The Trip

...yet to go...

The Preparation

Now this part was both thrilling and difficult. Thrilling - coz I read multiple trip blogs, saw pics, tried to get feel of the route on G Earth and just dreamt of the day when I will make it happen. Difficult - coz it was painful to think about work and adding to that my collgs would get irritated with me glued on g maps/wikimapia.

But then, who the hell cares about 'nay sayers'. Anyways, babies need to grow up before they understand what maketh a man. Just kidding. So, I have the route sorted out with necessary details for making the trip, though few more details are on the way.

Here is the sneak preview:

-          Reach Belapur by 7:00 AM

-          Take Uran road, cross a creek bridge and continue till the road crosses JNPT road at a junction. (distance 6 KM from Hexaware Busstop)

-          Change to JNPT road at the junction and head to Karanja Jetty (20 KM)

-          Take ferry from Karana Jetty to Revas.

-          From Revas Jetty take left and continue on the road to reach a road junction near Mandave Village (7KM). Head to Alibaug (16 km).

-          In Alibaug, go to Bus Stand à Alibaug Mahanagar palika à RCF ground and continue on that road till SAHAN village (6 KM)

-          Leave the main road at Sahan Village, take right turn à cross bridge (Hatale-Palhe) to reach Shashtri nagar (3KM)

-          After reaching Shashtri nagar take left and head to Revdanda. (9KM)

-          On the way, cross SALAV bridge and take left and move to KORLAI fort & Light house (3Km)

-          Later, head to BORLI village and straight to Kashid Beach From Kashid beach move towards MURUD [via Nandgaon-Vihoor]  (25 KM)

-          From Murud, go to Rajapuri Jettyà take a ferry to DIGHI

-          From DIGHI jetty, head to Deve Agar [via Dighi village – Harvit – Vadavali – Shishte – Borli – Dive Agar Village] 14 KM

-          From Deve Agar take the road hugging sea straight to Shrivardhan [via Baradkhol gaon – Shekhadi - Walawati] 13 Km. Stop at Dr. Tambe’s farm to visit Beach on the way and then head to Shrivardhan

-          Head to Harihareshwar (coastal route around the creek) [via Jaswali – Ranwali-Galsure-Saigaon-Kurawade - Harihareshwar– this route is a long route] For short route (sandy road): ask for Kolmandla road before reaching Saigaon. 15 Km via short route /22 Km via long route.

-          Reach Bagmadla and take ferry to Bhankot and then head to Velas (visit turtle resting place) From Velas go to the Velas/Ashapura Jetty (8 KM) and cross to Kelshi.

-          Then head to Anjarle (road hugging sea) 12 KM, followed by Harnai (visit light house) 7 KM

-          From Harnai take the road to Dapoli à Dabhol

-          Dabhol à Guhagar à Guhagar à Palshet à Velneshwar à Hedvi

-          Head to Kudali [Hedvi –Padval- Kudali] At Kudali, take ferry to Jambhari OR Jaigarh.

-          OR

-          From Hedvi, go to Narvan VillageàTavsal jettyà Take ferry to Jaigarh

-          From Jaigarh, visit ambavadi beach and sandkhol beach near by (3-4 kms)

-          For Sankhol beach, take a left from Lavgan bus stop.

-          Resume journey from Lavgan bus stop towards Varavde Village (remain closer to the sea). Cross the Varvade-Malgund bridge and head to Malgund.

-          In Malgund, head to Ganaptiphule temple & beach. Then head to Krishnali resort.

-          From Krishnali resort, head to Warewadi villageà cross the aaray gaon bridge

-          Head to [via Aarey gaon – Basani – Sakhatar (cross bridge)- Shirgaon] to reach Ratnagiri

-          Take the bridge towards Bhatye beach/ Kohinoor resort and head towards

-          Laxminagar – finolex pipes – golap – to reach Ranpar beach (near golap)

-          Later head to Vijaya durg fort [Pawas village – take left for Ganesh gule beach – Mervi – purnagardh bridge – Kasheli – Wadaepeth adivare – Ambewadi – Nate

-          From Nate move towards sea – Bandchawada – visit the small beach there.

-          Return back to Nate village head to Vijayadurg [cross nate-jaitput bridge -Mithagavane/Madban – Bakale – cross bridge – danda gaon – cross bridge – Bhadewadi – cross bridge – Nakherewadi village – Sagave/vadap vadi – take ferry to Vijaydurg jetty]

-          Head to Vijayadurg fort à {if time to visit beach take right at Rameshwar wadi} else head straight to GiryeàPural Kotharwadi àWada Konkanàcross bridge and head to Devgarh

-          From Devgarh, take Mith Mumbari bridge à Kunkeshwar Dev/Katwan Village à Mithbav (mithbav bridge)àtake leftà Naringre à Head straight to Achara (cross bridge) à Sadewadi àKambli wadi-cross bridge àRane wadi àKolamb àcross bridge to enter Malvanà Head to Sindhudurg fort àvisit tarkarli beach à ride to Deobag beach.

IMP: Inquire for houseboat stay and also for snorkeling near sindhudurg.

-          From Devbag beach return to tarkarli Bandar and move along the creek till you reach Karli river bridgeàParule Bazar àBhogwe BeachàShriram Wadi/Nivatià

-          Visit the Nivati Beach and then move along the creek to thakur vadi/konkar wadi àMhapanàGawdeàKelusàcross bridge on river munagi àTendoliàWayangani à Revndekar WadiàVengurla

-          In Vengurlaà go to MSRTC bus stop and head south from there with sea on your rightà Ubhadanda àNahiciad Village àtake left àBagkarwadi àShiroda àCross bridgeà Redià visit terekol fort/hotel/church and then head to the ferry wharf nearby.

-          Cross to Kerim Beachà Palyem village àMandrem àMorjim à cross the Siolim Chopdem bridgeà St. Anthony Church (Siolim) à

Bike Spares to take along
Headlamp/tail lamp bulb
Spark plug
Fuse
Brake, accelerator and clutch cables
Clutch/brake levers and yokes
Sprocket Chain lock
Fuel line/pipe and filter (these connect the fuel tank to the carburetor)
Tool kit (this has to be apart from the one already present in the bike)
Puncture repair kit (Puncture patches, rubber solution, foot pump)
Front and rear tyre tubes
Important nuts and bolts/screws (check with your mechanic/service center)
Oil dispenser(budli) for oiling chain (available on hand carts on Laxmi Road)
Brake pads (optional)
Bike User manual
All relevant bike papers (NOC not required) like valid insurance, RC/TC, PUC, license. Copies of all the papers to be maintained separately.
Sand paper (to clean spark plug) or spark plug cleaning tool
Tyre valve key (required to open the valve in case of a puncture)
Electrical tape/cello tape
Old toothbrush to clean carburetor if required
Thermocol cutter blade
Helmet with a new/scratchless visor
Engine Oil-1/2 liter common across all bikes. 2T oil in case the bike is 2 stroke.
Know-how of where, when and how to use all these
Don't bother about carrying engine oil too much. An oil change before the trip will last the entire trip unless there is something wrong with the bike. Carry the half liter engine oil only for emergencies and chain lubrication purposes. 

The idea

Since quite some months, I have been planning to get myself a break from everything. And what better way to take a break than to go on a bike trip through some of the best nature spots in India : Coastal Maharastra. What i really set me going is the combination of hills and sea offered by Coastal Maharastra. At first the idea sounded a bit undoable, but few minutes of googling convinced me that its not that risky either. Its surprising to see many people have done this Mumbai-Goa coastal route on bike. 

Needless to say, my wife opined that I had gone berserk when i told her about my IDEA. But then, I am from the stubborn lot. So, I would be going on this trip SOLO - making it more interesting. As of now, following is the plan:

Trip:   Mumbai to Goa.

Road: The coastal route, through the villages and pristine beaches of Konkan.

Duration: atleast 4-5 days, depending on the availibility of leave from my company.

When: No specific dates as of now but post monsoon (Sep-Oct'09).

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