Thane-Alibag-Thane

The frustration of not having been on a long ride for three long weeks since purchasing the bike had reached its peak and we decided to take complete advantage of the Diwali weekend.

To start with, Mandar and myself discussed some grand riding plans like a 3-day Thane-Murbad-Malshej-Aalephata-Narayangaon-Pune-Lonavala-Khandala-Panvel-Thane ride, a ride to Phansad and chilling off in the park etc but ultimately settled for an overnight stay at Prabalgad's Dakshin Buruj, sans any cycling.


Saturday afternoon - reached Panvel, only to find that Athawale kaka is caught up with some domestic work and cant make it. This left only Mandar and myself and we decided against going for the trek. It was the first instance for me of a trek getting cancelled (change of venues are regular) and I made a disgraceful return to Thane the same evening.


Sunday morning : woke up early (as planned) and took the cycle to Masjid by train. A short ride on the P D'Mello road and I was at Bhaucha-Dhakka, the air filled with the smell (stench?) of fresh catch of fish. After a 15 minute-wait at the entrance, the counter opened and took a ticket. Only the passenger fare of Rs 29 was charged with the instructions that I will have to pay the extra bucks (without a receipt) on the ferry. The bike was comfortably put on the deck and the boat set sail for Revas.

After around 90 minutes we were at Revas, having cut across the Mumbai harbour. A cycle-charge of Rs 10 was paid and the loaders also helped unloading of my priced cargo on to the jetty. (For motorised 2-wheelers, the charge works out to Rs 90. Rs 30 each for loading, unloading and travelling)

The ride starts on the picturesque road, initially the road quality is not so good (may be due to the absence of the bourgeois' farmhouses in the area) but becomes excellent as you join road connecting Mandwa and Alibag. (The Mandwa region has many farmhouses!) Photo ops are immense in this area, especially palm/coconut trees against the backwaters/sea setting. But the cyclist in me decides against a halt for a picture and I keep moving southwards.

Its Diwali time, and all your notions about the believers savouring festive items like shankarpale, chakli, chivda etc (and avoiding non-veg) are dashed at the sites on the Alibag-Revas road. Nearly every road intersection has a mutton shop and the scene is same everywhere : long queues to get their share in the goat's sacrifice. Its a Saturday morning and the locals surely take their weekends seriously.

After a 12 km ride, I make my first stop at Chondhi at my uncle's paints and hardware shop. Business activity is slow being Diwali day and good time for a chat over a shared vada pav. I am told my cousin sister is visiting forts on a private tour operator-arranged excursion and paying Rs 10,000 for seven days! (Good business it is, considering that hes carrying ten bus loads of tourists interested in a firsthand look at our "heritage")

From Chondhi, I ride to Kihim (two km) and meet the cousin recently infatuated by our rich heritage. "बाबासाहेब पुरंदरे असणार आहेत", she says. I wonder if the old man would find time at least to shake hands with all the tourists (its wrong to call them by any other name). An Appa Parab or his daughter would also do but how can the operator extract such hefty sums?

From Kihim, I ride to my destination Alibag (around ten km), in time for a late lunch and comfortably placed for a good siesta. The nap extends a bit and I woke up at 1845 hours. In the evening, its another first : visiting a fish market for purchases along with my elder brother who claims to be seasoned in the act by now. (he can identify more species than me and knows the trick of testing the freshness)

They say caste thoroughly breeds in our people. All my brother's friends are stunned at the site of both of us in the middle of the market, scouting for deals. Help is pouring from all quarters : an RCF-employee offers to share a big fish if we are interested, a plumber chips in by advising on which fish to buy and a drunk youngster who is fixing a deal for the next morning offers to pay for our fish! The two Agashes (read Brahmins) are novices in the purchasing and are helped very well. I look forward to the day when this would also happen the other way around and the "others" will get a similar welcome into Brahmins' fortes? For now, the "others" seem to be more inclusive and pragmatic.

For dinner its Karli (very difficult to consume, has to be eaten under expert supervision) and Mandeli, followed by desserts. Long chat in the open terrace follows and I am in bed only at 2 AM.

Woke up in time on Sunday at 0630 hours and within ten minutes leave for Thane on the cycle. Traffic is thin and the air still cold which makes for a perfect setting for riding. The Karle Khind ghat is negotiated easily courtesy the Shimanos without any difficulty and I start the long descent which extends up till Poynad. At Pezari, a fog has engulfed the entire stretch making visibility a concern but a cyclists needn't get worried. The tempo is good and I keep on progressing through Dharamtar, Wadkhal and Pen, finally halting outside a dhaba at Tarankhop which serves as a good drinks break.

I start cycling within five minutes, knowing well that the ride's most formidable challenege : the Hamrapur ascent is just a few km away. Hamrapur is dealt with easily and the progress continues through villages like Jite, Kharpada, Tara etc. I am hungry by 1000 hours and halt for a breakfast at Kshan-Bhar-Vishranti after the Karnala Bird Sanctuary, knowing well that this ones gonna drill a hole in my pocket.

The famed eatery frequented by the carwallahs lives up to the expectations. A misal is Rs 25, Rs 2 extra for each paav and the worst : Rs 15 for a plate of extra usal/rassa/sample (otherwise complimentary). I run up a bill of Rs 46 and the waiter also earns a Rs 4 tip courtesy prompt delivery of lemon (much needed to keep dehydration at bay).

The heat becomes difficult to negotiate and my ass also has a hard time sitting on the narrow saddle which does not have any extra cover. A gel seat cover (Rs 480 at the firefox showroom) is a must buy!

The progress becomes harder but I keep on going in the heat. Next halt is at Belapur CBD below the flyover. Its a deja vu kind of a moment : last time I'd had a short nap after being exasperated due to the heat. This time, I decide against resting and start within ten minutes. The final leg of the ride is unarguably the toughest and a real test. The heat is very much, the road is wide and open (no thrill in cycling) and there is no tree cover.

The next halt is at Airoli for water. The one I am carrying is too hot due to the elements, but has to consumed. I cross over the 2 km bridge relatively easily and find an oasis-like place. A cool shade on the Mulund-end of the bridge with a soda seller's cart. Ten minutes and five lemon sodas later, I start moving Thane and reach home by 1330!

Cycle behaved very well, I saved on time as compared to the ride in the month of May on Swing SE. Only problem experienced with the bike : gear shifting. The chain also came off twice when the gears were lowered. I think its time for a visit to the mechanic.