KAAS Ride with BRC

Katraj – Satara – Kaas – Tapola – Mahabaleshwar – Wai – Pune

340 kms

My 4^th ride with BRC was a landmark. We started out by meeting in front of Katraj Snake Park at 5:30-6:00 am. Off course by the time most arrived it was a little late and we departed at 6:30am against the planned 6am. 11 bikes roared onto the highway in wee hours between dawn and daylight. Our 12^th rider joined us a little way out and now we were 12 bikes and 13 in all.

Ganesh (GG) was the lead, Parvaiz (Parry) the running pilot and I (Shohrat) brought up the rear as the sweep.

Soon after we wound our way through the Katraj ghat and joined NH-4 where we stopped for fuel for those who hadn’t tanked up, it was going to be a long ride so we were not taking any risks. In the typical disciplined BRC fashion we ‘thumped’ down the Highway to Satara. An RE group certainly gets heads to turn as the roar is enough warning for most. Our heads turned a couple of times when we had a few Triumph guys roar past us. That’s when one felt the difference between an RE & a Triumph. The difference is that a triumph group barely crosses 2-3 bikers and RE is a brotherhood, a family. I felt proud to be riding my TB500 with the group.

In most of my previous rides with BRC or otherwise, I have always been in quite a hurry and have never brought up the rear. This time I thought it is time I taught myself a little patience, I chose to be the sweep. On straight highways it was sometimes a challenge not to open the throttle and power ahead of the rest and on the ghats this challenge became that much tougher. Being on a TB 500 and riding at the back of the pack is a test in patience and teamwork. One needs to realise that when you ride in a brotherhood you ride, not only for yourself, but also for the team.

Our next stop was at Hotel Abhiruchi that is at the exit to Mahabaleshwar. We took a little time to eat, chat and get to know each other better. Soon we were back to ‘Thumping’ towards Kaas. We pelted on at a decent click; however, soon there was a gap with a leading group and the marginally slower group at the rear. This is where our ‘Running pilot’ did a great job to keep shuttling between the groups and ensuring the slower group picked up a little pace, while getting the faster group to stay within range.
In no time, we were threading our way through the streets of Satara trying to find our way to the small road that leads to Kaas. Our 'Lead' doing a great job without having to stop for directions. The road to Kaas starts climbing as soon as one is out of Satara city and immediately it started getting cool, green, foggy and we all had a feeling of excitement, because now is when the “Real Ride” began.
The ride up is a narrow road with green rolling land on either side at the onset, moving into green hills and sparse forests. The fog kept rolling in and out with a little drizzle from time to time.

On reaching the Kaas plateau we were suddenly hit by a whole lot of traffic, we stopped at the entry and paid Rs 10/- per bike. Finding parking for 12 bikes in a line was a little tough; however, there was a very nice watchman there who helped us find a good spot. We all got off, collected our gear and went into the Kaas enclosure. Spent a good amount of time seeing the flowers, taking pics and enjoying the weather. Many of our riders were well prepared with their selfie sticks and put them to good use. After a whole lot of poses and pics by our budding photographers and models we decided to move on and find more places to do the same.

 When we were back at our bikes many people come up to us for pics and to chat. That is when it struck me, everyone is fascinated and dreams of riding a bike, feeling that sense of adventure, getting the wind on their face and most importantly feeling FREE. However, very few of us actually take the plunge and follow our hearts. That’s what makes us Bikers.

 As I had done this stretch before I was now the Lead, Ganesh (GG) the Sweep and Parry remained the Running Pilot.

Having had a long halt and our fill of pics we decided to ride hard to Mahabaleshwar. Off course not without stopping in route to take a few pics and videos of the group riding.

The road was narrow, winding and gravel ridden and to top that we had intermittent rain that kept the road slick. This stretch needed complete focus and skill. The gravel in the middle of the road tested our skills, as we needed to keep to our line and anytime one crossed the gravel line the tyres would suddenly have a mind of their own. Here we rode at our own pace and soon we had 3 groups: a few others and I at the front, one lot in the middle a few minutes behind, and Ganesh sweeping up the rest a few minutes behind them. We would stop and ensure nobody took a wrong turn every time there was a fork in the road, other than that we rode hard and fast. The route was scenic with forests to one side and the huge Shivsagar Lake to the other.

Some stretches were pitted and those tested our bikes. Then we decided to test our bikes even further, we found a track down to the lake. Surendra (Sierra Mike) took the initiative to go down and scout the track, when he gave the go ahead we took the off-road track down to the lake. After another round of Selfies, modelling and photography we got back on track to Mahabaleshwar. Once we hit Tapola the road opened up, became wider and all of us opened the throttle and enjoyed ourselves winding through the greenery.

So far we had experienced highways, winding hill roads, a Plateau of flowers, Off-roading to the lake side. All that remained was a good waterfall, which we got just short of Mahabaleshwar. All got off and many decided to enjoy the cold mountain water. With Hitesh in the lead we suddenly had a group of waterfall climbers scaling the rocks till they were no longer under the waterfall, but part of it.

Thanks to the stop we were saved an incident; one of our riders Ameesh (a first timer) felt the power of the group when he complained of his TB handle shaking. Immediately he got suggestions to check the fork nut which we found was loose, thanks to Parvaiz and Kalpesh carrying a complete tool-set we were able to tighten the fork and continue, having avoided any untoward event.

We roared through Mahabaleshwar and really tested our riding skills as we tore down the mountain towards Wai. Despite many voices saying that we should stop between Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani, I took the call to ride the ghat in one go and eat at a place as you finish the ghat at Wai. We stopped for a late lunch at 3pm @ Ganesh Hotel where we all ate to our stomachs content. Mutton, Chicken and Veg Thalis being what put everyone back in a good mood. Most appreciated the decision to stretch till Wai as the food was worth it. :)

Now that our tanks were full, it was time for some riders to fill their bike tanks with fuel. Then began the ride back. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry to get home so the average speed was upped and by 5:15-30 pm we had stopped just short of the Katraj ghat to say bye and disperse. Some of us took the old Katraj ghat and tunnel route while a few others took the new tunnel towards Kothrud, Pashan, etc

Thus ended our eventful and action packed ride to Kaas and back.

A complete ride.