Behind the Bar 🚵🏻 | Part 1: Erode to Munnar
Pedalling life 🚲 🏕️ 🎒
Last-minute plans are always special, the plan just started with a kidding call but we made it.
We were ready to take risks. We started with a good ride plan & zero expectations.
A few months back (post-monsoon) we decided to redefine the limits by a road trip Erode- Udumalaipettai- Marayoor- Munnar- Muthukad- Suryanelli- Bodimettu- Theni- Kodai- Dindigul.
Planned to cover a distance of 580km with an elevation of 5,900m
Suresh, accompanied me with this trip, A passionate Cyclist, Traveler, Social activist, and Professional tableau developer. We both connected via social media- traveled and made many happy faces by volunteering works.
Yeah, we both started by early morning 4 am from Erode :)
The Pledge
- Should not use Plastics throughout the trip, Recycle as much as possible
- No rash rides
- Follow the Hand signs (✋ Stop, 👍 Go, 👎 Slow )
- we need to maintain distance but also stay close within 100 meter range
- Power Nap, when we are tired
- Hydrate ourselves by every 15 minute- 2 or 3 sips of water
🚵🏻 Adventure Begins…
First Leg (Erode- Udumalaipettai) 0 Km- 152 Km
We started to pedal 🚲 from Erode Railway station to Udumalaipettai via Kangayam, Dharapuram
We did not care about speed & time. We Just need to explore as much as possible, To meet some strangers and to learn their culture. Love to lose from this mechanical life and find ourselves in the lap of Mother Nature!
We met a Tender coconut seller on the way, who followed us for 50plus kilometers and gave some Tender coconut as sharing love and motivated us to cover more distance.
Full scenic view, with Terrains- highs and downs and Enjoying the sunrise in the farmlands.
We stopped for a Tea ☕
On the way, we had Breakfast, Lunch. We did not skip any tea breaks as well.
Finally, we reached Udumalaipettai at 8:30 pm with 147Km
On the way, Met Bharathi, A professional system engineer who lives in Udumalaipettai. He took us to his home about 5 Km and Gave us a space for camping for the night at his farmland ❤
Ending up the ride for the day with 152Km
Second Leg (Udumalaipettai- Munnar) 152 Km- 276 Km
Some adventure day, Yes we need to climb about 2,000m plus elevation
As planed we refreshed and started from Bharathi’s place with the best paruppu sadam (Daal Rice) with rich proteins cooked by Bharathi’s mother. we had that for Breakfast and Lunch
After a 10Km flat, we had a blessed tea to equalize the cold weather
To reach the Marayoor Kerala border we need to cross Anamalai Tiger Reserve.
Before we reached the check post of Anamalai Tiger Reserve forest. A group of Elephants crossed the road and Cops restricted us to enter the forest.
After a long struggle, we Pledged (Not to disturb the forest animals)and enter with one forest officer, who entered for regular rounds.
Enjoyed forest roads with the sounds of Elephants and Gaur
After a 2,000m plus elevation we reached Marayoor
We had paruppu sadam for Lunch and Now heading towards Munnar
Roadside beauty
On the way to Munnar, we heard a waterfalls sound. So we stopped and looked at the falls it was Just amazing, we fine-tuned the day plan. We pedaled towards the Falls
Sounds made us Trek for 8km and pedal for 80km climb and reached the Thoovanam falls.
Peak of happiness
Refreshed ourselves for more than an hour and back to pedal with the peak of happiness
Started from Thoovanam. It’s been 4:00 pm we need to climb 20 plus Km to reach Munnar. Some cops wanted to climb faster. After 6 there is a restriction on forest roads.
Finally, we pedaled faster and reached Munnar by 6:35 pm
The climes are just amazing landscapes rewarded with some boosts at each up and downs, Pealing over rains, mountains fall, grasslands, river bridges, terrains, roads, muds,… when reaching the top of the mountain, was very happy with the map view of all the roads I passed.
The first thing we need to search for was the Tent stay, so we had seen a petrol bunk. We enquiring in the petrol station. In Nights elephants will pass there, so they are denied for the stay.
Kind Heart
Two Class 11 students (Karthick and Muthu) A passionate football players. They reached us enquired about us and our travel stories. Then they planned to arrange a place for the night at their school ground.
They warned us that behind our tent is the riskiest place as Bear, Fox, Pig, Elephants,.. will come here to drink water at the river.
A night with unexpected thunderstorms and heavy rain with 7 degree celsius- we camping at Munnar(top hills) we supported with two cycles at each side and enjoyed the nature’s beauty with river and mountains at the front view. It’s been a copy of my dream, A day to remember.
Around 2:00 Am one bike fell down on the tent, we thought it would be because of the Wind. but…
Heaven ❤
We opened the tent, we saw Bears and Fox rounding our Tent. We not yet disturbed them, they also not yet disturbed us. Blessed :) After a few hours, we had seen a Herd with six elephants. We enjoying by seeing all.
Tented over the place we love with the peak of happiness.
It’s time to Pedal the next Leg to Theni. via Suryanelli- Bodi…
