Bicycle Camping

Finally, a 2 day bike tour and overnight camping is coming close to fruition. Racks and panniers are on, training is in progress, tent and other camping supplies are mostly ready.

With the rack fitted, I had been struggling to find a clean way to mount my rear tail lamps on the rack. All the tail lamps that I have came with post mounts and there is no clean way of attaching them to my rack with a metal plate (and one hole towards the rear)

I came across this really simple and inexpensive idea and thought I have to share this. I am sure there would be others who have the same problem.

http://cyclingfortransport.com/bike/accessories/rack/light-fixing-points-on-racks/

Invention of Money

It's a very very long time since I made any post here. But here is something that I listened to, today, which I wanted to share.

I always had been a BIG fan of "This American Life" podcasts, and this one made me an even bigger fan.If you have 1 hour to spare, you must listen to this

Microsoft Ad 2 - Jerry Seinfeld Bill Gates (New Family)

Microsoft Ad 1 - Jerry Seinfeld Bill Gates (Shoe Circus)

Mulshi Dam, Lake and Waterfall... Pune, India

Drove to Mulshi this weekend (19th July, 2008).
Started from home at 9:30am.
Route: Wanawadi -Pune University-Pashan-right turn at Chandni Chowk-Pirangut-Paud-Mulshi. ~60kms from Wanawadi to the waterfalls (don't know the name). Stopped at Chandni Chowk for a coffee from Cafe Coffee Day.
The road to Paud (Pirangut Ghat) is a toll road with Rs 15 one way and Rs 22.5 for both ways for car.

The route was very scenic with the mountains all green with the monsoons. Stopped at multiple places on the route enjoy nature's beauty.

Reached the falls by 12:30pm. Had fun there. There are routes to trek up the falls to higher falls.
It rained too, while we were there, which added to the fun. Stopped by the side of the lake also for for the view and some pictures. Started driving back at 2:20pm. Reached home by 4:15pm.

Shivneri Fort, Junnar, Maharashtra

I'm back with a post on my latest hiking, after a very long time. This was to Shivneri Fort, near Pune. The trek was organized by the TRDDC trek club, ie folks from work.
- Started from TRDDC, Pune at 7:30am (though it was planned for 6:30am).
- Stopped for breakfast at Manchar at around 9:30am. (Upma breakfast. Others had Kanta poha, Chole poori, Sheera).
- Continued journey after breakfast and reached the bottom of the fort (not the main entrance) by 11:30am, looked for a route up (asked some locals to find the route), and started climbing.


- Reached the top by 12:30pm. Though it was a short climb, it was pretty taxing due to the steep incline. We rested for a while in a cave on the way up. There was a portion of the climb where there were steps cut on the steep rockface and ropes fixed for holding to, while climbing up.

- Walked around the fort, had sandwiches lunch.
- Came back through the normal fort entry route passing all the gates.
- Took our bus back from the main entrance.
- Reached back TRDDC by 6:20pm.

Walk the line

I watched this movie yesterday and I had been reading about Johnny Cash and June Carter since then. Also watching lots of videos on YouTube of their performances.
Here is something which I found really interesting - An interview with Johnny Cash and June Carter, recorded in 1981 I think.

San Juan Islands

Visited San Juan Islands (Friday Harbor and Orcas Island) last weekend.
Here's some pictures from this trip: