My Bike Stories I - Chapter 2

We were so restless that we couldn't even think of going out and having any breakfast. We somehow took off our gears and found ourselves comfortable on the couch. I slept with my ears open, even the slightest sound was waking me up – I guess my mind was still on the highway driving my beast.I was so into my ride that even closing of refrigerator made me fall off the couch screaming “What just happened?” 

We woke up by 6:00 PM IST in the evening and went out to enjoy the happening night life of Bangalore at a place called “The BIERE Club “near UB city. The place was nice and happening.

Next morning, got our self dressed and ready for another ride to Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary via Mysore. During the last ride #Rahul bike got a rim bent, so we first moved to get his bike repaired. Now we were 4 riders as #Joe, one of Rahul’s friend with whom we were staying also accompanied us on his bike. We munched on some rolls and started up as usual struggling with the Bangalore traffic.  On this new quest #Shalini, one more friend joined us as a pillion rider on Shantanu Bike. We got a bit delayed in picking her up and moving on the Highway.

As Mysore is one of the famous tourist attractions so were the roads to it, Smooth and fine but with a lot of speed breakers. At around 3:30 PM IST we reached Mysore but there was no stopping now as we need to reach Bandipur by 5:00 PM IST. We all wanted to go for an evening safari and the deadline to register was by 5:00 PM. Crossing Mysore and its outskirts, itself was a big task. Traffic was crushing us down and so were the roads, pathetic and full of potholes. It took around 30 min to cross Mysore and touch Ooty highway. Now all we need to cover was approximately 80 km in an hour’s time, which was nearly impossible (Bad roads and Traffic). The only way of reaching was to portray ourselves as a motorbike gang who just broke off a bank and trying to escape on the highway. Every other person was melodramatically acting as a cop and trying to chase us.

Vroom…mm!!! We go again. The only thing in our mind was to reach Bandipur Wildlife sanctuary before 5:30 PM IST, so that we were allowed inside, just before the gates were closed for 2 Wheeler i.e. 6 PM IST. The roads were getting worse, so was the traffic. There were so many villages to cross and people were enacting as if they were walking in their own garden #pissed. I leaned my head on the tank, moved my body position to race mode.

While crossing one village, I slowed my bike at a speed breaker but my fellow rider didn't see that and he jumped his bike over it. I saw his bike up in the air and only word that came out of my mouth was “wtf!!! “. It was 5:00 and we reached Gundlupet, a local village near Bandipur Wildlife sanctuary and still 26 km to cover. We already missed the evening safari and it was getting darker and darker, due to densely cover with trees. Only the big orange guy partially covered with clouds was making the roads visible.

When you are a Biker, you know the true meaning of living life. At last we saw the entrance of Bandipur Wildlife sanctuary and up went my hand “yo! We made it before 5:30”.

The entrance gate was an antidote to the misery faced in reaching here. #Rahul and #Joe already reached the check post as they were driving ahead of us. They went for an evening bike ride in the forest clicking some pictures and getting a glimpse of the wildlife.

We were in Bandipur Forest and it was our time to camp our beast and search for the real nomadic beast –“Tiger” which this sanctuary is famous for. We took rooms and freshened up. My stomach was growling of hunger but the amazing beauty of forest was actually suppressing it. We also went for a walk and saw a herd of deer.Even the sky was so clear that you could count the number of stars, but no point in doing so when actually warm food is served. We jumped over the food like hungry wolves.

It was the time to take some rest and get ready for the morning safari. We were also advised to lock our rooms properly as some times tiger visit the camp area in search for food.At the drop of night u can hear someone being hunted down Hell Scary!!! . I dragged my blanket up on my face so that I can hide behind it #darpok and left the room lights open.

Next day morning when I woke up, the beauty of the forest made me think of what a privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, fall in love with Mother Nature. The breeze was so calm; I wished I could wake up every morning like this and walk around breathing non-polluted air.

We got ready for the safari and boarded our jeep at 8 am. 

We went around the forest but no luck; couldn't see the tiger, but a glimpse of few elephants, deer and some birds.

We had a great stay and the breakfast was better than the good.

Now it was the time to say goodbye to Bandipur as we had to go for a bike ride into the forest road. “Life is all about burning petrol and the most efficient way to do so is by riding a bike”.We got our bag pack ready and set for a ride to Madhumalai Wildlife sanctuary (Tamil Nadu).

While riding we saw a herd of elephants and even herds of deer. Riding there was fun, such clean road and best part was that you were the solo rider enjoying every aspects of natural beauty. As a rider you are not supposed to stop in between as there were chances of being attacked by wild animals.

Now was the time to say good bye to earth’s own heaven and move back where this wild actually belong to. We headed back to Bangalore so that we actually utilize our time in meeting some good friends. We reached around 5:00 PM IST. The worst thing about Bangalore is its roads as well as traffic (Both pathetic and annoying). It took 3 hours to reach back to the place where we were staying. We dropped the plan of meeting as traffic consumed all our time and decide to stay for one more day.

Next day I met my sis and few good friends but many were missed.

There always a next time and when that comes I will make sure that no 1 is left behind. It’s time to sleep and wake up to a new dawn, a dawn with new journey and experience. The story is still to bring new adventure :)