Day 1 – 19th September
Route – Bangalore/Chitradurga/Davangere/Haveri/ Hubli.
Distance covered – 460 km.
FMR INDIA embarked on an ambitious ride of the year, an Awareness/Cause Ride to create more and more awareness on Mental Health, the theme of the year of Rotary International. 8 riders had signed up for this adventure ride covering four major states of India going thru Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
After all the brain storming session with DG of 3191 and 3192, we were all present at the flag off point of KLE DENTAL College gate at 5.30 am, we were welcomed by Rtn Deepak, District Secretary of RID 3191 and President of Cubbon Park Club, they took the honours of flagging off the event at the start point, before that we had customary briefing by President Rtn Rajesh about today’s route and was asked Rtn Vinod to recite a prayer, which he did by reciting Gayatri Mantra for today success and safety of riders.
After all the brain storming session with DG of 3191 and 3192, we were all present at the flag off point of KLE DENTAL College gate at 5.30 am, we were welcomed by Rtn Deepak, District Secretary of RID 3191 and President of Cubbon Park Club, they took the honours of flagging off the event at the start point, before that we had customary briefing by President Rtn Rajesh about today’s route and was asked Rtn Vinod to recite a prayer, which he did by reciting Gayatri Mantra for today success and safety of riders.
The weather was perfect, first 110 km till Sira was a breeze, we stopped at 7.30 am for a great breakfast at Paakshala restaurant, luckily we got the seats immediately. All enjoyed the breakfast and started around 8.30 am for our first official stop to Chitradurga, to meet Rotary fraternity to spread awareness on Mental Health. We were welcomed by members of 3 clubs of Chitradurga.
We were received at their school project run and built by them, a really impressive project. All riders were welcomed with a rose flower, made comfortable, their 3 clubs President took turns to explain their Rotary journey and gave time to President of IFMR India Rtn Rajesh AR to explain the cause behind the awareness ride being undertaken, all were very appreciative of the idea. All Rotary members present from Chitradurga took turns to take pictures with riders and their bikes. After a brief one hour stop here, we proceeded to the next stop, Davangere which was another 100km journey.
It was again a smooth journey as today being the last day of the extended weekend due to Ganesha Festival traffic on the highway was minimal. We were received by Davangere Rotary club members a little ahead of their Rotary House, and were guided to the venue, again a traditional welcome with a single rose flower without plastic wrapper, an excellent concept. Meeting started with all the zest by Davangere stalwarts present like Rtn Biswajit and their AG. Spent another one hour with deliberation on Mental Health awareness. Our Club Jt. Secretary Naveen made a presentation on the cause. President Rajesh and Secretary Vinod took their turns to speak on the same.
Distributed the flyer made on the subject. The photo session started with us riders and took nearly 10 minutes as all wanted to pose with the riders. The big wigs of Davangere took us to a traditional North Karnataka cuisine restaurant for an authentic food, where all are to take out our shoes, as a mark of respect to food, it is a custom. Enjoyed a great lunch and bid goodbye and thanked our great hosts, started for the next stop, Haveri, 80 kms ride. Reached Haveri town close to 3.30 pm, again we were received by Rotary club members just before the meeting venue, took us to the meeting venue, school cum rotary house of the club.
Treated with Tea/biscuits and traditional welcome by a single rose flower. Meeting started with great enthusiasm, President Rtn Rajesh spoke in detail about our cause and all the members of Haveri Rotary club were very appreciative of it. Took turns to take group pictures and we left for the final stop, Hubli city, another 80 km ride. Without any issue we all cruised to Hubli by 5.30 pm. It was a great feeling that we were received again at the start of Hubli city by members of 11 Rotary clubs of Hubli. A few lady members had also joined, and welcomed us with Ladoo sweets on the great occasion of the Ganesh festival, we were escorted to our night stay hotel.
After a quick freshen up, took us their Rotary House of their Hubli North Club, we were welcomed by 6 clubs of Hubli. Meeting started in a traditional style, all riders were felicitated with garland and shawl and for the first time each riders were given a good size Indian Flag made by the Khadi centre which supplies to Government of India the original flags.
A fruitful meeting lasted for 90 minutes, luckily the hosts had a guest speaker who was a specialist in Mental Health studies, and a lot of pleasantries were exchanged, all the 6 clubs President and District Secretary RID 3170 Rtn Vasuki were felicitated by IFMR India and were honoured with our signature Cap and merchandise Baggage Tag to publicise the Rotary movement. Close to 9pm the meeting was over and a few senior members took us out for a true North Karnataka dinner in a traditional restaurant. Bid goodbye to all and we were back to the hotel for good rest after riding for close to 500 kms today.
