Bangalore – Karwar – The best journey in our life time. A 1997 MH410 Maruti Zen, with two drivers, open highways, night driving and lots of them. That was the start and first of its kind...and the best of its kind.. The most hilarious part is that we considered and planned for a 400 km journey one way and ended up driving 540 km one way. No maps, no GPS or gadgets and most areas after sirsi towards Karwar absolutely no range for the cell phones. Travelled through muddy roads without knowing the road ahead and no one to ask at odd hours of midnight - rather 1 am ! Exhausted, anxiety, afraid and was rather thrilled while we were coming back to bangalore. Have been driving..driving...and driving...such that...in dreams...every time we woke up...and see a truck or bus infront...with my foot on brake pedal! Bangalore –Coorg Again an overnight journey with Hyundai Santro, (courtesy my friend) towards the mystic and nature – Madikeri in Coorg. Just following the instincts for the route with no GPS or route maps and had a scare at one point with no fuel stations on the way to reach madikeri. The needle was on E, rather now I was not pushing hard the santro. It worked out and finally found out a station to my luck. Bangalore –Calicut It was on of that pleasant morning we started all from Bangalore towards Calicut, our permanent home town. It goes through a wildlife sanctuary, Wayanad which is in Kerala and one of the best roads leading to Calicut. Me and wifey was in Honda City. I had been a regular maruti user - first a M800 - 1996 model, then game moved on. zen 2000 model lx. Now the privelged owner of NHC 2008 aug.had the first long drive from Calicut - bnglr and back...haa a good incidence I could qoute here. this was a anniversary edition car - NHC gxi - so I had that glut feeling and had written in my mind - This had ABS - no need to worry. And that too I had just moved from Maruti Zen to NHC - and that too with Honda brakes I had this confidence,with ABS in my mind. Passed gundelpet - muthanga forest range - just leaving forest range another - 5 km saw a heard of elephants - 4 were there..i was small...it was just 20 ft away from road, but not on road..just in between trees.. me and wife..we just stopped..for a while watched for a mom..1 min... i took camera and for better view came out... oh..expect the unexpected...a naughty one came very near...to my wife almost just 5 ft away - she was in seat belt... as soon it just started running close to us..i just entered... oh man..car in hand brake..gears not falling in ..1st gear...it took time..oh..i just started it..1st gear...and a bit of wheel spin.......First wheel spin on New Honda City. It just zoomed away..i mean NHC..i hope 77bhp is not bad a HP...for that car..if u want a decent mileage...too.. but if you a decent driver with adequate and good driving habits...Speedo clocking 60-80 on highway bet you get 18-20 km/l - i had experienced it..and it get better with more mileage..- i mean 10k km is benchmark - then seriously you should mark each km and fuel you pour - I am damn sure decent FE is rest assure....that you are holding good driving skills... and coming to ABS part of NHC gxi - anniv edition - oh man since i read so much mags....Auto car, overdrive and lots... I was pretty firm on ABS in anniv edition.. We were was crusing in 80-90 kmph nearing sulthan battery..after the bandipur forest. Suddenly from now where a scooty lady with kid on her back, came from wrong side - I mean she was in same direction as me...from right side. Was moving to left side of her...like a V shape or diagonal cutting. Me did not know where she was coming from...as if she popped out of screen...caught me off gaurd. I thought the scooty and lady, kid all gone...i just applied brake.... I always had it mind...that it was ABS, then no need to pump brakes....was my right foot just on brake for a while fully pressed... Vehicle just skidded...i mean..wheels locked..for a while..but just missed by inches..to scooty and left hand side..stone and muddy area... in those moments...i don’t know...u wont get time to do pumping brakes...or press brake pedal..and leave then press... it was one of worst exp i had with my wrong notion that ABS was there... and I strongly recommend it... I am not sure of OHC's which I am a fan of , but for NHC its a must. So after coming back home, I just consulted my friend in Honda showroom...man!! He just told no ABS in Anniv edition - i was zero that time. Pheonix - Tucson - My first near 100 miles mark !! Was rather thrilled than anything to rent a car and more than that able to drive in where else ! America. This was my official trip to Tuscon, Arizona, the southern part of United States. There was the option of choosing subaru and Toyota Corolla. I was concerned of power and mileage, then without doubt went for Corolla. Finally we decided to do a trip, and was aiming to reach Grand Canyon, one of the world's best canyons and rock formations. But we just went till Pheonix and returned since rock formations was not open because of the humid and hot condition. It was about 450 miles away from Tucson, where I stayed. We started off first to pheonix, ..Ah..what roads man. Those are not roads, rather a tarmac smoothness and picterseque on both sides. It was Left Hand Drive, wrong direction per se if you compare to India. Vehicles coming thick and fast from your wrong side..>! oh man.......was rather little afraid, unknown place..unknown route..no GPS....nothing....just open roads...full tank gosoline (petrol)..and pedal to metal... Tested my as well Corolla's speed limits. Pushed, pushed hard, it went smooth and odo was planked at 95 miles per hour. Almost touched the 100 miles mark. Had taken a photo of that too, for my memories. It was my first 100 miles mark !! that too in US, never imagined in my life. That drive made me proud..not only since i touched 150km mark, but new road, unknown place.....new car..Left hand drive..vehicles coming from wrong side...vehicles speeding all about 100 miles mark.. That is 150kmph mark in India..!! Where often you get this chance in India, maybe Mumbai- pune express, would love if GDC team gives me a chance ot proe my mettle. Not to drive fast, but safe.
