Nainital Trip
It was nearly three months that the RD was sitting in the Garage, and till then it had clocked only 250kms on the ODO. Many factors caused the RD to be sitting that idle. So we decided to take a trip to Nainital, and started to chalk out plans for it.
Me and mom went to Durgapur (where my dad is currently posted) with the RD and it the the first time I was riding the RD on the highways. It was a superb four lane NH2 and about 200kms from Kolkata. Although being a little scared since this is the first time I am driving such big and high powered car on the highway, but certainly got a taste of what’s going to come. BTW, this is the first time I got to use the 6th gear, and also the First time in my life that I touched 140kmph!!!
The halts made were: Kolkata - Durgapur - Lucknow - Nainital - Kausani - Benaras - Durgapur - Kolkata.
Dad had been successful in buttering out a week’s leave, and thus started out from Durgapur early morning of a Sunday.
Starting the ride
Morning mist on the NH -
The car just behaved superbly, and the Adrenalin rush that one gets from a 140 bhp beast gets addicted. While I touched 165kmph (While dad was taking a small Nap :P) I was amazed to see dad doing this speed –
Went to Lucknow By evening that day.
Next day started from lucknow to get to Nainital. Had to get through a place where a huge number of tractors were line up loaded with Sugarcane –
And our Sexy RD standing beside that line.
We reached Nainital by Afternoon, and truth be told, there was hardly any fatigue even after two days of long drive.
Pics from nainital –
From Nainital, went to Kausani via Almora. Kausani was really a Jannat on Earth. The morning sun on the hills just make u wish to buy a small plot of land and settle there only. Let the pictures say the Story!!
SunRise -
Kausani -
Sxy XUV -
Ultimate -
A temple that we visited at kausani , which is said to be more than 100 years old.
From Kausani came back while doing a night stay at Benaras
Some more pictures taken during the trip –
A small cutie who got us interested -
Does he seem to be the warden of the cheetah??
Nope, he was a security guard keeping an eye on the cheetah at the hotel so that no one disturbs her..
A snap of RD while everyone was enjoying their morning tea –*
The pose whick I keep on clicking - *
Lastly thanks everyone for their interest in the RD –*
Two most memorable things which happened with the car –
1) We were using Map my India GPS of my father’s colleague. Though it was very helpful most of the time, but there was a instance in lucknow where the destination was given of a hotel for night stay. I was driving as per the directions given by that GPS. But that route landed me to one of the busiest market place of lucknow. And the width the street was almost as that of our RD. Had a havocly hard time to negotiate the road. It was very strenuous to even let a cycle pass. But seeing the bright side, that incident made me fully aware of how much area the RD covers.. Am now confident to escape out any busy road.
2) It was already evening before crossing Barely (during the return journey) and found there was stupendous jam since a huge tuck full of sugarcane had overturned and has blocked the road. Some of the local guys suggested that there is a shortcut, right beside the road that will lead us crossing the accident zone. Discussed with two SUV behind us, and they too agreed to follow us. (Actually didn’t want to drive there all alone). So took that route, and found out that it was actually within the sugarcane field. Did some “not so serious” off-roading to get back to the Main road. It was really fun driving in pitch black sugarcane field, and the RD too didn’t disappoint. Although mom was scared as hell all through that patch. It really was a memorable one!!