“Unusual day rather than a routine day help bursts stress.
Stress which may boiled up from daily routine“
I expect with that intention, BPPM team planned Lavasa outing with pinch of adventure along. Missed few old SMS gang enthusiastics but fusion of BPPM & Patrol team had enough energy to carry the joy along and to have some wonderful time out there with nature.
7:00 AM :
Got up early around 6:15, took Harsh on the way and was driving early hours on Pune roads. Amazed by traffic as I was expecting lot more clean early morning drive along with cold rain outside. I recalled 10 am Pune traffic of 10 years back was matching 7 am Pune traffic today, which is disappointing enough.
We were gathering at BMC front gate near fountain (seasonal :)). I could see the
morning freshness with zeal before we start towards destination. There were
two small buses waiting for us. Small Buses arragned, because we were informed
by XThrill (our destination for whole
day ) to avoid Big Bus travel as there
were many dangerous and steep valley turns on the way.
8:00 AM :
We got in a Bus to start travel with we bunch of guys
inside. We took Nal stop – Chandani Chawk – Pirngut road – Lavasa. I had heard
that Drive to Lavasa is beautiful and I found that it was. Although I was
expecting it more of small rolling hills journey pretty much like Bhima Shankar
roads . But it was more of serious valley drive. Sharp and Steep Angles for Lavasa makes this
drive more thrilling. Also we were lucky driving this way in best possible weather.
There was drizzling and raining almost entire day. I always feel the green in
Maharashtra villages during Mansoon makes this state mesmerizing and a beauty.
You will feel while watching and driving that these lush green patches with
hill height outside so peaceful. We
crossed both side view Dam. One side with mammoth water pool for entire Lavasa and
other one the Dam hulk Wall stopping water to flow down on village. Driving
through clouds at Lava Hill heights was heaven experience with just around 20-30
meters visibility at max. Journey was expected of an hour and half to 2 hours
max which delayed by 30 mins because of few bad road patches and turns for
XThrill location in Lavasa.
We got in a Bus to start travel with we bunch of guys
inside. We took Nal stop – Chandani Chawk – Pirngut road – Lavasa. I had heard
that Drive to Lavasa is beautiful and I found that it was. Although I was
expecting it more of small rolling hills journey pretty much like Bhima Shankar
roads . But it was more of serious valley drive. Sharp and Steep Angles for Lavasa makes this
drive more thrilling. Also we were lucky driving this way in best possible weather.
There was drizzling and raining almost entire day. I always feel the green in
Maharashtra villages during Mansoon makes this state mesmerizing and a beauty.
You will feel while watching and driving that these lush green patches with
hill height outside so peaceful. We
crossed both side view Dam. One side with mammoth water pool for entire Lavasa and
other one the Dam hulk Wall stopping water to flow down on village. Driving
through clouds at Lava Hill heights was heaven experience with just around 20-30
meters visibility at max. Journey was expected of an hour and half to 2 hours
max which delayed by 30 mins because of few bad road patches and turns for
XThrill location in Lavasa.
11 AM :
We reached (safely) crossing dangerous elevated curves and were
hungry enough to grab some sandwiches, boiled eggs, cup of tea with Pohe.
Indeed heavy breakfast was needed after good nature drive. We got stuffed and
had brief from Army Colonel about whole day activities for group. Before that Ashwini sang a nice prayer for us. Colonel
divided entire group in two section, One for Water fall rappelling, Another for
Zipline/Burma Bride activity.
12:00 PM:
Larger group was interested in Rappelling so we started our small
trek to reach down at water fall. Good to see good number of girls participated
for this more high risk activity which was great to see. Often I have seen
girls avoid doing such activities. Personally, Adventure activities are more of
self-determination and fitness than muscle power. Adventure activities should
not be just done for public boasting but to be done If and only if you are
ready for thrill and if that gives you immense pleasure. Satisfaction is
amazing once you finish any adventurous activity not much with hurdles. Be
alert and prepared enough for some kind of eventualities which may happen. It
should be done with 100% precaution, alertness and experienced guides along.
You should always say Big No if anytime you feel like not 100% fit in and feel
suspicious about security tools or uneducated guides with no hesitation. There
is no shame in that. But I always encourage taking bit risk and doing these
activities because satisfaction you get while doing and after doing is “unmatched”.
We trekked around 3 kms to walk down waterfall crossing small hills, bushes, muddy forest.We were standing on the peak of 80 Ft water falling, watching down. Water was really flowing in bulk and force. Our trek guide after discussing themselves, decided Not do take risk doing rappelling here and decided to go for another water fall which was expected to be not so harsh with force. I think that was really good decision. This is where you understand the importance of experienced guide with you. Safety should be THE FIRST THING while Adventure. Your decision making has to be good here.
We all turned about and headed for other water fall. Trekked around 2 kms to reach there crossing bushes and mud path. We all were surely disappointed a bit but soon as we reached other water fall, I am sure we all felt back energy for rappelling as this water fall was also not as small and soft as we thought. It was good thrilling enough with again good water force and flow (obviously lesser than before). Elevation would be around 70 to 75 degree with height of around 60 fts. Good enough for all of us to do some adventure.
I checked the rappelling tools like ropes, harnesses, helmet and I find them matching standard. Knee and ankle guards were bit loose. But they were manageable. I got ready among the first rappelling lot. Guide gave safety instructions before I start rappelling. Water flow was good enough but not so bad to hit us hard while rappelling. But rocks were slippery which caused few hitch up, otherwise landed safe down. I felt good once I reach down. Later we enjoyed cold water from the fall and had fun but bit exhausted till that time. Thankfully somebody called up Bus/Jeep to get us guys back to camp after rappelling which was so relaxing.
Overall trek and rappelling was satisfying but few of us got
hurt while trek on slippery muddy land and few of us rolled and hit by rocks
while rappelling which was unfortunate.
3:00 PM
Around 3 pm we were back to camp, All drenched, exhausted
but happy. Hot delicious lunch was waiting for us. We did not changed by that
time expecting few more water activities. We enjoyed our lunch and just roamed
around sometime so others can join us for next activity.
4:00 PM
We were expecting next would be mud valley ball which I have
never played in my life and so was super excited for that. Being whole day in rain
is something possible now but playing in mud, you cannot bring back your
childhood now. But much awaited mud valley ball turned in to normal rain volley
ball. We were all disappointed but turned back high and felt good while playing
normal volley ball as well. I really had great time playing volley ball with
rain and hills around although our team lost (Not even close :)) almost all games. It
was breezy and cold playing with hard volley ball in rain.
5:00 PM
It was time for some group activities. I was totally
exhausted by this time but it’s just the mood of guys around which made me
stretch bit more. We played Tug Of War, best of three. I was in team “Chhichhore”
with punch line “Chhichhore – Khichon re” . We lost all three times here. :(
Then they arranged another group activity where we made 4
groups, each having 7 to 8 members. We had been given (half circled cut in
length) pipes of 1ft each. We had to make man made pipeline to move a marble
ball from point A to point B which were 10 meters apart. We had won this time :) although pipeline
integration was much difficult than BPPM product integrations.
5:45 AM
All done, happy, played by heart, exhausted, thrilled,
satisfied, drenched and smiling. Time to go back home for routine days. We all
boys squeezed in a cottage. For us it was changing room. Good time there as
well, loud and laugh. I think we were pretty close to make Guinness record of
‘maximum boys changing clothes in a small room” :)
6:00 PM
Dried up after almost 6 hours, We gathered for Hot tea with
kanda bhaje which was much needed. Travelled
back in our Bus to same route crossing clouds again with almost no visibility.
8:30 PM
Reached BMC.
Whole day was eventful, not routine, stuffed with
laughs and smiles, with lots of shouting while trek to water fall, with windy,
breezy, rainy, drizzles while volley ball, with delicious Gulab Janum and with
clouds. I am sure it was a memorable day for all of us.
Thanks to organizers (Shripal, Asawari, Vinay) for making it a quite a day for all of us.
