Friends,
Travel becomes a
habit. Setting a record is a thrill. Therefore, travelling to set a record is a
habit forming thrill. Accepting this proposition as a given, I am setting out tomorrow
to set two new records.
I
am embarking from Cochin on a record setting, fast track double header between
7th January and 2nd February 2013 - to take on challenges
that have not been done solo so far. The double header is to set two records in
one go – the first is the Coastal Expedition and the second is the East-West
Expedition.
The
Coastal Expedition will begin on 11th January 2013 from Koteshwar in
Kutch, Gujarat and terminate on 18th January 2013 in Sagar Island in
West Bengal. The 6650 kms drive tracing the coast line of India will be
completed in less than 8 days (the present team record is 6 days) and will
cover 13 States and Union Territories. The itinerary is as follows:
Jan
11 – Koteswar to Diu – 960 kms
Jan
12 – Diu to Mumbai – 860 kms
Jan
13 – Mumbai to Mangalore – 1120 kms
Jan
14 – Mangalore to Kanyakumari – 750 kms
Jan
15 – Kanyakumari to Chennai – 850 kms
Jan
16 – Chennai to Visakapatnam – 890 kms
Jan
17 – Visakapatnam to Baleswar – 870 kms
Jan
18 – Baleswar to Sagar Island – 350 kms
The
East-West Expedition will begin from Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh on 26th
January 2013 and terminate in Koteshwar in Kutch, Gujarat on 29th
January. The 3700 kms drive is expected to be completed in 96 hours (the present
team record is 83 hours) and will span 7 States, including two in the North
East. The drive plan is as follows:
Jan
26 – Tezu to Alipurduar – 900 kms
Jan
27 – Alipurduar to Mughalsarai – 900 kms
Jan
28 – Mughalsarai to Indore – 980 kms
Jan
29 – Indore to Koteswar – 940 kms
A major deviation
from the previous forays is the use of technology. In the past friends recommended
the use of a GPS devise to help on the ‘roads less travelled’. I have dismissed
the suggestion remarking that the devise has a female voice directing you to ‘turn
left’ or ‘turn right’, thus mimicking the condition when my wife is beside me
in the car! However, this time around I am using a GPS data logger with a
recording devise, more as back up documentation than as a road finder. This device
has an additional functionality in that it can be used by friends and well
wishers to make the journey with me virtually. The trip can be tracked live on www.aicsweb.com. Select “Customer Login”, use
sj as username and sj123 as password to enter the tracking page. Click on Fleet
Management and choose either Live Tracking or History to ‘travel with SJ’ on
the record setting, fast track drives.
I had wanted to do
the East West Expedition last October. However, certain unfortunate
developments in Assam put paid to my plans. I postponed the trip and later
decided to combine two fast track drives into one Mission. The entire trip –
Cochin to Cochin – will cover nearly 17,000 kms in 4 weeks. I have been packed
for the trip since the Christmas week. I have packed and repacked many times since
then. This morning I decided to load most of the luggage into the car. I have
reconfirmed accommodation for the first fortnight of the trip. I will be checking
into hotel accommodation only for three of the twenty seven days. The rest will
be in government accommodation, rest houses and friends’ residences.
I am excited. Normally,
I do not get good sleep when I start an expedition. I compensate for it on the days
I drive. I seek your good wishes and prayers. I need them in large measure.
all the best chetan
ReplyDeleteBest of luck, Suresh on your latest venture! I am so happy you are using technology this time. May God be with you through your travels and keep you safe, healthy and in great spirits!
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