Cruise Mode, along random trails - Day 2

The alarm on the phone started buzzing at 6:30 AM. Sujith asked me to get up and went back to sleep. We had wanted to hit the roads by 7:30 but my friend was refusing to budge. Over the years, you learn a few tricks to wake your friends. Some need careful nudging, as they would wake up startled with a ghost-like expression, making you jump out of your skin. Others need water sprinkled on to their faces. But Sujith is special, nothing else can have the desired result but the call of tea/coffee.

I opened the door to see a plate of plantains and biscuits on the porch kept by Mr. James (our host). He served me with some hot coffee and we briefly chatted up on our lives. Came to know that he had returned from the US a year back to settle down in his hometown and do things he always wanted to do before age catches up with him. He had big plans to open up a few more guest houses, where people could feel at home and bring in 12 odd dirt bikes for the adventurous kinds.

During our conversation we learnt that there were 2 routes to Chikmagalur (our next destination). One, the route we had taken the night before (scenic but bad roads) and the other through some coffee estates (usual). We decided to take the former, on James’ advice. As we started riding upwards, came across a Y- junction where we had taken a wrong diversion. Kemmanagundi is very scenic with several flowers dotting the area but also very touristy. A couple of waterfalls Kallahatti and Hebbe are present in and around 10 km distance, but we decided to continue on our bike.

Kemmanagundi

The craters

The ride through the hills was narrow with bad roads but the beauty around made it “Heavenly” :-). It took us 3 hrs, just to cover 60 odd km coz the roads were tricky and we made several pit stops for shooting photographs.

Mullayanagiri (6330 feet) is the tallest peak in Karnataka. We ran into a few sharp showers over our ride but it wasn’t bad. We reached Chikamagalur (land of coffee) around noon and bought some special coffee. So next time, you come home…you know what’s in store :-).

Our next pit stop was at Belur, the early capital of Hoysala dynasty. The Chennakesava(meaning handsome Kesava) temple has mind blowing miniature art work made out of a particular type of stone called “soapstone”.

Our plan to taste the local flavor (Raagi mudde- millet balls) at Belur was a flop, as the mess (suggested by locals) had shut down. We finally had to settle for lunch at a random village (forced to stop coz of the rain), and I finally laid my hands on some local “Raagi mudde” but could hardly eat it as it practically tasted like bland dough. Apparently, it has to be swallowed and not chewed but the paste wasn’t going anywhere beyond my throat and finally had to be discarded. On the other hand, since my friend and food go a long way, he can eat anything and the truth only got reaffirmed.

We had 225 odd km to be covered to reach Bangalore from Belur and the inevitable happened. We ran out of petrol. The road from Hassan has very few petrol bunks and I couldn’t find one in a stretch of 60 odd km. After 15 min of reaching out for help, a fellow biker obliged to help. I went with him to the nearest petrol bunk and his bike decided to run out of petrol too. We reached the petrol bunk and as I was filling petrol in a small can, I could hear the biker negotiate for petrol. On enquiring, I learnt that all he had was 20 bucks with him and was giving away his mobile phone in exchange for petrol. I offered him a 100, after all I couldn’t have reached this place and he in turn offered to drop me back (a 10 km distance). Lucky again :-).

We finally reached Bangalore around 9ish in the evening carrying our battered bodies but a very fresh mind. I guess travel has that effect on you.

Signing off for now, until next time!