Tadi in TADA
Hadn’t been on a ride in a long time now (almost a month to come of think of it). And it was looming over everyone. The last MadBull meeting saw many points being discussed, T-shirts, RM 06, the new forum, ride formations, mandatory helmet rule and the induction of the newbies, to name a few.
Then Dosai jumped in to announce the ride to TADA falls the next day morning. It was assumed that I will go, hence was already counted in!! . It was decided that we all meet up at some building in Keompet (my insufficient knowledge of Chennai landscape continues...). But a small regrouping was arranged for the clueless like me and the point of congregation was to be in front of Royal Meridian at 0600 hours on Sunday morning (10.07.2005).
My request for an early morning wake up call is laughed at, by my own family, so I will make no bones about the fact that I overslept (that I actually woke up to switch off the alarm and went back to my beautiful sleep was the reality). Then Dosai called me!! It was past 6 O’clock and I had just gotten up. He said they would wait and I had 15 minutes to get there. One good thing about Sunday rides with the gang is that no toiletries are required. Got on the bike (stuffed my bag with a pair of shorts and a tee - couldn’t find my swimming trunks in the rush) and met up with the guys.
The pack
Dosai, Arul, Jai & Maggie, Surya, Raja and I. We were soon joined by Vijay, Arun, Anir and his father.
Take off: 6.45 AM
Jai was leading the pack and Dosai was sweeping. Few of us stopped at a bunk to tankup. Surya was the hotwheels zooming past on his rickety but formidable 500. Arun was the slowest. Anir was running-in his bike but kept up well with Jai.
This ride was an initiation ride for Anir, Arun and Vijay. To strike a balance Anir and Vijay were put behind Jai, followed by me, Arun, Raja, Arul and finally Dosai. Surya was the occasional blurr, who would either be in the front or in the back.
Every one was asked to stick to staggered formation and maintain steady speeds (set by the leader).
We had a jumbled up formation for a while, none the less everyone in the pack was within eyesight - what if in a confused mix-up formation. To start with Anir and Vijay had a tough time sticking to their positions with respect to Jai – I reckon they were thinking too much and were too rigid in switching places when required. This disturbed those behind them. Arun was not able to keep up with pack in front withholding those behind him.
We had crossed the city out skirts by then and open roads lay before us.
Not wanting to continue the irritating formation we were in, I backed up to Raja and asked him to join me behind Jai. Having done that, we were able to form two distinct rows that resembled a staggered formation. The guys behind took the que and every one gradually fell in place. From then on it was a dream ride.
We rode on till Sun was shining brightly (too brightly for my taste) and my odo had run older by 70 odd Km. It had been nearly two hours since we started and welts had started forming on my posterior imprinting the seams on the seat. The initial pangs of hunger did not help either. As if by reading my mind, Dosai thumped past the pack and signaled “food” to Jai. This might not sound comical on paper but, Dosai trying to hail down Jai by gesturing his puckered fingers towards his mouth was quiet hilarious. There was no decent settlement on the highway and hence Jai kept going in search for a decent halt. But Dosai would occasionally climb up the pack on the right side, explain his (our) plight to Jai and drop back from the left.
Finally we hit upon a small town (this is after deviating form the highway by taking a left under a flyover intersection). We had just crossed the TN border and were in Andhra. It was a pleasant sight to see the boarding and the movie posters in Telugu. The best Tiffin center we could find was a house whose front porch was the serving area. They had idllys and wadas readily available and Dosa’s on order. The ground nut chutney (which is typical of Andhra) was delicious (especially after getting used to the bland coconut chutney that every single restaurant in Chennai has a fetish for). The red chilli chutney was a bonus and was nicknamed “Bazooka” by dudes with less tolerant tongues. Not to mention we devoured all the idllys they had to serve.
We had a smooth ride doing sane speeds, satisfied and content. I was told that ride to TADA would be hard on the bikes…little did I know that my internally organs would turn jelly by the end of it. It started with the road turning into a muddy track, then the mud turned into sand (it might as well been quicksand for the wheels were eager to sink in), then came the rocks, followed by boulders. All these were laid over the entire length of 2KM or so. Doing 40kmph or less and staying on the track would be considered an achievement and most of us achieved it. One particular fellow rider would better explain the technicalities of getting into and out of a ditch. We also had to wade through a stream to finally park the bikes in the shade. Surya’s bike did not have a lock so we had carefully parked all our bikes around it – rest assured it was safe.
The trek and the swim
Since the sun was already on our heads and we planned to leave early, it was decided that we will not go to the waterfalls (which is a two hour trek – one way). Instead we took a ten minute trek to the “lagoon”. The flowing water which other wise is clear was murky and unsettled, thanks to the carnival of hundred odd “sarkari babus” who were to share the lake with us. Not much time was wasted in getting into the water making sure the helmets and bags are safe. The water was four to five feet deep and we all sat comfortable on the boulders below submerged neck deep. We had a secluded section of the lake to ourselves and we pretty much marked out perimeter from the zillion other “hippos” splashing around. The place WAS CROWDED.
The INCIDENT
Amidst all this hungama, few of us started swimming and I managed to float across the lake. Now! my swimming skills are next to none and within 10 meters of floating, paddling, stroking, kicking, I was completely out of breath and decided to stop. Little did I know that this innocent looking, shallow lake also had a ten feet pit on the farther end, and it was here that I decided to stop for some air. Expecting the rock bottom, down I went. It is easy to tell others not to panic in a situation like this…but that’s exactly what I did and with the immediate realization that I was drowning I started to struggle to surface. My head bobbed above the water a couple of time allowing myself the much needed air and also to realize that the nearest help was some distance away. My lungs were already pushed to their maximum capacity. My head had cleared by then and I did the smartest thing (if ever there was one) by kicking towards the crowd. With good five or six strokes I had covered the gap before Dosai (God bless him) got a good grip under my arms and pushed me ashore. That sure kept me quiet for the rest of my stay in the water. We spent the better part of three hours in the water and had a jolly good time. Arul, Anir and his father went a little further upstream what they later told us to be a bigger water body but much deeper. They had enjoyed their swim in the peaceful tranquility for the place was deserted.
The trip back (12.45 PM)
On Jai’s word we all reassembled at the bikes and started on our way back. The ride back was more fun and tougher to navigate. Couple of the guys fell in the sand, few slipped in the waters, in all it was an enjoyable ride. After hydrating ourselves at the first inhabited place, we started off for Chennai only to stop for Arun’s photo sessions. The ride back was uneventful. Jai and Surya decided to pull off in superior speeds that are not natural to the rest. After the through workout in the water, the rest of the gang was content with sticking to the 80kmph range. I took the lead and with Dosai on the tail, we all made in (most of the time in perfect formation might I add) to the out skirts of the city. Hydrated ourselves again with some drinks and snacks for we had skipped our lunch. Once back in the city every one dispersed to their respective settlements.
End of the ride
Reached back home at 4.00PM
Distance covered: 230 KM approx
Then Dosai jumped in to announce the ride to TADA falls the next day morning. It was assumed that I will go, hence was already counted in!! . It was decided that we all meet up at some building in Keompet (my insufficient knowledge of Chennai landscape continues...). But a small regrouping was arranged for the clueless like me and the point of congregation was to be in front of Royal Meridian at 0600 hours on Sunday morning (10.07.2005).
My request for an early morning wake up call is laughed at, by my own family, so I will make no bones about the fact that I overslept (that I actually woke up to switch off the alarm and went back to my beautiful sleep was the reality). Then Dosai called me!! It was past 6 O’clock and I had just gotten up. He said they would wait and I had 15 minutes to get there. One good thing about Sunday rides with the gang is that no toiletries are required. Got on the bike (stuffed my bag with a pair of shorts and a tee - couldn’t find my swimming trunks in the rush) and met up with the guys.
The pack
Dosai, Arul, Jai & Maggie, Surya, Raja and I. We were soon joined by Vijay, Arun, Anir and his father.
Take off: 6.45 AM
Jai was leading the pack and Dosai was sweeping. Few of us stopped at a bunk to tankup. Surya was the hotwheels zooming past on his rickety but formidable 500. Arun was the slowest. Anir was running-in his bike but kept up well with Jai.
This ride was an initiation ride for Anir, Arun and Vijay. To strike a balance Anir and Vijay were put behind Jai, followed by me, Arun, Raja, Arul and finally Dosai. Surya was the occasional blurr, who would either be in the front or in the back.
Every one was asked to stick to staggered formation and maintain steady speeds (set by the leader).
We had a jumbled up formation for a while, none the less everyone in the pack was within eyesight - what if in a confused mix-up formation. To start with Anir and Vijay had a tough time sticking to their positions with respect to Jai – I reckon they were thinking too much and were too rigid in switching places when required. This disturbed those behind them. Arun was not able to keep up with pack in front withholding those behind him.
We had crossed the city out skirts by then and open roads lay before us.
Not wanting to continue the irritating formation we were in, I backed up to Raja and asked him to join me behind Jai. Having done that, we were able to form two distinct rows that resembled a staggered formation. The guys behind took the que and every one gradually fell in place. From then on it was a dream ride.
We rode on till Sun was shining brightly (too brightly for my taste) and my odo had run older by 70 odd Km. It had been nearly two hours since we started and welts had started forming on my posterior imprinting the seams on the seat. The initial pangs of hunger did not help either. As if by reading my mind, Dosai thumped past the pack and signaled “food” to Jai. This might not sound comical on paper but, Dosai trying to hail down Jai by gesturing his puckered fingers towards his mouth was quiet hilarious. There was no decent settlement on the highway and hence Jai kept going in search for a decent halt. But Dosai would occasionally climb up the pack on the right side, explain his (our) plight to Jai and drop back from the left.
Finally we hit upon a small town (this is after deviating form the highway by taking a left under a flyover intersection). We had just crossed the TN border and were in Andhra. It was a pleasant sight to see the boarding and the movie posters in Telugu. The best Tiffin center we could find was a house whose front porch was the serving area. They had idllys and wadas readily available and Dosa’s on order. The ground nut chutney (which is typical of Andhra) was delicious (especially after getting used to the bland coconut chutney that every single restaurant in Chennai has a fetish for). The red chilli chutney was a bonus and was nicknamed “Bazooka” by dudes with less tolerant tongues. Not to mention we devoured all the idllys they had to serve.
We had a smooth ride doing sane speeds, satisfied and content. I was told that ride to TADA would be hard on the bikes…little did I know that my internally organs would turn jelly by the end of it. It started with the road turning into a muddy track, then the mud turned into sand (it might as well been quicksand for the wheels were eager to sink in), then came the rocks, followed by boulders. All these were laid over the entire length of 2KM or so. Doing 40kmph or less and staying on the track would be considered an achievement and most of us achieved it. One particular fellow rider would better explain the technicalities of getting into and out of a ditch. We also had to wade through a stream to finally park the bikes in the shade. Surya’s bike did not have a lock so we had carefully parked all our bikes around it – rest assured it was safe.
The trek and the swim
Since the sun was already on our heads and we planned to leave early, it was decided that we will not go to the waterfalls (which is a two hour trek – one way). Instead we took a ten minute trek to the “lagoon”. The flowing water which other wise is clear was murky and unsettled, thanks to the carnival of hundred odd “sarkari babus” who were to share the lake with us. Not much time was wasted in getting into the water making sure the helmets and bags are safe. The water was four to five feet deep and we all sat comfortable on the boulders below submerged neck deep. We had a secluded section of the lake to ourselves and we pretty much marked out perimeter from the zillion other “hippos” splashing around. The place WAS CROWDED.
The INCIDENT
Amidst all this hungama, few of us started swimming and I managed to float across the lake. Now! my swimming skills are next to none and within 10 meters of floating, paddling, stroking, kicking, I was completely out of breath and decided to stop. Little did I know that this innocent looking, shallow lake also had a ten feet pit on the farther end, and it was here that I decided to stop for some air. Expecting the rock bottom, down I went. It is easy to tell others not to panic in a situation like this…but that’s exactly what I did and with the immediate realization that I was drowning I started to struggle to surface. My head bobbed above the water a couple of time allowing myself the much needed air and also to realize that the nearest help was some distance away. My lungs were already pushed to their maximum capacity. My head had cleared by then and I did the smartest thing (if ever there was one) by kicking towards the crowd. With good five or six strokes I had covered the gap before Dosai (God bless him) got a good grip under my arms and pushed me ashore. That sure kept me quiet for the rest of my stay in the water. We spent the better part of three hours in the water and had a jolly good time. Arul, Anir and his father went a little further upstream what they later told us to be a bigger water body but much deeper. They had enjoyed their swim in the peaceful tranquility for the place was deserted.
The trip back (12.45 PM)
On Jai’s word we all reassembled at the bikes and started on our way back. The ride back was more fun and tougher to navigate. Couple of the guys fell in the sand, few slipped in the waters, in all it was an enjoyable ride. After hydrating ourselves at the first inhabited place, we started off for Chennai only to stop for Arun’s photo sessions. The ride back was uneventful. Jai and Surya decided to pull off in superior speeds that are not natural to the rest. After the through workout in the water, the rest of the gang was content with sticking to the 80kmph range. I took the lead and with Dosai on the tail, we all made in (most of the time in perfect formation might I add) to the out skirts of the city. Hydrated ourselves again with some drinks and snacks for we had skipped our lunch. Once back in the city every one dispersed to their respective settlements.
End of the ride
Reached back home at 4.00PM
Distance covered: 230 KM approx
posted by Addy @ 6:50 PM
0 comments
