The trip that started all the madness for me

Trip Details
Coimbatore - Metupalayam - Ooty and back
Total Distance - 200 KM up and down.
Date - April 1996
Max Speed - 100 Kmph
Vehicle - Kinetic Honda

This was my first drive in my bike (if you can call Kinetic Honda a bike) to a destination which is more than 50 Km away from home. We had just completed our last exam in our 11th standard. My friends Dinesh and Vinodh came up with the idea of going to Ooty in bikes and I agreed without a second thought. So we managed to convince another friend, Praveen to join us and we decided to go to Ooty in our bikes. 4 people - 2 bikes.

We started the next day morning all wearing school uniforms (one of us came up with this crazy idea of wearing school uniforms and going in bikes – we thought it will be cool!). We start early towards the Metupalayam road and then we hit our first obstacle. A traffic cop caught us (this probably was because we were wearing school uniforms and were easy targets). After pleading to him for about 30 mins he took some money (Rs. 50 if I remember it right) from us and let us go. FYI none of us had driving licenses then.

Cursing the person who suggested us to wear school uniforms we rode towards Metupalayam. It was a peaceful drive and the weather was very kind to us. I can still remember the drive in which I clocked 100 kmph (again first time) in my Kinetic. We stopped a couple of times on the way to Ooty at Baraliyaar and Coonoor, but we kept rolling for most part to finally reach Ooty at around noon. We had lunch at a restaurant called Kurunchi on commercial street and decided to go to some place which is out of normal.

Since I had done some schooling in Ooty I decided to take my friends to a place called 6th mile, which is kind of beautiful with the lake on one side, a little but of grassland in the middle and loads of tall eucalyptus trees on the other. I use to love this place when I was in Ooty, we use to take our bicycles and go here for picnic as a group.

So we started off to this place after our lunch and this is when the most adventurous part of the trip lies. There was a traffic police standing right in the middle of the road and trying to stop us. Based on the experience we had in the morning, we didn’t want to loose more money. As most of you may know, money was an extremely precious commodity and they don’t come in plenty when you are at school. So I and my friend decided not to stop for the cop. We managed to sneak through but not before the cop tried to hit us with his huge stick and tried chasing us on his bike. We managed to escape him and hide at a place where we thought he will not be able to find us. The whole experience was so bloody accelerating and scary; we thought we would be screwed if he found us.

After this we still managed to go to 6th mile, spend some time there and at around 5 in the evening we decided to head back to Coimbatore. We came down the beautiful queen of Nilgiri and reached Metupalayam at around 6:30 in the evening. By this time we started joking on each other what would have happened if we had got caught by the cop. Guys started imagining each one of us sitting in a police stations in out under garments and hands folded.

We reached Coimbatore at 8:00 PM in the night and headed home.

When I think about that trip now, it was a great trip filled with a lot action and fun. More than anything this trip triggered the enthusiasm in me to travel and ride my bike to long distances. This trip has always been fresh in my mind and I keep recollecting it when ever possible to relive those moments.

A Night Under the Stars: Watching the Meteor Shower at Mt Rainier National Park

On August 12, 2023, my family and I set out on an adventure to watch the meteor shower at Mt Rainier National Park. We packed our bags with warm clothes, blankets, and snacks, and hit the road at 8 PM. The anticipation was palpable as we made our way towards the park, eager to witness the celestial spectacle. We reached Sunrise Point at around 10:30 PM, but our excitement was quickly dampened by the chaotic parking scene. Cars were parked haphazardly all over the place, and tickets were being issued left and right. After searching for a spot for about 20 minutes, we finally managed to find a parking spot in the lot. We made our way up to a picnic area with tables and laid down to watch the stars. The meteor shower was a breathtaking sight, with streaks of light shooting across the sky. We oohed and aahed as each meteor blazed its trail, marveling at the beauty of the universe.

However, the tranquility was interrupted by the noise of people around us. Shouts and laughter filled the air, disrupting our peaceful stargazing. This continued until 2 AM, when the noise finally died down and we were able to enjoy an hour of peace. From 2 to 3 AM, we continued to watch the shower in awe. The meteors seemed to dance across the sky, each one more beautiful than the last. We snuggled under our blankets and munched on snacks as we took in the stunning display. As 3 AM approached, we decided to hike to Fremont Lookout to watch the sunrise. We gathered our things and set off on the trail, eager to witness another natural wonder. The hike was challenging but rewarding, with stunning views of Mt Rainier and the surrounding landscape.

We reached Fremont Lookout at around 5 AM and watched as the day broke and Mt Rainier was bathed in a golden glow. The sunrise was breathtaking, with vibrant colors painting the sky. We stood in awe as we watched the sun rise higher and higher, casting its warm light on everything below.

We made our way back to the car at 7 AM, tired but exhilarated from our adventure. We drove back to Redmond, arriving home at around 10 AM. It was an unforgettable night, filled with breathtaking sights and unforgettable memories.