Tuesday, May 22, 2018

The journey back from Digha

Starfish washed on the beach

Next day morning saw us at the beach at 0600 hours, thanks to a van ride, it is a three wheeled rickshaw with a diesel generator as power mechanism, and you pay 20 - 30 rs per person, it sits approx 10 people 


in the Sea
and a couple of hours of in the sun and boating, and racing around the beach and yes more sea food.

Mother and Daughter setting up food stall

Headed to beach to set up stall

It was interesting to see how the female in this coastal town works hard and is proud of the work they do, women entrepreneurship is very high and they are proud of what they do, I did see men work but were not the driving force in the business as the women were


we decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel, to prepare for the journey back home,  where we met a few riders from Puruliya who were also in town, 

Riders from Puruliya, westbengal

we exchanged good byes at the roadside and two of us from Rkmc took off while a few NDG and Rkmc decided to ride together later
Good bye for now


we started back at 1500 hours, Raja and me headed out early, I am a strict believer in not riding at night, and like to finish my ride as early with daylight still available as could be, while the others waited to finish a slow luxurious lunch



Along the way we got lost (rather the GPS decided that way we should ride, and we followed and took a different route, coming in Via Behragora, 


Experience the ride 


along the way we took a state highway and as luck would have it, Raja paajis bike ran out of fuel, well we lost a few minutes as we towed the bike to the nearest gas station 7 km away and fuelled up as we headed back home,

One stop for Picture enroute

The road home
It is amazing how good roads can turn to pits of death, every few km the highway was non existent and it would be100m of bad road or no road again a few km of excellent road, Maybe the powers that be think this is how speed is controlled, not realizing this is how vehicles are damaged and people killed, I can only dream of the day when it will be mandatory for every politician to ride these road at 100km per hour and see how they fare, I have complete respect for truck drivers who risk there life to keep the country supplies moving , A huge shout out to those brave-hearts


Back home ( almost 
Finally we were home catching the start of the rains as we reached home by 1945 hours, 



The night riders of RKMC and NDG, on there way, they reached back by 2300 hours



the odometer read 
Day Ends



Now all that remains is to give my bike a wash



Till we ride again, Good bye for now, watch out for the film from the ride

Monday, May 21, 2018

Rkmc to Digha




Its morning 0400 hours and am up in bed wondering should I get out of bed, normally I have a tough time waking at 430 am, but today we will be heading to Digah and I am up earlier then usual, maybe the excitement to be heading out with a bunch of Guys and gals to a sea side, it will be a 5 hours ride, not bad, I think to myself as I roam the house in my shorts looking for stuff to do this early as I grab a pair of shorts and T-shirt and glares, packing done, I remember to get my camera, and now to saddle up

A cup of coffee is all I want to have, n I sip on my coffee as I prepare and finally 530 hours I am set to leave, I saddle up and by 0600 hours am out of the door and head to the rendezvous point where my bike seems to be the first, and it is 0615, I groan internally, knowing it will be a warm morning and with other riders getting late to the start point it will be a midday ride, with the hot summed sun keeping us company and reminding us we should have been off the block on time.

A phone call to raja confirms he is waking up now, and will be at the start point by 0700 hours at the earliest


There is a new RE showroom in Bistupur and the owner is also coming in the trip along with his wife, yes they were at the store before me, thank god for small mercies


Bikes for trial at showroom



Indemnity signed we are ready to start the ride, I wonder if  I should park my bike and borrow a Himalayan from the Re guys, but then, am already set on my 500 cc, and want to see how I manage to ride with a tank bag on board, yup bought a new Rynox Tank bag at the last RM in Mumbai .

 
Some of the riders of RKMC



It is a smooth ride for most part and we are making time ok,  drinking lots of water as we stop at places and crowed keeps gathering to gawk at the chopper of Raja, 


Designed by Raja 

Gawkers Galore


everyone wants to admire and take selfies with the bike, weird but then how often an one be rude on these matters, and Raja is a dear person to put up with these requests at every stop 


500 cc classic by the roadside 


 and a couple of hours later we were at Digha a sea side town with smooth sea at the beach,  the odometer says 




it had been 280 odd km we had ridden in seven and half hours, 
to check in and get some food, bad call on food as I had preferred to eat on the way , 
But then some folks were too egoistic to realize the practicticality of the
  situation, and we had to wait another 2 hours for food to be served.


Taking a break once again along the way ,,,


The great thing about bikers is rarely do people indulge in “ I told you so syndrome” and people just make the best of the situation this is, a happy state of mind to be in, a very admirable quality I feel that is.



While at Digha the evening came quick and I went on a stroll to the beach,

bike for hire



There are bikes available for hire by the hour Rs 200 / hour to entertain oneself and ride along the beach instead of walking along the beach which does tend to be tiring, after a while specially on summer days


 
FISHERMEN AT WORK

HUNGRY riders with crabs

Well where these is beach sea food has to follow and fresh catch from the sea is avalaible at really cheap cheap rates,

Crabs waiting to be eaten

Prawns and crabs available galore.


We did make a trip to the new Digha beach, were I reminisced the Digha I had visited 27 years back with my parents and sis, as a child, the sights were completely different then what I remembered,


New Digha Promenade


Alas THE GRANDEUR OF THE HOTEL LOST IN THE MODERNAIZATION DRIVE AND COMMERCIAL FALLOWNESS


return journey to follow ...