A Journey with Metgezel It had been a long time since I embarked on a solo bike trip with "Metgezel," my trusty Bajaj Avenger Cruiser. The name Metgezel —Dutch for "companion"—perfectly captures the bond between a rider and their bike. The day of the ride was special—it was Guru Nanak Jayanti and Kartik Purnima, although I only learned about their significance after reaching Trimbakeshwar. But before diving into the spiritual aspect, let me take you through the adventure. The Day Before the Ride Every biker knows a long ride isn’t just about waking up and hitting the road. It’s a ritual to get ready with the riding gear—jacket, gloves, helmet, knee pads, and shoes—felt like a warrior's armour. My daughter, amused by my preparations, asked, “Pappa, whose wedding are you going to?” She missed the earlier scene where I was lovingly cleaning Metgezel! The Departure: Mumbai to Jawhar Winter mornings make it tempting to stay in bed, but excitement nudged me u...
It’s a hot summer in Mumbai this year, with the heat wave clocking the temperature to 45 degrees Celsius. However, the promise of an adventure on a long weekend made the heat more bearable. On 20th May 2024, Election Day in Mumbai, we had to fulfil our civic duty by voting, so we decided to escape the city for a short ride on Sunday, 19 th May 2024. Our destination was Sinchian Lake, 74 km away. This was going to be a special trip, as it was my daughter Heer’s first long ride on a motorcycle with me without her mother. Gearing Up All geared up with riding jackets, helmets, elbow guards, knee guards, and gloves, we left at 4:00 p.m. to avoid the harshest heat. The Google map showed 74 km and 1hr 47 mins to Sinchian Lake in Maharashtra's Saphale, Palghar district. My only concern was Heer may feel sleepy during the ride, so we carried a Bluetooth speaker since she loves music. The Journey Begins The journey began, and Heer was filled with excitement. We cruised at a comforta...