BHPian AKSO recently shared this with other enthusiasts:Day 7: Valparai to Chitradurga, 590kmAs the first light of dawn broke through the mist-laden tea plantations, the motorcycles began its descent from the hills of Valparai. The bikes navigated the steep, hairpin bends, the riders a dark silhouette against the backdrop of rolling, verdant hills that were still waking up from their slumber. With the cool, damp air carrying the scent of wet earth and foliage, the descent was a quiet, rhythmic dance of balance and control as the machines carried us smoothly down the winding mountain road towards the plains below. After coming down from the hills, we stopped at Annapoorna in Avinashi for a delicious breakfast of butter masala dosa and filter coffee. Gurpratap also met up with a colleague who had driven down especially to see him. After passing Tumkur in the afternoon, the rain gods unleashed their fury, and we once again went through the routine of putting on rain gear along the highway. We arrived in Chitradurga while it was dark, still pouring and were relieved to finally reach the hotel and call it a day. Our overnight stay at Hotel Aishwarya Fort was uncomfortable, and I wouldn’t recommend it. Day 8: Chitradurga and all that happened, 430 kms We left Chitradurga early in the morning under pouring rain and soon merged onto NH50. The wet conditions kept us from opening the throttle and picking up the pace. Tungabhadra Dam has a scenic viewpoint located about 15 km beyond Hospet, Karnataka. The bike chain snapped about 10 km before Ilkal in Karnataka, and the Ninja lost all transmission. It happened around 9 a.m., and thanks to the kindness of strangers and mechanic Salim from Ilkal, we were back on the road by about 2 p.m. Luckily, I had a spare chain link of the RE 350 Classic, which ended up saving the day. My faith in the kindness of strangers was reaffirmed as they came together, determined to fix the chain even though we were stranded in the middle of nowhere. After the incident, it was wise to ride at a slower pace, keeping the speed under 110 kmph with gentle, smooth throttle inputs. Since returning to Pune was no longer possible that night, the decision was made to stop over in Solapur. And in Solapur, staying at Hotel Le More and enjoying their legendary butter garlic prawns is an obvious choice.Day 9: Solapur to Pune, 250 kmThe final stretch of the ride was blissfully uneventful. After a quick breakfast at Chaturthi in Kurkumbh, I made it home by 10 a.m. Our friendship, forged on the open road, is an unspoken testament to shared adventures and mutual trust; through sun and rain, each mile was a bond strengthened, with one rider always watching the other’s back as the landscape blurred past. It is a bond of two souls on two wheels, finding solace and strength not just in the destination, but in the shared journey, proving that the best life is one lived in motion. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
