Demonetisation,Anniversary and 1500 Km of Biketrip to Hampi

Distance Covered : 270 Km ( Pune- Kolhapur )

Total Distance Covered : 270 Km

Day 2 : 2nd Dec 2016 “WHEN WE RELIED ON GOD"

Wife: You decided anything? Or is there any friend who lives enroute who can help ( She asked this having a large sip of Coffee and a bite of Burger sitting at McD Kolhapur )

Me: No friend but I am sure there are guys from HVK forum who lives enroute and definitely they well help

Wife: You contacted them?

Me: No, I don’t think it will be right as they also be sort of hard cash due to demonetisation as I have seen many guys are stuck

Wife: So, what to do now ???

Me: Lets continue, When God is with us you don’t need to worry. Also the payment is done at resort at Hampi so just pray that we reach Hampi without any issue then we will figure out something

Did a small check at the Hotel Reception if their machine is working so that I can get my cash back after making card payment but it was still dead. So by 9 30 AM we left Kolhapur and soon we entered Karnataka .The roads were butter smooth till Hubli. Once we entered Hubli with some local guidance we were on the path of Hampi. The time was around 1 PM with scorching heat in the month of Dec suddenly we saw a small queue in front of a ATM . It was a regional bank and was dispensing money. Soon we were in the line praying that Oh God at least we should get some money because the ATM was dispensing only 100 Rs note and the chances were there it will run dry soon . Our turn came and then HOLA machine dispensed 4000 cash in 100 Rs note . Unable to withdraw more due to daily 2000 Limit. We were literally dancing as If it was a great achievement. Now we had 8000 hard cash so no need to worry .That day we realised the value of 100 Rs note.

Soon we left Hubli and started for Hampi the roads were pretty straight with lot of Windmills on the way and we crossed Gadag . We were damn excited as it was our 1st Long trip on Mojo. Soon I realised that something is wrong as none of the signboard on the road showed distance to HAMPI. I enquired few people but they didn’t knew Hindi and I didn’t knew Kannada. We continued and asked a petrol pump guy and he told that you are in the wrong way . WHATTT !!!! He told that after Gadag you missed the left turn towards Hampi and this road goes to Mundargi . You have to go back and you have to go 30 km extra. We were already late , it was around 4 PM and it was getting dark . I took out my phone to check the maps and it was showing a shortcut of 10 Km which goes through villages and will save 20 Km

Me: What to do now, shall we take the shortcut or go back to Gadag

Wife : Going to Gadag will be good as we don’t know how are the roads are inside the village and also if anything happens we cant communicate with village guys. So instead of saving time we will waste our time. And if we are late we can stay at Gadag.

Me: What if the roads are good ?

Wife : Hmm , Lets take a chance then anyhow we are taking a lot of chances in this journey.

So we tied the phone to the handlebar as we didn't had the phone mount and entered the shortcut passing through villages . The road was hardly 3 ft wide but it was smooth and the route was so scenic . Enroute the villagers were surprised seeing our Mojo because many of them saw such a big bike for the first time in their life . We talked to many villagers in Sign Language and they were very happy to see us coming from such a long distance. Soon we catch up the roads to Hampi .Yippie and we were at Hampi at around 7 PM . My wife got a bit disappointed as she was expecting it to be a big city . Soon we entered our resort ( Kishkinda Heritage Resort ) and directly jumped into the bed

Distance Covered - 410 Km ( Kolhapur- Hampi)

Total Distance Covered - 680 Km

DAY 3- 3rd Dec 2016 ( RELIVING INDIAN HISTORY)

But how on the Earth can our journey be troublesome free, I enquired about the route to Hampi and the attendants told that you are on the left side of the Tungabhadra River so either you have to go back to Hospete to enter Hampi town that will be around 40 Km else you go 3 Km, park your bike at the river side , cross the river via boat and hire some vehicle .

Whatt ???? Ohh No , Not Again

Then I enquired to the Resort owner that instead of parking my bike there can someone drop us there and he informed that a new road is getting laid up nearby and you can take your bike . If you take this route then you you will enter Hampi town from backside and its 25 Km shorter than going to Hampi , but there are few bad patches as the road is not laid completely .

We agreed upon this route and left for Hampi and the road was not that bad . Enroute we met an awesome tour guide who was with us for the whole day and showed us Hampi Town . I would suggest to take a registered tour guide else you will end up watching the stones without knowing the story behind it

Now enough speaking lets the picture do the talking

Soon the day ended after visiting many awesome places and it started raining thanks to the preshower of Cyclone VARDHA. In the month of Dec we were not expecting rains so we weren’t prepared , so we waited for 2 hours by 10 PM the rain stopped and we started our return journey

Really Life is Full Of Surprises !!!!

Distance Travelled - 60 Km ( Around Hampi)

Total Distance Travelled- 740 Km

After spending an hour there we headed to Kolhapur .It was total State Highway with scenic route . Soon we we touched Mumbai Bangalore highway at around 8 PM a sigh of relief as I can now increase my pace and by 10 PM we were at Kolhapur and bumped into the hotel bed as we were too tired.

Distance Travelled: 520 Km ( Hampi- Badami- Kolhapur)

Total Distance Travelled- 1260 Km

Day 5 : “MONDAY BLUES”