I started from Pune on 15th Feb, at 07:15 hrs.
I had planned to take a night halt at Belgaum, distance some 350 kms from Pune. The NH4 was a dream run, aided by some good speed by the ipod in my ears. All the way, 4/6 laner smooth highway. The bike cruised to 100 with great ease, on her own, with little throttle.
I got to 30 kms from Belgaum at about 13:30 hrs, averaging some 54 kms to the hour.
During the lunch break at a dhaba, I called Hitanshu, who advised me to press on to Hubli, better still Hampi. Loaded words, the full import of which I was too foolish to realise.
The IOC petrol pump was great place for a tank full of gas and I met some pretty pretty girls, who called me their “Fren”! Relax, said the pump man, let me take a pic..
Cleared Hubli at around 5:30 pm and stopped on the highway near some obscure village for some directions and a pan vala told me just 100 kms to Hospet. Suddenly out of nowhere, some 30 odd kids surrounded my bike. I amused them by taking pics and showing them the results on the LCD screen. I took off one earplug and put it in kid’s ear, played a rocking song “Keep the Faith” at full volume. They were thrilled, some started to dance too. Bringing cheers and smiles to kids did wonders to refresh me and the tiredness vanished.
I asked a paan vala distance to Hospet. He misguided me and said just a 100 kms to go. Actually Hospet was way out some 150 kms and a 22 kms to Hampi. This I had to ride on a two-laner highway, trafficky with zillions of trucks both ways.
Averaging some 30 kms to the hour, I was dog gone tired after 40 minutes of riding. Looked at the watch read 20:00 hrs…. stopped for tea. Made conversation with a local man who mistook my Avenger for a Harley soft tail. Believe me on the rural outbacks, the Avenger attracts people by the dozen. He asked me “You from America?” I replied, “Yes, if Pune is an America!”. He smiled. And offered to pay for my soda, lime and tea. Looked at the odo, read some 498 kms. God…498??????? Never been there, never done that. Trust Hitanshu and maybe he can push a rider another 500. After all I was on the road, he was chilling watching TV/hitting keys on his laptop. When the odo read 560 kms, I wanted to just…die…free my soul from my body…soar to heavens. Hail Hitanshu!! Actually, I wanted to kill him, shoot him.
I started getting sms’s from Suyash, Sathey and lots of BNs. Navendu said, “Group is on fire.” Sathey sms “500 kms, great going Captain! Beers on me.” With that kind of encouragement, man becomes invincible.
Dismounted, did some wild callisthenic exercises, plugged the ipod, played “Lord You Got To Keep The Faith!” full blast. Bon Jovie, man you is great! You is good people. Then, as the Lord is my Sheppard, found a truck doing an easy 30/40/50 kmph, who guided me to Hospet. Called Vibhu, (CEO, BN), told him all is well, 4 kms from Hospet…. 580 kms on odo…. asked a man for directions to Ranjana Hotel. “Saaar, Ranjana not here, Hampi, 30 kms more!” My hear sank…I was dead.
In the dark night, zero traffic, ipod for company, started seeing wild rocks, ruins, on the starlit twilight horizon. Entered an ancient rock like gate, atop a hill. Saw city lights. Stopped bike, dismounted, hit a fist in the air! Time check 22:30 hrs.
I knew…. I knew I had arrived HAMPI!
Looked at odo, 603 kms. 15 hrs on the road.
Post Script
I wrote Hitanshu’s testimonial on Orkut this morning, it goes with this ride. It goes like this
“How do I define Hitanshu…. a hard core biking freak, a good team mate, a brilliant professional with sound academic background, a mentor, a good friend (notwithstanding an age gap of almost 30 years).
How do I define Hitanshu…. the man who kicked me hard to get on my bike and ride out solo, a distance of 603 kms from Pune to Hampi, a man who helped me redefine my riding, physical and mental endurance, riding 15 hrs a day and night on roads unknown.
Hitanshu helped an Old Man of the Sea to realise the spiritual highs of motor biking, to ride like a winning horse on fire.
He taught me much more.
Pranaam Dronacharya.”
