Friday 23rd November:

Friday 23rd November:

Start:           22,707

Finish:        22,926

Distance:         219

Average:

Route:         Fort Kochi – Aluva – Oilur – Palakkad - Coimbatore

Hotel:          WelcomHotel

Today:

We have to compliment the Daffodils boutique hotel. It is small, personal, a fresh, clean décor and extremely helpful staff. To the extent, that when we informed them we would be leaving at 06.30, one of the guys came in early to provide an excellent fresh fruit platter, eggs, coffee etc.

At 06.55 we were packed and on our way, with extra water and the good wishes of the early morning staff member.

It will be a relatively straightforward ride, back towards Palakkad (where we launched ourselves towards a couple of days previously) and onto Coimbatore, where Tony has already booked the WelcomHotel. It will be good to have an early arrival and explore some of the attractions.

Riding back out of Kochi at 07.00 was a joy. Limited traffic and taking an alternative outer route had avoided the gridlocks we experienced coming into Kochi in the heat of the middle afternoon.

It was thou a bitter-sweet start to the day, as the first 100km or so were retracing the route we had driven twice before via Thrussur and Palakket

Even with obeying the various traffic lights within the city area of Kochi, we managed to complete 55km and were in Alatur by 09.00 and refuel. I was now conscious the chain was slipping under strain and was now a certainty I was going to experience the same issues that Tony had a few days previously.

A quick inspection, confirmed the worst. The rear sprocket was looking more like the outer skin of a sliced pineapple, than something to drive the rear wheel. As we were only about 100k from Coimbatore, it made sense to nurse the ‘old girl’ to Palakkad and possibly onto our destination.

As time progressed, the slipping became more regular, requiring less and less torque for it to slip….it was stuffed. So a quick check on Google to see where Royal Enfield workshops were located and thankfully they were available in both Palakkad (a few km up the road) and Coimbatore.

Yet again, a RE  rider stopped to inquire and said he knew the local service centre on this road and he would take us. Not quite sure what happened, but we appeared to have dropped him, then Tony spotted the Centre on the opposite side. So to be sure we were not going to be stranded, we turned around and called in. The main concern of carrying on, was if the run to Coimbatore was uphill. The bike (and rider) would probably struggle.

We walked into another smart sales & service centre to be greeted by one of the staff. Understanding the position, he called one of his workshop personnel to provide an assessment. His English was sufficiently good to communicate…..it was f….ed !!

But when can you do it ….’we will do it now’ !  Well, we thought the service Tony had received for his repairs was good, but this was just incredible. The immediate response to our dilemma, the cold water, the air-conditioned ‘rest room’, the tea and continual update as to how the works were progressing, was a revelation.

It will take around 2 hours and cost IR2,500 unless we find anything else……. Amazing!

Not only did they find the sprockets were stuffed, but the swinging arm bushes were also worn.

Having first entered the showroom doors around 10.00 they offered to fast-track this and around 13.30 we walked out with

Chain & sprockets replaced

Swinging arm rebushed

Complete oil change

Tony’s oil changed

The assistance and enthusiasm to support us was outstanding. We have experienced first hand (on two separate occasions) the professional and inclusive attitude and relationship with the RE fraternity.

For me, it is similar to the level of support when walking into an Apple store …. They are just ‘programmed’ to want to help.

Who knows where we would have been if another brand of bike had been chosen. However, it does now pose some questions on how well the bikes had been serviced before our trip?

So, after the obligatory photo’s, selfies, etc etc, we were on our way again to Coimbatore and able to complete a trouble-free ride

Another heavily congested city with the drivers demonstrating a frenetic disposition on getting to wherever they need to get to, as quickly as possible. After the earlier distractions, I am not sure either of us were particularly patient about ‘waiting out turn’. Let’s hope it is a decent hotel.

On arrival, the outside looked a little austere, but it was a warm greeting by security. Then inside, there was a wow factor. The staff were again delightful and we were shown to a plush room (thankfully twin beds). It was ‘just the ticket’ after a disrupted day.

So, the usual routine, shower, change, beer….heaven !

It was an interesting evening, as we were engaged by both the head chef (an earlier biker) and the BDM & about our trip. The meal, the service was outstanding.

It was unfortunate, we only had the one night, as the allure of Ooty beckoned.