The last leg of the journey was far less strenuous and more eased out, for the cramped calf muscles of the bikers to relax and enjoy the beauty. A week had come to pass and the bikers instead of a tired look were more enthusiastic about the completion of the challenge.
The seventh day of the challenge was particularly more relaxed with mostly downhill rides, from the beautiful green mist covered hills of Agumbe to the quiet town of Kundapura in the Udupi district 84 kilometers of an easy ride, with a Hi of 900m and Lo of 87m. The cyclists who had traversed a variety of the Malnad ranges, after having traversed a cool 650 kilometers of cycling, far from being exhausted were enthused to spend the time on the beach at Kundapura and reached the destination as early as 11am. With all the bikers in full josh, the beach was put to good use by them by playing beach Volleyball, soccer and ofcourse cycling on the sand, as the water swept their dusty tires. After having had a splendid day the Bikers retired for the night at the Turtle Bay Resort.
The Eighth though not overtly challenging was still more strenuous than the rather easy seventh day. The ride from Kundapura to Kodachadri Base the 74 kilometers stretch had an initial Malnad flat terrain, then had to brace themselves for a 2,200 feet climb in a 10 kilometer stretch from Kollur. This ride with a Hi of 570m and a Lo of 87m was pleasant ride with a lunch break at a beautiful picnic spot. The bikers finally reached the Simha farms where they started off a short cricket tournament. The ones who weren’t as enthusiastic about cricket kept themselves happy by lazing by the streams.
As it was the last but one day and there was a certificate distribution ceremony and a feedback session with the camp fire, a jolly good time to sit and discuss how each of the bikers felt about the challenge .
This is what some of the biker’s said …
· ‘As a cyclist it’s a sin if you are not taking part in GMC’
· ‘For next GMC I am blocking 3 slots to get my friends along ’
· ‘I never knew there was so much of beauty in Western Ghats, I will relish this every year’
· ‘You cyclists should come and have food with villagers like us’
· ‘We had never done mountain biking with such minimal traffic and roads like these in GMC - truly Road less taken’
· ‘Tandem Trails has lived up to its slogan’
· ‘Do not feed us so much, we have come here to lose weight’
The last day arrived with a mixture of excitement towards the completion of the amazing challenge and also a feeling of sadness to leave such a brilliant place, cycling and to return to sad and drab cities with all the noise and pollution. The last day or the ninth day the trail was from Kodachadri to Jog falls a nice 83 kilometers with a Hi of 608m and a Lo of 387m. Every Biker was greeted with loud cheers and welcoming had begun when they reached Jog. A feeling of Euphoria set in as every single GMC biker had successfully finished the challenge and had come to the finish point of this unforgettable 9 day journey.
The feeling of elation continued till the end of the day after which all bikers crest fallen bade good bye to the Malnad range and their team mates, but in the anticipation of the coming year and the coming challenges and trails.
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