Dec 1, 2008

bicycle ride to Bannerghatta

May or June 1984

Skanda, C V Nagendra, and I planned a trip to Bannerghatta, a 44 km ride, in the first week of our summer vacations. This would be our first trip outside Bangalore on our own.

I had an Olive Green colored Humber bicycle and my friends had their Atlas and Hero bicycles. We planned a great deal and worried what we would do if we got a flat tire or a brake failure as they were a big problem!

We packed bread, home-made tomato jam and water in glass bottles. We left early, riding leisurely occasionally stopped by to catch our breath. Beyond the city limits, road was flanked by woods. It was peaceful and the air was fresh. The peace was occasionally disturbed by dark smoke bellowing buses and, trucks laden with sand, granite or bricks. We reached Bannerghatta by 10 or 10-30 AM. First thing we did was to park he bicycles and eat breakfast. Then we spent time looking around the zoo and then we left to the small granite hill near-by. We explored the small granite hill near by with an ancient temple (Champakadhama Devastana) at the base (this was my second visit). By 3 or 3-30 we decided to head back home. We reached home safely and without a flat tyre... not really an adventurous trip.

Looking at the traffic now on the same stretch of road, it’s a complete contrast. The green jungle is concrete jungle, peaceful ambiance has been replaced by chaos & noise and the air laden with dust & smoke. How man destroys tranquility in the name of development!

In the summer of 1986, a week or two after PUC-1 exam, another friend and I did Bangalore-Mysuru-Bangalore on our sports bicycles!
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