Minchukallu Betta in a Coop

My guest editors for this post are my kids - Neha (12) and Navneet (9)

It was a pleasant Saturday afternoon when we reached the campsite.  We had travelled for two hours after eating lunch at home, mostly on a highway and about five minutes  on a Kutcha road.  We were the first ones to arrive at the farmhouse and had to open a number locked gate.

Soon we were inside, and luckily after about 15 minutes the other trekkers started trickling in.  When there were about 10 people who had arrived, our host Babu came by. He took us to a small room with stone steps leading to a terrace.

He placed a tarpaulin sheet on the ground and placed two bags of vegetables on it.  He asked the ladies to chop and clean the vegetables thoroughly, and they readily  started on the job.  There were many vegetables that had to be cleaned, like onions, carrots, tomatoes, coriander, chili and many more.

 Within minutes all the vegetables were cleaned and chopped, but unfortunately a small drizzle  dawned over the house  began and continued into a pouring rain. Thankfully Babu had a plan B. He took us into a chicken coop next to the house that had been emptied 15 years  ago and shifted all the cooking utensils and veggies inside.  Soon everyone had placed tarpaulin sheets on the ground and had settled in comfily.

 Within half an hour or so there was delicious chilli bhajji and steaming hot tea waiting for us. After the quick snack everyone settled for a game of Antakshari which continued for about  two  hours.  The only light that was there in the room was a blazing flakes of a fire on which cooked a tasty sambar, followed by a delicious potato sabji and chicken (of course not  the veggitarians) At about 8.30 the food was ready and everyone took plates and started piling it with tasty food including chapati and curd rice.  At about 9:30 everyone had finished eating and had cleared all the leftovers. Babu got us tents which we had no other option to put inside the chicken coop.

Soon there was a line of tents waiting to be filled with sleepy people. At about 10:30 everyone hit the sack and was ready to (maybe) have a successful sound sleep until  4 o'clock the next day.

(Editor's Note: Neha's section ends, Navneet's begins)

Unfortunately, no one had a good sleep since there were many noisy tents.  When we went out of the chicken coop, at 4 am the next morning, the trekkers who were going to the Channarayana durga trek were already ready to go.  There was also hot coffee.

 It was soon time for us to leave to MinchinKallu Betta near Tumkur.  We were 9 people including our guide, Babu. When we reached, it was as dark as a cave.

We immediately started climbing the 2 km trek up the hill.  It was very slushy because of the previous day's rain. We weren't wasting any time because we had to be on the top of the hill before  sunrise, which was the whole purpose of the hike.

We all had torches so we could see where we were walking. There were many rocks and stones which dotted our way up the hill.  Soon, the sun started peeping out of the clouds.

Babu, our guide, had gone back to get the people who were slow.  By mistake, we took a steeper path and then we had to come back down and go the right way.  We finally reached the peak of the hill.
The view  of the city below was breathtaking and I was speechless. We left our bags there and then we explored  around.

 We realized  that the place where we were sitting was actually very dangerous.  Luckily, nothing happened. We removed our shoes and rested on the smooth rocks.  After a while, we all slowly climbed down the hill.

 At the bottom of the hill, there were many mango trees, It was a mango farm.  There were a  few mangoes fallen on the ground. So, we picked them up.  After we went back to the campsite, we cut the mangoes, They were delicious. After we had a breakfast of dose, idli, sambar, chutney, we all said bye and took our leave of the the campsite.  on the way home, we reflected how amazing  the trek and camp was.
The End.