tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69246641716512880572024-11-05T18:42:48.865-08:00Alankar Misrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588461650412975808noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924664171651288057.post-73655624803715244152011-11-29T03:41:00.001-08:002011-11-29T04:44:35.045-08:00

June 24rd, 2010 I don't recall how long I've been riding, only that I have seldom stopped. I have skipped meals, poured water onto my seething head, wrapped wet shards of cloth across my face, relied on colas to keep me hydrated and sane, budgeted pee breaks only at the brink of convulsions. I have kept the throttle twisted till my wrists beg for mercy. For how long I do not know. Merely that

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June 24rd, 2010 Despite Spiderweb's desire to rent a lodge, we've decided to spend the night resting at a dhaba that has conveniently laid out khatia's for all and sundry. For in renting a lodge we would lose time and time we have not. While the three sleep, I guard our belongings hoping that I would get my share of slumber once one awakens. But none do, not until sunrise. I will spend several

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June 23rd, 2010 It's half past six since noon. Romeomike has resolved to spend time with his kin. We - Motorbreath, Spiderweb and I decide to explore just a little bit of Delhi on our own. I'll see a different side of Delhi that evening as traffic thins and the quiet resolve of structures dipped in history seeps through. They stand tall, with an air of royalty. Just as they should, for they have

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June 22nd, 2010 We ride to Delhi today. A brief stop at Kullu. Torrential rains a few kilometers from Mandi. A power slide by Spiderweb directly in the path of a parked sedan, sending its occupants into absolute hysteria and us into hysterical laughter, brunch breaks, lunch breaks, pee breaks and a ride at a casual pace is all that we will see on this day of June. With oxygen levels rising to

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June 20th, 2010 RomeoMike will relate his story, his thankfulness for the help of the thekedaar in getting a tempo to ship his steed, his desperation to ride, his crossing of Barlachala without halt, the expense of 3000 bucks to get here and his ever present desire to have crossed Barlachala beside us. I will ask for his forgiveness. He is quick to forgive. Motorbreath, the thekedaar and a

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June 20th, 2010 The snow melts away. The challenges recede. We ride free. Through tarmac, through dust, through streams seldom travelled. There's a childishness in our revs, a sense of freedom in our paths. We have entered Himachal. The terrain celebrates as lush green vegetation rushes up to line our path. Many miles later, and riding several hours on reserve, we will find ourselves in

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June 20th, 2010 In the shadow of my conquest, my hopes and dreams turn to dust. How long have I said someday. How long have I said maybe. How long have I wished... wished to see that which I believed. I see it now. Several lives have I forsaken. Several lives have forsaken me. An uncertain, unpredictable, undestined chain of events leads me to where I stand. I did not have to be here. For I

Alankar Misrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588461650412975808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924664171651288057.post-50339181937129209772011-11-24T10:45:00.001-08:002011-11-24T12:50:06.669-08:00

June 20th, 2010 "Motor! Motor!", Spiderweb's voice echoes.I scream for help hoping he hears me. He does. I see him running across the bend towards me. I no longer feel my right leg. The mind gave way several shivers ago. Spiderweb will push the motorcycle off my leg and struggle to get it upright. The slithering snow will make this meager task a herculean one. As I massage my foot back to

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June 20th, 2010 My last memory of RomeoMike is of him turning back. I had hoped he would, although my reasons remained selfish. I did not want to be anxious over him. We begin the ascend, Spiderweb, Motorbreath and I, in that order. We will ascend without incidence for many minutes. Through freshly scraped pathways through snow, through camps where trucks rise up in a thunderous roar, across

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June 20th, 2010 Perhaps I am in need for an excuse to commit the crime. For the Universe hands me one. There comes a vehicle from within the underbelly of the hilly embrace with denizens who advise us to go no further. The stubbornness of snow shall make our journey an impossible one, they prophesize. We convince them that we are determined to press on for want of choice. "The army has assured

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June 20th, 2010 An engine roars in the distance - a sound that makes me uneasy for reasons that will elude me for many moments to come. All I know now is that its 4am. I have half an hour of dreaming within reach and I intend to make good of it; although I will confess, one inherits idle dreams when one is living one. Thoughts give way to action, dreams give way to reality, hopes give way to

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June 19th, 2010 There's a little morsel of happy every where. Those that come bring dreams of departure to we who wait. "Your dream will soon be a reality", I am told. I lap up stories of their travails; secretly smiling for I know now what they will soon know - their journey has just begun. The Universe has much to share, an infinite to teach. There is an eager mix of cages and two wheels -

Alankar Misrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588461650412975808noreply@blogger.com0Sarchu, Ladhak33.119150226768866 77.75024414062532.266653726768865 76.486816640625 33.971646726768867 79.013671640625tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924664171651288057.post-44051904264283425262011-06-29T11:54:00.000-07:002011-07-01T00:35:44.596-07:00

June 19th, 2010 The night was brutal. I haven't slept a wink. The combined effect of the frigid cold and the constant rattle of our tin roof has made me nauseous. I will stay in bed long after the rest have exited. Several hours later, I will emerge from the enclosure only to find Motorbreath, RomoeMike, Spiderweb, in that order, sitting in the middle of the lone road leading out of Sarchu,

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June 18th, 2010 3 pm: The clouds are already encircling us. I don't like the way they beleaguer us. We've re-saddled and re-commenced on our course. We won't move but two inches though, for just round this bend, where we previously did not see, lies another sheet of ice. This time round though, Spiderweb suggests we power through adding that I should perhaps try first cause the R-15 is the

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June 18th, 2010 "Motor tu puri raat hawaa gandi kar raha tha! (Motor, you were stinking up the air all night!)", exclaims RomeoMike. To be fair, we were all guilty. The excruciating cold, the alcohol, the semi cooked meals - had all taken their toll on us. We jump out of bed, and take turns visiting the john. Motor has yet to excrete. Its been two days and he still won't go. I presume his

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June 17th, 2010 I can't see RomeoMike from where I stand - his fallen steed blocking my viewport. As I rush to his rescue, he lifts himself up. I find him unhurt but for a minor limp that will ease out in the minutes to come. He grins, exclaiming "Accha hua knee guard pehna tha!" (It was a good thing I wore the knee guards!). I grin too, comforted by the fact that he escaped unharmed. But where

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June 17th, 2010 2 am: I suspect you expected this. I suspect you laughed all the while. For we all know what copious quantities of warm water lead into. My bowels scream for mercy as I desperately try to hold on. "Just a few hours and it will be day light.", I think to myself. Trapped under mounds of sheet - no pun intended - I wallow at the fact that my cell phone died several minutes ago. The

Alankar Misrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588461650412975808noreply@blogger.com0Leh, Jammu & Kashmir, India34.178028 77.5814609999999934.131209999999996 77.532966499999986 34.224846 77.6299555tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924664171651288057.post-12708825836086507772011-06-26T04:10:00.000-07:002011-06-26T04:26:37.081-07:00

June 16, 2010 On the day prior, through twists of the tongue we have convinced the disbanded two to consider continuing. They have made us promise to abide by the tick of the clock. We have promised, but I have taken it upon myself to remind them that it is not we but nature that needs to comply. They have agreed, but have added that nature's compliance has worried them less in the trials so far

Alankar Misrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588461650412975808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924664171651288057.post-5447725095153837982011-05-30T12:05:00.000-07:002011-05-30T23:19:55.342-07:00

June 15, 2010 It has begun. A day I had hoped never to see and yet, known have I all along, that it will come. Two of the family three have decided to discontinue their adventure, to return to their obligatory obligations. And in the shattered pieces of their dreams for eternal freedom, I see the death of my own. I turn my thoughts away; for I dare not anger my peace, one that seems to have

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June 13, 2010 Our aspiration to ride out to Leh today will be dampened with rumours of a violent Khardung La. Or perhaps that is to be the official excuse, for we are already well into the evening. It would not be in our best interest to commence the journey in the dark of the night. We have briefly run into Biru today as he returns from a lone ride to Turtuk - a heavily guarded and extremely

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June 13, 2010 Low on fuel reserves, we opt to engage only three of our faithful steeds. The Passion emerges as the shining star amongst all today owing to its superior fuel efficiency. We reckon that in the dreary event of our failing to acquire fuel the day hence, one could ride the Passion to Leh and return with fuel reserves to support the rest. At least that seems possible. Hundur, at a

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June 13, 2010 The dark was compassionate for the freeze refrained from gnawing at my bones. Slumber was an unwrinkled constant. We head back to Leh today. But before we do, we must refuel our steeds. They are as parched as the Sahara. Our inquiries reveal there is but a single pump situated near the main market which is where we head now. But the pump will serve only dismay for we are told there

Alankar Misrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588461650412975808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924664171651288057.post-65639394660463267312011-03-16T06:46:00.000-07:002011-03-17T11:10:03.205-07:00

June 12, 2010 We're in Khalsar. I know not what became of the family three - RomeoMike, Drifter and Ashwin. They probably follow at a dwindling pace. The path has been all but rosy, for Motorbreath too has contracted a puncture. So afraid was he of accusations of a sluggish pace at the hands of Spiderweb that, despite my warnings, he has kept up momentum well into the three digits at the risk of

Alankar Misrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588461650412975808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924664171651288057.post-39731802872984464322011-03-16T03:37:00.000-07:002011-03-16T03:43:19.878-07:00

June 12, 2010 With healthy tarmac beneath our wings, we blaze on. Vishal will continue to push the limits of his Passion although it can still only manage a little more than a crawl. Once again low fuel concerns persuade us to split as a group. This time round though, Drifter will stay with his pack. Once more RomeoMike will request us to find help in Aghyam and return to them with information,

Alankar Misrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00588461650412975808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924664171651288057.post-29529817762542737572011-03-15T07:37:00.000-07:002011-03-15T12:38:19.087-07:00

June 12, 2010 United in slumber, I see the rest resting. I've lost the will to sleep and decide to walk along the banks of the Shayok river. Much to my delight, a workman joins me. He explains that he is in-charge of labour. He speaks of his family; says he misses them ever so often. That which we see as beautiful, he expounds - the mountains, the rivers, the caverns, they see as inhospitable

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