Ghumakkar's Diary

Rajmachi has been one eluding dream ride for me. Every time it had been planned by the Inddiethumpers , the guys I ride with, for a reason or two - I couldn’t make it. So, this time when it was planned on a Saturday night, I took no time to confirm my attendance! Map to Rajmachi Rajmachi is a small village, some 15 km from Lonavala – a famous tourist destination. It’s a well-known 15km easy trek. But, the real adventure is to ride to the village, and so Ride to Rajmachi has always been a dream ride for the Riders.

What else can you expect from a rider - when you shout Sharp !  A sharp turn and an attempt to touch the limits. This one pic is from a series of shots I took for my rider friend near Amby Valley, he's in to performance biking - so I seriously caution not to try this on sharp turns...  Shot using Nikon D500, 18-55 kit lens, f/5.6 1/400, I got a multi-shot series of the event. Once back to home will try to update the post with animated multi shot image. You never know what life has set for you on the very next turn What I learned from riding is that You never know what life has set for you on the very next turn , so try to live the present stretch of Life at its best... This picture post is an Entry to PADE-2013, a month long  Photo-blog  event. To know more and participate, click  here  or  here . Check themes  here .  

Rule: Objects in the Mirror are Closer than they Appear... I shot this image using my Mobile camera on rainy day while coming from Lonavala . What I liked in this picture wasn't just the two different perspective of the same lane but also the contrast between the blurred real and sharp reflection ( what is being clicked on the rear view mirror ).  So the Rule is modified as Objects in Mirror aren't just Closer but sometimes Clearer than they Appear... Objects in Mirror aren't just Closer but sometimes Clearer than they Appear... Shot using a mobile camera, and no not on the "professional" camera. Edited it on my favorite PixlrExpress app, not Photoshop. This picture post is an Entry to PADE-2013, a month long  Photo-blog  event. To know more and participate, click  here  or  here . Check themes  here .  

Sometimes when it’s call of your Soul, you ride Solo! When I started, due to heavy rain couldn't take a pic of the group.... So, finally when even the last guy cancelled the ‘just’ a week old plan to ride to Goa and then Bangalore; I decided to do it solo! After all, I planned it, and after not being able to ride to Ladakh for the reasons which themselves failed later, I was to ride on any cost! This ride had been a memorable ride for a lot of reasons, especially with a lot cases of ‘just happened’ things. A lot of things just happened and I had to change the course or rethink about it at least. To start with, I proposed and we planned this ride just a week before the actual ride day. Samzy, Sandy, Monty, Rudra and Deepak said yes to it and later due to some personal commitments kept declining. Last being Deepak who said no, just the day before the ride. Ride plan was to start early morning in Mumbai, reach Goa as early as possible, have fun, ride next day to Ban...

For the last three weeks, we had been planning a night out at Eco Camps, Mahabaleshwar ; but to no avail. Last week also, we failed to book the camps, thanks to superfast, super- ghumakkad Mumbai janta ! We needed at least a good ride, if not a Saturday exotic night stay.  I had heard of Slope of Hell , from Inddiethumpers and also my regular ride mate Rudra . He had been there once, few years back. So, we finally decided to ride and conquer the Slope of Hell last Sunday. I was on my Bull RE-TBTS, and Rudra on his Pulsar 220. He was aware of the route up to Kamseth, Pune. Also, not much of information is available online about the place. So, our motto was not only to beat the slope, but also to mark it on Google Maps. We have though got it published on GoogleMaps, it's still not searchable. So, I am  providing  here a route map, and also the location i.e. 18.73, 73.54 . Route Map to Slope of Hell, towards West is Lonavala We met at about 7AM, at NH 4B ...

“ So, you opened illegitimate sites on your office PC! Can you come down to Bldg No. X-A and meet your HR, Mr. Ravi ?” “Who are you?” “ I’m Pankaj, calling on behalf of Mr. Ravi; and it is necessary for you to meet him asap so that we can resolve the matter and arrange counseling session for you. ” “But, I know, I haven’t opened any such site, and if I really have, mail my Boss and Cc it to me, then only I’ll meet whosoever.” “ Okay. What about a ride to Lohagad ? We’re planning to organize a picnic there, tomorrow morning and want you to come with us. ” “What the hell!? You were talking about breach of policies and now that you are inviting me for picnic!!!” “ Abe, this is Pankaj on line. Are you coming for ride? ” “What man!? F***! And, I thought you were actually calling me from HR!” “ He he he! That means you actually open such sites?! ;p ” “Ha ha ha! No, not at all! Okay, for the ride, yes m coming.” “ Fine! Then be present at More Mart, Koparkhairane at 5:00...

After spending weeks and weeks of our lives in office, we were all too exhausted and in dire need of a recess. Having a 6-days week in office is, if not more, certainly not lesser than having jailed at Guantanamo Bay. But, hearts only can’t decide the route to nirvana, the domain of decision making is governed by a rather sophisticated organ, Brain . And, what Brain was seeing was burning road ahead, waiting to char our skin and ride-deprived soul too! View Larger Map Last Saturday, Heart won the dispute and on suggestion of one of our colleagues, it was decided that we are riding up to Lonavala and further to Aamby Valley on Sunday early morning.  We were four riders, me-the Bulleteer , Rudra- the Fast Biker , Satyaki- the Cool Mind and Abhimanyu- the Photographer ;