I sold my 2019 Versys 650 on 07 Jun. I had to let her go due to increasing trouble with the right knee including a surgery to remove a Baker's cyst that had developed behind it in Feb this year. leading to an almost complete loss of sensation in the entire foot region. And now, I am to undergo a total knee replacement sometime in Aug, depending on the availability of the operation theatre in the super speciality hosiptal near my home.
The following pics of the last ride on the Versys to Lonar crater with some members of the Saddleborne Warriors riding group.
The caption is in Marathi and says," Selfie point made from waste water bottles".
Ravi Manohar (an IT consultant, rides an Indian Scout) at left and self at right. We had stopped for a quick bite at wayside restaurent and this statue caught our eyes.
A panoramic shot. That thin blue horixzontal strip at left below the spur is the lake in the crate; the spur line above it is the rim of the crater. This is an 11th century Shiva temple in the Hemanpanthi style of architecture.
Mr Shailesh Sardar, our guide, explaining the carvings on the temple columns. This particular one depicts the churing of the ocean for nectar. The gods are shown pulling on the divine snake Vasuki who gave himself up to be the pull rope, who is tied to Mt Kailash which is used as the churn itself. One of the best known episodes from Hindu mythology here so this is the Wiki:
A perpetual stream feeding the Vishu kund (water reservoir) in the temple. 11 century Vijaynagar empire noblewomen used to bathe in this pool.
On the way to the crater lake. Indians are notorious for a very poor civic sense and I apologise for the filth seen around. 300 steep stone steps in all. Some originals from the 11th century, others by the Archeological Survey of India.
The crater lake behind me. This was the off season; during the monsoons, the rim and walls are all green.
That's all from me. This wil be my last posting here as I will leave the community now; I do not own or ride a Versys so am no longer eligible to be here.
This has been THE best source of Versys knowledge to me over the past three years of ownership of the bike and I shall forever treasure the memories of our association. fasteddiecopeman, fastoman and others have been of immense help to me. I have asked the new owner - Amrendra Joshi - to apply for membership here so that he too gains from the immense repository here.
Ride Safe, Live Strong. Take care.
DSC09212
IMG_0634
