A slow dance through the bends as we navigate this section of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, in Kerala, leading to the Kabini reservoir and wildlife reserve, in Karnataka. The traffic was minimal, the twisties unending, and we went carving through the jungle. Enroute we spotted barking deer, monkeys and the occasional peacock.
Parked for a breather
This was our second run through Wayanad, after 2017. You can read about the earlier ride here.
We took on this one as a three day ride in February this year, with our company’s offsite and a very pleasant stay at the newly opened Taj Wayanad thrown into the mix. Had the ride not been for our official event, it would have been the perfect recipe for an awesome motorcycle holiday- stay at breathtaking luxury resorts, take slow rides through the beautiful living culture that is Kerala, gorge on sumptuous food and drink and enjoy the all encompassing green scenery.
You’ve heard this before, but life does take its own slow pace in rural Kerala. And it has moments of beauty where time stands still. As we ride through village after village, we see homes with large verandahs, shaded from the morning sun. The menfolk use this space as their daily hangout, reading the morning newspaper, sipping on chai, catching up on gossip with the neighbours and watching the world go by. You can’t rush through scenes like this, and the ride is best enjoyed at the gentle pace that makes you appreciate the culture and character of the place.
Wayanad is the quintessential lazy motorcyclist’s paradise, with winding roads that snake through tea estates, banana plantations and an otherwise endless sea of green. If you are planning on visiting, keep a few days in store- there’s lots of lovely routes in the district which need to be savoured, one day at a time.
Quaint cafes like this one with a greenhouse, add to the charm of Wayanad. This was the perfect chai stop.Rivers in Wayanad are pictures of idyll.The stunning Taj property overlooks the Banasura Sagar lakeThe scenic setting of the property qualifies it as one of the most beautiful resorts in India.You are never too far from Chai in Wayanad……or pretty, age worn houses by the wayside. Western Ghats loom beyond the Banasura Sagar reservoir.By one of the tea estates.Somewhere in God’s Own Country.
A detour on our way home, to one of my favourite places in Karnataka, the enchanting Kabini reservoir and wildlife reserve was rewarding as ever.
Can’t wait to return to this gorgeous motorcycling country at the next opportunity.
The Himmy, short of its 8th birthday, poses at Kabini.Our rides at the Kabini Reservoir
As we herald the riding season in 2024. thought I’d talk about some YouTube channels that kept me interested, entertained and up to date with the latest in motorcycling, through 2023.
Starting off from my own town, Bosky and his merry comrades give mature, genuine advice on all aspects of motorcycling, including motorcycle safety. Bosky, who is also the proprietor for Big Bear Customs and one of the largest Royal Enfield Dealerships in the city, is an accomplished motorcyclist. This channel is a far cry from your glory seeking newbie vlogger, who seem to pop up dime a dozen these days. I love the friendly banter between Bosky and his mates, every time they take out a new bike to test and review. Watch their feeds to understand the art of unwinding, Bangalore ‘eshtyle’, while also upping your technical knowledge about two wheels.
As a Himalayan owner, I had been on the lookout for a decent feed where the rider genuinely loves and promotes the virtues of the RE Himalayan. Chennai based Ben grabbed my interest. He has really taken his 2018 Royal Enfield Himalayan to the next level. An ardent off road enthusiast, I like how he upskills himself and upgrades components on the machine in the quest for two wheeled nirvana. A big fan of the 411, he was quite vocal and disappointed about it being discontinued by RE, when they announced the 452.
If you’ve got a glass of wine and a lazy evening planned in front of the telly, tune into Stuart Fillingham. Let his soothing Yorkshire accent lull you into motorcycle happiness, as he coasts you down through beautiful English countryside, on his favourite classic motorcycles from Triumph and Royal Enfield. I love his sense of wry humour and his no nonsense responses to trigger happy folks who shoot comments without rhyme or reason. His is a garage to envy as well.
Watch one episode for the antics of Ryan and his fellow Canadians on Fort Nine, and I can guarantee you will be asking for more. Some of the reviews border on stellar. Heard about comedians in cars drinking coffee? Well here’s your comedian on a motorcycle, drinking coffee. Be entertained, laugh your guts out. But as you wind down the episode, he will leave you with meaningful insights as well.
You can’t miss out on Zack Courts and Ari Henning, well on their way to motorcycle stardom. Maybe Ewan and Charley are the only ones who are better known than this duo. Watch their crazy expeditions for cinematic motorcycling experiences. Commuting reviews on daily rider, gear reviews and many other interesting tech feeds make this channel a must follow.
Perhaps the biggest advocate of lightweight adventure motorcycles and therefore the only motorcyclist I know who has a Ktm 390, a BMW 310 GS, an REH and a Honda CRF 300 Rally in his garage, among others. He dotes on each of these for their lovable characteristics and shares insights from tours he leads across UK.
I’ve only recently started following this channel from Down Under, which looks very promising. A highlight from the the series is his rescue and resurrection of a 31 year old Africa Twin from a farm shed, which now features in all his travels. And yes, the cinematography is quite good!
Although Moto geo founder and ex racer Jamie Robinson, is a bit laid back with channel updates these days, this one is a must try. His love for the open road and adventuring, burgers and the general positive vibes that come off his motorcycle camping videos from the sunshine state, make you wish that you could immediately jump on your bike and ‘jest go for a ride!’
yonder blue mountain... 