The Good Friday Ride: Aluva-Manjaly-Aluva

Late as usual. But this time the culprit was not me. I managed to reach KAL Hospital, at Aluva, our starting point as scheduled, at 6:30am but Alpho, the doc on duty had locked the duty room for the morning beauty bath. I had kept the bike-lock key, helmet and gloves there and hence had to wait until the shrine was opened. I even called her on her mobile hoping that she would have taken her mobile into the bathroom. Apparently, she did not. As a result, I reached Thottakaattukara, where I was told to meet up with Surej and Rohit my fellow riders, ½ an hour late.

This was Rohit’s first leisure ride since had bought this LA Sovereign bike. But I have to tell you, he was pretty good for a first timer. Surej too was all geared up and full of enthusiasm. So we knew for sure, from the very start, that this would be a memorable ride.

The ride plan was instantaneous and the route selection was spontaneous. We rode all the way to Vedimara and made a U-turn to enter the Nedumbassery route. Instead of taking the Manjali bridge, we did a bit of off-roading to cross the river via a temporary sand bund. This was followed by some more amazing village roads and rides through paddy fields. We reentered NH 47 after passing through Medical College, Airoor and Chengamanad. Rode back to Aluva via the NH and voila! Another beautiful holiday ride!

The roads we chose were in excellent condition. Save for a couple of steep climbs (one near the UC College Auditorium and the other approaching the Chengamanad junction), rest of the route had comfortable elevation only. It is also a very good bike-able route. Thanks for the low traffic (except the NH) and scenic views. We are certainly gonna make another early morning ride in the same route, including some more local attractions.

The Route Map:

View The Good Friday Bike Ride- 6th April 2012 in a larger map

The first couple of kilometers, from the KAL hospital to the Paravoor junction involved the NH 47. Because it was a holiday and because it was early in the morning, we didn’t have much botheration of the traffic. More and more people are being attracted to biking it seems. At least the concept seems appealing to many. Wherever we stopped we had people approaching us and ask about the trip, the bike and stuffs.

Just as we were approaching the steep climb near UC College, we had to stop and wait for the Good Friday Procession crossing the road from a nearby church. This abrupt stop did drain our momentum and the climb got more difficult but we had no complaints for the procession was ‘entertaining’.

The Good Friday Procession

The climb of course is followed by a long downhill stretch of broad and rubberized road. The cold wind howling in your ears and the vacant road will tempt you to leave your handlebars, spread your hands and sing one of your favorite fast-track songs.

Shiny roads and misty skies

This is followed by a very beautiful strip decorated with paddy fields stretching far and wide on the right side. Rohit got excited and rode off. Me and Surej stopped by for a couple of snaps.

Paddy fields waking up to a new morning

Mr. Snappy

Accident prone area..not for us bikers though. We always 'ride safe', right?

Pit Stop

Day Maker Tintu

We then met Tintu, Rohit’s friend and a local star. It was him who informed us about the temporary bund over the river. So we decided to make a small detour. After making the turn at Vedimara to entre the Paravoor Nedumbassery route, we rode to this bund. This place turned out to be the main attraction of our trip. We learned that this bund made of alluvial soil and palm logs is made every year at this time to prevent salt water from the sea entering upstream and there by damaging the crops. Tintu invited us for another visit to this place and next time we will definitely come with all set up for a lavish river bath followed by a delicious toddy feast. The place had a lot of photographic potential but we dared not to get indulged with our equipments as a lot of ladies were around waiting for us to leave for their jalakreeda. We had to walk the bike to the opposite bank as the sand over the bund was very loose.

The Bund Across River Manjaly

Surej & Rohit with Tintu and Vinosh

'Hey Surej..the gals are on the other side!! Damn you, nature lovers!'

Rohit flaunting his Canon D-SLR (and his beer belly :-P)

My Transeo in a pensive mood

Manjali River..up close and personal

Sand stand

Ever tried riding your bike over loose sand? Piece of Advice: Don't. Especially when you have sharp wooden stubs on either side, looking angrily at you.

Watchbird

Very narrow unpaved path with barbed fences on either side greeted us on the other side of the river.  From here began our actual off-roading. We rode through vegetable plantations, we rode besides canals and streams, we rode through coconut tree plantations and finally re entered the Paravoor –Nedumbassery road.

Narrow path + Barbed fences...Tempting!

Termptation wins..way to go tigers!!

Stopped for a 'Jeera Soda' break. Met Stanley who showed us an amazing short cut.

The amazing short cut-Through the vegetable plantations

Missing the dirt path already..

We started getting hungry. It was only then that we noted that majority of the shops were closed and the roads were literally deserted. The Good Friday Effect.

Finally, we spotted a small tea stall and had some yummy Appam and peas curry. 3 sets of breakfast and 2 cups of tea cost us a total of Rs. 48.00/-. Amazing, no?

Phew!! a tea stall!..Finally!!

Glutton Surej and Voracious Rohit feasting on some delicious 'Appam and Peas Curry'.

From here on, we got into small races and fast rides. Sometimes you get this urge to pedal hard. It was beginning to get very sunny too and we wanted to finish the ride before it gets too hot.

Power fields

Scenic

First Biker up

Fancy a Jump?

Tricycle

Kadavu

We reached Athani by around 10:15 am and by 10:30 the ride came to an official conclusion. We bid aiedieu.

A statue at Athani Junction depicting the name of the city. 'Athani' were those tall stone or wooden stands over which travelers with head-loads could put down the weight and relax amid their long journeys.

Surej, Rohit and Rimi Tomy

Me and Surej went for a movie in the afternoon. All the calories burnt during the ride were meticulously put back using a large Alfredo Pizza and “The Wrath of the Titans” in 3D was an awesome entertainer.

In short we had a spectacular 40km ride with some thrilling off-road experience, ate some delicious appam and pizza, saw a good flick and finally we called it a day, a ‘Good Friday’ indeed.