गौरवगाथा सायकलिंगची

An evening with a group of cyclists from Panvel who have travelled to various corners  of India and world.

Experience these life changing journeys through cinematic narration.

Come along with your friends and family .

Thank you.

Post Ride Works

Playing With Clay
20-21 January 2016

 I spent the last two days at 'AAkar Arts' Indapur, away from hustle and bustle of the city. I felt really rejuvenated there.
The reason for my visit was to create a small token of love for all of those who played a vital role in success of my I P'ride. I decided to send this little piece of art to all those with whom I stayed while I was on the ride! Rajesh uncle, my brother Vinod and other people from AAakar Arts had already done a lot of work. We carefully packed all items and sent ot via postal service. One of the other good thing to come out of this visit was that I could meet great social worker Ulkaji. I had a great conversation with her.

Other than that, I enjoyed playing with clay. I tried to make a few things using the potter's wheel. I have checked one important box from the to do list post ride!

Gratitude

16 January 2016

I reached home today. Really, there is no place like it. I am really blessed to have Dhananjay Madan (He is fondly referred to as Appa) and Charulata as my parents. Very few parents would have allowed their daughter to go alone on such journey. They gave me the confidence that I can do it. They are a bedrock behind the success of my ride.

I can't be thankful enough to all the people who supported me throughout my "I P'ride" ride. I am rendered speechless as I feel a sense of immense gratitude towards them. It was because of them that everything went so smoothly and without any hassles.

Some people were working even before the ride began and some joined in after the ride commenced.

To make such a long ride successful, it is important that you should have very strong and dedicated backup team. I am very lucky that I had such a team behind me.

The information about my ride reached a lot of people due to print media and radio channels. I would like to thank them for their encouragement and support.

In this ride, I just kept moving towards my aim. People kept joining me along.

I am just mentioning the names of people who helped me in this ride right now. I would write in detail about some of them later..

#SachinGavonkar #RohitNikam #GauravBhatkar #VishalManjrekar #Kavi #VaradPawar #ParagSarode #AkhileshJoshi #MansiRane #VinayakKanitkar #TejasMarathe #SachinShinde #SarveshAbhyankar #GirishMahajan #NikhilPatil #KumarThakur #PrasadKarve #AmoghKurghode #KedarKarekar #JayakumarTMalampuzha #Sureshrisbud #PrasantBhutkar #DrSudhaKS #ShobhaNair #AjithKumar #KThomas #Balan #SharmilaPoojari #GaneshRao #Mandakadam #AnupamaParameswaran #UmeshKamat #PallaviWalawalkar #PrakashBawdhankar #PriteshBhosle #ShaileshGotad #PankajDevdas #SunilRaj #NitinKanitkar #PawanChandak #RajeshKulkarni #AshishAgashe #PrashantNanaware #SuhasJoshi #CKTcollege #AllNisargmitrMembers

& #SumeetParinge

I am sorry if I have forgot to mention someone's name here. I am really thankful to all of you for your support and encouragement.

Day 24 16 Back Home

Celebrating My Special Day

16 January 2016

After a tiring train journey of almost 46 hours, I reached Mumbai at 4.40 am. Just as I got down with the two panniers, I saw my father running towards me and within seconds, he had pulled me in a tight hug. A father never speaks words, but his actions always show how much his children mean to him! My mom and Aunt had come to receive me too. Without wasting much time, I went to luggage car. It was a messy sight. There was a lot of luggage and my cycle was kept on the upper rack. Thankfully, it was in good state with no damage to it.

Then I took my cycle to complete the octroi and gate pass formalities. As it were the wee hours of morning, everyone was half asleep. After running around for a bit, we reached the correct office for getting a pass made. Mr. Tavde from Parcel office helped us to get the pass quickly. After completing all the formalities, we came out of the station. Many of my friends from Panvel were waiting for me. After a round of tea, we all left for Panvel.

I am going home, more confident than ever before and with new challenges in my mind..

I have lived a dream for past 1 month and now,

some new ones await me !

Day 23 Now only a few hours left to reach home!

Excitement of Return Journey

15 January 2016

I woke up in the wee hours of the morning and then didn't feel like sleeping. I just kept sitting by the window.

With the particular swaying motion of the train, my body too kept swaying. Time and again I was getting lost in my thoughts.. the memories of my ride, the excitement to reach home after achieving something that I had set out for and future dreams... The dawn made way for the morning with me lost in these thoughts..

The girls you see in the picture are my companions for the journey till Pune. They are very affable.

I find the train journey amusing since childhood. The happiness of being a spectator of the different landscapes like trees, rivers, homes passing by.. I really enjoy watching all of this with my head pressed against the window.

Today I had chats for a radio program and for a newspaper. They were interested and curious about my ride.

I wish you all a very Happy Makar Sankranti and Pongal.

Each time I opened window, the winds that carried the excitement of return journey were caressing my face. I remember the all of those who came to see me off, with anxiety and excitement on their face. Now I am looking forward to see happiness and smiles on their face..

Its just a matter of few hours now!

DAY 22 Kanyakumari to Panvel Train Journey

CHANGING TRACKS! 14 January 2016

ETD (of train) 0655 hrs from Kanyakumari station but since I had to "drop off" my cycle in the luggage bogey my ETA (at station) was 0500 hrs- good thing too as it took quite a while to load it and get it settled! 

Train pulled out a little late from the station ... My return journey had begun ..the last 21 days rapidly flashed before my eyes much like the train that was covering the distance on its journey back...leaving everything behind
After some moments i settled - the next 43 HRS were going to me and my thoughts (solitude)

A family from Kerala was sitting across me observing me in rapt attention .. ( little creepy!) but creepiness went away once i got to know that they had read about me in the newspaper 

Eventually someone took the initiative to start a conversation and we got talking
They offered to have lunch with them -good thing too as i got to eat yummy home cooked chicken and fish
Can't explain the happiness I'm experiencing .. I'm thrilled
I keep remembering the road with the breezy trees ...(bliss)
The last 21 days constantly keep playing in my mind like a cassette on rewind ....
Wishing this journey never ends!

Day 21 Last Day in Kanyakumari

Challenging Horizons

13 January 2016

I I slept late last night and woke up early as some journalists called me at 5.00 am! I chatted for some time with them and then had a early morning walk in half asleep state. But I felt refreshed after that.

 I took some time to get ready and then I left to take a tour of Rock Memorial of Swami Vivekananda. As I approached the ticket counter for the boat ride, I realized many people were already standing in line to purchase the ticket. In a little while I crossed the sea by a boat and reached the Rock Memorial.

 There was a strong breeze. It seemed that the wind was being my constant companion, throughout my journey and now at the Rock Memorial. But as I stood before the idol of Swami Vivekananda, I felt an unusual sense of peace. It was a different kind of peace, almost like sense of calm spreading within myself. I spent some time basking in this divine experience. After I moved out from the memorial, my attention was captured by the sea, with its presence till the horizon, as far as I could see... There is something about sea. Even when you spend time with it not uttering a single word, you end up feeling you have had the best conversation of your life!

 I returned to my room sometime later, with all the memories engraved in my mind..

 Tomorrow I would start my return journey from Kanyakumari. I had to pack all my stuff.

 The most important of all was undoubtedly, my cycle. I started packing it with some paper, adhesive tapes and other items.

 The home is where the heart is. So the feeling of going back home was enticing and exciting.. But it was accompanied with thoughts of new challenges and new dreams!