The Dawn
We all woke up early morning with heart full of excitement and tended to our natural business.
Post that wore our gears along with the riding glasses. We were not able to understand how to secure the glasses but after a couple of tries we got it that the strap should be worn over the helmet so that glasses stay in place.
Came out and purred our bikes to life.
It was still early morning and I am sure neighbours around would have been irritated by all the khat-pat that we were making (If they were awake
).
Pre-ride preparations.
A biker does not just sits on the saddle and zoom away. He prepares himself for the day ahead, sorts out million thoughts going in his mind and then focus on only one thing, the RIDE AHEAD. This may sound bit over the top but everyone goes through this phase and it's important to master it as it makes a difference of paying for the beer or at the clinic at the end of the day.
I had already told everyone about the riding positions and the warning signs to be used on the highway in different scenarios. Still, re-iterated everything and bored them for 10-15 minutes.
Got on our bikes, dropped the gears and started the journey which shall be engraved in our memory till we die.
Just after riding 3 – 4 kms within the city Prateek signalled me to come over.
He showed be that the handle of Saph was wobbling too much and it was pretty uncomfortable to control the bike.
Not willing to take any chances stopped as soon as we got on the highway and called our mech – Neetu bhaiya.
Waiting for Neetu Bhaiya.
Prateek taking out the pressure gauge to check the tyres. We just loved doing it
After half an hour he arrived and took a test drive. Came back laughing and then said that it is due to heavy weight at the rear of the bike. So Prateek needs to keep the weight on the handle bar to control the bike.
But during his TD he dropped his phone and even after searching for sometime we couldn’t find it. We felt guilty because it was for us that he came over. However, he waived it off smiling and bid us goodbye.
I am sometimes not able to comprehend as to how the bonds between the humans weave through a common interest even though they do not share the blood running in their veins or spend a lot of time together.
This man whom we just know for an year and meet just couple of times a day left everything aside and came to our help for a reason which was plain stupid. In the process he incurred a loss which he has to cover by working day and night but still waves us smiling and good wishes in his heart.
A salute to all the people in this world who make us feel that goodness has not left the mankind.
The ride was amazing. Cool air, greenery all around and great tarmac just made it more enjoyable. We were cruising at the speeds of 70-75 kmph.
This red bag was carried through out the journey in the similar fashion and everyone who sat as pillion dreaded to carry this bag.Thank God I was not a pillion at any point of time
Just to break the monotony we used to shuffle the riding positions but majority of the time the riding positions were same as described above.
Notice how the trees merge at the top. Purely magical as if mother nature has herself crafted this.
Such roads and good company just puts you in a zone where you hope that it does not end. But aisa kya kabhi hota hai ??
Never
My father always teaches me that after a bad time always come a good time but you learn with experience that after good time bad time comes again.
And the experience was not far away !!
I was chatting with shashank and suddenly
Uni’s rear tyre burst – yes BURST with a loud pop at the speed of 75 – 80 on a single lane highway. For a moment I felt that bike is running on the rims only. I don’t know how but I controlled it somehow and stopped at the roadside.
Informed the front riders by our pre-decided signal ( using horn in following sequence – pee – pee – pee – pee – pee – A pause and then repeat
).
They turned around we inspected the tyre. There was a large puncture which was definitely abnormal. We took the bike to the roadside puncture walla just 10 metres ahead. ( Thank God !! Atleast he does listen to our prayers )
He inspected it and said that the tube is gone due to such a large abrasion and this is due to the tyre which is almost the end of it’s life.
( I knew that Uni's tyre was a bit old but I had thought that it will take us through Leh. And 1 more ad hoc expense. )
Maestro at his work.
Time for a photo shoot .
We asked him to somehow repair the tube as he didn’t have any spare. He had to use the patch which is used to repair the tube of tractor tyres. Paid him off and got back on the road.
While riding I was feeling a small bump with every rotation of the rear wheel however, it was not which was pestering my mind. All I was speculating was : are we even going to make it to leh will all these issues and rising costs.
I was sure that the tyre would cost around 1500 and it would not just imbalance but topple our already dwindling budget.
All I could hope for was that prateek would manage some money at later stage.
Somehow reached Kiratpur and started looking for tyre dealer in the city. Upon finding the dealer checked out some tyres and everyone started suggesting a wider tyre for better grip uphills.
After some thinking, I stuck with the stock tyre size as I didn’t want to change anything in the ride quality as I was pretty much at ease with it.
Paid up 1800. (God knows who will we feed later on – our bikes or our bellies)
Had breakfast in the city and zipped around to merge with highway towards manali.
The weather Gods were gracious as the sun as well as clouds were playing hide and seek and it resulted in perfect riding conditions.
A regular sight on single lane highways.
Reached a particular stretch where Beas river was parallel to the road. I guess Sundernagar. There we saw 2 riders taking a break in full gears and cramster colt on their FZ and Electra sharing a smoke. We were just awed by them. We waved to them and they waived back to us.
( I thought to myself that I will come like this to leh again later when I will start earning !! )
Prateek trying to ventilate his inners
After a short break resumed our journey.
A temple within the nature's lap.
The sun had called it a day and as we were approaching manali we were feeling the chill in the air and it just made us more cheerful.
Riding on the those twisties at dusk with just a couple of car’s in the sight was signalling us that things are yet to come.
Finally reached the busy streets of Manali.
Parked our bikes and Nitin and Rishabh went around enquiring for hotels. Found a single room where all 6 of us could stay.
Took our luggage to the room washed our faces and went again to the market for dinner.
Appetizers . Bread pakoras and tea.
At night somehow 6 of us adjusted on 1 double bed and dozed off.
etc to the ride which I completed when I was a student in 2010. I hope you will get a jist of what I experienced.
)
