PARTICIPATING IN THE INAUGURAL RIDE OF P.O.R.O.

A FUN RIDE IN APRU MUMBAI!

(Sunday, 8th of April, 2018)

DHUN & I
(on our borrowed ride)

       
  

          On the 15^th of March 2018, I received a WhatsApp message from a dear friend of mine, Mr. Rony Vesuna, inviting me to a bike ride. It was titled “Bawa Bikers Meetup 8^th April. Never having gone for such an outing, I did hesitate at first, but after a little persuasion from my dear wife Dhun, I joined the list of riders taking part, with her as my pillion. This was the beginning of the wonderful bike ride which was later performed by about one hundred and fifty riders of the Zoroastrian faith in Mumbai, 30 of them with pillions sitting astride behind them. 

            I commenced preparations for the ride a day before, by getting my Activa serviced (the same one I had used on my epic Kanyakumari tour), washed and polished. I wanted my “Black Beauty” to shine like it was new; and so it did. The day started early for some of us staying in the suburbs of Mumbai, as we had to make our way to town. We left home by 0515 hrs and had hardly travelled 1.5 Kms when suddenly the scooter went dead on us. From a good healthy engine sound it turned to utter silence in the early morning hours. I tried to restart it several times, but to no avail, it would not even kick-start. Dhun and I both looked at each other in dismay. It was a case of “man proposes and God disposes”. I even voiced, that on the exceptionally long journeys of 1400 Kms and 4808 Kms nothing had failed and here, a short hop to town, the scooter would not even start. I had a superficial look at the scooter but could not decipher what had gone wrong. Being a Sunday, and early morning, to boot, the mechanic coming to our rescue was again out of question. Suddenly, Dhun recalled our dear friends the Billimorias telling her that they did have an extra scooter and if there were any riders requiring the same, they were welcome to ride on it. Now the case turned into “God helps those who help themselves”. We immediately called them and liaised to meet them at the Grant Road station. We hailed a passing rickshaw and jumped in and told the driver to hurry to the Andheri Suburban Railway station. We were just in time to catch the 0550 hrs slow train to town.  We arrived at 0625 at the Grant Road Station to see the Billimorias and Dubashes waiting for us. After the initial greetings and thank-yous, we quickly mounted and sped off to the starting location. We arrived at the start venue well in time and promptly registered and then went about meeting up with other friends like the Romanis, Pavris, etc.

THE START VENUE

         

         With a crescendo of reverberating engines and some clashing of gears, the 150 bikes started en masse from outside the Mafatlal swimming pool at Chowpatty. It was like music to our ears and sent a thrill through some of us, which will never ever be forgotten. It was a mass start, as all types of bikes, scooters and super-bikes, all started at the same time and maintained the speeds and RPMs that they were comfortable upholding. Thus it seemed like a multitude of two-wheelers, all going in the same direction, along with the normal traffic. Soon there were small groups of 2-wheelers forming according to their speed limitations. 

  THE START

          We wound our way from Chowpatty to Aarey Milk Colony at Worli seaface on a pre-determined route via Nana Chowk, Tardeo, Mahalakshmi station and Worli Naka. We spent some time awaiting stragglers coming in and also had a group photo session on the promenade.

FUN-PHOTOGRAPHY

SOME BEAUTIES TO ADMIRE

          After all had arrived, we again departed for the next stopover, the Flagstaff at the Bandra-Worli Sealink Promenade. The pre-determined route was again followed by all, via Prabhadevi, Shivaji Park, Mahim Church, Mahim Causeway and Bandra Reclamation. 

ONWARDS TO BANDRA

          The ride was again exhilarating and soon we all stood on the Bandra Promenade taking photographs and videos as some of the super-bike riders gave a thrilling demonstration of their capabilities.  

    

            THE BANDRA BIKE PARADE

"THE DEMO"                     

          

           We were there for at least half an hour, if not more, after which we departed for the last haul to the Parsi Gymkhana at Marine Drive and awaiting us was a sumptuous "Parsi Naasto".

            The pre-determined route was via the Mahim Causeway, Mori Road, Tulsipipe Road, past Phoenix Mills Compound, Mahalaxmi station, Haji Ali Junction, Tardeo, Nana Chowk, Wilson College, and Parsi Gymkhana. We were to have breakfast at the Parsi Gym, and I suppose, that is why the pace of the Bawas was “fast and furious”, but of course, always under “ legal limits”. Most of the riders may have followed the pre-determined route, however, a few of us got foxed at the Mori Road junction. Some went towards Bombay Scottish School, others like us, who were following, went towards Shiv Sena Bhavan, and still others went according to the planned route on Mori Road. We cut across through some internal roads at Mahim and came back on course at Mahim station. At Haji Ali Junction, instead of riding on to Tardeo, we again followed others past Mahalakshmi temple, onto Pedder Road and then past Khareghat colony, past Babulnath Temple, onto the Chowpatty road leading to Marine Drive and Parsi Gymkhana. In doing so, we did arrive a wee bit earlier than we would if we had followed the pre-determined route.

            The parking here was very well organised and systematic. We could see and get to admire all the gorgeous bikes standing proudly side-by-side. It was virtually a feast for hungry eyes and a joy to behold. We met several of the owners and chatted with them. The people attending the ride, most of who were of the younger generation, were very courteous and we enjoyed talking to them.

       
          It was one big surprise, when I was called by Mr.Mahiar Davar of the organising committee to be felicitated for my solo ride in 2016 to Kanyakumari and back, covering 4808 Kms. I was presented a white helmet by the Chief Guest, Senior Inspector of Police Cyrus Irani. I felt deeply honoured and touched by this magnanimous gesture on the part of the organisers and I thank them very much for it. It was akin to being given due recognition by one's peers.

   

          

          The much awaited breakfast was served buffet style in the gymkhana balcony. It consisted of scrumptious dishes like Akuri, Khima Pav, Sausages, Ravo, bread-butter-jam followed by a cup of tea. 

                    

          The Parsi Times covered the P.O.R.O. ride in their edition on Saturday April 14 with a write-up by Kerfegar Eduljee.

          Like I had stated earlier, this was our first ride of this kind and we found it quite enlightening and enlivening. 

         What a thrilling way to spend a Sunday morning and hoping to spend some more in the same way.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, STAY WELL AND USHTA TE!