What happens when you get lost on a solo ride!

by travelmynation

It’s 4 pm on a Friday and I tirelessly go through my office emails checking for any assignments that need urgent attention. Nothing there. I think about the coming weekend and how I would like to spend it. I call up my friends asking them if they would like to go for a ride. Most of them are busy, some are working and some have plans of their own. I keep scrolling through my contact list trying to figure out who I can convince for a trip. I make about 10 calls and give up. Looks like no one is free. But I have this strong desire to ride and I decide to go solo. I have never ventured out alone; I ride either with my friends or with my biking group, Bangalore Motorcycle Club.

I get a little scared and wonder how I would manage if something happens. I don’t speak the local language, I know nothing about fixing issues with the KTM and wonder if I was out of my mind going somewhere alone. My fears almost convince me to give up the trip but I somehow muster enough courage to go ahead with it. I start googling and look for places. The list is the same one I have scrolled through hundreds of times; Coorg, Chikmagalur, Ooty, etc. No, am not going to a place full of a billion people.


I keep scrolling and reach the 18th page in google and discover a property in Kolli Hills. It’s somewhere after Salem and the Wikipedia page talks about 70 hairpin bends. Hmm, that sounds interesting; something I haven’t done before.

I start looking for properties and find something called Kolli Hills Camp. Soon, I have spoken to the owners and booked a hut there. It feels good; even before the ride begins I feel I accomplished something. Kolli Hills is a small mountain range located near Namakkal. They belong to the southern part of Eastern Ghats and have 70 hairpin bends to reach the top. There are a few resorts there but I chose the camp since it’s pretty secluded and away from the touristy crowd.


That night I don’t sleep. It’s a mixture of excitement and fear; the anticipation of what’s gonna happen and how the ride is going to be. I stay in bed, tossing and turning and it’s already 5 am. I am already packed up and load the bike. The roads are deserted with only the newspaper agencies to be seen. Traffic is almost negligible except for the lorries speeding across the empty Bangalore streets. Soon, I am on NH 44, gunning towards my first pit stop at Shoolgiri.
IMG_2296.JPGBreakfast is quick, a latte and chicken sandwich and I am back on the road again. As I speed through the highway, the sun emerges from behind some hills and I am exposed to a beautiful sunrise. It’s something too beautiful and awe-inspiring to miss. I park on the curb and take some pics.
IMG_2250.JPGA couple of hours later, I am around 50 kms from the destination at the base of Kolli Hills. The road is deserted and I seem to be the only traveler headed this side. There is a lovely patch of paddy fields and I decide to take my smoke break. As I am standing there admiring nature, a big guy emerges from the field, walking towards me. He appears to be a farmer and has a huge sickle in his hand. I shudder with fear. Why is he walking towards me? What is gonna do? Am I safe? How do I call for help?

 As all these thoughts run through my mind, he approaches the KTM and stops. He looks at the bike and then glares at me. His hand moves and my eyes are hooked on to each movement he makes. He whips out a phone and asks me if he can take a pic. For sure brother, as long as you let me and the bike go. He takes a couple of snaps and walks away. My eyes are still tracking his moves, especially the sickle. Once he disappears into the fields, I able to relax. That was close!!! It’s funny how the mind creates situations that really aren’t there. Now when I look back I laugh at my situation but at the time I was shit scared.
IMG_2254.JPGI hit the ghats and the board reads Hair Pin bend 1/1. Good roads, no traffic and I rev up the Duke and literally attack the curves like there is no tomorrow. Every turn takes me left and then right and then left again. It’s continuous for some time without a straight patch. I feel like Rossi for a while trying to lean and take the curves. But I am no Rossi and soon realize that, as I ease the accelerator and putter on. It takes me about a half-hour to reach on top. The mobile is dead and I don’t have access to maps. Shit! I look around and ask people if they know where the camp is. Most don’t respond and others seem uninterested.

The road seems to be going straight and I start riding. I cover about 15 kms and don’t see the place anywhere. I talk to a couple of resort staff and they also don’t seem to know about the place. I start doubting my decision to ride solo, especially in Tamil Nadu where language sometimes is a challenge for nonlocals. I start heading into every nook and corner frantically, desperate to get to my location. It’s soon going to be sundown and I am little on the edge here.
IMG_2270.JPGPeople start noticing that I crossed them several times in the last hour. One of them stops me and offers help. I try explaining to him where I need to go and he points at a road that could be the right one. A ray of hope and I rip into the curves. It’s been 30 mins and still no sign of the place. No boards, no maps, no network. Thank you, Airtel! I reach a tea shop and ask him if I could use his phone. He obliges and I call the camp staff. I pass the call to the tea shop owner and he takes the directions.

He apparently knows the place and offers to take me there. I have no choice but to oblige. He hops on to his bike and is soon following him into the jungle. Soon my mind starts playing tricks and is wondering how I will be either kidnapped or cut up and buried in the jungle. This is something so alien to me and the fear is gripping.
IMG_2248.JPGAfter a couple of kilometers, we reach a campsite and I see some huts along with 3 young boys. I ask them if they have my booking and am so relieved to find out am at the right place. The next 10 mins are spent thanking God and calming myself down. I park the bike and they fix me up with some yummy chicken and rice. I don’t even know what the food tastes like since my mind is still trying to cope up with the experience I had earlier.IMG_2262.JPG The staff tells me that I am the only guest there that night. Great, no one else around. 3 boys who don’t even speak the language I know. I spend the next couple of hours showing them my travel pics. It gets dark and the staff gets busy cooking dinner. There’s still no network and I have nothing to do. Luckily, I have videos on my phone. The hut seems dilapidated. The jungle is dense and peacocks are at the peak of their mating season. Their sex calls seemed nice at first but now the incessant calls are getting to me. I lay in the bed trying not to think and watch some videos.

It’s dark and starts raining. Lightning lights up the sky and the peacock calls are overshadowed by thunder. Suddenly the power goes off! Wow just when I thought nothing could go wrong, this happens. It’s pitch dark outside and the rain hits the jungle hard. It’s pouring and I run out to park the bike in a safe spot. The winds are intense and I am nearly knocked off my feet a couple of times. The staff gets dinner in my room and by the time I have, it’s gone cold.
IMG_2259.JPGIt’s night and I can’t seem to sleep. The videos are over and I watch them over and over again. In typical horror movie fashion, the wooden windows blow open due to heavy winds and rain gushes in. From inside, I can see lightning and the silhouette of tall dark trees. The door started rumbling and I quickly put a chair in front of it, fearing something might come inside. The roof is now leaking and I am restricted to one corner of the bed. I heard crickets and lizards making merry in the room. Maybe they know I am scared of them and are trying their best to make it worse. The night is long and I get no sleep. At 6 am when the sun rises and the storm is over, do I get to sleep for an hour or two? I survived. I thank my stars.
IMG_2300.JPGIMG_2307.JPGI reach home in the evening and reflect upon my experience. Sure it was scary, disastrous, nerve-wracking, and probably not a great trip. But I am happy and feel I accomplished something. I always thought I could never do a trip alone, I was always too scared of going out of my comfort zone. I was too full of fear and worried about what could happen to me or my bike. And I never ventured out on a solo trip. Until today. Today, I feel confident. I feel good that I did something for the first time, on my own. The risks were there and I overcame them.

At the end of the trip, I have a different mindset. I am more open to traveling alone, more appreciative of nature, and the people around me. And most importantly, I now know what to do when things don’t go as planned. To all the travelers out there, do a solo ride. It might be scary but it’s fun too! And let me know how it went.
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35 comments

Saloni September 19, 2017 - 8:17 PM

You’re truly an inspiration! I’m 23 and I’ve been to 9 countries so far. I aspire to travel like you, explore the unexplored. Keep up!

Reply
travelmynation September 19, 2017 - 8:31 PM

Hi Saloni. Thanks for leaving your comments. Its actually words like urs that encourage us to travel and go beyond our comfort zones. The support of everybody helps us push our limits

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Saloni September 22, 2017 - 7:29 PM

True. Keep blogging! Keep inspiring! 🙂 My best wishes to you. And I hope one day I get to travel more often. I’ve recently started blogging. Would be glad if you could provide some reviews. Thanks 🙂

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Saloni September 19, 2017 - 8:25 PM

Wow! Keep it up! Quite an adventure.
https://salsreveriesandsejours.wordpress.com

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travelmynation September 19, 2017 - 8:31 PM

Thanks.

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Spirit Yoga Foundation September 20, 2017 - 3:10 PM

Love to travel and your write – up incourage me to travel more and more. love solo travelling

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travelmynation February 2, 2018 - 1:05 PM

Thank you so much for your comments!

Reply
Life Hacks for Solo Travel | TRAVELMYNATION October 6, 2017 - 6:35 PM

[…] 3. Take a book or some videos with you just in case. I was once caught in a storm in a jungle without power and internet and the videos I had in my phone helped me pass the scary night! Read about that experience here  […]

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irfan vichu October 21, 2017 - 1:53 PM

hi .traveler….when i read your traveling experience .i say to you
Always try to be you are the rider of your KTM

Reply
BrammA October 23, 2017 - 3:47 PM

Hey! I am haunting you again. Could you please let me know the name of this property as well? Thanks in advance. A group of 3 friends are riding to Kolli Hills this weekend and your reply will really be helpful!

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travelmynation October 23, 2017 - 3:48 PM

This is kolli hills camp. But the property had shut down. Might be operating under a different name now. Not sure.

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BrammA October 23, 2017 - 3:49 PM

Oh alright! If I’m not bothering you much and if you happen to still have any contact numbers of the property available, mind sharing them? Thanks!

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travelmynation October 23, 2017 - 3:50 PM

?081109 24401?. Murugan. He was a staff there.

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BrammA October 23, 2017 - 4:03 PM

Thanks Buddy! Hope we get to meet sometime during one of our rides! Happy riding!

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travelmynation October 23, 2017 - 4:03 PM

For sure. Travel safe and keep reading!

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Pooja Thapliyal November 8, 2017 - 9:45 PM

Must have been a lifetime experience ?

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travelmynation November 9, 2017 - 8:54 AM

Yes but looking back it was fun as well!!

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David Zoey August 6, 2018 - 6:54 PM

I love this blog. Because i like riding. You share the information about solo riding is really awesome. It’s a very helpful information. Thanks for such post and please keep it up.

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travelmynation August 6, 2018 - 7:08 PM

Hi David. Thanks for reading and leaving your comment. We will be posting more articles on riding soon! Pls do share our site with your friends as well!

Reply
Conversations With A Solo Traveler - Ajeesh - Travelmynation October 12, 2018 - 7:17 PM

[…] Suggested Read – When things go wrong on a solo ride!! […]

Reply
Erica Martin April 14, 2019 - 2:57 PM

Amazing! Very well written and filled with useful information and inspiration information, Thanks for sharing, I thought it is extremely steady and helpful data for travelers.

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Sandy N Vyjay August 16, 2020 - 11:09 AM

That was quite an adventure. Traveling solo is always a great experience, but one can land into scary situations, especially when you are in unknown territory. Thankfully everything turned out well, and you can recollect the moments as an adventure.

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travelmynation August 16, 2020 - 11:24 AM

Yeah it was scary at first but then it turned out into a memorable learning experience

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travelmynation August 17, 2020 - 9:58 PM

Yup, such experiences are always pleasant looking back! I loved the ride and hope to have more soon

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pamela August 16, 2020 - 6:34 PM

Solo traveling always fascinates me. This post reminded me my trip to Tosh, I was alone and at night there was no electricity but the experience I gained is priceless. Such an amazing experience you have…

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Nidhi Gupta August 17, 2020 - 1:35 PM

Woahh… I was biting my nails reading the article especially the farmer with sickle… but what an entertaining twist… he wanted to take photos.
Keep writing… loved it.

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Ramya August 17, 2020 - 2:07 PM

This is a beautiful piece. I know it is scary to get lost in the fields alone. Or spending thunder night in the jungle alone. But honestly it is thrilling and a lifetime memory. Trips like these become treasures. Rest of the time we often try out the much tested ways. I fully agree with you, the solo trips makes you aware about yourself and change your life perception.

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Raksha Nagaraj August 17, 2020 - 4:53 PM

Every experience is a learning, especially when traveling solo. I have not got lost while riding solo like you, but I have got lost when I am traveling solo and have landed in similar situations. But I have always been happy later on with these experiences. I agree at that moment it’s a horror story.

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DiaryOfAnInsaneWriter August 17, 2020 - 6:20 PM

I have fallen in love with your narrative style. You recreated every scene right before my eyes. The man with the sickle’s description and peacocks mating calls at night were my favourite! You have inspired me to take a solo trip someday. Thank you so much! Keep writing, keep inspiring.

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Heena Dhedhi August 17, 2020 - 7:17 PM

A solo bike trip sounds amazing, I’ve always wanted to travel alone but never had the opportunity.

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PRIYANKA SENGAR August 17, 2020 - 10:31 PM

Ooooo that is what I call a real adventure. Solo travelling always bring experiences and learning. It looks so fascinating when we see the solo travelers but the reality is that they need to be extra cautious and always have to be in their senses.

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Rakesh Mishra August 17, 2020 - 11:56 PM

Really superb article.. solo bike trip always amazing.. I loved it when I visited leh Laddakh..

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travelmynation August 18, 2020 - 9:11 AM

Yeah solo rides are great. Am sure ur ladakh trip would have been fun

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Avantika Chaturvedi August 18, 2020 - 1:56 PM

There is truly no bigger lesson than travelling alone! The way you’ve narrated this experience, it almost felt like I was living it myself! Glad you were able to come out of it stronger and happier!

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travelmynation August 19, 2020 - 11:48 AM

Yes and I look forward to such solo rides!!

Reply

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