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Sunday, January 10, 2010

December Photo Sharing Meet

We do have one meetup with all the rules relaxed. Tts called the photo sharing meetup of the month. Only members who participated in the treks and their guests can attend. A typical photo sharing meetup is where you relive the trek moments, meet fellow participants and exchange photos. Not to forget the Awesome Fun and Food.

on 10 Jan 2010 About 20 (expected 40) GHAC members attended the Photo sharing meet for the treks done in December 2009 which included Medak, Srisailam, Coorg and Kuremukh. what was witnessed was 3 full hours (actually 2 hours - 1 hour went in waiting) of fun time with Food, Drinks and Photos

We also had a competition for best presentation and best photo's and The Results are


Best presentation

First - Vibha Powerpoint & Co - Medak Trek
Runner Up - Sreenath Flash & Co - Kudremukh Trek
Second Runner UP - Diyanat Picasa & Co - Coorg Trek


Best Pictures

First- Mithun/ Ksree - Coorg Trek
Runner Up - Sreenath & Co - Kudremukh Trek
2nd Runner Up - Vibha & Co - Medak Trip

Most Food and Most Drinks
First and Only - Mr J. (hint- looks like Kamala hasan)
No Runner Up

The Prize
Well everyone got a cup full of Ice cream

Friday, January 8, 2010

Car and Bike ride to vikarabad.

It was wee hours of Sunday morning. A chilling morning with the riders and drivers set to go on a ride/drive to vikarabad. 3 cars and 5 bikes with 21 people on the vehicles drove their way for a trek followed by a lake side relax.

People assembled at the cross roads as mentioned in the trip schedule. The wait was for around 15 minutes, for others to assemble, after which, it was time and the riders had to bite the cold morning while the car occupants had a pleasant ride!

The morning brought with it the rays of sun and a picturesque view that was 'simply' beautiful. The ride was a good one with me changing speeds for the fun of riding. The intention of having bikes on the go was to have the fun of riding. The ride was close to 80 kms, single way. We had to make stops in between to ensure no one was far behind or left out. We had a good breakfast at a restaurant in Chevalla. After the good breakfast, the group headed forward to ananthgiri hills, the prime destination of the trip.

It was around 0900 hrs, by the time, we reached ananthgiri hills. A quick round of introduction was done and then the trek began. Ananthgiri hills is an easy - moderate trek. Few parts of the hills are totally covered with dried plants and the surfaces do not have rocks for balance. oh oh! It makes it a little difficult but with care it shouldn't be a difficult one. We had few people with bruises as the slopes with soil made it difficult to balance and bruises were inevitable. Precisely, the reason why long sleeve shirts are advised. The trek was concluded at 12oo hrs. The weather was against a second trek as the plan was to head to the lake at around 0200 hrs for a good lunch and a jump in the water. But then the weather prompted us to make it to the lake early and we left the hills at 1215 hrs.

It was around 1230 when we reached Nagasamudram lake. People plunged into water and there was hardly any slack time from the moment we reached the lake till the jump into the water. So, you now know how the weather was. eh? Nonetheless, few people had a good time in water, few chose to rest by the lake and few [including me] decided for a small walk around the lake. Looking for new ways in getting to the other side lake. On return, food was waiting and had a good amount of it, after which there was a lot of time to relax and have a small chat with others on varying topics. Since, there was nothing else to do, it was decided that we head back and at 0330 hrs we started back to hyderabad, with a stop for tea at the same place where we had our breakfast.

The return ride was tiring [for me] but overall it was a good ride and i realized one thing when i reached home, it was my first long distance ride and i had pushed my bike to the limit!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

The Last Day of the Year Gone By.

and i spent the night next to a quiet lake, which sure was to be disturbed by a kayak!

We started out, 28 in total, towards vikarabad where the entire evening or rather say morning was to be spent next to Nagasamudram lake. The car drive was around 80 kms from hyderabad, one way and I should admit that I never realized the distance. Thanks to a good company of people who kept me in loop of their conversation. Nice talk, connected topics, willingness to listen and be 'listened' are few things that help you take away the distance. This was precise, in the car i was traveling. Can't say about the rest. Waiting to hear from them.

So, it was around 2345 hrs, by the time we reached the lake. Darkness and silence greeted people, albeit a pleasant one. A wide stretch of water pictured far away and we were walking towards the start of the water-line after parking our cars, carrying various utensils and baggages for the 'light' dinner which was supposed to commence..err...at sometime. The night began with a campfire close to the lake. Couple of people who were supposed to be good at doing it, got into business and set it up. I had the impression that the campfire was supposed to be the center around which people would dance and sing as the night progressed but the thought was shattered as it's true purpose was unveiled later!

So, the time was approaching. 0000hrs. We had a yummy cake opened with 3 candles on top of it [still figuring out the significance of 3] to celebrate the new year and the honors were made. A
delight for cake-lovers. The cake slicing was followed by chai - precisely for which the fire was made. Post chai-time, it was time for dance and 'aao twist kare' segment. We had the woofers blowing out music and someone presented the idea of a circle of people with one person in the center trying to create dance steps while others followed it. It was a recreational exercise. Nothing more than that. A nice thought put in place. Apart from this, people had an option to go for a round of kayak in the water or take a walk under a moonlit night. From moonlit night, it strikes me that around 0025 hrs, the lunar eclipse had begun. It was a partial, no, a minuscule shadow placed on the surface of the moon. Few of them, took time to use a binocular to view the event.

A closing hours ended with eating and people still waiting for a round of kayak - which included me as well. A nice short walk around the lake was a pleasant one as well. We wound up the event close to 0300 hrs and started back to hyderabad.

It was 0500 hrs by the time we got back to hyderabad. Lucky, the next day was a holiday for me. Spent the entire day lying down.