Wanderlust in Wayanad

If you are a born again biker and ever own a bike like Clssic-500, I guess you will need frequent long- rides on the bike to remain rational. The highways, trails, and the wanderlust in you, will pull you on to the road and this bike takes you to places and how! This may be construed in my case , by many; erroneously of course, as a symptom of midlife crisis or “fixes” ; -). But trust me, so far, rides on Classic500 have been enjoyable and great way to keep the life going.
It's been two weeks since a long ride for us. It was to Yercaud then. Again, doing few trial rides before a Southern odyssey (SO) ride by Royal-Enfield club (http://www.royalenfield.com/company/events/southernodyssey2010/southernodyssey2010_.aspx ) which we are still contemplating doing. These rides will do us good for a few basic reasons like riding skill, endurance, fatigue, pain in the shoulder and butt, etc. These factors are either tested or fine tuned for this 10 day long ride if ever we decide to do . Hence, a week-end- relatively-long bike-trip to Wayanad district, a Bangalore bikers’ frequent and favorite haunt, was planned. We were warned of rains, which we hoped wouldn’t be too hard .Our primary focus was on meandering/ wandering on bike and a hike to Chembra hill ( a Bangalore trekkers' pet “hike-out” ),which is also in Wayanad- if time and weather permitted.
I got my bike checked for flaws if any and bought a spare tyre-tube. I learnt and practiced wheel replacement (had a flat on our previous week-end ride), just in case.
We had a choice three routes to Wayanad. All three are four-wheel and above vehicle permissible which means that forest department does not permit bikes through forest stretch in two of these routes as riding through on bikes are considered to be highly risky. So, Gundlupet-Sulthan Batthery route was opted though I preferred other routes as they are more remote and less travelled.
Shubha was not too well previous night .It was not fever, but a general malaise kind of a thing. Since we had already planned, she decided to sit behind hoping she would recover in time. We kept the option of going by car open, in case if her condition worsened or if rains played spoil- sport. Fortunately, in the morning ,she was feeling much better and there was no rain. Saturday morning we started around 5:30 on the bike. We reached Mysore early, little too early for breakfast. Shubha wanted to rest for a while before we started again. Not to lose much on time, we then had breakfast and started. Mysore to Nanjagud stretch of road ( 19 kms) was bad. It aggravated Shubha’s headache. She took a pain-killer and she started to feel better.
Gundlupet- Sulthan batthery road is any biker’s dream. Apart from feeble traffic,about 20 kms of road is through reserve forest range and is for that sublime experience. Shubha by now was feeling far better though not normal yet. We rode slowly. I took off my helmet for “that feeling”. We had tea in a quintessential kerala chai shop soon after entering Kerala(trust a keralite to have a shack in reserve forest), and headed further towards Kalpetta, where we had room reserved. Room was bad and Shubha wanted to rest for a while. We asked for a better room. It was holiday season and rooms were in demand. We later went for a nice Kerala lunch at a nearby place. Soon after lunch we left for Lake Pookat, a beautiful place-clean and vast. We walked around the lake; a full-circle in the low light heavy overcast, moist and verdant green condition. We tried our hand at paddling .It was pitifully unsynchronized!
Next to a tourist spot called View point. This spot appears when you are least expecting it as you turn a bend on the road. The sight really “hits” you and you can’t help saying “wow” at it. It overlooks all the winding roads down the ghats to Kazicode. There was ominous dark over-cast high above with approaching dusk and few brigher clouds at a distance at your eye level. This is one hell-of-a awe inspiring place. Photograph cannot depict half the beauty of this place.
On the Way back we had tea at a roadside joint. I t began to drizzle as we rode back. When we returned ,we were given a bigger and better room. Night, we walked to nearby restaurant bar for beer, boiled rice& beef curry dinner (Shubha had boiled rice and veg kerala curry ) . It was pouring outside. We walked back under rain coats.
Next day, as per hotel receptionist’s instructions, we had early breakfast at the attached restaurant and left for Chembra peak. It was about half an hour ride from Kalpetta. We were to pay necessary fee for the maintainace and guide-fee to the Forest department. Another group of youngsters reached there after us.. Forest official wanted to send one guide for us and the group which came after us. We demanded for a separate guide as we had paid for it. A decision, later proved wise as the other group didn’t complete the climbing.
Kerala government’s initiative to promote environmentalism is remarkable. At the eco-sensitive places they check your baggage for any plastic material disposables. Either you have to discard them there or leave them under their custody till you return . They collected Rs. 200 per plastic water bottle as deposit from us before the trek. They returned the money when we showed them the bottles after the trek. All through the trek we rarely spotted any plastic debris; so also at the tourist locations. I wish Karnataka government takes cue from them. Our experience especially around western ghats was pitiable.
The guide, Santhosh, is young, energetic and was a good company. We took little less than 2 hours to climb the peak. We had to climb 3 lesser peaks before we climbed the tallest. It is the tallest peak in Wayanad. This trek was great! It was thickly foliaged in parts, cloudy and foggy and ominous of rains to come. Fortunately it didn’t rain during the trek. Peak was a bit of disappointment as we could not see anything around. It was foggy. Nothing visible beyond few feet. We have had this kind of experience in few other places. We would have the sense of achievement when we reach the top but miss the great views from there. We didn’t spend much time there and started the descent. Descent proved more difficult as it was wet and slippery. We took longer time-more than 2 hours to climb down. I was not wearing my regular trekking shoes but my Nike sandals and they contributed to my one “skid and roll” there. Fortunately, it didn’t hurt me physically though it did disturb me. I swore that I would never ever wear sandals for treks.
We ate a place called Parry’s at Meppady. It is typical Kerala muslim hotel. Meals for two of did cost Rs 150!.This Meppady town is on route to Soochipura falls which was where we headed to. We rode for one hour to reach parking lot of the falls. It was 2km walk from there to base of the falls. It was raining and beginning to get dark as we climbed down to reach falls. While walking downhill we were wondering how we would cope with uphill walk when we had just finished a major day-trek. Fortunately, it didn’t tire us much. I was also worried about few meters of bad muddy road to negotiate on my bike in the rain on the way back from here. Again, it passed off eventless. We rode back in the drizzle but at a slow pace. That late evening we shifted to a home-stay ( Green mount). It was relatively huge place with sparkling clean toilets.. We were very tired. All Shubha needed was a bath and dinner and I needed a beer as well. Again, here liquor is sold only in government designated shops like in Tamilnadu . You get what they want to sell. Sadly, I was served “King fisher strong” instead of “King fisher Premium”. I generally avoid these “Strong” beers. But, here they consider “strong” beer as top class beer. I was desperate and had no choice . That was the only disappointment of the day. That night we slept like logs.
Next morning, Monday, we had tea and settled the bill with our friendly host and the owner Mr. Martin. We considered staying here again during our next visit. We soon left the place. Riding back to Mysore was smooth and beautiful. It rained in one patch, just a drizzle. But after Maddur it really poured. We continued to ride in slow pace till we could hardly see few meters ahead. We used to stop till the intensity reduced-then start again. This cycle went on for couple of times till Ramnagara. After wards, rain stopped. Wind and engine heat dried us up . We reached Banagalore well ahead of dusk.
Well, that was our short, satisfying and enjoyable trial-run bike-ride. No untoward events, a “time-fly-by” experience and Classic-500 bike served us great. For us , Wayanad lived up to its legend- drizzly, exotic, wild, verdure and sparking off the interest to come back to explore more.
Link to the album- http://picasaweb.google.com/bkrster/Wayanad?authkey=Gv1sRgCP7f7KKuopyr8AE&feat=directlink