CYCLING TRIP TO ATHIRAPALLY WATERFALLS

• Now this is my third long distance trip by cycle.i have previously been to allepy beach that was ride of 120 km which i did on first sunday after i purchased my cycle.Second trip was to munnar that was 270 km over a period of 2 1/2 days .u can check my photos by following this link http://picasaweb.google.com/avinashshinde3/CYCLINGKOCHIMUNNARKOCHI270KM?feat=directlink
• Now about athirapally waterfalls ,it is about 78 km from kochi,kerala.It is well connected by NH 47 for major part and last strech of 31 km from chalakudy is also good.highlight of this waterfall is lot of film shooting is done here,the song BARSO RE from film GURU was shot here.Rest of the info u can find out on wikipedia.
• My original plan was cycle till waterfalls and while coming back cycle the 31 km strech till Chalakudy .Then load the cycle in tempo,bus etc. but it miserably failed and i had to cycle full 150-160 km.
• I stareted at about 6 30 in morning ,before that i would like to tell u what all things i carry in my backpack.My mobile N73 with Gprs connection,Mp3 player ,Camera ,Mobile charger,Wallet with cash and ATM card,Sunscreen lotion,Cap,Goggles,handtowel,spare shorts and t-shirt.My cycle is HERCULES RYDER ACT 105 with 21 speeds .
• I reached challakudy ,45 km from Kochi at about 10 after taking 2-3 halts.Cycling was on Nh 47 and i dont enjoy riding on highways with such heavy traffic.Now for last 31 km u need to take a right turn from challakudy.The real cycling with ups and downs had commenced ,one good thing about this road is there is Instant justice ,if u had one upslope then there was downslope unlike Munnar where there is upslope for good about 60 km without much or any downslope.
• Finally i reached athirapally waterfalls at about 1230,where i met some of my friends who had come on their bikes and in car. Now i mentioned about GPRS connection earlier,importance is --u can upload your photos instantly to facebook by e- mail,check your route and distance using Google maps ,Be updated and connected with everyone when u take a break.
• Now my buddies were planning to go to next waterfall i.e Vazanchal about 4 km from athirapally,I also joined them as i had previously been to athirapally. On reaching vazanchal fall i badly wanted to take bath but i think after thekkady incident where about 40 people died things have become really serious. I did next best thing ,Reading newspaper while listening to sound of falling water.TRIP WAS A SUCESS.I dont know when i went of to sleep before police woke me up and told me to move out from there.
• I started back at about 2 30 ,while coming back clicked some good photographs with athirapally waterfall in the background.Around 10 km from athirapally there is a shortcut which says Save 18 km and kochi 50 km, my plans changed immediately and decided to cycle down to kochi,but i lost the way and saved only 3-4 km.
• I was 40 km from Kochi at 5 30 in evening and desperately wanted to get back because first it was getting dark and i didnt have any light on my cycle, secondly the traffic had becomes worst and thirdly i was tired after cycling for about 110-120 km .I tried to stop some vehicles but nobody was ready to take me and my cycle,continued cycling for about 5 km. At 6'o clock i decided not to ask for help anymore and cycled for about 1 1/2 hour with maximum speed and effort i could and reached MG Road at 7 45.
• Generally,i make a point to reward myself with coffee at Cafe Coffee Day,IT TASTES GREAT after completing cycling or biking trip.
• YOU CAN VIEW MY FULL PICASA PHOTO ALBUM by clicking following link http://picasaweb.google.com/avinashshinde3/CyclingTripToAthirapallyWaterfalls?feat=directlink
• This is my first attempt at writing Blog ,so please ........................
• Forgive my English , i will improve with Time .............
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