Post Trip / Trek Write-up Mysore / Gundlupet - Bandhipur - Wayanad - Chembara Peak - Gudalur - Ooty - Mettupalayam Cycle Trip
After I did a moderate trek on
January, I am waiting for another moderate trek to participate. That was mid of
February and I was travelling to Rajasthan by train. CTC announced 40 treks
/events for their 5th Birthday celebrations. I was applied on my
mobile for 3 treks. One was Kolli Hills Trek organized by Nachiketha and the
other two was organized by Prem (Nagala west and Wayanad Cycle Trip).
Unfortunately J I
got selected in all 3 treks. So now I have to decide which I have to go. I have never been to Kolli and I have an
interest to go for Kolli Hills, so I decided and paid money for that
immediately. On the other two treks was organized by Prem, so I tried to speak
with Prem for the difficulties in Cycle trip. He said, “You can choose your own
difficult level as Easy/Moderate/Difficult”. Then I decided to go for this trip/trek
and cancelled the Nagala Trek as I’ve been there earlier. I paid money for Wayanad cycle trip and
waiting for the day to come. Before a week of trek, preparatory mail received
from Prem and on Thursday evening I started for the Wayanad cycle trip.
Somehow
I managed in that critical situation and reached the station by 9.00 pm for the
9.30 train. First I met Chandru and later everyone (35 fellow trekkers- most of
them are new to me) reached there and introduced ourselves. Prem/Organizers
arranged a Veg/Non Veg Biryani for everyone for the dinner. I had my dinner at
home so I didn’t eat that biryani. Everybody ate the dinner and settled their
seats for rest after some small confusion in the tickets/seats. Some of our
team members played cards in our next coach.
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| Starting Point @ Gundlupet |
First Day: Morning by 6.00am I heard Yazar’s voice as “Mysore
station will reach in few minutes, so everyone be prepare for that”. Everybody
wake up from their seat and get ready, but the train was reached Mysore at
7.30am only
L. In
between one team finished few masala dosai and vadas for pre breakfast menu. We
came out from the station and waiting for our vehicle to pick up to Gundlupet
where our exact starting point for cycling. In meantime
we had breakfast in a roadside shop hot
Idli, dosa and poori.
 |
| Bandhipur Forest |
The business today for this shop was a
great start, we almost emptied that shop. After our breakfast Prem found us a
truck to transport till Gundlupet, (Mysore to Gundlupet – 59km) everyone hoped
on it and reached Gundlupet around 11:00am where we met up with a small group
from Coimbatore. Our cycles (rent and own) were reached there before us and
everyone busy in selecting their cycles. At last I found a cycle for me to
ride. This was my first cycle trip and I am new to this geared cycle, somehow
managed and ride that cycle up to 3-4 kms. I was feeling so tired due to hot
sun and feeling some sickness due to poori which I ate in the morning. I
vomited that poori and taken rest in the sweeping vehicle (Volkswagen Jetta
Car). (Gundlupet to Bandhipur Road– 18km)Few hours later, the road leading to
Bandhipur was awesome and wants to ride a cycle at that time. So immediately
picked one cycle and ride few Kms in that forest road, we saw few deer and an
Elephant while crossing the forest road.
 |
| Wayanad |
By 3 pm we reached near Muthanga (Bandhipur
National Park to Muthanga – 24km) and searching for food and found a small
hotel, in the hotel only 40 parotas are available, so we shared that parotas.
But our stomach was not filled with that, so we had some lemon soda, biscuits,
chips etc. to fill our stomach. After some break again we started from there
and reached sultan bathery by 6.00pm. There we had tea and snacks and I was bit
tired and no light so I boarded on the Mini Van. But half of our team members
again started their cycling to reach Vazhiyoram (Muthanga to Vazhiyoram -29km)
where our stay for the night was arranged. Everyone reached our Guest house by
8.00pm and had a quick bath. (Some of our team members are crossed that
location as they are unknown of the place and Bharani and Venkat are chased their
car to reach them). It was a Dormitory and accommodated us very well. We had a
nice dinner in that hotel and fall asleep to get energy for the next day.
Second Day: Next day early morning everyone refreshed in our rooms and
checking their cycles are in condition. We started the second day from
Vazhiyoram (10km before Kalpettah) with our cycles and reached Kalpettah
for breakfast. Everyone had a breakfast there and loaded back our cycles to the
Loading Van and few of us boarded on the van and proceeded to Chembara peak
base. We areached there by 11.00am and waiting for the other members to come. Raghu and Hari joined
at Meppadi enroute to Chembra, who couldn't join us on day 1. (Kalpetta to
Chembara Peak – 16km)
Everyone gathered
there around 12.30 and started our half day trek to Chembara peak. We paid Rs.50 each for forest entry fee(?) for trekking. Some of us (including me) fell little uneasy to climb
up due to steep hill and hot climate. When we reached the top we saw a wonderful
love pool (heart shaped pool) on the top. We took some photos there. When we began to descent, suddenly rain started to drizzle and
then it poured and we are all drenched as there
is no shelter on the top. Now the climate was very cool and we feel some
freshness in the air, so we are easily descended from the peak. From Chembra we headed out in open mini trucks, zig -zaging
through the narrow roads and cool air.
 |
| Chembara Peak |
At
5.00pm, for lunch(?) we stopped at Meppadi, and had stomach full of food. I
think almost we emptied the hotel! The next destination was Cherambadi across
the state border, we
pedal again untill we cross Kerala checkpost Cherambadi (Meppadi to Cherambadi 22km)(I pedalled few kms and boarded on van when I am
unable to pedal due to darkness), from Cherambadi we got into bus till Gudalur
(36km) it was past 9 when we reached Gudalur where we were stationed
for the night in a home stay dormitory (arranged by Bharani)after a light dinner.
We had a good time around the campfire followed by introduction session lasted up
to 1.00am. In the mean while it became clear we’d left two bags behind in
Meppadi hotel! Bharani and Jagadeesh came forward to retrieve the bags in the
morning that was left in the hotel.
 |
| Ooty Road |
Third Day: We all refreshed by
7:00am and got into a local bus heading towards Gudalur bustand. Today our plan
was to take a bus to Pykara(28km) and cycle from Pykara Lake till Mettupalayam,
but from Gudalur bustand we couldn't find any bus to take in all of us. Vasanth
found us a small truck in which all 25 of us squeezed in with our bags, the
journey was enjoyable as few sang songs all the way till Pykara. (Pykara
to Ooty -22km). Once we reached Pykara, everyone
started cycling, but I don’t have cycle to ride. So I get in to the Volkswagen
car. The cycle riders have to pass some ups and downs to reach Dodabetta, but
rain forced a few to take shelter in the cycle truck along the way. At
Dodabetta junction we had hot tea and snacks.
By 5.30pm Cyclists are again
started pedaling to reach Mettupalayam. I was waiting eagerly to ride a cycle
and asking everyone for cycle but nobody willing to give. When we reached
Kothagiri by Car, chandru asked me, “you want to ride cycle”. Immediately I get
down from the car and taken the cycle for riding. (Kothagiri to Metupalayam-
30Km) It was awesome to ride the cycle in the downhill with the cool breeze and
I really enjoyed it. After some time I passed around 10 km I found I am alone
riding the cycle as my team mates are passed me and somebody are behind me.
Again rain was started and getting dark. Slowly I am riding(?) my cycle using
brakesJ and doesn't want to stop. There are so much of bend and the
road was fully slope. In between I saw some of our team member fell down from
the cycle, (later I came to know that it was Venkat sir) so I stopped there. Arun
asked me, “I have light in my cycle, so can we move”, I said ok. After some
time he was zapped fast in a hairpin bend and left me as he was an experienced
cyclist. Again I was stranded and slowly going down on the road. In between a
naughty guy passed me said, “Hey take care man, Elephants are crossing the road
on the way”(May be it was to frighten me)
But I was in a mood, not to give up in any situation, but my cycle’s
brake was fully failed. There is no light, rain pouring with thunder storms, No
brake and left alone, but I was really enjoying that situation. I get down from
the cycle and slowly walking with my cycle on the dark and deep road about 5
kms. My hands are frozen in the
chillness and my dress was fully wet. People crossed me on the road watched strangely. After some time Sundar and vinod joined with me and we all three
slowly walked with our cycles. Few minutes later Prem and Alagar reached us and
they are having the tool kit. They adjusted my cycle's brakes and ensured working fine. Now
Venkat sir is on his car with Bharani, they throwing light on the road for
visibility to move us on track. Finally around 8 pm we reached Metupalayam and
waited for our other team members to come.
When everyone reached, immediately everyone
jumped in to a Kaiyenthi bavan on the road side and finished some biryani and omelets for Dinner. I ate some Bun and cool drinks for my Dinner. From Mettupalayam we travelled to Chennai by AC Bus arranged by Prem. Cycles are loaded in the Loading Vehicle to Chennai. Returned to Chennai with pleasant memories.
Thanks Venkat sir! and thanks to Bharani for thier help. Special
Thanks to Prem for selecting me for this wonderful and memorable cycle trip and
everyone who encouraged me and supported me in this trip/trek.
Note: Finally we came to know, Overall we pedalled 181 km at a maximum speed of 51km/h.
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