The start
Having ridden 40 trips starting from 3km to a max distance of 100 km to Kalpakkam, Chengalpet, Mahabalipuram, the next obvious target was a trip to Pondicherry. With more than 280 km from my home for trip to Pondy and back and especially with the onset of the summer it looked daunting. But somehow I wanted to go through the next step. With a small backpack packed with three shorts, few other essentials and my Hercules Rodeo NFS Pro MTB Bicycle I was all set to go.
Day 1
On the day of travel I got up at 3.45 am, freshened up, had a cup of tea. Tied the backpack to the small carrier fixed to the seat post. At around 4.30 am I started my journey. The first resting point was near Mambakkam, 10 km from my home. Had a brief rest near Pudupakkam & Kelambakkam. It was 7.30 am when I reached Tiruporur and I took a break for the breakfast of Idli & Vada. It seems it was an auspicious day, lot of crowd near the temple.
Kalpakkam
After an hours ride reached the ECR on the outskirts of Mahabalipuram. The next stop was Kalpakkam at 10.30 am. One has to go through the Kalpakkam township because the road bridge on the ECR in this area was washed away in the recent floods. There was grass, park bench and shade of trees in the township where I was able to take a 15 minutes break from the hot sun.
Lunch
Another two hours of ride in the very hot sun crossed the Maarg Swornabhoomi and stopped at a vegetarian restaurant, the only one available in that stretch.
On the way
The night stay_Hotel Priso
After riding around two salt panes in the hot sun I was totally exhausted and around 4.30 pm I reached Marakkanam. But I was forced to ride further because no suitable Hotel was available. So I rode to Ganapathychettikulam and found Hotel Priso on the road to PIMS (Pondichery Institute of Medical Sciences). It was a newly opened one.
Hotel Priso
Hotel Priso
Day 2
After a much need shower and dinner, had a good nights sleep in comfort. Woke up in the morning and started further inside the Pondy city after a bath and breakfast. Reached my Hotel in Rangapillai street, which was next to Nehru street and close to the beach. Checked into the Hotel and after lunch had a three hour sleep.
Beach and around
Day 3
After spending the evening in the beautiful Pondy beach and overnight sleep, once again it was beach and Bharathi Park in the morning. I purchased rear light for my bicycle in the Nehru street since the one I was having was damaged while coming to Pondy. After a brief rest in the afternoon I went to my sisters house in Olugaret for overnight stay. She gave me a call earlier in the day.
Day 4
,With packed breakfast from my sister it was again 4.30 am when I started my ride back to home, Chennai. Front and rear lights helped very much to ride through the darkness. I reached the ECR toll gate by breakfast time. I had my B.fast infront of a closed shop. It was Kalpakkam for lunch and there in the Atomic Energy quarters under the shade I took brief rest. Riding ,the hot sun I was able to reach by 4.3 pm my Hotel in Mahabalipuram for an overnight stay.
Day 5
The Vinodhara Guest House in Othavadi street is a budget accommodation but is neat and clean. Also it is close to beach. Had a good nights rest and got up at 6 am in the morning. After b.fast at 7.30 am started back home via OMR- Tirporur, Mambakkam and was in home well before lunch. Concluding my 282 km bicycle ride.