September 2, 2023
Day - 1 ( Bengaluru to Yadiyur)
This is my first time bikepacking in the country I was born in, where I learned to pedal and where I pedaled to adulthood. But this was also the country where I was mortally scared to cycle in.
I still brought my fat bike, "Mistergordo" on British Airways to Bengaluru. I will write another entry detailing how I packed my bike and what I packed on my bike when I bikepacked.
Having grown up cycling here, I knew how to cycle in the chaos that Indian roads can be. One day before starting my journey, I unpacked my bike box, put my bike together, and took it for a ride in Bengaluru to purchase a spare tube (26 X 4-inch tube). This was also to pump some confidence into me.
I felt good and packed my bike hoping to hit the road early the next day. My ultimate destination was to reach Belagavi (Belgaum) where I was born and where my extended family lives. That's about 500 km if I rode on the highway but I wanted to take a scenic route.
On D-day, I needed a lot of cajoling to get out of my cousin's place even though my bike was completely packed and waiting. After a bit of pep talk and some guidance on an easier route to get through Bengaluru traffic, I started rolling at around 9 AM.
The day was young and cloudy, as I rolled past the many glass-facade buildings and through the chaos before taking the diversion towards Mangalore.
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Riding on the national highways here is a safer bet as they usually have a clean and wide breakdown lane where it's usually you and other two-wheelers. So, it's easy to pick up speed and chip away miles. Obviously, this isn't the most scenic option though.
The landscape changed for the better as I started riding past lush green farms interspersed with hills with boulders on them. I cycled through some elephant corridors and finally got closer to my destination for that night. Rain had forced me to take shelter at a restaurant and that's where some curious folks struck up conversations with me regarding this weird bike. They recommended a lodge in Yadiyur which is also a famous town with a historic temple.
I rolled into Yadiyur just as sunset and darkness took over the reins. I freshened up and visited the temple before letting my family in Belgaum know that I was taking the slow route and not the bus/train...
Today's ride: 114 km (71 miles)
Total: 114 km (71 miles)
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