This is my second inter-district ride in Kerala, but first as a solo ride. The first inter-district ride was a group ride with NDD riders, where we went upto Kuzhathupuzha and returned. My plan was to attempt the BRM 200 route posted by Trivandrum Bikers Club TBC.
I started from campus by around 5:30AM and went to Nedumangad to catch the road that connects me to the highway through Venjyaramoodu. I reached Venjyaramoodu, found a bridge construction work on the highway and took detour around to reach back the highway. My target was to reach Ayoor and have breakfast there.
I reached Ayoor and went past it towards Punalur, where I had breakfast on the way which was not healthy I think. I didn’t feel anything bad at the time, but as the ride goes I started to feel nausia. By the way, unexpectedly I saw the Jadayupara on the way to Ayoor. I thought that this rock is at another place and it would take a separate trip. But, this is a surprise to me. I took a video of the rock and continued, I would plan a separate ride to this place.
On the way, I saw a couple of trailers carrying elephants to some place. They looked cute. I reached Punalur and unexpectedly saw a wooden bridge that was constructed in the 1800’s. I took my bike on the bridge and took a couple of photos. One person told that I am not suppose to ride the bike on the bridge, I well understood that before entering itself and I was carrying her all around the bridge.
The next target place was Thenmala from Punalur. I went on a route that had beautiful sceneries of mountains, but I couldn’t stop to take pics as the weather was too hot that I couldn’t even get time to admire the place. I saw a steep climb to Thenmala road, attempted it and succeeeded. Reached Thenmala and I was happy to see the places which I only seen by bus travel. I saw a person taking photos of the Kallada dam from a bridge, where I went and requested him to take a pic of me.
While taking the picture, a lady came next me and said like she wants to be in the pic too. I think that was the man’s wife. We took a couple of pics, thanked the person and I left. Now that nausia feel started to happen. I don’t know the exact cause of it. I was taking a couple of rest stops on fuel stations on the way, and reached Kulathupuzha, where another surprise was waiting for me.
While reaching Kulathupuzha, a couple of moto riders crossed me. I didn’t give a thought about who they might be. When I am crossing Kulathupuzha, I saw a couple of persons waving at me to stop. It was Sreeganesh, NDD rider with whom I did the first group ride in Keralam. I met him, his son and another person who is his friend I think. Sreeganesh told that they were on the way from a trip to Vagamon and his son saw a cyclist on the road. Sreeganesh saw my name on the back of my jersey and guessed that it could be me. Thats how they found me. We met, had a refreshment and left. He took a video of me leaving and posted it on the NDD whatsapp group.
I proceeded to reach Nanniyode, and had strong nausia feel on the way. I took a stop at a nearby fuel station, fixed my feel temporarily and proceeded to reach Nanniyode. I made my mind that after reaching Nanniyode, I can decide whether to continue that BRM 200 route or go to campus. I reached Nanniyode and found me to be in good enough condition to proceed with the planned route.
I continued the BRM 200 route, and reached Vithura, from where I will take a new route to reach Parandode near Aryanad. I proceeded with the route and as guessed, I lost track, but with a bit severe stuff. I lost track in the middle of woods, with no gps, mobile signals and no one to ask for route. I proceeded on a terrible off-road with aggressive climbs in the mid noon. But the place where I went through are calmer, peaceful without any disturbance of any kind. I might retire to a place like that some day.
After terrible climbs and roads with insane conditions I reached Parandode. I was scolding the BRM 200 circuit maker like they chose such a bad road to test our ability. But, I was the stupid one to choose a wrong turn at a spot where I am suppose to follow the track. The aggressive climbs have eaten up my energy. There was no shop of any kind to refil water. I managed with my mindset to teach Parandode, where I had cold beverages and proceeded to Aryanad.
The route from Parandode to Aryanad is familiar to me, as it is a part of short circuits that I will be going in the morning/evening rides. After reaching Aryanad by around 3:00PM, I decided to drop the BRM route and proceed to campus because of energy drain and that stupid nausia feel. I proceeded to reach Neumangad and proceeded towards campus from there. While reaching campus, I was greeted with drizzling, that feel was nice and it is the first ride-in-rain in Kerala for me.
I reached campus by around 4:00PM, checked in and reached room. The total ride was around 180 kms. It was an excellent adventure. The lessons learnt are that I have to know the terrain, atleast the availability of shops in case if I am lost and be hydrated well. I should instinctly choose the shop for food.
Now in that BRM 200 route, only 3 segments are to be explored: Vithura to Parandode (proper route), Aryanad to the city and from city to Venjyaramoodu. Then I will attempt that 200 route again one day.
Below are the photos and videos recorded during the ride.
Below is the Strava log of this ride.
