Adding adventures to life is very important as they can always be a one-time experience that will be cherished for the rest of our lives. The cycling team of OCTS is very serious about the concept and has always managed to accomplish something that is considered impossible by others. Last year, they passionately pedalled on an extraordinary road trip from Karaikudi to Dhanushkodi in a single day. This time, the team has raised the bars to drive on the hills of Munnar crossing the borders of Tamil Nadu & Kerala.
The OCTS Cycling Team!
People say it is wise to sit and enjoy the monsoon with hot coffee and dark chocolate, But our cycling team wanted to pedal their riders in this climate and experience their real potential on roads. Our CEO, being a cycling enthusiast who is addicted to driving cycles, is pumped up by the plan and wants to try it out. It was a team of nine members headed by Mr. Robert Raja & Mr. Hariharan who has worked and organised the whole trip. Mr. Prakash Kumar and Mr. Suresh Babu, the director of OCTS, has enthusiastically joined the team. Mr. Chris Roy, one of the early members of this team also pedalled with newbies Mr. Mahesh Kumar, Mr. Akash & Mr. Guna who were excited by the previous achievement of the team. Mr. Peethambaran, a good friend of OCTS, has also joined the team in this adventurous trip.
The Plan
The 100 KM drive was planned and accomplished for two days starting from Munnar and driving through the steaps and slopes of the hills for about 48 KMs to reach Misty Range Resorts at Marayoor. The next day’s drive was from the resort to the Thirumoorthy Dam which was about 46 KMs away from the starting point. Pedalling cycles at 2360 M high roads from seal level is a real test to their strength and perseverance. Proudly, they have achieved this uphill battle with focus, commitment and team spirit.
Day One
First day was a physical test for the team. Nothing went in their way. The weather was inclement and the locals stopped them from starting the trip for their safety concern. They were desperate and wanted to reach their target at any cost and started to pedal with full energy and safety gears. The continuous rain reduced the temperature to freezing 16°C and the roads were slipping like hell while heavy mist made it very difficult for them to drive. It was a daunting experience, says the team. The steaps in the drive tested their energy and the slopes tested their brakes. After successfully surfing through the problems by helping each other. They have successfully completed the first day and had good rest at Misty Range Resorts.
Day Two
The next day started fresh with less rain and a bright sky. The initial plan was to return on the same route. However, they had a sudden change in the route as they wanted to explore scenic beauty on the Anaimalai route. This time it was a mental hurdle as the route is not safer for people to travel, especially in cycles. The team desperately wanted to cover the deep dense forest. Hence, they travelled together with coordination to avoid problems and effectively managed the food and water they had in hand as there was no human movement throughout the path. Experiencing elephants,lagoon monkeys, wild buffalos and even sambar deer along with mesmerising falls, scenic landscape is the ultimate gift of choosing the route. Finally, everything went well and the mountain cycling has come to an end, giving memories and lessons for life.
Takeaway
Our whole team at OCTS were praying for the success of the trip. Thankfully, it is again a massive success by God’s grace. After hearing their journey, our takeaway is very simple: You will always have to keep the first step with courage and commitment no matter how hard the situation is. Everything else will fall at your feet when you have hope and work on it with self-belief in you. This applies for all aspects of life.
“Putting the feeling together with words is very difficult and you have to be in the situation to experience the dopamine hit! We learned the true value of life, food and shelter. Each road we drove through made us realise something zen. Helping and supporting each will definitely help you cross any hurdle in life and win the situation is the takeaway!,” said the team with a sense of achievement.
OCTS as an organisation wants to address the importance of health wherever we can. The cycling team at OCTS is the first step towards the aim. This team is to encourage our employees to focus on the health of their body with some kind of physical work to keep fit and happy. The cycling team is expanding and we have even bigger milestones to achieve in the future!
Great Trip. Totally Awesome. Extreme Cycling.