After one of the longest day to Kallakurichi with our big time hunt for lunch and all, again the famous talk came up! You know, "Next day is going to be a long long day. We shall do one CAT 2 (Not the UCI ones i guess) climb as mentioned in TCC docket". Now looking into the ride details, seemed like we are in for a visual treat and other treat (you folks for sure know what i mean - Climbs climbs climbs and then big descent). That big descent was what i was eyeing for! Without any competitive sections, sometimes mind wander and try to get me out of a day's ride. Boy oh boy, what a day it turned out to be? For me and for us.
After an awesome banana leaf breakfast at the SR Park, we started off and Siva's idea was to reach first climb and wait for us while we ride to 1st time station and be back! Slowly we formed a mini pace line which consisted myself, Siva, Venkat and Sapeksh. We were riding to Gomukhi Dam from where the multi folded climbs were prepared to be unleashed on us. As usual our group slightly detoured but we were back for some snaps up at near the top and near the Gomukhi dam. It was a real AVATAR movie feel where the hills were cascaded up and beyond. Myself, Venkat, Siva, Magesh, Hari, Vaibhav were taking pictures. While Venkat and Sapeksh were zooming ahead, myself and Siva went on our pace.
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| While starting the day's ride... |
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| Sapeksh getting ready for the pics |
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| That look and question of "Oh nice climbs ahead" |
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| While approaching it... |
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| Hari and Sapeksh at the start of the climbs |
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| Courtesy : Siva |
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| Through the climbs |
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| Those wierd looks! |
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| Gomukhi dam on the left side |
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| Very nice route |
And in between we were taking some amazing pictures enjoying the full time climbs and relief giving descents. We reached the time station Kariyalur and had some eatables. There we needed to decide whether we were going back or riding ahead. Sapeksh was hell bent to ride back and such was his addiction to the hills and frankly it was that sort of hills. Nature's beauty at its terrific best. But again we decided to move ahead. Siva, myself, Sanjeev, Venkat and Sapeksh were riding together at that point of time. Now Siva started to ask where are the descents!!! It was bit of rolling and not the pure descents. But after some time, we got that awesome descent. As expected, Siva ripped the descents and all went down to see the next time station. We hogged again and took some photographs. I forgot where we had lunch but it was an awesome place with the chef making awesome Dosas!!! Sapeksh was enjoying it.
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| Lunch place... |
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| Chef.. |
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| Resting... |
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| Sapeksh after the descents. |
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| Sanjeev |
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| Sapeksh and Venkat |
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| Memorable.. |
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| Us... |
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| SAP Roadies |
There were lot of queries from the kids there. Really thoughtful questions like,"Are you going for some awareness? Are you guys sponsored and given the bikes or your own bikes etc etc" sprang up. Then we moved out and reached Kallakurichi again to SR Park. That night was awesome since TOT folks were throwing a dinner party and distributing souvenir since the next day we would disperse soon. According to the ID order, we were asked to come over and accept the souvenir and talk about the experience. Some of us took a lot of time and counting 20 seconds, Venkat jumped and jumped over with the words and finished the speech. Really touching moment in the tour. Sapeksh and myself were about to be remanded for excessive whistling!!!
TCC folks, do share that night's pictures and i will add every one's snaps here. After having an awesome dinner, we went back to our respective rooms one last time to talk and plan about the last day's ride!!!
Day 7 Stats:Destination: Kalvarayan ranges
Distance covered: 134kms
Elevation Gain: 1365m
Elevation Loss: 1337m
For Lunch: Egg Dosas, Omlette
Also Read:
Day 6 - One long Day @ TOT
Day 5 - 14 poets
Day 4 - Fishy Day 4
Day 3 - Relaxed day from Yercaud to Hogenakkal
Day 2 - Killer Yercaud
Day 0 & 1 - Into TOT and Kolli
_MJV_
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