Camping.Trekking.Wanderlust.LIFE !

Even at the cost of reiteration and pretext of being finicky at all times I hereby would reinstate my views. The most beautiful things in life almost always come for free. This was the note on which I planned the said trip itinerary of mine and this was precisely the affirmation that came out of it. Seclusion. Roads less traveled. Non-touristy circuit. Midst of forest range. Friends and Long Zoom camera for company. Bliss.So while the weekend before last was spent amidst the frothing serenity of Kashid, with family; this was the weekend of sheer adventure, thrill and fun unbound as 6 of us,office colleagues, backpacked and drove down to Lonavala for a camping cum trekking trip to Rajmachi Fort. Before I start this travelogues, let me put a word of thanks to oh so wonderful Abhijeet & Maansi from Letscampout - a team that organizes such camps for wanderlust driven souls like ours. 

So, having reached Lonavala (which infact is just over 75 minutes drive from my part of the city) we took an SUV cab to Rajmachi. I somehow have become an unofficial trip planner for my department over past 1 year but then this time even I wasn't very sure of the whole rendezvous as there was no prior evidence of success. Blank but excitedly we disembarked at Village Rajmachi and headed to our campsite. Amazing comfortable camps awaited our arrival but we wanted some action so after an awesomely sumptuous lunch we took off for a casual walk to the cliff and then to the nearby lake. A lake crossing session was organised for us and while it tested stamina, it nevertheless was good fun. Back to camp site a barbecue and campfire was organised and it was further corroborated by spooky tales we discussed. This followed by a (mid) night trek - lit only by solar lanterns was worth every missed beat. And the best part, after so many years I could actually see so many stars in the sky and crescent moon all so close to us. Silence is the best healer and that was evident from the all-so-cheerful conversations. Was wondering all the time if this was all in some way lost courtesy our work, routines, life.

After a slightly disturbed sleep (imagine sleeping in the middle of a forest with monkeys climbing over trees and dogs sniffing around. Add to that news of a wild boar hunted down in the vicinity in the evening) we got up to a clear 'n chilly morning. After freshening up we headed for a trek to Rajmachi fort which is considered as second most difficult trek in Maharashtra (not really!). 2 hours and gallons of sweat later we left from the campsite to Lonavala.

It was all very rejuvenating and the silence was so connecting to self that while driving back, honking of horns was a pain to ears. Back to the rut, I was feeling completely out of place and completely out of sync. Having said that, I feel light, determined and so much more willing to take up another excursion soon. Very soon. So next weekend I am off to MP for some tourist thing coupled with relative-bonding. 

If only time could just cease to tick whenever heart is at bliss missing beats ... if only ...