20th Jan saw me
mount my bike for a road trip to Mumbai, it was to start at 530 am, with 11
riders, and what do you know 4 am it started to rain heavy, worried how we will
manage and with a dread of getting wet on day one, + carrying camera + laptop, calls
were made in an attempt to start late, we decided to start at 8 am (looking up
Google, it forecast that weather would be sunny by 8 am), a few minutes later
we again decided we will start at 6 am, n yes we did get together at 6, but we
started out at 8, a phenomenon called IST, INDIAN STANDARD TIME,
The line up to start
as we started out we managed to get 10 miles into the ride
before we were informed another rider who was to join us had a break down, n we
waited for him and enjoyed breakfast at
sundernagar , the rain gods had started
to make way for us, AT 930 am, we
started again on our trip
The odometer read 00110
The chopper of raja being looked at by Manoj
The first hour at 1030 we
were in Rairanpur we had covered 30
km, we knew we had to pick up our pace, we had a 900 odd km of journey waiting
for us, and we had two days to complete it.
We rode on for 4 hours taking
our next break at 1440 hours in Kuuanga for lunch the odometer read 00245, we
had covered just 100 km in a four hour ride, we knew we had to pick up pace, n
we were getting into the ride now, the scenes were lovely around us, n we were
all by the self, just the rider and the road.
Near keonjhar rather a little after keonjhar one of the motorbikes had a
fork slip out, n it was the grace of the powers that be that the rider was slow
enough to bring the bike under control n survive to tell the tale, there was a
scramble to get the situation under control, we had a mechanic look at things and
we had a task on our hand, as the fork was removed and taken to a welder and
lathe shop to get it fixed, we were on a single lane road, n traffic was slow,
thanks to our 10 bikes on the side of the road, n curious onlookers some 200
odd were there out of the blue appearing magically to gawk at us, unmindful
they were on the road, n there were vehicles trying to get by, the glory of Indians just wanting to hand on
and gawk at things with no agenda , but to just stand and look
Manoj to the rescue again, but could not get it to work this time
A national pastime on some
level, the rider who was riding a chopper Mr. Sarabjeet was extremely
disappointed and wanted to go back, n much coxing later he sort of agreed to
think about maybe coming along for the riders mania meet without his bike, that
night we stayed put where were at a lodge 100 meters from where we were,
Me, Raja, Sandy brotherhood moment
Sandy
and me went to the lodge and figured out the details, n room, a little
negotiation for a better price, and what not, we settled it for the night we were with S Kumar hotel 94379 05012 is there mobile no, for the night and hoped we could make a early
start the next day this day we had only covered 300 km, not a good day of riding
as far as distance goes, but then we had survived 2 bike mishaps and was just
getting warmed up to the journey, No
hot water meant no bath it was cold and the body was aching, I took a nap, some were in high spirits and the alcohol bottles
were all over the party was on, a late
lunch by 12 am all were in bed we were
to depart the next day at 7 am .
Day 2 – 21st jan,
I was up at 6, n soon the gang started to tumble out of bed n try to find a
bathroom, there were 3 n 13 of us, not a bad ratio, people were saddling up by 7,
n on our way by 730, we stopped at KALA a small town to refuel our bikes and a
small photo session lovely morning light helping in making the magical image
The bikes
The service truck
The Moderator
The stretched out in front of us, and we hoped
to make 600 km this day
We started the ride, high
spirits and happy riders, yes sarabjeet had decided to co me along with us for
the Rm without the bike, he was in the back up vehicle, for the time being we
rode for another 2 hours before we came to a road sign that we stopped to take
pictures at we were 100 km to sambalpur ,
and I personally was 1488km to Mumbai
.
Photo session later we hopped
on to the bikes and some bikers swapped there bikes for others, There were some
riders that was slow, who offered to sit in the back up truck while sarabjeet
rode his bike to help us make better speed
By 330 pm we stopped for
lunch at a dhaba, we were 130 km before Raipur, at BAISNA and by 1730 hours we were at Patewa, time to refuel we had covered almost 600 km by this time, dusk was on us
soon, n we headed out starting to ride fast, n
One of the towns as were
passing by and had taken a stop, a couple of eunuchs drove up and wanted a few
pictures with us, how could we say no, so here they are
Rajat Paji with ,,,
David, Bheem, Manoj, HGurpreet Paji
At 1930 hours we were at
Raipur, Odometer said 774
Now some rash night riding
started with locals sort of wanting to race us, we did another hour of riding
and reached Bhillai 700 km from Tatanagar at (pm) we had hoped we would be in
Nagpur by this time we were a good 250 KM short of our target but then the first
day had had its share of trouble to blame for.
The second day of ride had come
to end, we checked into Hotel Landmark in Bhillai, n had a hot shower n as I toweled
myself dry for the first time realized what the air was like, the towel which
was white was turning black, n that’s just from my exposed face alone, all
other was covered, my nostrils were caked with Black soot, wow, N I wondered
what had I been breathing, once again my roomies were Mr. Deepak and laic (who
we later named Love birds) for hanging out together all the time,
Day 3 of the ride was on us,
we were to make 250 odd KM, n it was time to do the daily prayers, I loved the
prayed session while we spoke to god to guide us and help us through the day, to
take our hand in his, n help us see through the day, it was a lovely spiritual
minute for me every day
prayer done it was time to saddle up n start out we were little late in starting out this day , 0830 hours
It was hard day of riding we
were thinking of being in the venue by 9 am, n we were on the road till the clock read 11 am, we had covered 886 km, time for a top of the fuel tanks and to get ready for a dramatic entry to the RM,
As we headed to the last gas
station, all of a sudden my bike seemed to be wavering a lot, n I seemed to be
losing control, n could smell burnt tyre, a quick stop, n LO and Behold, My
rear tire had come lose, n was ready to come off, that was a lucky save and was
I glad for the same, I lived to tell the take to all at the gas station that we
stopped at next.
Ya you all we are almost there
