Tuesday was going down to Pirangut, and I decided that I needed to go further. Mulshi seemed to be a good bet. I get on Google maps and check out the distance to Mulshi - it is 36 km, just the distance for a weekend excursion.
I check the cycle and find the brakes are a bit loose. Get back on you tube and check out how to fix it. With the brakes fixed I put the alarm for 0500 hrs. Come Sunday morning and as usual I take out Chintu(my archaic pomerenian dog) for his morning stroll and then get ready to move, much against wife's wishes. She tells me I must be nuts to go at this time of the night( it is pitch dark outside!) - which is nothing new! I am on road at 0545 hrs.
It is daylight by the time I reach Pirangut. Cross a few boys who scream out asking for a ride on my bike, I tell them to wait for my return. After crossing Pirangut the scene suddenly changes from a dusty village to green hills and rice fields and sugarcane fields at the base.
Just out of Pirangut and the greenery greets you on the road to Paud.
In the snap below you can see the rice and the sugarcane fields with the green hills in the background
It is lovely to see the greenery, but I wonder for how long will we be fortunate enough to see it. Pirangut which had a lot of green cover has been laid bare by the builders and the industry. I continue towards Paud, the elevation increasing slowly. There are a few small industries enroute, but the greenery is still there. After about 11 km I cross Paud which is a small village and I almost miss it! The green fields continue. The road up till now was in good condition and cycling was pleasant. But after a few Km from Paud the road start having a lot of pot holes and my Dahon 'n my rear suffer a bit. I finally reach Mulshi Dam - which could not be accessed as it is a Tata project with restricted entry. The most painful part of the trip was here. The climb to the top of the dam level was on a km plus through non existent road and on my 20" wheels it was pure misery. A couple who saw me struggle up the road had a good laugh and I frequently had the urge to get off and walk it up - but didn't. I almost shouted "Hallelujah" when I reached the level road at around 0800 hrs. Had a cup of tea at the road side shanty with an entrepreneur traveling to Mumbai. Learn't that a large group of cyclist in Mulund carry their cycles on cars to Goregaon( Aarey Milk Dairy area) on Sundays to cycle on tracks there.
Click a couple of snaps to show I reached Mulshi.
After tea I decided to look for the restaurant near the lake which me 'n Sangeeta 'n Saurabh had visited a few years back. The place had not changed with the steep slope as an entry and a simple restaurant which went well with the green environment. Earlier there was an access to Mulshi lake which has now been closed. The owner was a old Khalsa who was a friend of Kalmadi whose own restaurant was a few km ahead. I ask for Pohe but the Khalsa convinces me to try Paratha. I was a bit reluctant as I had a long ride back and I did not want to do it on a full stomach.
But temptation was too strong so I give in and order paratha and Bournvita - ( No Lactose Intolerance and I love milk)!
The service was slow and it took 30 min even when there was not much of a crowd. The paratha was OK but the milk was good. I click a few snaps and start back .
Relax in the restaurant for a few minutes and then take off back to Pune. The ride back is easier being downhill most of the way but for the Pirangut Ghat. I start at 0900 hrs and by the time I cross Paud it is WARM! The heat saps a lot of my energy specially on the inclines. On the Pirangut Ghat slope a couple on a scooter cross me , return to ask if they could click snaps of me! I say "Sure!" Both the man whose name is Jai and his wife click snaps while I struggle uphill, then some static shots while I chat with them. He is into films, ads etc and so is his wife.
I check the cycle and find the brakes are a bit loose. Get back on you tube and check out how to fix it. With the brakes fixed I put the alarm for 0500 hrs. Come Sunday morning and as usual I take out Chintu(my archaic pomerenian dog) for his morning stroll and then get ready to move, much against wife's wishes. She tells me I must be nuts to go at this time of the night( it is pitch dark outside!) - which is nothing new! I am on road at 0545 hrs.
It is daylight by the time I reach Pirangut. Cross a few boys who scream out asking for a ride on my bike, I tell them to wait for my return. After crossing Pirangut the scene suddenly changes from a dusty village to green hills and rice fields and sugarcane fields at the base.
Just out of Pirangut and the greenery greets you on the road to Paud.
In the snap below you can see the rice and the sugarcane fields with the green hills in the background
Click a couple of snaps to show I reached Mulshi.
After tea I decided to look for the restaurant near the lake which me 'n Sangeeta 'n Saurabh had visited a few years back. The place had not changed with the steep slope as an entry and a simple restaurant which went well with the green environment. Earlier there was an access to Mulshi lake which has now been closed. The owner was a old Khalsa who was a friend of Kalmadi whose own restaurant was a few km ahead. I ask for Pohe but the Khalsa convinces me to try Paratha. I was a bit reluctant as I had a long ride back and I did not want to do it on a full stomach.
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| Parathas and Bournvita!! |
But temptation was too strong so I give in and order paratha and Bournvita - ( No Lactose Intolerance and I love milk)!
The service was slow and it took 30 min even when there was not much of a crowd. The paratha was OK but the milk was good. I click a few snaps and start back .
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| Mulshi lake in the background and my helmet in the foreground |
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| Sweating it up Pirangut Ghat! |
Relax in the restaurant for a few minutes and then take off back to Pune. The ride back is easier being downhill most of the way but for the Pirangut Ghat. I start at 0900 hrs and by the time I cross Paud it is WARM! The heat saps a lot of my energy specially on the inclines. On the Pirangut Ghat slope a couple on a scooter cross me , return to ask if they could click snaps of me! I say "Sure!" Both the man whose name is Jai and his wife click snaps while I struggle uphill, then some static shots while I chat with them. He is into films, ads etc and so is his wife.
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| Now I know why kids laugh . . . . . |
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| Looking Handsome Eh?!!
Pretty good snaps! I wonder why they clicked it and what they plan to do with it!
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