The winter was on its way to bid adieu in Mumbai. It was in the month of February 2015, we had decided to visit the famous Turtle Festival at Velas, one of the pristine coast of Konkan region. The God have happily blessed Konkan with nature and the many natural wonders. Velas and Anjarle beaches are two of such wonders. Every year in the month of December, the exotic and critically endangered species of sea turtles, Olive Ridley Turtles come to the shore to lay eggs, bringing new life in to the world. These eggs takes upto 60 days to hatch and a new life steps into this world.
We had been planning to visit Velas from 2014 to the Turtle Festival and also to visit some of the pristine and clean beaches of Maharashtra. The plan was fixed and the confirmation ablut the booking and possibilities of eggs hatching was confirmed and we were going to leave from mumbai early morning on 7th March 2015.
It was a first major ride for me. I had got Bullet in 2012 and began riding to nearby places like Lonavala, Igatpuri etc but no major ride till 2015 and now it was a great opportunity to start. Better late than never. So the plan was fixed, everyone was ready, bookings were confirmed. The major attraction was ofcourse Velas Turtle Festival but we also visited Shrivardhan beach on our way to Velas.
We all met in the early morning near Powai lake, being common point for all to meet. At about 6.30AM the journey began. It was still cold even though it eas begining of March. We had reached Panvel and took a quick halt for breakfast at Shri Datta Vadapaav. There may be hardly anyone who doesn't know Shri Datta Vadapaav in Mumbai and around as they have multiple branches on highways providing fresh and hot Vadapaavs along with chai. The breakfast was done and we moved further towards the highway, taking small breaks in between to stretch our legs, arms. For many of us it was a first big ride so we were energised and enthusiastic. The route was familier for most of us as we are from Konkan region. We took right turn from Mangaon to go towards Mhasla and reach Bagmandla ferry jetty. The ride continued as everyone was fresh and wanted this ride more than anything. And by afternoon we reached Shrivardhan beach. We had little snacks around as the Vadapaavs were still not digested and how can it be digested after eating 5-6 Vadapaav each!
Upon reaching Shrivardhan beach, everybody were going gaga over the vast clean and empty beach having pink sand. We just took our bikes on the beach and everyone was riding their bikes randomly on the beach taking it near the water to splash water while going in speed. It was almost like "take your bike to play at the beach" day. Oh! Such a fun beach photo session we had. After spending about an hour at the beach it was time to go further.
The bullets started and we reached Bagmandla Jetty, now all we have to do is wait for the ferry to come and take us on the other side. Meanwhile, one personal collected money from all for ferry tickets and now all are waiting in the queue.
Finally we are rejoiced seeing ferry coming to the jetty. Even though it was cold in the morning, it was super hot in the afternoon. Being on coastal side, you can experience both at once and of course the marks are left as a memorabilia, the "Tan lines". The ferry arrived, the bikes are safely parked inside and the ferey starts and now we are on upper deck sitting and eating samosas. In no time we arrived at Veshvi Jetty. Now from here just about 10kms and we arrive on our destination.
The bookings were already done so we were relieved. There are no hotels, its a homestay facility provided by Veshvi village and their major source of income is through thia tourism only. The home stay is decent, we were a gang of more than 10 people so they gave us separate room and bedding for all. The toilets is also available. Overall good arrangements are done by the villagers. Now its almost 4PM. We arrived a little late so quickly the family members asked about lunch and we asked the for normal vegetarian food in the afternoon. It eas quickly prepared and served. The food was lovely having a rustic konkani flavour. Our stomachs were happy.
For night, we had asked for Non vegetarian food, Gaavthi chicken. It was getting dark so we decided to have a camp fire and sit and play games as we had planned to visit Velas beach for seeing Turtles in the early morning next day. We were little tired from the journey. Many of us rode so long for the first time. So sitting at chit chatting with the kids there and also with our host and his family. The guy also asked if we want any booze, so everyone gave their name of brands and money, he went and got us. Now its night. Its pitched dark outside. The village is also silent now. Stars are blooming. Now being from Mumbai, looking at stars is kind of luxury for us whereas for villegers, its just another night. We are seeing millions and millions stars and telling each other "look!! Stars." The host and his family is seeing and smiling at us. We know that they must be like, " have they not seen stars in their life"?. The host knew little bit about constellation amd he showed us in the stars how the shape takes place, like in case of Mrig Nakshatra, the starts forms into a shape of deer who was hit by an arrow. The North star or Polaris is always in the same place which helps people to know their direction at night.
After sumptuous chicken meal along with Bhakri and rice and the rum to accompany it. We slept by 11PM, dreaming about the entire day's ride and riding further into our dreams.
Morning in the village starts earlier than mornings of Mumbaikars.its 6AM and still dark outside but the hoat told us to hurry as the first batch of hatches eggs would come out by 7/8AM. We hurried everyone got freshen up and decide to take bath after we come back. Now we are leaving for seeing turtles. We stopped at a local shop to carry some bisleri bottles and cigarettes for some members and suddenly the climate changed and now its raining, in March. We have no option but to wait for the rains to stop, no-one would imagine rains in march so no-one carried any rain wears.
The rain stopped by 8AM. We quickly got on our bikes and reached the place of venue. Now all vehicles are to be parked on the roadside and we have to walk about 300-400 mtrs inside to go to the beach. This beach is not for chilling and swimming as its deep. Thereby making a perfect place for turtles to lay eggs as not many humans come but it does have its natural predators along with humans.
For humans the eggs are eaten, sold, or the baby turtles are sold illegally.
its a food for carnivorous so dogs, snakes and other animals would dig into the pit to take out layed eggs and eat. In order to avoid this and save this endangered species, the Turtle Festival initiative was taken to spread awareness and also to gather some funds for saving this species.
Its 9AM now. There's some hulchal in some of the eggs. They are ready to hatch. As the caretaker tells about the first crack everyone starts cheering, "Ganpati Bappa Moraya" which energised the atmosphere for all who have been waiting for hours there & unexpectedly "Sachin - Sachin" out of nowhere😅😅. Some babies are out now. The caretakers are making way for them to reach to shoreline safely.
The hatching process and the babies finding their own way to go into water made me realise personally that noone can stop the life from blooming. Like in Jurassic Park Jeff Goldblum said "Life, finds a way".
Now these are babies but they are going to turn into a giant turtle one day and going to live longer than me also😅😅.
Such is life, you begin small and you grow. Hence it is appropriate title to my story as well.
As I too began small, riding in nearby regions and now I am growing, travelling to many places and growing more and more with new experiences while travelling.
The turtles are now disappeared in the sea. We are happy seeing such a marvelous phenomenon and so the ride also comes to be concluded. Now we are heading back to our homestay.
Everything's packed, lunch is ready to be served. They served us hot lunch which was much needed after rain and standing at the beach for hours. Now the journey begins to head back home. While travelling back, the photo sessions also continued but in between again it started raining. Now everything's getting wet. Our luggage, phones etc. We waited for sometime for rain to stop. In between one friend came up with an idea and we all stopped near a paan tapri. He asked for some newspapers which we stuffed inside our jackets like towel. The newspaper helped getting us dry and also worked as barricade for cold wind.
Now again we are coming back by same route, took ferry and via Bagmandla we are back on main highway at Mangaon. After another quick halt, we continued and decided to stop at hotel Kshanbhar Vishranti for quick snacks, tea etc. We also had Lassi and Kharvas there. Luckily they also had Gajar halwa and the foodgasm began. After having heavy snacks we were ready to leave and reach home. This was our last halt for the day and once reaching Panvel everyone was going to go their own way to their home.
Now we are turtles. The eggs are hatched and we go our own way into the ocean we call home.
This is how the trip ended giving lot of memories, teaching a lot about riding. Many of us continues to ride many don't. Those who still ride are fast going, like go visit the place and comeback but personally I am transformed into something else. I am a laid back traveller now. I do not hurry, dont go fast, spend more time in exploration than just riding.
This is how my big thing, being a traveller began with a small start.
