03/02/2018
My cycle trip 10 years ago
My dream was to cycle around the country with friends, carefree. Travelling was always been a passion, since my school days, But the real stint "cycling around the state’ actually began to arrive, when i saw a movie in the TV. As a child, I would stand on the road, watch riders ride two wheelers, wave at them and dream. The child in me grew and the dreams too grew as i discussed with friends often like 10 years ago; i realised it is now or never. i had been working nights at wipro spectramind, sholinganallur. i have been practicing on a BSA Mach 1, 30kms riding from Porur to sriperumbathur, then Porur to chengalpattu. i was confident, a friend was not serious about the practice, he said he will accompany me in the trip.
the epic Bicycle BSA Mach 1, which belonged to my friend T. kumararaaja{filmaker}, his priced possession, which i lost tragically. [the bicycle was stolen after a year].
back to trip,
The wait was over and finally I could see my dream coming alive, the road trip was happening atlast alone on the BSA Mach 1, slim tyre cycle, with some repair tools, cash of 5000Rs.
the route was ECR, chennai to puducherry, by noon i crossed kalpakkam, It was already 2 PM and we had 95 km to cover before sunset. i cycled hard at night, the headlights scared me, finally I reached Pondy by 9 pm.
After dinner, I decided to call it a day and rest. A small lodge, comfortable enough for the night.
day two: Pondy to seerkazhi
day 3: seerkazhi to Thanjavur, the big temple
day 4: Thanjavur to Karaikudi, now i felt i needed to rest at a luxurious AC room, i stayed and enjoyed the 3 chutney breakfast, and left uneventful, not many issues along the way. Except a crank wheel problem near kumbakonam town, which i fixed there with 30 Rs,
day 5: karaikudi to madurai [84kms]
i was taking the Melur - Madurai road, wished to end my trip near Rameshwaram. But fate had other plans, i was always pushed off the highway on to the gravel sand roads creating a wheel bending issue, as I reached Madurai, i had given up rameshwaram. I put my cycle on the bus, straight to kodai
new destination : Kodaikanal, it was already dark in Madurai, The tired heart and legs, both wished for a night full of sleep. Stomach full of food, and an hour of travel, i rested a while, then thought of a friend in kodaikanal, Sendhil Anna finally my epic journey ends, i took a weeks rest, then back to chennai.
