I’ve been driving for more than 15 years.\u00a0 There were years when the office commute itself was a 50 km\/day affair (in Mumbai’s traffic\u00a0that’s quite a distance to cover).\u00a0 There were also the occassional trips to Pune via the Expressway, but even on a same-day-return journey, that added up to just about 380 kms in a day.\u00a0 I have always harboured the desire to drive coast-to-coast across the US, and also explore India by road.\u00a0 But, hadn’t attempted a really “long drive”… until last week.<\/p>\n
We had planned to do a Bombay-to-Goa with both our kids, and I’m happy to report that\u00a0we all made it back in one piece, and are raring to go again!<\/p>\n
The distance is about 650 kms, each way.\u00a0 And, to get the full experience of a long drive, we decided to do it in one stretch.\u00a0 The planned drive time was about 14 hours, each way, but we ended up clocking nearly 17 hours!\u00a0 It was a memorable trip, and I was really pleased that, in spite of a back operation a few years ago, I was able to do this.\u00a0 We chose the superb NH4 route instead of the usual NH17 one, and it was a fantastic experience…<\/p>\n
Here’s what I learned from my first long drive:<\/p>\n
– Start by 5 am for a >12-hour road trip; A half-hour in the morning\u00a0is worth two by evening
\n– If travelling with kids, carry enough food in the cabin (not in the boot), in case you’re stranded
\n– On a long road trip, the journey is as important as the destination; Don’t be in a hurry to “reach”
\n– Wear comfortable attire and shoes – whatever you’re most comfortable in, including floaters
\n– Plan your route in advance and key-in important via points into your GPS – it will do wonders!
\n– Don’t start with six options and assume that you’ll decide on the way; Re read above point
\n– Carry enough water and consume it as frequently as possible; Car ACs dehydrate you
\n– Don’t take a new car \/ new pair of shoes \/ new camera on a long road trip; I didn’t
\n– Don’t forget to pack your sense of humour with you – no one likes a cabin full of grump
\n– Know a little about the kind of food you’ll encounter en route e.g. Kolhapur = Spice
\n– There are at least 20 people in Goa who run at 5.30 am; Watch out for them when you drive!<\/p>\n
For the record, the best way to go from Bombay to Goa is from Mumbai to Pune via the expressway and then onto NH4 (buttery-smooth six-lane ribbon of tar!) past Satara – Kolhapur – Nipani (right turn) – Ajara – Amboli (ghats<\/em>) – Sawantwadi – joining NH17 and then onto Mapusa\/Panjim\/Madgaon.\u00a0 Also for the record, the worst way to cross the ghats <\/em>(mountainous region) is via Anmod.<\/p>\n For those of you who’re interested in our particular travel log, here’s what happened:<\/p>\n (All distances from Powai) Started at 5.15 am. McDonalds @ 6.12 am, 42km. Hit NH4 near Baner (Pune)\u00a0@ 7.45 am, 145k.\u00a0 Khed tollbooth @ 8.45 am, 180k. Passed thru Khandala ghats (before Satara) @ 9.30 am, 225k. Next tollbooth @ 249k. Break for lunch @ 1.15 in McDonald’s (opp. side)\u00a0at 384k. Past Hattari SEZ @ 3.15 pm, 460k.\u00a0 Entered Belgaum city @ 4.30 pm.\u00a0 Went via Khanapur road (NH4A) upto Anmod ghats.\u00a0 Took a few wrong turns trying to follow a “shortcut”, and got lost in the wilderness of a 133 sq. km nature reserve with no sign of civilisation until about 9 pm, when we hit NH4 again near Ponda.\u00a0 (This last part is entirely optional, and I don’t suggest you try it.<\/em>)\u00a0 Then, hit the road to Madgaon and reached Colva @ 10 pm.<\/p>\n (All distances from Colva) Started @ 5.30am. Sawantwadi @ 92k, 7.45am. Amboli ghats end\u00a0 (Kamat’s hotel) @ 8.55 am. Hotel Minerva @ 2km before Ajara @ 10:15 am, 152k\u00a0– very clean loo.\u00a0 Hit NH4 @ 12PM, 192k.\u00a0 No decent place to eat except McD @ Kolhapur and Sai Food Court @ 265k and some more options @ 285k.\u00a0 Taswade tollplaza @ 2.35p, 315k. Asal Satara has great food\u00a0on the\u00a0opp. side via service road @ 355 k. Last tollbooth on Mum-Pun expressway @ 8pm, 540k. Expressway ends @McDonald’s @ 8.20pm,\u00a0570k.\u00a0 Then, pray that the city traffic does not take all the joy out of your long drive (as it did to our’s).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Happy journey…<\/p>\n P.S. Thanks for all the help, DM.<\/p>\n