Thane - Karnala Fort, Cycling + Trekking
Date : 26, 27/02/2021
Starting Point : Majiwada Signal, Thane.
Destination : Karnala Fort, Karnala Bird Sanctury, Pen.
Camp Site : Karnala Fort Base.
Distance : 50 Km.
Trekking Point : Karnala Fort.
Altitude : 493 m
Another Day Another Expedition, after rest of almost 2 months we decided to go for trek to Karnala Fort. Everyone was doing individual cycling activities and were busy with the work of The Expeder Training Centre, which is a branch of The Expeder. We decided to execute the plan of Thane to Karnala Fort Cycling and Trekking alongwith exploring the bird sanctury. On the D-Day we meet at 1800 Hrs. at Majiwada Signal, Thane. We started our ride and continued on Mumbra Highway, and then Dhanashree joined us at Shilphata.
We took our first rest point there. As it was very hot climate we got exhausted and thirsty. After drinking some sugarcane juice we felt better and the we continued our ride on Panvel Highway.
Other participants joined us at Taloja, they were on bike but they continued with our speed. Then we continued ride and took another stop at Panvel ST Depot, and then took way to the destination. Before Karnala we took another rest point near Palaspe Phata. Finally after getting in the territory of Karnala Wildlife Sanctury we found a place where we pitched a tent and collected wood and grass for bonfire.
We took out our tiffins and started a conversation with each other. Iqra, Shifa, MD Haleem and Raj. We shred our tiffins and snacks and had a great time and conversation. Om took rest for sometime and I took a 10 minutes nap and then continued collecting wood and grass to keep bonfire continue. Haleem started talking about ghosts and started discussing some horror facts. Then by 0300 hrs. Dhanashree, Iqra and Shifa went inside tent for taking rest. Om was very tired as he joined us directly after college he again slept outside of the tent on some cardboard. Then Haleem and Raj also took rest. Around at 0530 Hrs. we made Maggie and ate it.
By 0630 we started winding up. We put soil on fire extinguish it. After packing everything we took our way to the Karnala Fort.
We started our trek to top of the Karnala Fort after seeing the birds. We continued our trek by clicking pictures with nature. I was feeling very tired because of lack of sleep. I just wanted to sleep. Still I continued the trek by singing some old marathi patriotic and inspirational songs.
Finally we reached at the top and I went to the corner and slept there for an hour, and in that time Dhanashree and Om took lots of pictures and recorded videos. After waking up around at 1100 Hrs. I realised it's very hot climate still I got a very nice nap, and then I made this poem, and that poem literally can express my feeling very well.
धरली होती वाट त्या कर्नाळा गडाची,
आली होती साद कानी सह्याद्री मातेची.
केली तयारी त्वरित निघालो घेऊन ओझं पाठीवर,
दिवसा केली लगबग, पापणी नाही लवली रात्रभर.
सूर्यदेवला करून वंदन पाहिला डोंगरमाथा,
चालत राहिलो ओलांडून खडतर पायवाटा.
झोप होती डोळ्यावर जीव झाला नकोसा,
वाटले आता प्रवास हा अर्ध्यातच सोडावा.
घेऊन शिवबाचे नाव, गात काही स्फूर्तिगीतं ,
चालत राहिलो जरी अंगावर मीठ आलं होतं.
गाठता डोंगरमाथा मी धरला एक कोपरा,
झोपायला गेलो बाजूला ठेवून सारा पसारा .
केली उशी त्या डोंगरातील एक दगडाची,
सह्याद्रीतला गार वारा बनला जणू ए.सी.
सकाळच्या वेळी नभातून,
भास्कर आग ओकत होता.
त्रास कसा होऊ देईल आई,
कारण कुशीत तिच्या बाळ होता .
तिचा दगड पण मऊ उशी सारखा भासला ,
थंड खडक तो खालचा उबदार गादी बनला.
वाऱ्याची एक मंद झुळूक हळूच आली,
हलकेसे थोपटून त्वरित निघून गेली.
कीटक माश्या जवळ आले त्यांना पळवत होती,
बाळ झोपलं आहे माझं, बजावून सांगत होती .
क्षणभर विश्रांती प्रकृतीच्या कुशीत घेतली,
सारा क्षीण ती शरीरातून घालवून बसली.
उरला नाही त्रास कसला वेदना कुठे झाली नाही,
थकवा सारा निघून गेला जोश नवा आला देही,
स्वतःला झाला त्रास तरी आई जसं सांभाळी ,
तशीच काहीशी आहे सह्याद्री आपली आई.
Just like a mother, motherland made a very comfortable atmosphere for a little nap. After we gathered up and then again clicked some pictures and started our way back to the base. We refilled our water bottles front the water tanks on the top of the Fort.
Even under the scorching sun and when the temperature is 44°C we got a fridge chilled water. And continued the trail to the base. 3-4 groups were there with us and after crossing half of the way those group ran out of the water. So we shared water with those group also Om gave ORS water to some trekkers as they got dehydrate. Finally we got down and and took rest in the parking lot.
Around at 1600 Hrs. we refreshed ourselves and started way back to home. As it was very exhaustive we took way to the Panvel Jn. and loaded cycles in luggage car and finally reached Thane Stn.
Even while travelling we felt lots of warmness in climate and wind and eventually we got that the decision made by us was very good. By 1900 Hrs. we reached home safely. This time we clicked lots of photos with Compass as it is our signature click.
And it was another day when We Explored By Compass And Not By Clock.
- SgtRMPathare.
