The beginning of a new adventure...
Many would agree that our lives our full of adventures big and small and the fun part at the end is how exciting they became and how strong you came out of it...
The latest planned adventure which I thought would start from 16th August 2011 has actually now itself can say from 13th August, has started showing its magnanimity and I just wonder what the actual 19 days would be like ..and thinking so the butterflies in my stomach have moved a little northwards and the feeling which I get is of a strange weight around my throat..similar to the one you get just before your very 1st date maybe !
Well the planned adventure is a 19 day Mountain biking(cycling) expedition from Kullu - Khardungla(Ladakh). Its a girls only thingy organised by YHAI. To know more about the route etc etc plz follow the link:
http://www.yhaindia.org/files/adv_programs/description/mb.html
Now going back to how all of this started:
It was January 2011 and I was trying to come out of the low phase of life ..and one important thing which I felt was required was to shed off some extra kilos from my body and gear up...as it automatically gives a kick and enthusiasm. After a lot many failed attempts to start exercising at home I felt setting a goal for myself is important else I'll not put efforts from within...Mumbai marathon had just got over a few days back and I was reading a friends blog who had participated in the Full Marathon ...so I just pinged him and took some tips on running...
I had mentally somewhere set Marathon 2012 as an activity to be done in 2012 ..kms not planned just to start my training regime...
Next day 6:30ish in the morning I drove down to the Godrej Colony field ...completed some 6 laps running and walking and was happy with my performance...tried to hit the ground daily but could make it for around 3-4 days a week...I used to feel bad about he fact that I drive down to the ground...wasting all that fuel...walking was not feasible as i wanted to save time too...so thought of buying a bike..so again checked with biker friends then www.bikeszone.com and got a Hercules Turbo Drive bike for myself..only purpose was the commute to the field..and as per my calculations I would break even the price of my bike in 6 months.
Getting back into shape and doing what you like to do is enough motivation to run/walk 12 laps of a cricket field(yes I had reached from 6-12) but I did looked forward to some company...one Saturday as there was no time bounding to go to office I drove to my mausi's place in ghatkopar(W) and woke my cousin to come along with me for running...he required it as badly as I did :-)..after a few kicks he was out of bed and we both went to a nearby ground where he was walking and I was running nearly at the same speed..so u can imagine me running now :-P
..
on one such weekend I saw 3 girls rather ladies doing some workout ...it was not the regular kinds..they were doing weights etc that too in a park...after my 7 th round I stopped by to enquire if they were from some group/ club and what was it...then the senior most amongst them informed they were into adventure sports and training for a Kullu-manali to Leh cycling expedition which will happen in august 2011..and now it was march 2011..we had some discussion and she said I too can go for it..she will train me..I actually bought the idea but then getting to know that it would involve around 20 days I told her it would not be possible with my job..nice meeting you and I carried with my running...I had somehow pulled my out of it...but I kept thinking..then started calculating with the weekends how many working days leaves would be required...halfway down the ground I concluded..this can be manageable with lots of public holidays in august and it would be a once in a lifetime thing..I ran back to her and asked her to train me...since that day I was along with this lady called Pushpa Patel..yes a gujju...she is 50+ a bachelor and a fitness trainer...her best part she has full confidence in you!
At times I was regular at times I was not...but the training continued...we did sand running sessions at Juhu...routine run and then stretching etc at the nearby ground / somaiyya campus which also provided staircase running..the best part was doing it in the rains..never enjoyed it so much...
Around july end the D day nearing we started going on long bike rides to gear up..my 1st longest being a 86 kms circle around the Sanjay Gandhi National park...starting from ghatkopar we took the thane gorbandar road hilly route towards the national park in borivalli..then went up to kanheri caves and back to ghatkopar via the JVLR-powai vikroli route. It was an experience gave a lot of confidence along with numb butts and palms...but enjoyed it to the core...was soaked in the rains all through covered it in around 10 hrs..and the best part was no follow-up pains on the next morning.... came next weekend Saturday was ghatkopar to juhu and back..around 45 kms...Sunday was ghatkoparmalabar hills and back..around 65 kms :-)...
shopping was in full gear..YHAI charges rs 6k for the trip fees..and I spend another around 10 K on accessories etc :-|...that too with a lot of udhar ka stuff ...
13th August:
My train fromMumbai to Delhi leaves on 13th August 4:40 pm from mumbai Central its Rakshabandhan ...I pack my bags till 3 in the morning then have a good 5 hr sleep ..followed by cleaning and cooking...also Aadya down with fever and cold...celebrated the festival with my dear ones got 4 books as rakshabandhan gift :-) and finally leave the house at 3:15 (15 minutes late) but still with 1 hr 20 mins in my pocket to catch the train.mostly it takes max an hr for the same...but something never felt all right..the highway was choked far beyond our expectations....then a driver told one of the tyres was nearly flat...we kept on moving it was 4 by my watch and we had just managed to get over the sion flyover..after which the traffic was better..thanks to the eastern express highway flyovers,...then comes the last crossing for mumbai central..8 mins left..I was already out..and kindoff shouting..actually shouting and cursing...and we take a wrong turn...I remembered all those sayings:
"Garibi main atta gheela"
"Ek to karela upar se neem chada" .....we had entered a busy market lane with footpath market...I had nearly lost all hopes..when Amitanshu lost his patience listening to all my outburst and his outburst was screeching of tyres ...we reach the entrance of the station and the moment is 4:40 ...the actual departure time..we tell the coolie Delhi Rajdhani he says come come...madam aap aage chaliye jaldi..with aadya in my lap i start running..just turning to chk the following coolie in the distant...the first glimpse of my train is ...its already moving and i'm 2 platforms away...i keep on running...reach the right platform ..the train is around 2 boogie's away..i keep on running...just hoping..had somehow imagined so many possibilities on the way..the guard in engine (the one on my side) did saw me..i kept on running..i reach the 1st boogie next to the engine ...the train might ha slowed down...I asked for help from one gentleman(train attendant) he took aadya from my lap and motioned me to enter ..i did still running..then took aadya from him..he is running...then I tell him i have luggage too...and we chk the coolie is far away..the gentleman runs to get one bag from th coolie..and then the other..and then the coolie himself to get the money..the train still moving...i pay him he leaves..then i wonder for a moment and call Amitanshu to tell him I boarded the train..he asked " Abhi kitni der aur hai train ko nikalne main" I said I boarded a running train...and that I feel like crying...I was happy I boarded the train but felt bad about all my patience which had gone out of control...well..
Aadya who is standing by my side ..says mumma humne train bhag k pakad li..and for me the adventure had already begun...
14th August:
reached delhi..what happened a day before seems like a dream now...and just one day more to go for our expedition to begin...get the news of landslides and snow with rains in himachal...roads blocked...by evening YHAI confirms that the trip will continue as planned...and I just giggle to my self....
Many would agree that our lives our full of adventures big and small and the fun part at the end is how exciting they became and how strong you came out of it...
The latest planned adventure which I thought would start from 16th August 2011 has actually now itself can say from 13th August, has started showing its magnanimity and I just wonder what the actual 19 days would be like ..and thinking so the butterflies in my stomach have moved a little northwards and the feeling which I get is of a strange weight around my throat..similar to the one you get just before your very 1st date maybe !
Well the planned adventure is a 19 day Mountain biking(cycling) expedition from Kullu - Khardungla(Ladakh). Its a girls only thingy organised by YHAI. To know more about the route etc etc plz follow the link:
http://www.yhaindia.org/files/adv_programs/description/mb.html
Now going back to how all of this started:
It was January 2011 and I was trying to come out of the low phase of life ..and one important thing which I felt was required was to shed off some extra kilos from my body and gear up...as it automatically gives a kick and enthusiasm. After a lot many failed attempts to start exercising at home I felt setting a goal for myself is important else I'll not put efforts from within...Mumbai marathon had just got over a few days back and I was reading a friends blog who had participated in the Full Marathon ...so I just pinged him and took some tips on running...
I had mentally somewhere set Marathon 2012 as an activity to be done in 2012 ..kms not planned just to start my training regime...
Next day 6:30ish in the morning I drove down to the Godrej Colony field ...completed some 6 laps running and walking and was happy with my performance...tried to hit the ground daily but could make it for around 3-4 days a week...I used to feel bad about he fact that I drive down to the ground...wasting all that fuel...walking was not feasible as i wanted to save time too...so thought of buying a bike..so again checked with biker friends then www.bikeszone.com and got a Hercules Turbo Drive bike for myself..only purpose was the commute to the field..and as per my calculations I would break even the price of my bike in 6 months.
Getting back into shape and doing what you like to do is enough motivation to run/walk 12 laps of a cricket field(yes I had reached from 6-12) but I did looked forward to some company...one Saturday as there was no time bounding to go to office I drove to my mausi's place in ghatkopar(W) and woke my cousin to come along with me for running...he required it as badly as I did :-)..after a few kicks he was out of bed and we both went to a nearby ground where he was walking and I was running nearly at the same speed..so u can imagine me running now :-P
..
on one such weekend I saw 3 girls rather ladies doing some workout ...it was not the regular kinds..they were doing weights etc that too in a park...after my 7 th round I stopped by to enquire if they were from some group/ club and what was it...then the senior most amongst them informed they were into adventure sports and training for a Kullu-manali to Leh cycling expedition which will happen in august 2011..and now it was march 2011..we had some discussion and she said I too can go for it..she will train me..I actually bought the idea but then getting to know that it would involve around 20 days I told her it would not be possible with my job..nice meeting you and I carried with my running...I had somehow pulled my out of it...but I kept thinking..then started calculating with the weekends how many working days leaves would be required...halfway down the ground I concluded..this can be manageable with lots of public holidays in august and it would be a once in a lifetime thing..I ran back to her and asked her to train me...since that day I was along with this lady called Pushpa Patel..yes a gujju...she is 50+ a bachelor and a fitness trainer...her best part she has full confidence in you!
At times I was regular at times I was not...but the training continued...we did sand running sessions at Juhu...routine run and then stretching etc at the nearby ground / somaiyya campus which also provided staircase running..the best part was doing it in the rains..never enjoyed it so much...
Around july end the D day nearing we started going on long bike rides to gear up..my 1st longest being a 86 kms circle around the Sanjay Gandhi National park...starting from ghatkopar we took the thane gorbandar road hilly route towards the national park in borivalli..then went up to kanheri caves and back to ghatkopar via the JVLR-powai vikroli route. It was an experience gave a lot of confidence along with numb butts and palms...but enjoyed it to the core...was soaked in the rains all through covered it in around 10 hrs..and the best part was no follow-up pains on the next morning.... came next weekend Saturday was ghatkopar to juhu and back..around 45 kms...Sunday was ghatkoparmalabar hills and back..around 65 kms :-)...
shopping was in full gear..YHAI charges rs 6k for the trip fees..and I spend another around 10 K on accessories etc :-|...that too with a lot of udhar ka stuff ...
13th August:
My train fromMumbai to Delhi leaves on 13th August 4:40 pm from mumbai Central its Rakshabandhan ...I pack my bags till 3 in the morning then have a good 5 hr sleep ..followed by cleaning and cooking...also Aadya down with fever and cold...celebrated the festival with my dear ones got 4 books as rakshabandhan gift :-) and finally leave the house at 3:15 (15 minutes late) but still with 1 hr 20 mins in my pocket to catch the train.mostly it takes max an hr for the same...but something never felt all right..the highway was choked far beyond our expectations....then a driver told one of the tyres was nearly flat...we kept on moving it was 4 by my watch and we had just managed to get over the sion flyover..after which the traffic was better..thanks to the eastern express highway flyovers,...then comes the last crossing for mumbai central..8 mins left..I was already out..and kindoff shouting..actually shouting and cursing...and we take a wrong turn...I remembered all those sayings:
"Garibi main atta gheela"
"Ek to karela upar se neem chada" .....we had entered a busy market lane with footpath market...I had nearly lost all hopes..when Amitanshu lost his patience listening to all my outburst and his outburst was screeching of tyres ...we reach the entrance of the station and the moment is 4:40 ...the actual departure time..we tell the coolie Delhi Rajdhani he says come come...madam aap aage chaliye jaldi..with aadya in my lap i start running..just turning to chk the following coolie in the distant...the first glimpse of my train is ...its already moving and i'm 2 platforms away...i keep on running...reach the right platform ..the train is around 2 boogie's away..i keep on running...just hoping..had somehow imagined so many possibilities on the way..the guard in engine (the one on my side) did saw me..i kept on running..i reach the 1st boogie next to the engine ...the train might ha slowed down...I asked for help from one gentleman(train attendant) he took aadya from my lap and motioned me to enter ..i did still running..then took aadya from him..he is running...then I tell him i have luggage too...and we chk the coolie is far away..the gentleman runs to get one bag from th coolie..and then the other..and then the coolie himself to get the money..the train still moving...i pay him he leaves..then i wonder for a moment and call Amitanshu to tell him I boarded the train..he asked " Abhi kitni der aur hai train ko nikalne main" I said I boarded a running train...and that I feel like crying...I was happy I boarded the train but felt bad about all my patience which had gone out of control...well..
Aadya who is standing by my side ..says mumma humne train bhag k pakad li..and for me the adventure had already begun...
14th August:
reached delhi..what happened a day before seems like a dream now...and just one day more to go for our expedition to begin...get the news of landslides and snow with rains in himachal...roads blocked...by evening YHAI confirms that the trip will continue as planned...and I just giggle to my self....
Good Luck Keerty ! I m sure it will be an awesome experience !
ReplyDeleteHey keerty..nice finding your blog and amidst all the packing i found the patience to read the whole story ...each word of it and girl...the adventure has really begun for you.
ReplyDeleteYesterday after the news of cloudburst in Kullu i though the adventure would really be something to remember and here i see you will be having so many more things to remember :-)
Can't wait to meet.
You can feel the adrenalin gush every now and then as you read ... the adventure in the trip has begun !
ReplyDeleteAwesome articleee! For a second I thought you had missed the train..! Haha.. You are a good writer! :)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to more blogs like this.. cant wait to hear about your trip! :D
wow...all the best!
ReplyDeleteI always want to write...but something was always missing..probably the adventure quotient :-D
ReplyDelete@Amitanshu thanks for being there!
@Sangeeta: happy that you read it :-)..if you get to know u missed something packing i'll share my stuff with you :-D..and cloudburst in kullu ...he he...I get a feel that being there we can help the rescue teams..
@Neha: Thanks dear!
@ Hiral: thank you dear...i had imagined on the way that I will reach the platform to see the moving train..had chucked off the idea of imagining the part to follow...thanks to all the running practice :-)
awesome write up :) ... glad to know why you did what you did this summer :D .... although I am curious where was Amitanshu when you were doing the run :D and what was his reaction :D
ReplyDeletegood one ..... aadya ne bhi bhaag ke train pakad hi li... after all she's Keerty's daughter :)
ReplyDeleteall the best for more adventures to come.. keep telling :)
thanks Puneet!
ReplyDelete@ Rahul...Amitanshu was just outside the railways station probably in search of a parking slot..
@padmaja: yes she is a runner....:-)