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NOVEMBER 2012
PRABUDHHA JIVAN
33
was to fly from Delhi.
temperamantal and everyday we had to face some So now onwards we were 6 motor bikes and a car all problem or the other. His bike just wouldn't start, so we heading together towards Leh. By 2.00 p.m. we had literally dismantled it. There we were sitting, Jigar and cleared Baralachala (la-meaning pass), a pass at 4892m myself with dirty hands and clothes in front of the bike height. This was our first good pass in terms of hardcore while everyone else were crowded around trying to give riding. A good climb to a cold place where the snow their expert comments on how to repair the bike. All were around us had melted in the shape of pointed Shivlings' enjoying our discomfit and cracking jokes, wise cracks & numbering in thousands. It was really a sight to remember one liners at our expense. It turned out to be a morning and definitely will be with me for the lifetime. The pictures conference around bike. Finally, after reassembling back we have taken will tell about the beauty.
the bike including the whole clutch box, we managed to Just before we crossed the third stream, Tipu's bike start the bike. wheel had a puncture.Three of our bikes including mine W e started at about 11.00 a.m. and were in a total had crossed the stream and we were waiting to dry our riding mood. Sarchu had really fired us up. We rode about socks and shoes. In order to help Tipu we were on the 53 kms. to cross the towering hills which we had seen point of crossing the stream when suddenly we saw one from the distance just this morning. We reached Lochang more bike coming towards us and trying to cross the La, which is at a height of 5065 m. It was a real tough stream. We thought we would have more company in ride, at least for the last 15 kms There were actualy no our journey and were happy since, more the merrier' roads in this area only dirt track made up of stones and was our motto. But it was not like that. When we reached slush. Just after we got down from Lachang La pass, we the banks, we realized that it was stuck in water and had to start climbing again. despite repeated efforts, it was not moving. So Ani &
This climb was my best climb. It look us to More Plains. immediately got into the ice cold water to push the bike. It is a flat piece of land, approx. 48 kms by 30 kms We finally managed to bring the bike out. The guy turned surrounded by mountains. There were no roads plus it out to be the local man who owned a campsite at Sarchu was very sandy and it was difficult to drive the bike. It which happened to be our destination for the night halt. was also very dusty. I couldn't have imagined such a place
Sarchu happens to be a place, which is completely even in my wildest dreams. There were also number of isolated throughout the year except during the camping streams crossing the paths and we all had difficulty in season. During this time Swiss tents are pirched up in riding the bikes. How we hated these streams! This place this area. The tents are rented out at Rs. 3000/- per night is known to have really low oxygen level at night. Situated per head. Rajesh whom we had helped at the stream at 4630 m, all it had was a small army unit camp and and who was really thankful to us, was actually the owner cluster of tents, serving food, etc. These tents had nice of the campsite and as a token of appreciation rented the comfortable village style beds and a thick quilt. A cheap tents to us for only Rs. 600/- per head including dinner accomodation but we all were thankful for the best. and breakfast. We had a grand party in a tent named Next morining, I was just moving my bike to a cliff Gold' which was our home for the night.
parking spot when I heard a gir'is voice shouting my name. We had started realizing with increasing altitude that I saw Siddharth and Pinky gettting out of a taxi. Their the oxygen level had started reducing and we had some 'share-a-taxi' a sumo, had covered the 299 kms which difficulty in breathing. The greenery had also started we had traveled in so many days, in just 15 hrs. by driving disappearing and the landscape was becoming bleak. non stop in one stretch. We had a grand reunion party All we could see around was barren mountains with with 'Maggie' noodles and biscuits. snowcaps. People's faces changed too. The faces go The Journey began once again and we were on a 'squarish' while eyes got narrower. Sarchu was a place beautiful climb. There were no roads and one could make where I realy got to see the transition. Nice green grasses one's own way in most of the parts. The worst part was below us and brown barren mountains towering above that one could not go fast or one would face a risk of us. It also happened to be the border town between cracking the bike chassis. There are natural bumps on Himachal Predesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
the way which are caused by blowing winds and sand Next morning by 7.00 a.m. we had to dragg curselves deposition over the years. One of our bikes actually got from the bed, since the party was really rocking and went stuck in one of the sandbanks. After the nightmarish road, on till late night. Even an exception like me had to get we had a tough climb to 'Pang' the second highest up, but what to do? We had a long way to go on that day. motorable road' in the world. Jigar's 'Indian' (that was his bike's name) was very After reaching the highest point, we had to decide
