It started two months ago. Suddenly one day I decided to buy a Bicycle. We have a TI cycle show room near our house. Looking at what was available with them I finally decided to buy Hercules Rodeo NFS Pro- a MTB bike. That cost me Rs. 11,800/- More details of my childhood cycling fancy is in my post http://paamaran.weebly.com/2959-29902965302129953015 . But this post is in Tamil.
Once I got the bicycle I slowly started with a 13 km ride and reached 51 km ride to Kovalam & back. That was sort of an achievement to me - a novice to cycling with no prior interest or experience in cycling except for a three year three km per day ride to school in my childhood.
Having done my 51km ride I decide to embark on my next step of progress, a two day cycling trip to Mahabalipuram.
Prior to starting I booked a budget hotel, packed a set of shorts, T-shirt and toiletries - nothing more because my bicycle has no luggage rack and I have to keep to the minimum.
On the planned day got up at 5am and was ready to leave at around 5.45 am. It's rainy season. After a two hour ride via, Mambakkam reached Kelambakkam. It started raining heavily and I took shelter in a bus stop. After waiting for half an hour the rains slowed down.
Once I got the bicycle I slowly started with a 13 km ride and reached 51 km ride to Kovalam & back. That was sort of an achievement to me - a novice to cycling with no prior interest or experience in cycling except for a three year three km per day ride to school in my childhood.
Having done my 51km ride I decide to embark on my next step of progress, a two day cycling trip to Mahabalipuram.
Prior to starting I booked a budget hotel, packed a set of shorts, T-shirt and toiletries - nothing more because my bicycle has no luggage rack and I have to keep to the minimum.
On the planned day got up at 5am and was ready to leave at around 5.45 am. It's rainy season. After a two hour ride via, Mambakkam reached Kelambakkam. It started raining heavily and I took shelter in a bus stop. After waiting for half an hour the rains slowed down.
After my breakfast of Idli & Vada I took the Old Mahabalipuram road (OMR) to Mahabalipuram. The road travels through Tirupporur. The road has less traffic. Tirupporur is the only small town available and there are a few shops at Alathur. The road is beautiful with very few villages and negligible traffic. After resting at frequent intervals I reached Mahabalipuram at 11.30 am.
I had booked a room at Vasundhara Guest House a budget hotel in the Othavadai street. Being a rainy season and weekday there were no other guests in the hotel. So it was peaceful.
I had booked a room at Vasundhara Guest House a budget hotel in the Othavadai street. Being a rainy season and weekday there were no other guests in the hotel. So it was peaceful.
After a cold shower and couple of minutes of rest I went for lunch. A new restaurant with the name "Chettinad Virundhu" has opened in Mahabalipuram town quite close to the bus stand. The food is good and the rates are moderate.
Rest of the afternoon I rested in the room. It was raining continuously and when there was a brief lull in the rains I walked down to the beach. The beach was just five minutes walk from the Hotel. It was pleasant to be there. Not many people. Rest of the night it was raining and I rested well before next days travel back to Chennai.
After breakfast at the Ananda Bhavan Hotel and a brief time in the beach I checked out of the hotel and started back to Chennai.
I took the ECR (East Coast Road) on the way back. The OMR was almost flat but ECR was having small climbs. There were no rains, there was wind which reduced the heat but made the ride difficult. I started at around 9 a.m. and reached home at around 1.45 pm. in time for lunch. In between I stopped for tea in Kelambakkam and Mambakkam. As usual I had frequent stops to get rest. Contrast to the OMR, there was more traffic. OMR had lot of greenery but ECR had less greenery. But the constant view of the sea on your side was good.
Overall I reached back without any problem and the ride was smooth. The satisfaction doing what looked like something impossible filled my heart.
Overall I reached back without any problem and the ride was smooth. The satisfaction doing what looked like something impossible filled my heart.