There was no hype or publicity in the air. Except for a corner ad and occasional announcements on FM. Perhaps the organizers wanted it that way - keep it a low profile, private and wholesome romantic affair. For the few of us who joined, it was thrill like never before - romancing nature in the midnight moon and living it with a hangover that’s more than two days now. Valentine’s week could not have ushered in any better way as it did last Saturday.Ensconced in the sylvan surroundings of Panshet and Khadakwasla was a trail that, only nature could have lain. Taking an offbeat detour from the famous dam, go a bumpy road that leads to this most picturesque valley in moonlight. Shaking us from an hour-long slumber away from Pune, the stroke of midnight greeted us to this vast expanse of silvery hues. Lonely, deserted and inviting.
Ravi’s announcement on spot, however dawned as a not-so-romantic proposition even to the coziest couple. While the city on the other side of NDA and the lakes reclined for a late Sunday morning, here we were, thirteen couples who alighted the bus, donning our headgears and getting briefed on ambulance, doctor, walkie-talkie , security ; and ultimately, food - to be served after an arduous trail of 11 Kms through the night.
Five hours later, as we pull our tired souls back home, we wished, that night had prolonged; the stars continue to gaze on us and the moon not find its way behind the oak and the pipal as the city-bound bus sped through the halogens on the asphalt turf.
Four hours in between was a journey in solitude. And the fifth, merrymaking like never before.
Being the only couple in the group to share one cycle, the initial back-wrenching exercise of pulling hard at the pedal soon gave way to some freewheeling downslide along the slopes. As we left the locality, the moon shone from behind, basking our way in full splendour. A narrow water body on the right and the high-rise on the left carved our way, as we sped across the downhill. The nip in the air was piercing, calling the windcheaters into service.
At the end of the slope, it was level some distance as we pulled along leisurely across the mud huts and haystacks of a sleeping village in the way. The dead of the night has its own sounds of silence, we thought. Only to be broken by the sweet tinkles of the cattle that shuffled in disapproval as we crossed. A melody that belongs only to the night.
Trudging along the upward slopes on foot, pulling the cycle, we noticed a silhouette at a distance, only to recognize it was Ravi, waiting for us to catch up. All along the trail, as we fell behind the group more and more - thanks to the tiresome double-carry, Ravi ensured we were never alone and took our own sweet time to enjoy and proceed.
The next phase was fascinating cycling through the woods, as we moved through the shades of light and dark with moon shining through the trees. Chequered array of black and white formed the pathway, at the end of which was our long deserved break, a good 5.5 Kms way from where it all started.
If you thought midnight cycling is all about moonlight, you are only half correct. There is more to moonlight than the romance attached to it . The choice of the trail. The variety along the path is what was most fascinating. And to see these variegated hues of nature exposing themselves in full moonlight is the most memorable part of the journey.
We were full half an hour behind the group which was having a longish break near a bridge when we arrived. The sounds of rushing waters of a rivulet beneath the bridge greeted us in the dead of the night. Lazing on the edge of the bridge, the mountains and the trees gave a perfect reflection on the stagnant water body at a distance. A nocturnal landscape that no artist can draw ; only a camera can capture. Fearing cold might catch-up if we lay too long, Doctor pushed all of us back to the trail again. The same way, albeit with a divert. Pulling our loose legs on the pedal, started the backward trace.
And it was all so different even this time! All the left became right, and the right became left ! I do not remember I saw all of them couple of hours back ! Knowing the distance we had to go now, it was more of a walk than a ride. Wifey dear suddenly seemed too heavy to pull, my tiring legs refused to rotate endlessly ! Never did we realize, what we would get to see in the walk back were some of the most fascinating sceneries that’s best felt than written.
As we regrouped, the bus jerked back to life. 4 o’clock - was what the moon’s position said ; Sagar taught us how the locals check their midnight clocks that way. We raced past the same path in the monster now, through the woods, across the bridge, and sleepy villages till we reached a secluded open space by the Khadakwasla.
Ravi greeted us by firing the logs, as we rushed towards the only warm place under the sky. It was a neatly arranged space around the fire, and there was food, lots of it, which made us remember ravenous hunger biting us. The lights on the other side of the lake was the first sight of urban population after hours. The disc in the sky had slipped further towards horizon signaling its time to pack.
……. as we pull our tired souls back home, we wished, that night had prolonged; the stars continue to gaze on us and the moon not find its way behind the oak and the pipal as the city-bound bus sped through the halogens on the asphalt turf.
And did I forget to say, our Anniversary celebrations this week couldn’t have a more rollicking beginning ?
Thank you, BSA for a concept that’s so novel. Thank you Ravi, for shadowing us throughout the lonely passage, yet giving us the space and privacy that moonlight demands. Same for you, Sagar and Doctor, for bearing with our painfully slow pace on the way back ; Viru, for selecting the best cycle that could carry both of us. And all of you - to top it up with that wonderful bonfire that warmed our chilled frames.
Go Moonlight Cycling, Pune!
