WANDERER'S DIARIES: Monsoon Calling..The Ride to Malshej: Part 1

2014..an year of changes..political changes..social changes..personal changes..change in views..change in situations..The spirit to change is everywhere..and I guess the Monsoon also thought so.."let's skip the schedule by one month!!!" well...easy ain't it!!! Yeah for him!!! But for us its been a terror!! Dried rivers..dams...water shortage, electricity cuts...yeah everything..moreover...NO OUTINGS..NO RIDES!!! Somethings are the most fun in Monsoon...out of which bike rides is one!!! I guess all will agree here..

Its July now, and finally Monsoon is here to stay..

The buzz was around since June...when is the ride...whats the route..dates..what? where? when??

With one more new Bullet in the group..everyone was super-excited...The ride has to happen!!!

So finally...as the rains silently made their way in the surroundings..we were busy jotting out trails on G-Maps...So many constraints...2 day ride only...not more than 250 kms/day...some new area...OMG..

So a choice of destinations was found out...Amba Ghaat in Kolhapur, Devgad in Ratnagiri, Guhaghar, Panhala...None was clicking...these roads were now all rode upon and most of the unseen places were much more than the expected distance. All plans were discarded. We were in search of some new exciting destination.

And there it occurred...in one of the old mails, we got a route charted out for Malshej, one of the favourite Monsoon destinations for tourists..but the distance was just 120 kms and a complete highway..No problems...lets take a detour..and we had a nice route winding through the sahyadri's..making its way to Malshej via the famous Naaneghat..240 Kms of rough roads!!! Fabulous!!! And on the way back a similar terrain via Khopoli. (You folks can try guessing the route..)

Malshej Ghat

Sahyadri ranges

So the route is finalised...what next...A place to stay?? YES. The most important thing as putting up tents in monsoon is next to impossible in this areas!!! MTDC?? Full. Other small resorts around? Full..any other resort?? 2-3 days passed by...and by the third day, losing all hopes..we were about to change the route, when suddenly one of the resorts called back and offered us space!!! Aah!! Perfect...

So, the destination is now set..things are rollling..all the gears ready..the bullets are roaring...Malshej.We are coming...