Conquering the Peaks: Riding the Ultraviolette F77 Day 13 Episode 16
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Ultraviolette F77 Ride
Journey to the Peaks
A Journey to Remember 💓
Early in the morning, I discovered that the charging had stopped due to a short circuit. The bike was at 85% charge. I made efforts to restore the power and resume charging, but this unexpected delay meant that I started the day a bit later than planned for my next destination.
After taking a bath and getting ready, I packed up my belongings. The people at the petrol pump kindly offered me tea in the morning, and I engaged in some pleasant conversations with them, despite my limited Hindi and Telugu language skills. The bike was still charging during this time.
Once everything was in order and the bike had charged sufficiently, I paid 200 rupees for the charging actually they didn't demand any thing that's the highlight. I expressed my gratitude to them for the assistance they had provided and bid farewell to the place, ready to continue my journey.
With the people in the petrol bunk
The next destination on my journey was Nagpur, and I continued heading towards it. The summer temperatures were at their peak, so I made sure to take a comfort stop to refresh myself. I enjoyed a cup of chai and drank plenty of water.
One of the things I made a point of doing throughout my journey was staying well-hydrated. I often chose to consume local water instead of bottled water. After a bit of rest, I resumed my journey towards Nagpur.
By 10:30 am, I entered Nagpur city, passing by the famous Nagpur cricket stadium. Nagpur, also known as the "Orange City" due to its association with oranges, greeted me with its beautiful infrastructure. Despite the sunny day, I loved the place, and riding within the city was peaceful with minimal traffic.
Around 11:15 am, I reached the Nagpur Ather Space and approached them for charging assistance. The showroom staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. The manager even sent someone to guide me to the service station for charging. It's always heartwarming to receive such helpfulness on a long journey like this.
I arrived at the service center with just a 5-minute drive, and the service manager from Ather was there to assist me with charging. This is a good moment to express my gratitude to my brother, Arun, who owns an Ather vehicle, for arranging such valuable assistance throughout my ride. Having a network of support like this can make all the difference on a long journey.
The Ather team kindly advised me to rest in the AC lounge while the bike charged, a process that would take around 6 hours. They also provided me with water and tea, which was greatly appreciated during the wait.
Around half an hour later, I received a call from Sankeeth, the Lumix sales manager of Nagpur, who had obtained my location and arrived to pick me up. He took me to his shop Shyam agencies and photo stuido and introduced me to everyone there. It's wonderful to see how people came forward to help and support me during my journey.
Upon my arrival at Sankeeth's shop, they welcomed me with a series of surprises, which I had not expected. The owner and Sankeeth presented me with a flower bouquet, extending their warm wishes for my journey and my arrival in Nagpur.
Following this, Sankeeth gifted me a bike mobile holder, something I had been looking for during my ride. It was a thoughtful and practical gift. Additionally, they offered me local snacks and chilled lassi, allowing me to savor some local flavors and cool down in the hot climate. Such gestures of hospitality make a journey even more memorable.
The surprises and kindness didn't end there. They took me to Shree Ganesh Sagar restaurant for lunch, a renowned eatery in the area, albeit a bit crowded. We ordered a rice thali, a traditional meal, which turned out to be incredibly delicious.
During our meal, we engaged in a long chat. I shared my wildlife experiences, and Sankeeth shared his adventures in weddings and wildlife photography. A highlight of our conversation was when Sankeeth showed me a video of a tigress chasing a jeep, a heart-stopping encounter from one of his trips.
As the day unfolded, we even started planning a wildlife photography workshop that we intended to organize soon after my ride. The day was full of unexpected and delightful experiences, making my journey even more special.
Upon returning to the shop, we engaged in some more conversation. I also took the opportunity to plan my driving route and charging possibilities for the next leg of my journey. Suddenly, one of our friends at the shop checked for charging options and informed me about a point at Pench Tiger Reserve Resort.
I was genuinely intrigued by this prospect as it promised a unique experience. The highway passing through the dense forest and the bridges constructed to prevent human-animal conflicts added to the allure of this route. It seemed like an adventure worth pursuing during my journey.
Sankeeth kindly took me back to the Ather service center and dropped me off there as the charging had nearly reached 90%. The people at the service center were incredibly friendly and helpful, and we even had some photo sessions before I departed from the place. The camaraderie and support from people I encountered during my journey were truly heartwarming and made the ride even more special.
By around 5:10, I left the Ather service center and headed towards Pench Tiger Reserve Resort. As I continued on my journey, the landscape changed, and I found myself surrounded by trees on both sides of the highway. I passed through various villages along the highway.
Most of the forested areas had elevated bridges constructed over them to allow animals to cross underneath the bridge without any issues. The sides of the highways were neatly fenced, creating a protected corridor for wildlife. The evening brought a beautiful sunset on the left side, and despite the warmth, there was a pleasant breeze in the air. It was an enchanting experience riding through this unique landscape.
The navigation on my map proved to be accurate as I followed the path toward the Pench Tiger Reserve Resort. By approximately 6:50 pm, I had arrived near the destination. I took a detour from the highway into a village where pottery making and selling activities were in progress. The scene was idyllic, with cows and goats around.
I proceeded onto an off-road path, being cautious, and even crossed a small stream. Finally, at 7:05 pm, I reached my destination. The resort I arrived at was vast and stunning, and it was called "Mayur the Karma Resort." It seemed like a wonderful place to rest and recharge before continuing my journey.
As I arrived at the Mayur the Karma Resort, I inquired about charging for my bike. The place had a beautiful village setup, and I initially planned to charge my bike and relax for a while before continuing my journey. However, I was in for a surprise when the manager informed me that charging was only available for the resort's residents. I was taken aback by this news as there was no other nearby place to go, and it had gotten dark quickly, making it risky to search for another accommodation.
Moreover, the cost of staying at the resort was quite high, ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 rupees, which was beyond my budget. However, since my friend had referred me, I was offered a special price. Despite this reduction, it was still relatively high for me. I decided to speak with the manager and requested to speak with the owner. After explaining my ride and my purpose, the owner agreed to further reduce the price, and I accepted the offer. It seemed like the best option, as it would allow me to stay and charge my bike safely.
Once the check-in process was completed, I was guided to my room by the manager, Batachariya. When he opened the door to my room, I was truly amazed by its modern yet traditional setup. I immediately felt that the money I had spent was even more worthwhile than I had initially thought. The room was designed in a royal manner, blending beautifully with the forest surroundings. To top it off, I was offered complimentary dinner and breakfast along with the room, making my stay even more enjoyable.
After refreshing with a good bath, I headed to the restaurant area for the buffet dinner. While there, I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of the resort and engaged in a pleasant conversation. After some time, I enjoyed a delicious dinner and took a walk around, capturing videos and even going live on Instagram to share my experiences from day 4.
To add to the excitement, Abishek, the marketing head of Ultraviolette, called me, and to my surprise, Narayan, the founder of UV, joined the conference call. We had a wonderful chat and shared our experiences, making it a memorable moment of my journey.