xBhp.com : The Global Indian Biking Community - View Single Post - Our Leh Ride: Aug 9th

born2lead · 09-25-2008, 11:50 PM

“Are you out of your mind or what? Do you know we guys at Air Force are sent to places like LEH on a punishment posting…? A weekend trip to Nanitaal, Mussorrie, Jaipur, Agra max to max Shimla still sounds OK atleast you are reachable all the time but LEH is INSANE...”

Those were the words of my Parents when for the first time I just mentioned that ONE DAY I WOULD RIDE TO LEH, one of the biggest dreams I had in a corner of my small heart.

It was mid 2007 and with the very first look at the cover picture of this so called chapter LEH of my life I figured out that no matter what this is going to be by far the biggest steal that I might pull out from LIFE.

For the next few months I was just figuring out if there is any way that I can break all these rules and limitations posed on me by any means. Though I really didn’t have any clear cut plan in my mind but still I started with very basics like being a very obedient child at home and an ideal, sincere worker at office. Well after my parents it’s the Project Manager at work who would approve my leaves.

Started talking and discussing longer rides and then subsequently tougher ones like LEH with my friends’ especially non riders. These were more like mock sessions for me in which you get to know more hurdles and then prepare accordingly, surely this boosted my confidence a lot.

In the due course of these discussions few friends got convinced to take out there stallions to an actual use and go for a ride till Jaipur. It was Aug 07 andit became a very important milestone in the whole preparation because for the first time my dearest friend Ankur (swiftrider) was planning to ride with me, so what if was just 250 kms in plain to Jaipur. That ride would always be a very special ride in my life.

For Ankur I could see that even this much was quite an experience not that he never use to ride but we guys don’t term daily commuting as RIDES, right? This break through was also quite unexpected because till then like for me if it was Bike, for Ankur it was always Car, he too loves travelling a lot and enjoys the most driving his prized possession “A Silver Swift” to distant places like Shimla, Agra etc with his parents. And believe me guys this guy can DRIVE.

Well though LEH still looked like a far away dream, I was more then glad that atleast in consolation I got to ride with Ankur. Which we thought was the last ride together.
“Don’t know how come Mom agreed to this Jaipur ride, for sure this is the first and LAST ride for me… Ankur said to me”

I was dead sure his parents would never agree to a ride to LEH, and also that if some how his parents say a yes with that as an example I can easily convince my parents.
And guess what, in just fun sake discussions Ankur said to his Mom, Imran’s (B2L) parents are letting him ride to LEH why aren’t you. No wonder he is my Best Buddy.
So we were both using each other as ALIBI. Was it wrong? I still don’t know.

Well still nothing was working out in our favor. At times I used to feel a little helpless confined in boundaries. Spent days together reading about people who rode there, preparations they did, hurdles they crossed and heights they achieved.
“For God Sake its LEH I am not dreaming to ride down to Moon so many ride to LEH every year why cant I.”

Feb 08 when I still couldn’t see a ray of hope and I decided to ride to Vadodara, I am guessing just coz my parents weren’t allowing for LEH, they just said a Yes for Vadodara. Riding in plains had a different kind of fun altogether that I had never thought of before but still my mind was wondering quite high.

I still don’t know from where did Ankur got this idea of going to LEH on car and stating that to his dad but I am thankful that he did.
For those who haven’t yet read Ankur’s part of story and rest of mine please read this. Click Here

And this is how we CONSPIRED to get the permissions for THE LEH RIDE.

Click for Day 1...

09-25-2008, 11:50 PM	#27 (permalink)
born2lead BORN2LEAD Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Delhi Posts: 303	Project LEH - Preview (B2L's Part) “Are you out of your mind or what? Do you know we guys at Air Force are sent to places like LEH on a punishment posting…? A weekend trip to Nanitaal, Mussorrie, Jaipur, Agra max to max Shimla still sounds OK atleast you are reachable all the time but LEH is INSANE...” Those were the words of my Parents when for the first time I just mentioned that ONE DAY I WOULD RIDE TO LEH, one of the biggest dreams I had in a corner of my small heart. It was mid 2007 and with the very first look at the cover picture of this so called chapter LEH of my life I figured out that no matter what this is going to be by far the biggest steal that I might pull out from LIFE. For the next few months I was just figuring out if there is any way that I can break all these rules and limitations posed on me by any means. Though I really didn’t have any clear cut plan in my mind but still I started with very basics like being a very obedient child at home and an ideal, sincere worker at office. Well after my parents it’s the Project Manager at work who would approve my leaves. Started talking and discussing longer rides and then subsequently tougher ones like LEH with my friends’ especially non riders. These were more like mock sessions for me in which you get to know more hurdles and then prepare accordingly, surely this boosted my confidence a lot. In the due course of these discussions few friends got convinced to take out there stallions to an actual use and go for a ride till Jaipur. It was Aug 07 andit became a very important milestone in the whole preparation because for the first time my dearest friend Ankur (swiftrider) was planning to ride with me, so what if was just 250 kms in plain to Jaipur. That ride would always be a very special ride in my life. For Ankur I could see that even this much was quite an experience not that he never use to ride but we guys don’t term daily commuting as RIDES, right? This break through was also quite unexpected because till then like for me if it was Bike, for Ankur it was always Car, he too loves travelling a lot and enjoys the most driving his prized possession “A Silver Swift” to distant places like Shimla, Agra etc with his parents. And believe me guys this guy can DRIVE. Well though LEH still looked like a far away dream, I was more then glad that atleast in consolation I got to ride with Ankur. Which we thought was the last ride together. “Don’t know how come Mom agreed to this Jaipur ride, for sure this is the first and LAST ride for me… Ankur said to me” I was dead sure his parents would never agree to a ride to LEH, and also that if some how his parents say a yes with that as an example I can easily convince my parents. And guess what, in just fun sake discussions Ankur said to his Mom, Imran’s (B2L) parents are letting him ride to LEH why aren’t you. No wonder he is my Best Buddy. So we were both using each other as ALIBI. Was it wrong? I still don’t know. Well still nothing was working out in our favor. At times I used to feel a little helpless confined in boundaries. Spent days together reading about people who rode there, preparations they did, hurdles they crossed and heights they achieved. “For God Sake its LEH I am not dreaming to ride down to Moon so many ride to LEH every year why cant I.” Feb 08 when I still couldn’t see a ray of hope and I decided to ride to Vadodara, I am guessing just coz my parents weren’t allowing for LEH, they just said a Yes for Vadodara. Riding in plains had a different kind of fun altogether that I had never thought of before but still my mind was wondering quite high. I still don’t know from where did Ankur got this idea of going to LEH on car and stating that to his dad but I am thankful that he did. For those who haven’t yet read Ankur’s part of story and rest of mine please read this. Click Here And this is how we CONSPIRED to get the permissions for THE LEH RIDE. Click for Day 1... Last edited by born2lead; 08-04-2009 at 07:51 PM.