A breath-taking ride
It should be around 12 noon when we halted in-front of sholayar reserve forest check-post after visiting the sholayar dam, Valparai. The lower sholayar dam had beautiful landscape with larger waterbody surrounded by green meadows. Boots got down to get a receipt from forest officer that had the details of entry time and vehicle number. I was not aware that it is going to be a 2 hour journey inside a thick forest. Boots was feeling nostalgic about the same route which he covered a year back. He was recalling about the road condition, documents required in check-post, weather and animals that he desired to see.
Deep into the woods
We understood that Sholayar forest is a home for thick green old trees, ferns, spooky creepers and climbers, birds that chirp beautiful notes , elephant dungs that revealed that elephants has passed by, canopy made by trees above our heads. The road condition could be better because we rode via a off-road trail. The weather was clear for a while but in few minutes, the dark clouds were above us signaling that they cannot bear the weight anymore, hence it is the time for pour-down.
Traces of wild Elephants
Boots was highly excited to watch wild Elephants and I was owning horror-struck face at that time. I reminded him that “we both, including our bike will look like three carpenter ants “, however Boots was still exhilarated. He was commenting about the age of Elephant dungs, figuring out its path after watching the smashed bamboos on the roads.
The most exciting part
Boots was telling about the duration that one has to spend in this forest and the subsequent fine when surpassed. I was into deep thinking about whether the forest officials attempt to find out the persons who have checked in but have not checked out on that day. He replied, ” These records were not digitalized, hence officials will give an attempt when missing cases arise”. I was pondering about this while my eyes were focusing on a black mixed with red long belt like structure with the head lifted up. However I was physically present and mentally absent with the missing cases. Gosh!! I realized that we were crossing a snake that was yet to cross the road. My right ankle was closer to its face and I was shocked! I screamed and the snake moved back. After moving further, We realized that it is essential to ride carefully in woods.
Accidents are not just accidents, be it a snake or an elephant, It is carelessness!
