If you grew up on a diet of Enid Blyton, you started thinking that the perfect weekend was one where you spent a day by the sea. My kids have just started on the same, and well, they, too, wanted to spend a day by the sea. Staying in New Mumbai, a drive to nearby Alibaug seemed a better option than crossing Mumbai traffic.
Plan in place, GPS ready, towels and swimwear packed, we were all looking forward to the road trip. Having heard a few names, we typed in Nagaon beach into the GPs, and set off around 7am. We started on the Palm beach Road, and took a right at Uran node to get onto the JNPT road. About 6 kms down the road we joined the State Highway, and turned right, then immediate left onto the Gavhanphata – Chirner Road. What a road!
We crossed a host of industries, and Dhyaneshwar shipping yard. The road was broad, impeccably maintained, and ideal for a bike ride in my opinion. It winded in and out of lovely hills and ever so often I felt like just laying out a mat and having a picnic on the trail. But we wanted to reach Alibaug at the earliest, and my husband insisted that we were already late by an hour in starting from home. Plus there were hardly any sign posts, and very little civilization, so getting lost or stuck, was a danger.
The roads did get narrow and bumpy slightly before Kharpada Toll Plaza. A little later we joined the Alibaug Pen Road, and stopped for breakfast and tea. An hour later, we were in Alibaug. After asking for directions (the GPS had us more confused), we landed at the beach. Quick change and we headed towards the water.
Okay, the beach was beautiful, but kind of rocky. You had to be careful where you stepped. The wind was good, and the kids had a good time flying their kites. Splish splash, racing the waves, and of course the mandatory sand castle with the beach set; the kids were having a ball.