Life Cycle Ride

Black Beauty

I went through an amazing experience this Sunday. It was a ride to Darewadi on Satara Road with a group of Germans who completed their journey of 10,000 kms on Bicycles. They started their journey from Germany in April 2012 and completed their final leg of 10,000 kms in Pune last week. They have travelled all the way from Europe via Iran and Pakistan to India. Darewadi is 30 kms away from Pune. The to and fro distance to be covered on bicycle was 60 kms. 

We began our cycle ride at 7.00 am on Sunday, 14^th October 2012. We were 20 of us including the cyclists from Germany. The journey began from Rajaram Bridge on Sinhagad Road. 

It was early morning. Two of my fellow cyclists chatted with me for a while and left me behind. I was a little disappointed and thought they could have waited for me, could have gone a bit slow. I felt as if I should leave this journey at once. But then I looked behind and said, ah, there are people behind me. Great Deal! Let me push the pedal hard.

We reached the bridge connecting a valley after taking a turn from Sinhagad Road. The journey started becoming interesting. A bus full of children waved at us which was so motivating, I was glad I did not mind others going ahead of me at the start. I realized I was so foolish, it was not about going first; it was about finishing the journey. 

Thanks to the mountains, Sun rays were not reaching us yet. And guess what, Maoushmi, the only girl of the elite group of four German Cyclists, meets up with me on her Bicycle who was on her way to complete final few Kilometres to make it a 10,000 kms. Mark. I chat with her for a while and push the pedal harder. She tells me a few experiences of her journey in Alps and Iran. It further boosts my morale. 

Now we are in the great tunnel connecting us to Shinde Wadi on Satara Road. I have travelled through this tunnel umpteen number of times in the Car, closed windows and AC on. Never felt the real thrill of the Tunnel all this time. I entered the tunnel and felt as though there is so much darkness ahead. Life brings you surprises all the time to make it interesting and entertaining. The cars were rapidly moving past me and all cyclists were pushed to the wall to form a queue automatically. We followed each other without any competition or complex. It was not cyclist against cyclist any more but it was cyclist against automobiles. 

The tunnel was unending. It was full of carbon emission and felt I might die due to suffocation. Was remembering if I did anything right to be remembered by others if it was my last breath. And here ended the tunnel. All of us relieved with fresh air and bright sunlight. So the good hours were back. We headed to Satara Road with rejuvenated enthusiasm and double the speed. All of us reach our next halt to receive water bottles which was like nectar to us and Peanut bars. Then I have a greater surprise. I am told now we are leaving the smooth highway which we travelled all along and taking a turn inside which is a village road. I try to find the road. There are more pits than the road. I take a deep breath and say. Oh my, charge up lady, you have a tough task ahead. We begin our journey on a single lane so called village road. The people are coming from the opposite side and I hear a German saying Kshama Kara in Marathi, a synonym to Sorry. He says, to me, he finds the traffic of India amazing. Little embarrassed I say yes it is crazy. He then says, I go mad in Germany when people do not decide whether they want to go or no. Instead here in India, everyone wants to go and wants to go very fast. I laugh but in the heart of heart salute him for his positive attitude. 

Then we reach the steep Ghats. This is deadly. Most of us are not able to cycle now. We hold our bicycles and keep pushing. We reach the peak and then with a slight slope and one turn we enter Village Darewadi. Villagers welcome us with Drums and all the pomp up but more warmth. After spending two hours with them we descend our journey back home. Total 30 kms.  On bicycle. 30 more for the return journey. 

I am amazed at the descend of the same Ghats which I hated so much while climbing. I am almost flying now. I am at the top of the world. But I do apply breaks and try to remember the hardships I had to keep my feet grounded. 

Same journey back home. However, feel so relaxed and triumphant. I feel proud of completing this cycle rally. It does not matter to me now, whether I am first or last. For that matter I am actually pedalling very slowly because, I do not want to give up now. I have the backup van right behind. It is tempting me to decide against pedalling. But I gather all my courage and pedal though the peaks, tunnels and amazing slopes.  Afternoon sun is burning us now. But it is a journey back home hence nothing matters. And here I complete my final mile with accomplished feeling, light heart, heavy legs and numb arms. 

Life is also a long cycle rally. It is more important to finish it than secure first place. There will be scary tunnels, bumpy rides and difficult ghats. But there will be easy slopes too. There will be people who will go ahead of you, but there will be more who will be close behind. It is more important to look at it positively and thank the almighty for whatever he offered. Sunshine or Darkness. Sunshine for a reason to smile and Darkness to wipe your tears without letting others know.

Moonlight Trek : Katraj to Sinhagad

Saturday night of 27^th April 2013 was very special and exciting for a bunch of crazy people. It was the second night after a full moon night. Our trekking group was toying the idea of a night trek for a very long time. We had discussed the destinations but had no clue how to go about. We had heard a lot about a  trek from Katraj Tunnel to Sinhagad which you can do only near the full moon night.  But none of us knew how to go about it.

I started surfing on the internet and found lot of information about the trek except for the route map. Everyone expressed a common view. There is no specific map or route which can be described. You just need to follow the red light of TV tower standing high on the Sinhagad Fort. Keep walking till you reach the foot of Sinhagad. That is about it. This was an amazing information. This was supported by a senior trekker Mrs. Nadgir (Age 65) who had accomplished this trek several times. She told that she was going this time also hence we decided to cling to her.

This trek is supposed to be very tough and challenging. The route is un-trodden and is full of surprises. Total distance is around 17 Kms. You need to climb up and down 13 hills which have thorny shrubs. Some of the slopes are very risky since there is nothing to hold on to and are slippery.

The Journey Begins:

We met at Swargate bus stand at 9.30 pm and were astonished to see the trekkers flocking in from everywhere. There were people from all age groups and all walks of life. Three buses full of trekkers left for Katraj Tunnel. We disembarked from the bus amd were bubbling with excitement.  We started following the trekkers who had already started walking.  We climbed the hill on the left side of the road and here it began.

Our group is really excited and charged up now. We start following the footsteps and get going. The first hill is steep and I lag behind. I am accompanied by my husband Chandan and his friend Anirudh. They are too fast and reach the top. Obviously they have a reason to call out my name because they cannot see me in the dark. I am close to them after some time and here we get going. Moon looks down upon us from the sky. We spend some time appreciating the moon light and put our torch to sleep. After a few steps we start climbing down the hill.

The Point of No Return:

And here is another peak as we climb down. We now realize what we are into. The entire night we are going to climb up and down the peaks till we reach the Sinhagad Hill which can be identified easily due to the red blinking light on the TV tower.  I am nervous and ask Chandan and Anirudh if I can change my mind. Though I cannot see their faces I realize there is no escape now. This is point of no return. As I think while I take the next steps, I realize, this is like a journey of life. You must go on. There is no rewind or no forward. You must live every moment and keep walking. No moment can be relived. You need to look forward and leave the past behind. There is no escape till you reach the final destination.

As I walk behind Chandan and Anirudh I now start enjoying the process. Some people are walking fast some we cross leaving them behind. All have a common destination to reach but at varied pace. I am now able to look around. My eyes have been able to adjust with the moon light. I am able to see a thin line of torch light climbing up the next hill so I know now where I need to be next. That is one milestone. It suddenly strikes me; I will need to break down my goal in several parts. I now reconcile with myself and stop looking at that red light of the TV tower and reorient to the torch lights blinking and rising on the next hill. Just concentrate on the nearest goal. That is it.

Life is Full of Ascends and Descends:

We reach a dead lock now. Some trekker is scared to walk down the slope. It indeed is very risky. There is nothing to hold on to. One wrong step can let you take a huge slide down the valley. Everyone is lining up to climb down. As we take our turn and reach down, we heave a sigh of relief. I always thought all my life that slopes are enjoyable and signify the pleasure of enjoyment after you have reached the peak with great hardships. But for the first time in my life I realize, slopes can be many times difficult as compared to the hardships. In fact those who sustain the slopes or rather downfalls are the ultimate winners. First climb in your life may be difficult but first downfall is more painful. Those who are able to take it easy can climb the next height without difficulty.

We keep climbing the slopes with more ease and less pain now. We are no more afraid of slopes after going through the worse. But at the same time we are no way near that red flickering light of the TV tower. Stars are gazing at us and moon is staring. We see the round moon actually travelling with us. We have completed three quarters of our journey and are totally exhausted. We want to get this over at once. But there is no escape. We start discussing the possibilities of quitting and at that moment I receive a phone call from Nadgir Aunty. She asks me the location. I really can’t describe. I tell her we are on some hill top and all the hills look alike. She tells me you must be somewhere close to completion. Just get going and you will finish. It boosts our morale and we start walking. Our legs have stopped paining due to numbness. We just want to reach the tar road somehow.

The Ultimate Triumph:

We are told by one experienced trekker after crossing more hills that we are on the top of the final hill. Just one descend and we will be out on the tar road. We are overwhelmed. Our speed is better. It is already 5.30 am. We hear birds chirping but cannot appreciate anything anymore. We keep going and suddenly we land on the tar road. We are overwhelmed and cannot express how happy we are. It feels as if the world is conquered. The joy of landing on the road is inexpressible.

Life is a very long journey. It has several ups and downs. You need the same amount of zeal to climb up the hill and also exhibit the same enthusiasm while you descend. As I completed the trek I realized, how enormous the nature is. Journey of life is extremely complicated. It takes you through the complicated climbs and risky slopes. You need mighty mind to climb the steeps and at the same time modest mind to come down the slopes. The destination is know and the path unknown. But if you break down the path in smaller destinations you might succeed. Life is a long journey; though not endless is certainly edifying.