Hi Guys & Gals:
This post is to reinforce the fond memories of those who participated in the exciting bike ride on Sunday February 22, 2009 and the follow-on activities. If it leads to jealousy on parts of those who missed the ride - well I do not think that is my intent - but what the heck - we shall gloat! Also we hope that this will be extra incentive for those on the fringe and encourage them to join post haste.
Six riders suited up for the ride. Harry and I showed up promptly at 7:00am, and at 7:10am started wondering about the others and Hemant joined the pack. Raj Gupta followed shortly and Sanjay Bacshee joined around 7:20am. Unknown to some of us the start time had been moved up to a "little" later.
Sanjay explained his reason for the delay - his Mom insisted that he eat his sandwich before setting off on the ride - evidently he had been a bad boy on Saturday and returned from the ride on Saturday with the sandwich still in his bag. I would have thought that by this age he would have learnt that the trick is to destroy the evidence - but I guess he needs coaching from some of the more worldly wise in the group - not an issue we shall take him under our wing.
Finally Amrendra, our fearless leader, showed up and broke the news - the destination for the ride was the Bacshee Farm on Faridabad Road. Needless to say there were protests from the disadvantaged, namely me, about the length and also the steep inclines etc. However, the whole group assuaged my concerns and committed to riding along slowly and steadily as a group and shepherd me to the destination. More on the coaxing and encouragement and support as I describe the ride below.
The exciting news did not end there. We were then informed that our lovely spouses were supposed to join us at the Bacshee Farm with the makings of a lovely "anda-bhurjee" breakfast. The projected departure time for the ladies was 8:30am. Although I was excited about the great meal opportunity at the end of the long and tiring ride - I was aware of a family challenge that needed to be shared with the group.
Not all people are created equal and couples are no exception. Although I do not mind joining the early morning rides - my dear wife of 21 years, is cut from a different cloth. She is just not what one would call "morning people." And Sundays hold special meaning and the double blinds are drawn the previous night, the dog is not permitted in the bedroom once he is awake in the morning and the maids know that only coffee to be served to me in the morning. The weekly pattern of tea on the same tray is disrupted till the lady rolls out of bed at a more convenient hour. So imagine my plight of having to call her at 7:30am to provide marching orders for eggs and paranthas et al. But men will be men, and as you all know, the testosterone kicks in with the company of 5 other guys and I placed the dreaded call and was surprisingly not threatened to death. Must be "Roadies" effect. I had to pay by taking her out for a nice dinner on Sunday night - but she was a sport and I am glad.
Now on to the ride. We headed out of the Nirvana gate and hung a left towards Ghatta village. Which, according to Sanjay, is named as such (Ghataa, as in a loss) since it was a camp for poor migrant Gujjars. Well that might have been true 20 years ago - but today the residents would be more than justified in appealing to the government to have it renamed to "Nafa" (as in profit). If cities and states can change names - what stops villages. This might be an interesting idea for us to broach this subject with the villagers if and when we drive through the village and one day decide to join on of the locals for a morning cup of tea - which I am sure will happen one of these days. Stay tuned - and remember you first heard it here.
As the riders crossed the Close, we could not help but notice that the side of the road coming from Ghatta towards Sohna Road was closed and there was a cop manning the road along with some volunteers who had a stash of caps and mineral water bottles. We also notices distance markers for a race and very soon started seeing runners go by. We learnt later that there was a marathon for Gurgaon corporates in progress and Reebok seemed to be the key sponsor. So as our ride continued we crossed the young and the old, the slow and the fast, males and females. Since Veena was not present, the men, who shall remain unidentified, compared notes on the ladies. One of the charming ladies, 50-ish, asked about our club and said that she will join us for the ride next Sunday - we shall all look forward to her company.
We all rode and made first halt past the Heritage school turning and everyone called their respective spouses to check on their progress on the impromptu breakfast picnic. Groups were assigned to vehicles and drivers etc. Due to all the calling the halt was longer than the usual breather taken by the group. We also met an interesting sikh gentleman returning from his morning bike ride. He was a retired Army Colonel and with great proud rode his 26 year old Atlas cycle - it was very well take care and it was nice to see the old Atlas logo still on the rear mud-guard. The guy had hip replacement surgery just 4 months ago and is back riding his bike. Not that is commitment and an inspiration to all the Nirvana Roadies.
The ride continued and discussion veered towards the path to be taken towards Faridabad Road. Should we take the shortcut through the village or hang a left on Golf Course road and cut through Sushant Lok II. I suggested the village but Sanjay, who knew the destination, advised us that the SL-II option would be easier due to paved roads and would also be shorter. I acquiesced with the potential threat of an additional 1 km ride and we entered Sushant Lok III and had a our second halt.
Hemant the omni-observant and staked out this stop in front of a house with three wonderful palm trees - which possibly are the best palm trees in Gurgaon. Amrendra and Sanjay complained about their hard luck in growing palm trees and suddenly received what might be invaluable advice from an unexpected source. Every one of us seems to have some hidden secret skills. This was Harry's moment of fame. He suggested that the growth of the palms might be constrained due to too much watering. Since the plant is fed, it does not feel the need to do what it is supposed to in its natural arid environment - grow long roots to gather water from the soil. Seems to make sense and everyone took their hats off to Harry. Some of us, Amrendra and I, shall discuss this with experts in the field and provide further updates.
This halt was very brief, but we could all see the Aravalis in front of us and and 2 km long steep gradient psyched us all and we wanted to grudgingly hit the slope. That sure was a tough grind and we had to take walk for major portions of the hill but the low gears helped to a great extent and we finally made it out. After the steep hill there was still a slight incline for another 1.5 kms till we hit Faridabad road. I was falling apart fast and Hemant and Sanjay took turns to keep me company. I suggested that some of them move on but Sanjay insisted that we would move as a group. I felt really bad to slow everyone up - but the spirit of camaraderie was wonderful.
Once on Faridabad road - the outlook was bright - since the rest of the 1/2 km ahead of us was basically downhill. But the downhill is a challenge to maintain speed and also the traffic is treacherous so it took all the skill and caution to make it down the steep hill and the S turn, followed by the immediate right turn to the Bacshee Farm. Russ's advice on keeping two fingers on the right brake for front tire and three on the left brake for rear tire was tested and greatly appreciated by all - since none of us took a spill while going down the hill.
We kind of got an inkling that we were headed for somewhere special by the peacocks we saw sitting around and flying. I counted six in the 3/4 kms long dirt road that ended on the Bacshee farm. Although the farm is still a work in progress, the product of the labor of love of the Bacshees is truly spectacular. Although most of us have seen it it person and the others shall, hopefully, see it again soon, I still feel obliged to talk about it a wee bit.
Sanjay has created a lush paradise that merges into the Aravalis and enhances the raw beauty of the place. The fact that numerous species of wild birds has inhabited the place is ample proof that he is contributing to the fragile ecosystem of the arid zone that is so critical to a world-class Gurgaon. It was really disappointing to see so many severely neglected properties along the path. Too many people with too much money just dump their ill-gotten financial gains in such properties to no avail. I almost sad for these ignoramuses who are not benefitting from the therapeutic peace that a few hours in the nature can bring.
Well the Bacshees have two lovely dogs - Carbon a Neapolitan Mastiff and Mr. Sheriff, an awesome St. Bernard, who has had to be relocated to the farm due to and ailment in his hind quarters, a common genetic disorder among large species of canines. In addition he has these two extremely handsome roosters, one of whom is the dominator while the other seems to have some kind of a security enforcement pact via Carbon - something like the NATO pact. So every time he is chased he goes and hides behind Carbon, I wonder what the Mastiff gets in return? Nature has a way of forming odd couples.
I also enjoyed watching the little chicks, month old, and the free range "desi" hens clucking around with the occasional rooster call. The flock of ducks is also great. Since we have some birds at home I could not help but notice that one of the ducks had a low uterus that scrapes around the ground - so she is my favorite of the group. It was also the most inquisitive and daring of the group and would lead the rest of her flock close to us.
Finally the cows showed up. The Bacshees are well on their way to provide Mother Dairy a run for their money in Nirvana. Two full grown cows are already lactating and the four additional calves should put him in a serious volume production capacity by next year. Maybe he can open a small outlet in Courtyard, if it ever gets completed, and allow fellow Roadies an opportunity to benefit from home produced milk.
We walked around a portion of the 6 acre spread and discussed the various foliage and fruit trees and rocks and chimneys and then set down for a cup of tea. Now was the appropriate time for the fashionably women to arrive with the ingredients for the breakfast. I am told the ladies the ladies are not to be blamed since one of the designated drivers, Manish, who also got crowned as an honorary Nirvana Roadies members, details below, had to answer the call of nature. Actually it almost seems to have been some kind of a major corporate restructuring meeting he had with nature. Witnesses claim that meeting lasted a whole 45 minutes! Needless to say that he was the hungriest of the group on account of the empty warehouse.
Now it was Chef Thawani time, assisted a little by helpers Amrendra and Raj and to a greater degree by me. There was cutting of tomatoes and onions and coriander, while the chef explained the nuances of making a fine bhurjee. First trick - do not whisk the eggs - which caught many by surprise. Then followed many other tricks that only true a gourmand shall employ. The proof of his skill was the fact that about 20 people knocked off over 40 eggs - some of which happened to be duck eggs. Since had a small pan, we had to do this in batches and it took three rounds and over an hour for all the eggs to get done. No self respecting Chef cooks fast just because people are dying of hunger, and Hemant was no exception. In the mean while beer and Breezers flowed. The bhurjee was great and everyone complimented the Chef, but several other so-called Chefs in the group have threatened to upstage him in future gatherings.
Although many people were tempted to just lay down and catch a nap, some of us had commitments and had to wind up and head back. I had already done more cycling than what I thought was in me - so I called it quits and headed home by car while Manish rode my cycle back. It was excruciating for me to watch Sanjay and Hemant and Amrendra ride up the steep hill, but I am sure they would have had to walk some of the way - it is just too darn steep.
It was a phenomenal ride and a pleasant morning and we all owe our gratitude to the Bacshees for hosting us. Little do they what they have gotten themselves into by opening their doors this one time.
Looking forward to many more such days. Cheers to the Nirvana Roadies.
-- Keith Sunderlal
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