We are India’s most popular motorcycling community & portal. Our aims are
Promoting Safe Riding and Helmet Awareness Shaping motorycling as a lifestyle in India, especially on performance bikes Support bikers in India to realize their dreams and potential on two wheels
 

Go Back   xBhp.com : The Global Indian Biking Community > The Tourer

Featured on xBhp

The Tourer
Did a 1500kms round circuit to the hills, a fast interstate dash, whatever it maybe, share your triplogs here. And do remember to attach some good photographs!

Register Now for FREE!
Are you registered on xBhp yet? If not, do so now and start participating to be able to share photos and experiences with other members. It will also enable to you have a chance to be a part of xBhp contests and roadtrips in the future!

Username: Password: Confirm Password: E-Mail: Confirm E-Mail:
Birthday:      
Image Verification
  I agree to forum rules 

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread
Old 03-23-2011, 08:21 PM   #1 (permalink)
THE BEAST
 
Abhishek B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New Delhi / Lucknow
Posts: 336
Thumbs up SPITI - Blanket of snow in March

SPITI - Blanket of Snow

It was a long cherished dream to visit Spiti at time when its entirely covered by snow. It's no more a dream now. I rode to Spiti Valley in March 2011 and explored a completely different side of majestic valley. The entire region was covered in thick blanket of snow. It's been four days that I've returned to Delhi but my mind refuses to accept the reality.

It still is tangled in the splendid vistas that were a constant companion throughout the ride. Riding was difficult on those terrains, not due to freezing conditions but due to constant urge to click a picture at every inch that I used to cover. The ride lasted six days which is a story of numb fingers, freezing conditions, million cups of tea & unadulterated riding satisfaction.

I thought for a long time before starting this thread to fill it with special title, words & use of high flying sentences, etc. Now I realise that words fall short and nothing can actually bring out what I've actually experienced in six best days of my life. I sould also admit that my ability to write a log is very poor. So this is a very simple & humble effort from my side to share my side of story with my xBhp brethern of the best ride of my life.

Some pics before I actually start writing:

The Beautiful NAKO village


The NAKO lake - frozen


Enroute KAZA


I'll be posting more as soon as I'm done with high volume of pending work in office.
__________________


LIFE IS SHORT !!! GO HARD
Abhishek B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2011, 12:07 AM   #2 (permalink)
Super Moderator
 
sunilg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Ghaziabad, UP, India.
Posts: 5,075
Send a message via Yahoo to sunilg
Default

beautiful..

Travelogue approved.
__________________
(Been There Done That) x 3.25

Join xBhp On

sunilg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2011, 01:27 AM   #3 (permalink)
Touring Breed
 
tourer_kashif's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Pune
Posts: 788
Default

Mind blowing.
tourer_kashif is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2011, 02:26 AM   #4 (permalink)
RIDE for PASSION
 
Haroon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bangalorean, but now in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Posts: 794
Default

Thanks for your efforts & please bring it on.
The teasers look splendid, so cant imagine what the rest will look like.
Waiting for more....
__________________



Growing old is compulsory - growing up is optional


So many roads, So little time
RIDE for PASSION

See us & our rides at:

www.rideforpassion.com
Haroon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2011, 08:42 AM   #5 (permalink)
MG
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Maharashtra,India
Posts: 5,900
Default

Wow!
This year too we have a Spiti in March travelgoe.
@Abhishek - Keep it going. We all are eagerly awaiting
__________________
Join xBhp On



My photography page: Gourab Das Photography
MG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2011, 09:08 AM   #6 (permalink)
Enthu Tourer !!
 
Rony's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Andheri, Amchi Mumbai !!
Posts: 1,506
Default

WoW ... waiting for details and more such amazing pics !
__________________
Rony is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2011, 09:13 AM   #7 (permalink)
RAJE
 
darkknight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Panvel , Navi Mumbai
Posts: 3,352
Send a message via Skype™ to darkknight
Default

brilliant--for a moment I thought it was the annual OF pilgrimage --

this remains always in my to do lists
__________________


darkknight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2011, 11:02 AM   #8 (permalink)
Nomad
 
phanikar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 678
Default

Wow....... Now we have one more SPITI log to look out for
__________________
Work life balance is like air fuel mixture
Life is too short for traffic, take the highway...........
phanikar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2011, 02:21 PM   #9 (permalink)
THE BEAST
 
Abhishek B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New Delhi / Lucknow
Posts: 336
Thumbs up Day 1 & 2

Date : 12th & 13th March


Subject: the ride till NAKO



Riders:
Lovish on P150
Shaantonil on P220
Nitin on Discover
Abhishek on P220S


It all started a few months back when this idea struck me - ride to Spiti in March. A sight that I had always imagined - the whole valley covered by snow, conditons just less than risky & no rush to cover any place at a fast pace. Discussions & meetings followed as to who all will join, what all will it take, etc. The weather in Delhi was also getting warmer by end of Feb indicating that it would be easier to ride in hills. But then who says plans materialise the way you think? the weather took a turn for bad, it started drizzling in Delhi & raining cats & dogs in hills. Phone calls to hotels in hills and they advised not come. Some friend went to Kalpa & Sangla on a 4-wheel and came back with head nodding in negative. WTF??

So will my dream not realise in 2011? Would I have to wait for one more year to get precise conditions for this trip? The enthu of fellow riders also went for a toss and March had already started.

Some days later.... a call from Sarahan and the hotel manager on the line sadi, "Sir, weather theek hone ke chances hain. Aap thodi himmat karein to bike se Spiti pahunch skate hain."

Wait for nothing and I packed my bags. A phone call to Shaantonil and he requested to postpone the ride or one week. I relented as it's always better & more enjoyable to ride with pals to such places. A week later, i.e. on 12th March, we were cruising towards Panipat where Lovish would join us. And yes, Nitin had joined us at the eleventh hour.

The first day halt was Rampur. Its a routine 12 hour mundane ride via Shimla & Narkanda. I must mention that Shimla - Narkanda stretch is deteriorating regularly. Everytime its worse than earlier. But the nice tarmac after Narkanda kinda makes up fot it. A nice and cheap hotel at Rampur, very good dinner, some pegs of whisky and league match of world cup (IND v/s SA) was all that our evening consisted. The target for next day was NAKO which is just 200 kms from Rampur.

We all were ready at 8 in morning on 13th to carry on further. Some delicious paraathas, omelettes, many cups of tea & noodles at Bhavanagar was our breakfast. The bill presented to us was of Rs.140 only and my eyes had to be kept back in their sockets at the sheer shock of bill being so meagre. Anyway, bill paid & we rode on.

The roads from Wangtu to Powari have improved and were not so difficult to ride as earlier. Though this argument wasn't bought by my fellow riders. Even the stretch further is not so bad, also to admit that I enjoy slowly treading on rough stretches. Plain & smooth tarmac gets boring for me after a limit. The ride after Powari was eventful where Lovish & Nitin started stopping frequently to capture the vistas. I was getting restless at such breaks but could understand their excitement as being on this stretch for first time does compel you to stop and bring camera to use.

I was happy trundling slowly on rough road whereas others were almost riding like pro-rally racers. They used to disappear within no time of starting from any point and I was left with no option but to cover the distance without causing my bike much pain.... imagine a pulsar being ridden harsh by a 100kg rider. SORRY!! I can't do that to my P220. Pooh came & passed by but I didn't want to stop. Nitin wanted to have lunch but non-availability of any open eating joint washed out his hope.

1600hrs - we were in NAKO. None of the hotel or home-stays were open at this time of year. Thankfully, a small dhaba remains open throughout the year besides Helipad and the Mr. Dharampal, the caretaker of the dhaba, graciously agreed to make arrangements for our stay as well. Two days of ride got over. Since it had been an easy affair till now, none of the riders were tired. After some snacks & tea we headed to NAKO lake.
The lake was completely frozen & snow was shining like pearl. There was snow everywhere..... on lake, on fields, on road, in houses, eveywhere. See in any direction and the views are beautiful enought to sweep you off your feet. All cameras at work for next half an hour. Pictures were being taken from every possible angle, zoom range and what not. In my view-finder I suddenly spot Shaan walking on the lake. I paused but he didn't and kept walking. After covering half of the lake he said to me, "Bhaiya, meri ek aise pic kheecho."
5 mins later we all were jumping on the lake. Though my jump was combined with caution. Heavyweights don't take anything easily. Well after all the frolic & fun we returned to our dhaba and Mr. Dharampal was happily arranged bonfire for us. It was getting colder with every second.... extremely cold. The view of snow laden mountains was spectacular at night as well. I spent half an hour gazing at them and yet wasn't satisfied. I could hear words like long exposure & tripods, but preferred not to capture that sight. Somethings are beautiful because they are not accesible everywhere. The moonlight gave that extra dimension to already multi-dimensional landscapes around us.


2200hrs - All of us inside blankets, discussing about what we should expect for next day. It's going to be big.... ride to KAZA. That's what we were riding for. Eyes closed but dreams were white for the first time.



Some pics:

Somewhere OTR (on the road)


Near POOH


Bhagat Nallah


Enroute Nako... just after Kizags





Trees stand tall while snow is abundant at base


A hill in B&W


Nako as seen from Helipad


White & Frozen - Nako lake


Just before Sunset


Nako frozen lake


View from Dhaba


View from Dhaba


Just snow



__________________


LIFE IS SHORT !!! GO HARD
Abhishek B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2011, 02:59 PM   #10 (permalink)
psr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CHENNAI , TAMILNADU
Posts: 3,245
Default

Amazing Pictures..looks more like going through a good dream.....your narration is also good ...keep it coming.
__________________
When Was The Last Time,You Did Something For The First Time.

http://www.codewins.com/motorcycles/...alveclearance/.( D I Y Valve clearance setting.. )
psr is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply
Visit castrolbiking.co.in Visit Ceat Tyres
 

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Riding on Snow and Ice The Art Of Safe Riding The Art Of Safe Riding 1 09-13-2011 11:33 AM
Winter trek to Snow covered Tungnath tilak_soni73 The Tourer 30 05-06-2010 05:24 PM
Where the snow trail is... Mik The Tourer 13 02-16-2010 05:39 PM
The Spiti Marathon kurtrules The Tourer 58 06-17-2009 04:33 PM
SNOW IN MADHYA PRADESH!!!! Bunny News 42 01-25-2005 03:25 PM


All times are GMT +5.5. The time now is 08:45 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.2.0
xBhp.com