Both me and Taral just could not resist the temptation of this 550 km ever-winding drive yet again… and with the monsoons still on, the road trip was already set up to be a sure winner…
Every trip begins with a trigger, and this time it was Satyapal’s (Taral’s cousin from Rajkot) corporate vacation package… with accommodation being paid for, all we now needed was someone to fuel up the tank and sponsor the food & booze… having thus roped in Manoj and his VISA, we were ready to roll..!
we had initially decided to drive my partner’s Indigo (diesel) to cut back on fuel costs, but since we were not paying anymore we didn’t give a damn about that and thankfully ended up driving out with Taral’s Verna…
two guys, two passengers cum sponsors, one car, Taral’s cartload of Old monks & Kingfishers, one amazing road and lots & lots of rain…
(when I drive on highways, I do not touch the booze… Taral in the passenger seat however compensates for both of us…)
Took the NH-17 all the way through… although it lacks the thorough rustic, unused charm of the narrower state highways, the rains did bring it alive this time… it came down in sheets as we traveled, and we soon realized that we would indeed have to replace our slightly worn-out wind shield wipers…
the sponsors, I believe, preferred to be safe rather than sorry, and therefore dug deeper into their wallets…
First halt, Lote-Parshuram (just before Chiplun) to replenish Taral’s depleted stock of beer… second stop, Ratnagiri, for feasting on some wonderful fish and rice… and of course more rum for their indestructible livers…
From here on the drive tends to get monotonous and we come by more frequent signs of human existence, than what I personally prefer… the guys caught up with their siestas, and I was alone with myself for the first time in the entire journey… it was nearing evening by the time we reached Sawantwadi, and here’s where the road gains a new lease of life once more… a small winding ghat, dense over-growth and small trickling waterfalls caused by the incessant rain…
Once the road crosses over into Goa, the first 15 kms are just amazing as there isn’t a live soul around along the entire stretch… navigating across this road just beyond the twilight hours, as we did, always gives me a few goose bumps for some unknown reason…
Finally into the vibrant city, we struggle to locate the elusive resort that would be providing us the roof over our heads… after many a “stop-lets-ask-that-bastard” routine, we finally reach the place… I resign the car keys, abandon my abstinence and eventually drown my weariness in a dark ambrosia topped up with coke & soda…
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