Motorcycle Trip to Himalayas

Pre – ride preparations:

After few weeks long planning and some negotiations at office we were all set for a 15 days trip to Himalayas. Khardung La, Leh was the destination. Initially we were the team of two – me and one of my old pal ‘Jatin’, but we were joined in at the last moment by another friend of mine ‘Prasoon’. Prasoon did not have any bike so we asked him to rent one from Delhi. With all plans set, we decided to catch up in Delhi on 9^th June.

With tips from other experienced riders and some research we made an extensive list of things and spares to carry on our trip. (drop a mail in case someone need help on the list) Each item from matchbox to sleeping bag was listed.

I needed to ship my bike from Mumbai to Delhi. When Speed Age informed that they no longer ship household goods due to some new company policy, I decided to book the bike on my train ticket and booked a ticket on Shatabadi. (Parcel and on ticket charges are different. On ticket it costs around Rs. 1600 + 1% of the value of bike u declare + misc packing and loading charges. You can take your bike to the station few hours before departure and make sure it is loaded carefully)

Day 0 – 9^th June 07

I reached New Delhi around 10 AM and met Prasoon & Jatin, who were waiting there for me. Got my bike unloaded and all three moved directly to Kar

ol Bagh for spares and stuff. Headed straight to Khajanchi and got all our spares. Prasoon managed to get a Thunder Bird from Madaan Motors on rent. It was a long and extremely hot day and it was 8.30 PM by the time we finished our shopping.

Thereafter we had to see a friend so came back late after meeting him and managed to catch some sleep around 3.30 AM after finishing packing of all our stuff.

The Ride

The Route: Delhi – Chandigarh – Udhampur – Anantnag – Pahalgaon – Anantnag – Srinagar – Sonemarg – JoZi La – Drass – Kargil – Leh – Khardung La – Nubra – Khardung La – Leh – Tanglang La – Pang – Sarchu – Jispa – Darcha – Keylong – Rohtang Pass – Manali – Chandigarh – Delhi

The Riders:

Rahul – Thunderbird ‘05

Jatin – Electra ’05 with new tyres

Prasoon – Thunderbird ’03 (on rent)

Total Distance clocked: 3040 kms

Start date: 10^th June 07

End date: 24^th June 07

Total riding days: 15

Day 1: Noida – Chandigarh – Hoshiarpur

Day 2: Hoshiarpur – Samba – Udhampur – Patnitop – Batote

Day 3: Batote – Anantnag – Pahalgaon – Anantnag – Srinagar

Day 4 – Rest day at Srinagar

Day 5: Srinagar – Sonemarg – ZoJila – Drass – Kargil

Day 6: Kargil – Lamayuru

Day 7: Lamayuru – Leh

Day 8: Leh – Khardung La - Hunder/Nubra

Day 9: Hunder – Khardung La – Leh

Day 10 & 11: Rest at Leh

Day 12: Leh – Upshi – Tanglang La – More Plains – Pang – Sarchu

Day 13: Sarchu – Jispa – Darcha – Keylong – Tandi – Rohtang Pass – Manali

Day 14: Manali – Mandi – Chandigarh

Day 15: Chandigarh – Delhi

Post – ride hangover.

That hangover is not yet over and it will be there for atleast some time to come. Best thing that happens after such ride is that you tend to think what all went wrong, and how the ride could have been better. Even I have so many thoughts running and would love to make my next ride to the mountains even more rewarding. One piece of advise here for riders who are planning this route for the first time. ‘Start early’ – Start early and you get enough time to enjoy your ride and to appreciate nature. Check your bike the day before and tank it up. Especially in mountains starting early should be the mantra.

Enuf of gyan, now packing up till the next trip.

You can find more pics at

http://picasaweb.google.com/rahulsingh.mail/MotorcycleTripToHimalayas

Cheers,

Rahul

Riding to Leh this Summer...

Hi!
Much awaited moment has come and I'd be riding to Leh this June. Every biker's pilgrimage! Would be riding to the World's highest motorable pass near Leh (Khardung La - official, Marsimek La - actual)
The ride plan is as under - (click to enlarge)


For well formatted copy and details contact me.

Cheers, 'n let the ball roll

Silent Saint

My Solo Ride to Munnar / Kerala

My Solo Ride to Munnar / Kerala - A brief


And I was left alone in Chennai… with most of my friends leaving the town for some better opportunities elsewhere. As I am also moving to Mumbai in December, I had a trip to Kerala in my mind for a long time, but somehow it was getting delayed every time. This was on 24th Oct ‘06 when I was sitting in my office and it was a holiday on 25th Oct, Wednesday. It was this time when I decided instantly of doing my so long awaited Kerala trip. I thought of taking leave of two days i.e. 26th, Thursday and 27th, Friday and clubbing it with weekend. So, I was effectively having 5 days to explore Kerala. And there Iwas, all set for solo ride to Kerala. After all, all you need to have is a good camera, willpower and your Beast (ThunderBird 2005 model). And with all the trust in my Beast I started next day.

Day 1 – 25th Oct ’06, Wednesday – I started around 5AM from Chennai to reach Trichy by 10 AM. (320 kms). There I met Simrit(A fellow member of my motorcycling club - Madras Bulls Motorcycling Club) and had a great lunch at his place. Thanks mate! Started again around 2PM and finally reached Munnar by 7.30 PM. It was the simplest day of my four day trip.

Final Trip Meter reading – Day 1 – 620 kms.

Day 2 – 26th Oct ’06, Thrusday– I decided to look around some places near Munnar, so started for Top Station (35kms from Munnar). It was when I was riding back from Top Station when I had a small fall at one of the curves, mainly because of the overconfidence that might have crept in after doing around 100kms of ghats. I was doing 60-70 on curves when this happened and I swear, after that my speed reduced to max of 40 throughout on hills. I was not wearing gloves at that time so left palm got brushed and bruised. Finally I reached back Munnar around 4PM, and thought of taking rest. So, I relaxed in my room and planned the next day’s move. I slept after finalizing Munnar –170kms - Komarokam – 120 kms - Thekkady for Day 3.

Final Trip Meter reading – Day 2 – 696 kms.

Day 3 – 27th Oct ’06, Friday – I started around 9AM towards Komarokam (170 kms). I underestimated Kerala’s uncertain weather (rather certain rains) and did not provide cushion for Kerala kind of roads (all curves). Well, driving there was all together a different kind of experience but at the same time I was not able to stick to my naïve schedule. I was unable to come out of last day’s trauma and was not able to do 70-80 on curves. I took a break for lunch some 70 kms before Komarokam in Kothamangalam around 2.00 PM and it started raining heavily. I was trapped there helpless.. waiting for rain to stop but all in vain. Looking at the heavy rain I decided to skip Komarokam and move on directly to Thekkady. I enquired about the way and distance and understood that Thekkady is around 80 kms from there via Pala. I waited some time for rains to stop, but it did not. So, I thought of continue riding sharing same trust with my Beast which I always had. I started again from Kothamangalam around 3.30 PM. I kept driving in the suggested direction, crossed Pala and around 5.0 PM I stopped by a road side bakery as it started raining cats and dogs. Here again I enquired the distance to Thekkady and they told me 82 more kms. Damn! I’d been driving for last 1.30 hrs and still 82 kms. I started immediately without wasting time any further and then the tough time began. It was raining heavily and I was able to match 30-40.. By 6 PM it was complete dark and I was drenched to the soul. Shivering in cold but still driving. Some time later I entered into the ‘zero-visibility zone’. Thick fog, drizzling, complete dark, freezing cold, shivering and speedometer showing 15kph. I was not moving.. I was indeed crawling. But, I decided not to stop and I kept moving.. but somewhere around 15kms before Thekkady and 8 in evening I gave up. Even my bones were freezed at that time and as soon as I saw ‘Hotel, Restaurant & Bar’ neon signboard I moved in. First question – Is there any room available?.. Second – Do they have geyser/hot water?.. All affirmative and I checked in. I don’t even remember the name of the place.

Final Trip Meter reading – Day 3 – 922 kms.

Day 4 – 28th Oct ’06, Saturday – I started from whatever that place was to Thekkady around 8AM. Thought of covering Periyar and touching plains before 2PM as somebody told me that every day it rains heavily after noon and riding in rain was last thing that I could have considered after tasting enough of it the last day. I reached Thekkady/Periyar around 8.30 AM. Next boat ride on Periyar lake was scheduled at 9.30 AM and after that 11.30. I checked and came to know that 9.30 boat was full. Frustration that started to build up last day, now was becoming dominant and prominent. I sat there on a rock for few minutes, with my head down and trying to compose myself. Then I gave it some serious thinking. 11.30 boat ride will get over by 1.30 PM, implying no way of touching home the same day, that in turn leads to one extra day of frustration. Damn it! Then I remember seeing a milestone reading out load Theni – 70 kms. So, may be there is a way to touch Theni, and once I reach Theni I was sure that I could reach Chennai the same day.I took just two snaps of Periyar lake and decided to explore it some other time. Anyway, even if I would have stayed I would not have enjoyed it much with that feeling of frustration and emptiness which by that time crept deep inside me. So, I decided to move on with only one target in mind – to reach home.I started from Periyar around 9.30 AM and was in Theni around 11 AM. Had my brunch there and again started at 11.30AM. Now the road looked familiar and I ripped (Though, my ripping is touching 90.. lol) Touched Trichy around 2.30 when I saw clouds building up. So, decided not to stopover at Trichy and so I kept moving. And 50 kms after Trichy it started again - Rain (no! not again). I did not stop, thinking that atleast after 10-20 kms it will not be raining. It was 3.15 PM at that time. I kept moving and moving and moving trying to cover as much as possible during day time itself. I did not stop anywhere for lunch. I was not able to catch speed, but I kept moving. 5.45 PM and it was dark when I reached Villipuram. I stopped there to treat my rain soaked and empty stomach. Again started at 6.15 and now it was even more difficult. It was raining heavily, with no street lights, road with unexpected potholes and above all I was unable to use visor of my helmet. It was a real tough ride throughout but atleast after Tindivanam toll road helped a bit and I was able to maintain 60. Stopped only once for tea and was at home around 10 PM.

Final Trip Meter reading – Day 4 – 1545 kms.

Overall it was a tough and hence a GREAT ride! I was not able to take many photographs due to rains, as my camera was double packed.

Looking back I think the best part of this ride was the trust that I shared with my Beast and it surely lived upto that. It gave me confidence to move on and on… 4 days of rough terrain and bad climatic conditions & 1545 kms without any break down or hold up. Hats off!! Even after the fall, when I got bruised the person who helped me with first aid (a gentleman cab driver) asked me whether I will be able to ride? I said yes, then he asked is your bike okay? I said ‘it must be okay’. He asked me to check it… and single kick… Vrooooom!!! There I was… on the road again…

Overall Trip – 4 days/ 1545 kms.

Experience – Regression testing / Spine chilling

Photographs – http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=zyux3qd.2buuribp&x=0&y=2fw41r

A date with myself & the wilderness...

 

These are the snapshots of my Solo Yelagiri Ride...
One day all by myself..
Write up will follow soon :)
Cheers, 

Riding is an Ecstasy...

Some said.. 'you are stupid'.. Some called me crazy. Chennai to Bangalore and back.. and that too alone. Yep, everybody around me (except for my fellow Club riders - Madras Bulls) told me the same.. But I over heard them and all their considerate advices. I forwarded this idea to my club.. MadBulls, and the veterans out there shared with me their experiences and told me all Do's and Dont's of riding alone.

I got hold of a road map, prepared a check list, got my bike checked, got some necessary spare parts - clutch wire, spark plug, etc.. and with all preparations done I was finally set to leave for Bangalore. I started at 0500 hrs. Initially I maintained a decent 60-70 kmph, but once the day broke and the visibility improved I couldn't hold my temptation and then.. 70 - 80 - 90 and finally 100 kmph. One of my close friend gave me clear instruction before leaving that please keep in mind the speed limit of 80 kmph, and yes, I maintained the lower speed limit of 80kmph :D. I was elated to realize afterwards that on my way to Bangalore only two vehicles overtook me - one Santro and one Esteem (must have been real nerds otherwise who drives so fast ;) Well, after a long and lovely ride I safely reached Bangalore at 1130 hrs.. Voila!! I made it and was feeling great.. a sense of accomplishment.

I stayed back in Bangalore for 2 days. Had a great time on my Bull. Completed my work out there.. and was all set to come back. I planned to start early morning the following day, but, again I fell victim of my own craziness and decided to leave at night itself. And there I was.. I kick started my bike.. Gave some throttle.. and vroooom.. And somewhere in distant background I heard some clock banging 12 times. Yes, it was 12 at night. Driving at night is totally different kind of experience. I should admit, It is really hard to drive at night. You need your full concentration to keep yourself on the road. Specially, when there are no road lamps, no vehicles, no light and when it is complete dark. I was focussing completely on the divider line and was trying hard to maintain same line, and then, there were patches, where, there was no divider line. At such stretchs, your speed drops down and your eyes follow the low beam of your head light.. and nothing else is visible. I was back at home around 0800 in the morning.. Driving at night was a totally different kind of experience, though a bit tough. Well, I enjoyed every bit of it.

Riding is a different kind of experience, altogether. It is not just a test of endurance.. not even just a test of your craziness.. It is an ecstasy. It brings you to a different level. It gives you a sense of accomplishment, a sense of achievement. However small or insignificant this achievement might be for others.. or for that matter even for you, but, I believe that such small achivements add a lot to you.. and a lot more to your personality. It induces more confidence in you.. I chose to do this trip not just because I wanted to ride, but I also wanted to check my risk taking capability.. and yeah, that was the reason why I decided to come back at night, after trying the day riding. I wanted to test myself. Believe me such small events counts a lot.

Overall, this trip to Bangalore and back was Great. After this trip, I feel more confident, and now I trust my Beast (ThunderBird) even more. I am looking forward for more of such trips in future... and I promise that this rider will never stop...

Wherever I may Roam

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take; but by the moments that take our breath away" So truly quoted in movie "Hitch".

I realised true sense of it on Sunday, 4th Dec. 2005. After 3 days of continuous and heavy rains when I finally saw sun shining down on Chennai, I could no longer refrain my inner urge of going for a long ride on my new ThunderBird. I called up few of my friends but everyone was hooked up with something or other. The urge was so strong that I decided to go alone. Anyways, it doesn't matter much as long as I am with my ThunderBird. So, I started all by myself (humming the song from Godsmack - I stand alone) from RA Puram around 1:00 PM and within no time I was on ECR.

I would like to share one more fact about myself before I take you forward with my experience. I had never been a bike enthusiast. I always preferred to drive a four-wheeler over motorbike. I never owned any bike before, and this is the first time I have got my own bike. Only after riding my ThunderBird, I realised that it is not just about necessity.. riding is an experience of its own kind.. and riding Enfield.. is a Statement.

Well.. back to the Sunday’s Trip. I was enjoying my ride on ECR.. I didn't know where I was heading to.. I was just on for a nice ride.. with no destination.. no aim.. no where in particular to go.. riding just like that.. remembering a song from Metallica’s Black Album - 'Wherever I may Roam
''the less I have the more I gain
off the beaten path I reign..
rover, wanderer, nomad, vagabond ..
call me what you will....'

It was only when I crossed the toll gate on ECR and saw one milestone stating Mahabalipuram as just 30 kms away that I thought of making it to Mahabalipuram.I was really enjoying my first ride out of Chennai.. with a long stretched road ahead.. sight of sea on my left.. a pleasant weather and feeling a cool breeze on my face..

I rode for another 20 odd kms. when 'The Thing' happened.. I spotted a group of around 10-12 Enfield riders.. who were standing just off the road and enjoying the site..Immediately it struck me.. that they might be from Madras Bulls. I was aware of this club and had applied for the membership as well, but was not formally inducted to the group.I turned my bike and headed towards the Group. I was greeted by Vinod and Abhijay and yup! They told me that they are from Madras Bulls. I introduced myself to the group and they extended me an offer to join them. And there I was.. no more alone.. And after that it was like living a dream..With 10 Enfields thumping and ruling the road, we rushed towards Mahabalipuram.. It was an amazing experience for me and awesome site for others..

It didn't take us long to reach our destination. All of us parked our bikes together and headed for a restaurant. There we had a grand gala time.. We talked about our experiences.. about upcoming events.. upcoming rides.. and what not.. Each and every person in the group was so friendly that they didn't let me feel as a newbie.. I felt like being a part of the Club from a long time..

After a couple of drinks and a lot of masti.. we finally rolled back towards Chennai around 5 PM. Again with 10 bikes roaring and thumping together.. 'Everyone gives way for Enfield' and I witnessed how true it is, while coming back to Chennai.. I was doing 60-70 when I saw Vinod far ahead on his Machismo at 100+. I too was tempted and that was the first time I touched 100. It was an awesome experience.. There was one more group riding some other machines.. they moved their bike towards one side of the road to make way for us.. and when one person of that group waved his hand in appreciation.. and I felt like being on top of the World.

Finally after a long and interesting ride we were back in Chennai. The only sad part of the whole trip was that I didn't get the chance to say Thanks to such a lovely group. We were supposed to meet at some food joint in Adyar, but while coming towards Adyar somewhere near Tiruvanmiyur I lost track of the group.. I tried for some time to find the group but could not find them. I had to see off one of my friend who was about to leave for Hyderabad, so I gave up the search and went straight to my friend's place. I am posting this story not only to share my experience but also to thank the group, which made yesterday one of the memorable days of my life. I know I will meet them again and will extend my thanks personally but I don't want to wait till then. Looking forward for more and more rides like this one..

Hail Madras Bulls!!!