Wake up, drifter

Tell me who does not like going out on that last-minute planned (to most it is ‘unplanned’) road trip to that place you’ve always wanted to go, with your loved ones, huh? Taking snaps of every interesting and incredible thing you witness, with scenic beauty all around you, meeting new people at every turn. Making memories. I know everybody loves it and given an opportunity would, in a heart beat, like to do something as stupid as taking a break from work just before that important client meeting and wander off to some distant place with no mobile reception at one point or the other in their life.

Oh yes, my lovely, lovely reader, we are finally getting there… To fulfill the purpose this blog was actually created for – A travelogue, in the making, it is. (After more than 5 and half years. Better late than never, you know).

The Statutory Disclaimer

Before we start with this travelogue of mine – Disclaimer to every reader of this blog - You know this here, is my space… where I have no pressure to impress people nor I have the fear of hurting someone. I don’t have to think before saying something. In fact, I do just the opposite here - Write first and think later.

People barely know about this blog (thankfully! – Zero expectations to live up to, you see. Moreover, I do this blogging just for myself) and even if somehow they do know about it and read it (which is far-fetched), I would still like to stick to being myself. You know, write about what or who inspires me, how I feel about a certain thing, talk about poetry, politics, motorcycles, long drives, my innumerable crushes, heart breaks, some stupid guy-stuff, my random thoughts and what not. Basically, speak my mind and heart out… and… in the process I might sound like an opinionated jerk, at times. So, please understand that I do not mean to offend anyone. Understand that this is my space and they are all my opinions (based upon my experiences). I don’t call it “This-side-of-my-world” for no reason and it needs to remain true to it's name. So, if I think a particular place is crappy, or if the people there aren’t friendly, if a said bike is not intriguing, if a certain movies sucks or if that “Hot” chick next to the door at work is not worth a second look then I don’t mean any disrespect. Just assume that your humble narrator is either having a bad day, purely bad taste, or simply assume that he did not carry his brain with him that day (Not that it over-weighs because of that immense wealth of knowledge he possesses but just because he is lazy). Please don’t judge because this is just another humble guy's view. :)

Well, now even after this over-sized disclaimer of mine if anyone feels offended, in any way, then I am sorry but I couldn't care less. After all, it is my world and you are just a spectator looking for ‘interesting things’ around you who ended up here of all places (Sadly for you :P). Now, back to the point!

The Introduction – What?

You know, the drifter with in me has been trying to come out… out from the void within for as long as I can remember. I keep telling him reasons… reasons for him to wait. Logical reasons. (I might not seem logical at first… may be not even later. But I’d like to think that I am). My reasons were, sometimes, personal but mostly financial and professional life. Sometimes, even after giving him reasons the drifter within came out and made me do things. But I must admit that I have been quite successful in containing him all these years. However, things have changed these past few months. They have been very confusing, enlightening and… painful in more than a few ways! And now I don’t think I can do it anymore. I am not fighting him. I don’t want to. He’s all I have got now. And with these far too many things going on around, I feel the urge to unleash him… to run away from all this.  I’ve decided to go on a road trip… One that has been pending for long now, one that I owe to myself.

Now to the good part – When?

I am going to take a break from work this year end - The last two weeks of December. I plan to go on a bike ride. The destination is not yet decided. I haven’t planned on the distance either. (The only worst part of being a hyderabadi is that there are very few options for bikers/travellers here. We have to plan really loonnng rides to keep our needs in check). Now that I have all my superiors’ approvals at work, my financial situation being a little better… I am hoping that the drifter within satisfies his needs.

The mysterious part - Why?

It’s said that everything is connected to everything. The butterfly effect. So I don’t know what exactly is causing me to do this. Why now? Why at all? Is this the right thing? What would I get out of it? Is this what I really want at this time? Well, I think I know that it’s NOT what I want at this moment. But I have to do it anyway. Because what I want does not matter anymore.

A friend of mine just recently said that I shouldn’t be running from things. I should understand what is causing this and if I know it already then fight it. Sane advice, I thought. Then again, I realized that this is the same girl who could not breakup because the guy cried and wept every time she tried to and continued that “relationship” for the next 3 years only to end it finally. She is as stupid as I am. It would only be crazy to listen to her.

The conclusion

It’s not like this is going to be my first ride. I have been riding motorcycles for over a decade now. 14 years to be precise. With decent number of kilometers under my belt. I have been on multiple long rides. All group though. 800kms ride being the longest (One way), two 600Km rides and a couple of other 300kms rides. I consider anything above 200kms a long ride (One way, again). With this decent experience I possess, I still felt like an amateur when I read some very interesting (Indian) blogs. You know we did not even carry a first aid kit with us on any of our rides leave alone a repair kit. Not proud of it at all. It only made me realize how stupid we were. You know, after reading their blogs, I have become a little paranoid actually. Looking at how meticulously things have to be planned on such rides put my riding experience to shame. Those chaps and their blogs are very informative and every new rider should follow them as a first step into riding. I have decided to follow some of their work and in process learn (hopefully).

I have always been the ‘plan-to-be-unplanned’ guy and so were most (read that “ALL”) of our rides. All of them were last minute. But I have to be responsible now. I mean, I am already – I always wear gloves and a helmet when I ride my bike. Even though I touch speeds ranging from 120kmph to 145kmph every day, I make sure that I am not putting myself or others lives in danger. I am a cautious little geek that way. (“Boo!” at you back! There is nothing embarrassing in being responsible and safe). So, I will try to plan it out like an expert… alright, alright… like an “intermediate skilled” rider that I am and safely complete this ride of mine.

The Twist

Well, most likely this would be a solo ride… for far too many reasons, which I will explain later. My first solo. And I am shit scared. Thanks to the blogs and their way too informative posts! Ah yes, I am going to be doing this on, the purpose built, track focused, love of my life – KTM RC 390. I know, you think I lost it. I cannot do it. Or I will regret doing this because it is no tourer. Well may be I will. May be not. Will just have to wait and see.

The Interesting – How?

Well, the how part can only be explained in my next blog post after I complete this trip. So, stay tuned to this space until then. 

See you on the other side,

K