bicycle-ride on a rainy morning

This ride was during the first week of August when the rainy season had set in well. That morning it was cloudy but we didn't expect rains since it rained in the evenings usually. Our ride started around 5-15 AM. First we headed towards Navalur, rode up to the railway overpass and took a U-turn. Then we headed towards Police HQ, from there we went to Chikka Malligwad. Weather here is usually wetter then Dharwad, it was drizzling, yet we continued. I thought of exploring new roads. From Chikka Malligwad, we took the dirt road going towards Mugad which is on Dharwad-Goa highway. On our path were many puddles of rainwater and muddy patches. The MTBs' tires slung mud which often landed on us. At one point, we stopped to check the directions. I thought we could find the way to Mugad.

Rain clouds laden sky, rain was expected anytime. The air was fresh and pleasant, just enjoy while it lasts.

The road to Mugad. Couple minutes from here we went through a railway underpass. Just before the pass, I saw motorbike tracks turn to the left... it looked as though travelers frequented a road on that side.

The deeper the road went, the narrower it got. At point we were at a fork, two roads going downhill. At this point we saw a train go towards Mugad. The road on the rain-hand-side went towards the railway track. I guessed the other road could also lead to the railway track. So we down the road flanked by trees, it was like a tunnel. The narrow path was uneven because of tractor movement and streams of rainwater flowing down the slope. The surface was slippery. I managed to stay on the bike. The 'tunnel' opened up to a flat space, acres of paddy fields, with the dirt road cutting across it. 

Pushpa came down a few minutes late, she got off the bike and walked. We felt we had come into a private property. There should be people in those houses. Pushpa waited, I rode the slushy path towards the houses in search of life. The two men in a hut told me we should've turned left near a farm house up the road. Then the other man told that road is too slushy for riding bikes. He said its better we take the path which runs parallel to the railway track i.e. from the underpass. This place was wilder than we imagined. I thanked them and rejoined Pushpa.

I decided today wouldn't be the day for exploring, better to take known roads. We headed back the way we came. I too didn't risk riding up the slippery steep stretch. Back at the fork we resumed our riding.

A stop to pick guavas from a roadside tree.

My bike was thoroughly bathed in mud. My trousers and tee-shirt were muddy. Even my cap had little mud.

We crossed Chikka Malligwad and reached the underpass below Hubli-Dharwad bypass road. We had one more dirt track to take. The dirt track was a mess... looks like some trucks had plied here during rains. Huge puddles, some a foot deep.

Whichever truck moved here was loaded, it had left deep tracks. Also it seemed it got stuck and an earthmover was brought to pull it out. There's no predicting where the tires would sink. The best way to ride in such conditions is to shift to first gear. I was amazed at how the bike handled, it seemed to move effortlessly, plowing through the slush. Pushpa too rode well except for one scary moment. This was an awesome experience for a MTB owner! 

Back home. We were tired, the wet muddy clothes exaggerated the discomfort. The bikes were too muddy to be left as it is.

To clean them now Vs clean them later means less effort Vs more effort. I chose the former.

A pressure wash cleared the mud except for patches on the tires,

Two sparkling Firefox Firestorms.

The muddy clothes had to be hand washed separately.

A memorable ride :)

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