Heretica

On the 27th afternoon I decided that I will go to Alibag in the evening. However, since I had decided to go on my bike it would have been late by the time I reached there. Hence , I decided to start early on 28th (saturday).

I started at six-thirty in the morning. One has to go to Lonavala on NH4 , from Lonavala it is Khandala . At Khandala the road melts into the expressway. One has to ride for about five kilometer before taking the Khopoli exit. From Khopoli exit it is the Khopoli town and thereafter one has to take the left turn at the Shil phata. There onwards it is about thirty kilometers run to Pen. This Khopoli-Pen section is really picturesque ,winding through hills and greenary . However, the road condition on this section was pretty bad the last time I had traversed on it. This time the road was better though still there remain some rough patches. At Pen one has to take the NH17 ( Mumbai-Goa highway). Keep travelling on NH17 upto Wadkhal where you take the right turn for Alibag.I reached Prashant's place at nine thirty.

In the evening I went to the Alibag beach. It being Saturday evening, the beach was abuzz with people. The Alibag beach is not what it used to be when I was a kid. You don't get to see sparkling sand now. Also, you do not get to see much shells or sea creatures . The beach is home to over a dozen horse-cart owners who take some amount of money for a ride on the shore littered with horse dung among all kind of waste.

As there is not much to see on the beach I got to my hobby of observing people. I enjoy watching unknown people without them or anyone else realising that I am watching them. I indeed takes some finesse to grasp the fine art of such stealth.

Next day, we ( Prashant , Pritish and self ) were off to the Varsoli beach at four in the afternoon. I did not enter the water. It was high tide and the sea was swell with such gust to intimate you about the imminent monsoon.We returned home in about a hour and half.

Today morning I got up at five finished the daily chores and started my return ride at six thirty.
I lost my way twice on the way back . I reached Chinchwad at nine forty five.

During my two days at Alibag I dearly missed Smita and Achintya. Achintya would surely love to play with the waves on the beach. Next time I get an opportunity I will take both of them along.