Ghost Rider

From BikeNomads

Yesterday night (actially today morning), I went on a solo ride. Here is the log ... or semblance of it.

Got home at 12:30 from office. Had taken the highway route to home - and thought it was nice roads, the highbeams of the oncoming traffic really spoilt the fun. Nowdays the weather in Pune is quite chilly. The ride did nothing more than to wake me up and leaving me desiring for more.

Got into my flat, and did not feel like sleeping. So thought about going for a ride. Crazy idea at a crazy time. But that's me.

So, dropped my bag, took my bike papers and mobile , and hit the roads. I decided on going to Mulshi. For those who don't know about the place, its around 35kms from pune. There is a Dam built there ( by the TATA group I think) and it makes a huge reservoir. Its almost full due to the plentiful rains last year. Its one of my favourite tracks, and I love going there. The fun actually starts after getting to Mulshi as the way before it is not really good, and there are lots of small villages in between.

However at night, I chose the route as it would be free of traffic and trucks.

At 12:45 I was at the parking lot putting on my gear ( Gloves, jacket, Helmet ) and kicked the bike into life, and with a soft purr I was on my way.

At first there were a few cars in the oncoming traffic. Porbably people returning from the few resorts like Manas resorts going back home. Everyone with the high beam on ( dunno what it is about car drivers. Insensitive , self occupied pricks).

Crossed Manas Resorts at 12:55AM . Just after it is a small ghat . Zipped through that without meeting a single soul. The view from the ghat roads was a blanket of soft lights - the town of Pirangut.

Reached the entry speed breaker at Pirangut at 1:00 am. Hit the exit breaker at 1:02 am. ( The watch on the dashboard of the ZMA real comes in handy for these observations).

I see a couple of glowing lights by the road side - a cat - its eyes reflecting the beam of my bike.

Now I am travelling with the high beam on, maintaining a steady rhythm of 70kmph. A truck comes from the other side . I go to low beam - so does the truck. I met around 8-9 trucks on the way to Mulshi - and each one of them dipped from high to low beam when I did so. Stark contrast to the 'educated' people driving cars.

I had thought that the route after Pirangut was sparsely populated. But i was amazed at number of lights flickering from the surrounding hillsides. There is some university on the way to Mulshi - its lights were on in full force. Its situated on a hill top which was on my right. Suddenly I looked up - the stars ! They are still there ! Living in the polluted atmosphere of the cities we forget that these fiery giants still exists. There was no moon - just the starlight. Suddenly ... a wobble. My heart jumped to my throat - am i having a puncture ? Not now ! not at this place ! There was no lights on the road, and i could no see the status of my tires. Stopped the bike, but could not be sure if the rear wheel was ok, or deflated a bit. Started again - reached a house where there was a solitary tubelight giving some illumination - stopped to check the tires again - they seemed ok. Feeling better, (tweety and I) rode again.

Reached the 'phatak' at mulshi at 1:23AM. At 1:26 I was at the TATA center. There is quite a lot of light at this place - and I stopped to again check my tires. The guard at this place was conveniently sleeping curled up on the window sill. Then i noticed my rear view mirrors - they were fogged over ! It was a cold night.

1:30AM Tweety whispered through the sleeping town of mulshi. Not a person in sight.

1:37AM I reached the place where a couple of weeks before we had ridden for a group ride ( Doc, Nav, Ricci, Nalin, Chotu, Me ). Stopped the bike. Switched off the engine, killed the lights. I don't even know how to start explaining. At first I could not see anything. Then I looked up at the star studded skies . I could make out the constellation of Sagittarius ( my dad's one and had pointed it out to me once ) . Then slowly i started to make out the outlines of the darker mountains towering on either side of the road ... and finally the star light getting reflected on the waters of the reservoir. Amazing !!!

Stopped there for about 5 mins ... soaking up the atmosphere.

1:43AM started the bike, switched on the parking lights. By now my eyes were quite accustomed to the light and I could make out the road with just the parking lights. There was no other vehicle as far as I could see. I rode like this for 2 minutes - at a speed of 30-40kmph. The roads are quite twisty , and I could not predict the way. Switched on the highbeam - and the light filled up the road. Started to accelerate. Reached the TATA compound - the guy was still sleeping.

By now I was back in full flow - the stealthy bike was zooming ahead at close to 100kmph on the roads to Pirangut. Up ahead there was a truck - and the road was under construction - place enough for only the truck. I just followed the truck - no point in honking as most people start doing in this situation - there was no place for the truck to go! The driver must have seen me in his rearview, for what happened surprised me. He gave the indicator, pulled up a bit to the left and stopped the truck so I had enough space to overtake him. Waving my thanks, I picked up speed again. This happened again - this time it was a bus - and he too gave way.

Suddenly off to my right I see a light behind a hill - a beacon ? At this place ? Suddenly I realized - it was no beacon - it was the moon ! A half moon - though you can make out the entire sphere - and i cursed myself for the umpteenth time that night for not having the camera with me!

2:05AM Reached Pirangut with the moon keeping me company. The approach to Pirangut is through another small ghat - and the sight of the town with the lights sparkling below and the half moon hung above was something I cannot forget.

From Pirangut I decided to take the road to Hinjewadi and hit the highway to my home ( I stay near Chandni Chowk). Bad decision. The road is pretty bad and in many places it is being made - with the road surface strewn with small gravel. I was going at around 60 when i got to this stretch and the bike started to fishtail a bit .. slowed down and stopped. I thought it may be a problem with the bike - but as soon as i stopped, I could see the road surface in greater detail - and figured out the problem. Started of cautiosly again hardly going above 40. The road though on flatland is still quite twisty and a couple of times there are tight right handers , where even though with the reduced speed - the traction of the rear tyre seemed to be open to question.

By the time I reached the Hinjewadi complex it was 2:15AM. By this time I could have been back at home using the original trail. At Hinjewadi - the air suddenly became quite smokey. It seems that there are brick kilns there - hardly a healthy climate for the hundreds of people workig there.

Reached the highway in another 10 mins. 5 mins more to my home. Everyone riding with the highbeams on

There endeth my night ride. i will do this again - probably on a full moon night - and that time I plan to go all the way to Tamini Ghats. Interested ?