IHR 2020

Well, this is going to be a picblog than a usual chatty blog. Self & Malvinder rode to and back from India HOG Ride 2020, held in Goa. It was my longest ride this far, covering 4800 kms at the end of 10 days. Memories aplenty that go way beyond the scope of blog, however, i'll do my best to recall what I can.

Last time I did Goa bike ride was in December 2011. Riding with FRMC Delhi, we rode to Goa and got the bike transported back. This time the idea was to ride in and out - and with a lot of push & pull at home front, finally left for the roadtrip.

Start

We left on Monday 10th, and encountered heavy fog till Karnal. With set destination as Ajmer, there was no option but to push irrespective of wet clothes.

Foggy conditions

The ride to Ajmer having been done many a times before, I was confident on the route and we made it comfortably by 1630hrs.

@ajmer

Next day we planned to reach Bharuch in Gujarat and we chose to ride NH8. A lot of development has taken place over the years with new highways made operational and several others in making. The highway was amazing, so amazing that we didn't realise we had missed a turn and were heading towards Mt. Abu. The time realisation came, we were pretty off but immediately took corrective course; which entailed us to go through some villages, some slush, a wildlife park filled with Baboons and endless speed breakers. It was a blow to our plan and we reached the original route, 3 hours late and having done excessive of 100kms. No time to cool off, we had to push hard now and make the most of daylight. Past Udaipur, we decided that rather going recklessly lets take a room wherever we reach and then continue; we decided on Ahmedabad. At Shamlaji, google maps showed us a route to Vadodara via Godhra, bypassing Ahmedabad and Himmatnagar altogether.

Wrong Highway - clicked not knowing

Took the route and made up good on time. Short of Godhra Malvinder's bike started to wobble in front. Making up on time and with pressure to reach destination, made us go faster which made us lower our cautions, which led to a bent front rim on Malvinder's bike. Thankfully where we stopped, ten steps away was a makeshift tyre shop. We had the rim softly hammered in so that it didnt crack, yet held out. In no more than fifteen minutes we were on our way. It was a tense time, in middle of nowhere, with whole trip at stake and not knowing the outcome of rim hammering. Malvinder held his nerves as I followed him, slower speeds than usual with focus now to reach a city first and then think of Goa. Rim held out till Vadodara, where initially we thought we should halt for the night; however having rode for last 80 odd kms, it gave us the confidence that maybe we can try Bharuch. It was almost dark when we rejoined on NH8, with me leading in controlled speed. The hotel was right off the highway, and we reached our stay in Bharuch after more than 12 hrs on bike. It was a good day.

@bharuch

Next day checked the tyre pressures; rim seemed to hold through the night and we tanked up and started for Pune - our next destination. Beautiful twists and turns into Maharashtra side; we hit Mumbai mid day and skirted it through Thane to reach Pune highway. It was hot then. Really. Before sundown we were at our destination.

@lonavala

Fourth day we had to reach our final destination and since we had taken hotel on Pune bypass (Hinjewadi), it took us no time heading towards Kolhapur.

on Pune Kolhapur highway

Its always fun riding a new terrain and new highways; not knowing what greets the eye and when. I enjoyed it and we got off the highway after Nipani, did Amboli Ghat and reached Goa well in time. It was time to shake hands - 50% was done.

Just off highway at Nipani

14th & 15th in Goa - we just lazed. Got the bikes checked and cleaned at dealership and did our share of pool, beers and prawns.

Harley Goa

Baga Beach

Started our return on 16th and we decided on doing the same route on way back with same stops enroute.

Just outside Goa

Off the main highway stopped for a little tea break and tyre pressure check as we had started early without breakfast. The background was telling.

enroute Amboli

Having done the route now and confident on rim, we did easy ride to Pune whilst being aware of not overstepping caution. Had a relaxed evening at a local joint in Pune.

checking tyre pressure

Next day, we knew that we are going to hit traffic in Mumbai. We did the Pune Mumbai stretch fairly easy with nice breeze at ghats.

Pune Mumbai highway - ghat section

Despite our best efforts we got lost a few times in around Mumbai and had to make a few u-turns. With all that heat it was really taxing. No soon we had joined the main highway back, did we find a nice little secluded place to cool down. Bharuch was easy to reach thereafter.

Cooling down

Bharuch to Ajmer was to be our last leg of summer clothing. We made no errors in navigation this time.

left Bharuch and onto Godhra

The highway that we missed, we were extra careful to not repeat the same. Once on it, we could stop a little bit and click whatever the view offered.

Whatever the view offered @beawar

The last night of trip - it was time to get sloshed (not that I didn't do that the other days) and share notes on the journey that was so far. Last day, we made it back home well in time with men and machines safe. I did keep a note on daily distance covered, not that it matters, but I guess it helps to document.

Journey log

A word on the machine. Harley Davidson Street Glide Special - which comes under the Touring category, is actually a touring bike. After ten days of back to back riding, I just have a sore shoulder - thats it. The windshield and front fairing, take care of the wind drag which creates a huge dip in tiredness. Power on the bike is immense, but we discovered it is best that one maintains speeds of 95-100kph for safe riding on current Indian roads. Street Glide Special, in true sense, is made to do long tours.

How intense the trip was, I still cant say because we returned just day before; but I can tell one thing for sure that its a very different experience that you wake up in one state of the country and sleep in another one. Wake up, ride, drink, eat & sleep. Next day - do that again. Next day - do that again. Do that for ten days straight, I am sure it will take you to a different space within.

In the end - isn't it all about the experience !

Namaste