The Motorcycle Diaries

'Before he changed the world the world changed him' - The Motorcycle Diaries

Before the last Friday, I thought this week was going wasted. But a sudden impulse to explore and enjoy changed it all. I was planning on doing some work on my MAC when Sam came home after his church visit. If was Friday afternoon and was hot. He asked me whether I wanted to come for a short trip. There were a set of guys and they were going to travel on bikes. This first seemed to me like a bad idea but something made me go. There were 9 guys including me. We had not decided where to go up until 11 pm after a couple of beers. 'Mukteshwar' said Shyam and we conceded. Shyam knew the place and we believed that he would deliver.

We started at about 12:30 am, Saturday (midnight). I had a 3 hour sleep prior to it so was in a good shape to drive. The distance we had to travel was a tall 360 odd kilometers. It was not easy task. The roads were supposedly dirty, rough and BAD. Sam and MC had pulsars, I brought Gitesh's Victor, Shyam had an Apache and we got a CT 100 from Moi's friend. The first 150 kms were daunting. None of us had traveled this must at one stretch. We stopped at 2 dhabas after 50 kilometers each at first. Had tea and some rest. The road was work in progress and we had to take it easy for a while. But after reaching Moradabad, it felt like heaven. The straightest stretch of road I have seen, decorated with luscious trees and crops on both sides. With the exception of a sugar factory which dumped waste materials into a small puddle, the place was awesome. We were constantly maintaining a 80-90 km/hour rate during those rides.

I started out with the Victor but after hundred kms, Roshith wanted to try his hand with the Victor. I then was the passenger for Shyam on his Apache. Roshi developed a liking for the bike after that ride. It was Saturday morning when we were traveling through Moradabad. It was also Holi and there people were scarce to see on the roads and sides. This was to change pretty fast though.

We reached the notorious place called Rampur after that. We saw a mob carrying colors in their hands and tin cans of some kind. MC went first and was scarcely attacked. Sam followed MC followed by Shyam and Shiju. Sam stopped before the mob and then Moi stepped down the vehicle. Shyam also stopped on seeing a Toyota Innova being sprayed on and I was quick to get down and follow Moi. Sam was surrounded by the mob who literally bathed him with colors. Moi and I were spared as the mob seemed to be into cars and bikes. Shyam was the next to get ploughed. Shiju did the right thing by just accelerated and breaking through the crowd. It seems that there were religious tensions surrounding that place and the mob was retaliating to that. The victims were the poor drivers and their vehicles anyway.

After this we reached a place called Haldwani. MC had to have some petrol filled up. It was Holi and not bunks were open. He had a stroll on his bike for a bunk only to return with a flat tire. We saw a small mob forming who were constantly watched us 'Clean People'. The search for a mechanic was going in vain untol we got hold of someone who fixed the puncture. Even after the warning from the police about the mob, we decided to start our ascent. We came across drunken people who even tried to stand in front of the bikes.

The 70+ kms of treacherous twists and turns where awesome. As a person, to see something conserved with all its might and to explore such a thing is a great feat. After a 14 hour journey through bad/ good roads, mob attacks, cold winds, twists and turns we reached our destination. A mesmirising 7513 feet above the sea level. Calm and serene. The resort was excellent. The hospitality was great, the owners were courteous. The guy was a Merchant Navy Ex. The mountains covered the vast horizon. We were unable to see the 180 degree view of the Himalayas because of the dense mist that engulfed it. The rooms resembled the artistics of a small French cabin.

It was 2:30 and food was served. Had a good vegetarian meal and went to bad almost immediately. The night was filled with stories. We had whiskey but most of us were too ploughed to even drink. We slept at about 12 after the riot of laughter caused by the stories deteriorated. We woke up at about 8 in the morning, had our breakfast and started our descent at about 10.

We decided to take a detour and goto Nainital and spend some time there. A small lake was past when we came up called BheemTal by our diversion stopped us from spending some time there. The route that we followed on the way down had a great road. The traffic was a bit more, as it was a standard route, but the way we co-ordinated, one guy going in the front with the passenger giving signal about oncoming vehicles to the followers, was great. We reached Nainital, took some photos, looked at the babes and headed off. The way onwards was through the Corbett Park. The scenic beauty just takes the breath away. Forest on your left and right and a straight road piercing the jungle was a treat to the eyes. We then reached Moradabad again and took up speeds at about 90 km/hour. Even Roshi with the Victor managed to keep up with the Pulsars and Apaches.

We had to face a violent mob once again in Rampur, but this time we took a side route to avoid them. We took the Delhi - Lucknow bypass and tested the bikes once again by flaunting with speeds in the range of 90 -100 km/hour. It was dim when we reached the bad raods enroute to Delhi. After after a heavy dinner from a Dhabha , we reached Noida. This is where I stayed allowing the rest of the gang to continue to Delhi. I dropped 'X' off his home, came back to teh flat had a bath, slept and came back to the office.

My eyes are swollen and red as I write this. But it was worth it. The only thing I regret is the fact that I did not take my Camera. The pics and Videos below are from my Nokia. Many more pics are available here.