getting up the Ghat owing to it's aging Engine. Once we reached Anmod, and crossed the Excise checkpost with nothing to declare, Praveen insisted that I take over. I did and had a very tough time reaching Ramnagar. The road was Potholed at each and every curve! At Ramnagar, it was 8:30PM, and I came to the decision to take the regular route to Dharwad Via Nagargali - Alnavar. Eventhough it was under construction, I felt we could make good time and save distance as the road via Ganeshgudi - Haliyal would be too long.
We ended up reaching Alnavar at exactly 9:40PM. We unanimously decided to have Dinner and went to Adarsh. We had a nice Mutton Dinner and left at 12:00. We reached Home at 1:00AM and flopped down into our beds after an extremely tiring yet satisfying Trip.
It was so that on Saturday the 21st of January we decided to go to Goa. Praveen came over to our house that Night as we had decided to leave early (4 am). All of us were up and bright by 4:10 the next morning.
We left home, Myself, Praveen and my Brother (Mikhail), by 5:00 and proceeded to Amit pandey's room near KC Park. We had two Bikes: A Platina and a Karizma Sports. We picked up Amit and left for Haliyal by 6. The journey up to Haliyal was un-eventful except for the intense cold making us all shiver in spite of jackets and Gloves!
We stopped for Breakfast at Haliyal and had piping hot coffee instead of tea. My brother insisted that I pilot the Platina as Praveen was not keeping up speed. I took over the reins and maintained a steady 60KMph. We eventually reached Ganeshgudi after spotting a few Peacocks, Peahens and Jungle fowl on the road between Karka and Bharchi. Just after Ganeshgudi, we stopped at the viewpoint to catch a glimpse of the Supa Dam Reservoir and warm up with a Cigarette each. After a five minute break, we started off and crossed Jagalbet. A short distance after jagalbet is the Left turn for Chandewadi and castlerock. Once we took the turn, The road is almost as good as a National Highway and Mikhail zipped away on the Karizma at 120KMph! I, sadly, had only the puny and tiny Platina and managed to do only about 80KMph :-(. My brother eventually slowed down and I caught up with him and we proceeded together. After we crossed the Phandri River at Chandewadi, the road turned Single and very bad in patches and we were forced to reduce our speed. A little distance after crossing the Duski River, we reached Castlerock and stopped for tea.
After Castlerock, we came to the spot where I had crashed my Jeep (Armada) into the Hillside and stopped to have a look and wash our faces in the Cool mountain Stream nearby. We then proceeded amongst lush green forest and reached the NH4A where we turned left for Goa. After passing Anmod, the Ghat started and I enjoyed riding the bike in deep curves. We crossed the Boundary into Goa and Praveen was overjoyed to have at last reached Goa! In the middle of the Ghat, we stopped at the Temple to pay our respects, as has always been our custom, and then proceeded to Molem. At Molem, we showed our papers at the checkpost and proceeded towards Ponda. I stopped at Usgao for a cigarette and we all ended up having Vada Pav as the Breakfast eaten at Haliyal had disappeared from our bellies! I was really tired after havind ridden for nearly 100Km and asked Praveen to take over. We called up the guy who had my Brother's clothes with no success. His Phone was unreachable.
Just before Ponda, We took the left for Margao. Upon reaching Margao, we took the road to Colva and later turned right towards Majorda. We had a little trouble finding the Beach and wandered around a little. On the way, we found a wine shop (not very rare in Goa!) and picked up a few cans of Beer. Once at the beach, I got rid of my clothes and flopped down in the sand as my back was literally killing me! We had a beer each and attacked the sea. After a good battle with the waves, we came back, had a beer each again and splashed into the water again. We got out of the water at around 3PM, dried off, got dressed and started back. On the way, just before the circle where we turn left for Margao, we spotted a Nice little eatery advertising "Goan Sausages with Bread" and had a delicious meal for dirt cheap prices. After the meal, we proceeded back and eventually reached Molem. After a cup of tea, we crossed the Checkpost. The Platina, still piloted by Praveen, had a tough time getting up the Ghat owing to it's aging Engine. Once we reached Anmod, and crossed the Excise checkpost with nothing to declare, Praveen insisted that I take over. I did and had a very tough time reaching Ramnagar. The road was Potholed at each and every curve! At Ramnagar, it was 8:30PM, and I came to the decision to take the regular route to Dharwad Via Nagargali - Alnavar. Eventhough it was under construction, I felt we could make good time and save distance as the road via Ganeshgudi - Haliyal would be too long.
We ended up reaching Alnavar at exactly 9:40PM. We unanimously decided to have Dinner and went to Adarsh. We had a nice Mutton Dinner and left at 12:00. We reached Home at 1:00AM and flopped down into our beds after an extremely tiring yet satisfying Trip.
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