THE FABIA CLUB

admin · Last edited by admin on Sat Jun 06, 2009 9:56 pm; edited 1 time in total

My Fabia’s maiden voyage (Bangalore to Goa). I have wanted to write this for a long time but didn’t, due to reasons mostly related to tardiness.

I set my hands on the wheel at 6.30 AM on 25th of November 2008. We were late by an hour but had decided to take it easy and enjoy the journey as well. According to the plan we had to cover the whole of 650kms of the Bangalore-Hubli-Karwar-Goa in one day. As part of back up plan we prepared ourselves for a possible night halt at Hubli.

It was 8.30 AM by the time we reached Tumkur. The road from here opens up and is smooth as well. We stopped at a plaza for our 2nd round of breakfast (tank full helps Very Happy

). Some stretch of road from Chitradurg to Haveri is not four lane and hampers the avg speed real bad. Our lunch was in Hubli and by 3.30 we decided to move on.

From Hubli we took the Hubli-Karwar road, NH 63. The whole stretch gets its beauty from the jungles of the Western Ghat. It was 6.30 pm when we reached Karwar and entered NH 17. This is an important road which runs all along the western coast of India, from Mumbai to Cochin, and hence is responsible for heavy truck traffic. As lights came on, driving became difficult in the ghats with trucks all around. We made a wise decision and took a night halt at Karwar. None of the good hotels had any vacancy so the less said the better. We did find an accommodation for a paltry sum of RS 500.

Next day we started early morning, 5.30 ish. The same scary NH 17 of yesterday was unbelievably scenic. At 2.00 PM we checked in Fort Aguada Taj Resort. What a contrast – from a lodge in Karwar to a Resort in Goa.

On our way back we stopped in Hubli for a night. This time we were lucky to find a good hotel.

Hubli - Karwar (this was my desktop image for long)

Karwar - Goa

Mandrem Beach Goa

View from Resort room

I din't know car wash service was free Smile

.

Golf snapped on our way back.

naikpranav · Newbie Joined: 05 Jun 2009 Posts: 25 Location: Mumbai

That is a fantastic road and a fantastic drive ! If you do it again, stop at Devbaug near karwar. nice snorkelling there. How about a Bangy-Mumbai drive with all the lodge ? I wouldn't mind giving you'll company on the way back.. Very Happy

admin · Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 9:50 pm Post subject:

k_ajay · Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 3:58 pm Post subject: Thumbs-up!

Hey Rob,

Seems like a great journey you had there... Free car wash? You must be lucky... And I need to visit them with the white boy and they might just stop the offer... lol

Naikpranav's offer is too good to resist, but unfortunately Bangy to Mumbai is one long drive.. Doubt we'd be able to make it that far without great motivation... I am visiting mumbai this october for less than a week [for functions] but it won't be on the Fab.

Bangy to Goa is a good idea, but my holiday planner for this year is already complete... Any more days-off from work means relocating to Goa for work... Comprendo? Laughing

_________________
Peace precedes Prosperity..

naikpranav · Newbie Joined: 05 Jun 2009 Posts: 25 Location: Mumbai

Whats the Bangy Fabiosi Lodge doing in the first weekend of July ? I will definitely be coming down to Bangalore for my Best Friend's wedding, either by car or by flight, am inclined to the drive as of now.. but thats only if the girlfriend is willing to lend arms and legs for atleast 300km, hope it works out, robin, since you've driven this stretch, how long does it take to reach bangalore ? I am considering 14 hours, if I can keep a good pace, keeping in mind the 4-laned highway. Please gimme an update of the bagy boys plans for the weekend, if a meet can be scheduled, it will be more reason for me to drive !

admin · Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:30 am Post subject:

Invinsible · Newbie Joined: 05 Jun 2009 Posts: 31

WOW! that's hell of a drive. How many red bulls will be need for this. Smile

Some 5 years back I had done some non stop driving reaching Mount Abu in about 9 hours and from there 3 hours to jodhpur, was more of relaxed drive to Jodhpur Wink

But that time the roads werent that great. Now I wonder how much time would it take with better improved roads.
Someday I would wanna do drive upto Leh, Ladakh. Not too sure when that would be.

So when can the meet happen in GOA. I guess it's only me and Pranav from here. I plan going on next weekend or by this month end. If not than I suppose anytime in August should be fine? So what's the plan guys.

admin · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:29 am Post subject:

naikpranav · Newbie Joined: 05 Jun 2009 Posts: 25 Location: Mumbai

Mom is ready for the trip, GF is ready too, have some loose ends to tie, and I might have a meeting in coimbatore for a project, so thinking of mixing business and pleasure. will keep the lodge informed as and when things shape up, I would like to drive to leh too ! have some material ready for that, however, I think the window is may-june every year, so keep that in mind. My journey upto c'garh is planned, just need an excuse.