Some experiences don't end when the ride does. They become stories you carry with you. The RTC Captains Bootcamp was that for us, and it taught us as much on the road as it did in the sessions.
Day one took us through some of Maharashtra's least explored scenic roads. The highlight was Phopsandi, often called the "Meghalaya of Maharashtra." Tucked into the Sahyadris near the Pune and Ahmednagar border, it is a quiet valley where stone homes still sit among the hills and tourists are still a rarity. Passing through, wrapped in a 360-degree view of mountains, made us feel small and completely alive at the same time. The valley is also the southern gateway to Kunjargad, an old fort on a hill that looks like a giant elephant, which is where its name comes from.
As for the name Phopsandi (also spelled Fofsandi), local folklore has a charming story. It says that a British officer named Mr. Pope retreated to this valley every Sunday during the British Raj. Over time, the local tongue reshaped "Pope-Sunday" into Phopsandi. Whether or not the story is true, it is one more reason the place stays with you.
Day two was at the resort in Bhimashankar, where the Kargyaan sessions took place. For a few hours, every participant was back in school, with the laughter, the mischief, and the simple joy of those days. The sessions on battery, safety, under-the-bonnet checks, and engine basics gave us a lesson we would soon need. The most important one was this: get professional help. You are not an engineer, and there is no shame in saying so.
We had hoped to reach home base early on the final day. Our map showed an ETA of 2 PM when we set out that morning. The Bootcamp Drive had been planned and run beautifully under Prez's leadership, but the road had its own plans. Past Ghodegaon, the battery warning lamp came on. Then the AC cut out, and the steering turned heavy. One symptom after another, and our ETA went out the window. We followed the lesson from Day 2 right away.
We kept moving for another 20 km and found Bro's Automotive in Peth. It was more than a roadside clinic. It was a proper workshop with a body shop and service bays. The diagnosis was quick and precise. The alternator pulley bearing in the generator motor had broken, the belt came off, and the battery could no longer charge. The repair took time, since the motor work had to be done in Rajgurunagar and the part came from Chakan. Our Laado was in good hands the whole time, and we were grateful we found the right people before a breakdown left us stranded on the highway.
While we waited, we pushed for speed and visited the Shree Siddheshwar Mahadev Mandir, a 300-year-old temple on the banks of the Bhima River in Rajgurunagar. Rajgurunagar is also the birthplace of Rajguru, one of the freedom fighters alongside Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev. When the vehicle was ready, a generous rainbow greeted us.
What stayed with us most were the people we met along the way. Vaibhav from Bro's Automotive was genuinely impressed when we told him about RTC, and just as curious about Phopsandi as we were. Raja and Anuj, two young surgeons with young hearts and easy conversation, made the trip lighter. And a lady whose house sits beside the garage patiently showed us how to grow a kitchen garden, teaching us something we never expected to learn on a road trip.
What the Road Taught Us
Comfort is a good place to rest, but it is a poor place to grow. Most of us signed up for the Bootcamp because we wanted to become better captains, and that meant leaving the familiar behind. We drove unfamiliar roads, trusted strangers with our vehicle, and admitted we did not have all the answers. Each of those moments felt uncomfortable at the time, and each one taught us something we will carry into our future rides.
A breakdown is never on the plan, but it shows you who you are as a convoy. Stepping out of our comfort zone meant asking for help, waiting patiently, and letting go of the schedule. It also meant being open to the people we would never have met if the road had gone smoothly. The garage owner, the surgeons, and the lady with her kitchen garden were not part of our plan. They became some of the best parts of the trip.
The road rewards those who are willing to be a little uncomfortable. If you want to lead a convoy, lead it through the unknown, not only through the roads you already know.
The whole trip reminded us that the best journeys are about the challenges you face together and the strangers who become fellow storytellers along the way. Thank you, everyone, for making it so enjoyable and memorable. Kargyaan has inspired us to take our work further and raise the bar.
The road teaches best when we travel with respect.
RTC, Camaraderie on Wheels.