Friday 10 May 2013 - we finally set off at 1600 having filled the Ford Endeavour with a couple of bikes, water, first aid kit and overnight clothes and headed off on the Mumbai - Pune highway. A quick stop for diesel at Hindustan Petroleum where we were the centre of attention on the forecourt.
Our destination was a resort hotel Beyond a few kilomeres past the Sula Wineyard in Nashik which lies about 120 kms from Mumbai.
The road pretty much all the way is a highway, which is largely a toll road maintained by private companies who have built the road and have a 10 or so year contract to collect the tolls, and hence the surface is pretty good. Having reached Naslik things became a bit more challenging are Sula lies well outside the town - well the description of a 'town' may be a misnomer as its population is in excess of 1.6 million !! - and the map was anything but detailed !
We did manage to get some directions from a group of men but even I, with hardly any hindi could tell they were not unanimous in their confidence in the route they were suggesting.
However Google Maps came to the rescue and after several kilometres down a single track and seemingly partially paved road we past first Sula Wineyard and then the aptly named Beyond.
The resort itself is about 20 rooms all facing a pool and views over the hills. Dinner with Sula Rose was pretty good ! And the BBC on the TV was a treat !
Our destination was a resort hotel Beyond a few kilomeres past the Sula Wineyard in Nashik which lies about 120 kms from Mumbai.
The road pretty much all the way is a highway, which is largely a toll road maintained by private companies who have built the road and have a 10 or so year contract to collect the tolls, and hence the surface is pretty good. Having reached Naslik things became a bit more challenging are Sula lies well outside the town - well the description of a 'town' may be a misnomer as its population is in excess of 1.6 million !! - and the map was anything but detailed !
We did manage to get some directions from a group of men but even I, with hardly any hindi could tell they were not unanimous in their confidence in the route they were suggesting.
However Google Maps came to the rescue and after several kilometres down a single track and seemingly partially paved road we past first Sula Wineyard and then the aptly named Beyond.
The resort itself is about 20 rooms all facing a pool and views over the hills. Dinner with Sula Rose was pretty good ! And the BBC on the TV was a treat !