The day began early for 20 CATS... Sukhna Lake indeed is the place to greet the Sun God..
Tete-e-tete amungst the CATS whilst waiting for
CAT Rachna and her son CAT Ansh to arrive... who had
got delayed as her car had been blocked by another car and
she could not leave her residence...
CAT DeepInder quickly stepped in to pick her up and reach Nepli Gate direct...
....and the rest of the entourage started moving towardsthe Nepli Gate from our assembly point of Sukhna Lake,
slowly but surely,
enjoying the rising sun kissing our sleep deprived whiskers ;-)
Brightly painted peacocks welcomed us at the Nepli Gate,where we handed over our official permit and parked the cars...
A final 'Roll Call of Attendance' being marked off our Registration Sheet,to ensure no adventerous feline went missing between the lake and the gate!
See, I told you CATS are full of mischief and adventure...Can't take them anywhere ;-)
It was not long before we set our paws on the lush green trail...
and there was a surprise every corner...CAT Puneet was elated to find a Peacock Feather,
to take home for her lovely daughter CAT Ana who did not came for the trek...
wonder what CAT Kunal and CAT Chat are so mesmerised with...
Was it this magical web woven by the spider andbeautifully caught on the camera by our new CAT Raman?
Any guesses for what this white fluff is?.
NO... think again... Still no???
.
This white fluff contains the eggs laid by the butterflies I am told...
but none of us could find out the reason why all the trees
in this particular patch of the jungle, were all leaning towards one side...
We tried to walk away from the trail and into the jungle
but still failed to establish the possible cause(s)...
Mr Ishwar Singh, perhaps you could explain?
Whilst it was a fun morning for the CATS,it was work as usual for some...
a reality of a blessed life we all lead,
never fails to hit us whenever we go out trekking...
Another young boy out to earn his bread and butter for the day...
Food for thought for our young ones, duly taken care by anothernew-comer CAT Ajit and ofcourse the old timer, CAT Rachna M...
and just in case you are thinking that CAT Rachna A is lettingthe child in her have a field day in the jungle.. THINK AGAIN :)
Like last trek in Nepli, CAT Gurtej had slipped in a choeand landed on his rear end...
and CAT Rachna A fetched the water out of the village well
to give him an instant bath and wash the mud off his back ;-)
Though the trail was lovely, it had started getting a little warm for CAT Sanjeev :)
CAT Raman kept saying, 'I can't believe this is Chandigarh!'
Watch Towers are so much fun to stop by and indulge in a spot of bird watching.
and there is plethora of information pertaining to the jungle,its' flora and fauna that has been carefully painted inside each watch tower...
a place where our fellow CATS perplexed these two felinesby getting upto mischief... AGAIN!!!
atleast 4 cameras must have clicked atleast dozens of pics within a few seconds...
First MEOW MOMENT of the trek...A group photograph at the last watch tower before
we stopped at the Nepli Hut for a breakfast break...
Picturesque Nepli Hut with sprawling and well manicured lawnsgleefully welcomed 20 CATS into its' fold...
A short 'langar' break followed whereby everyone sharedwhatever they had brought along in their rucksacks..
'Matthiyaan' brought by CAT Chat were an instant hit and did many rounds :)
A quick poll after breakfast was held when only 5 handswent up in favour of trekking one hillock before we head home...
However, with a little meowing, 16 stayed back to leg it more
whilst CAT Sanjeev, CAT Chat, CAT Raman and CAT Rachna A
decided to head back to their cars.
So it was Garri for some and Pahaari for the rest :)
Even though the sun was shining at our back,we stepped forward bravely ahead..
and it was proving to be a little steep already for the first timers...
but the hike had just begun CATS ;-)
Forget the old timers, even the experienced CATS were finding ita little taxing to walk the ramp under the blinding sun without any breeze!
Rest we may a little...but we had a hillock to climb where the best view of Sukhna Lake
and the Capitol Complex was waiting for us at the
Hawa Mahal; yet another watch tower in the jungle.
Stop not till the goal is reached... unless ofcourse you are CAT Krishanand have spotted something interesting to click on the way ;-)
CAT Puneet sightfully complains,
'Mera pati meri photo to leta hee nahi hai!!'
CAT Ravinder resting his paws along with CAT Aman and CAT Ansh...
Giving Up is not in our genes!
The second MEOW MOMENT of the trek...CATS finally at the Watch Tower :)
Can you name this beautiful fly?
CATS at the final pit-stop of the trek - Nathewala KhuAny idea why we are all looking so 'Bheegi-Bheegi Billiyaan'??
A quickly deviced 'head spa' at the village well;for the drained CATS and by the resourceful CATS ;-)
As CAT Om would say,
'Billlliyaaan - Gillllliyaaaann'
Final count of the feathers which were collected during the trek...Can you name the birds to whom they belong to?
Yet another productive Sunday morning spent in the loving company of CATS :)
- CAT Supreet
