And I'm still here too... pressing F5, F5, F5...

Lappie taken care off (last night), I will upload and begin day 5 today evening

Sure bhai, today evening...

Sorry to disappoint you brother, tomorrow morning you can feast your eyes on the kunzum la pass

Sorry bros., I got late at the Bank; month end and stuff, will start with the job tomm

Kab hai yeh tomorrow bhai?

sirjee, please dont tease us so much... we are all waiting for the twist to unfold... please update ASAP... everyday i check this thread for updates... but sleep disappointed...

Day 5

As usual the night wasn't as relaxing, I kept on turning around in the bed trying to search for the a sweat spot but I guess our bodies were too tired and even though the sleep wasn't as deep but we were quite fresh in the morning. We packed our stuff, had breakfast and left the place around 9:00- 9:15 a.m.

As we had tanked up at Peo, so it was necessary to tank up at the Indian Oil bunk at Kaza. It was a routine affair and this was the second time (after Peo) that I was filling normal petrol instead of 91 octane (Speed).

The plan was to stay at or around Chandrataal and we were quite sure that we will be able to reach the same by early evening. Thus we were not driving quite fast and as usual I was at my lazy best in the morning and was enjoying the beauty around me.

It was almost after 30- 40 minutes of riding that I reached a spot that was so amazing that I stopped, but Mr. X (who was leading at that time) continued. The road ahead was turning left and as soon as I stopped and took out the camera, I saw a bike (supposedly a bullet, cause of the sound), on the other side of the gorge. I thinking it was Mr. X kept on clicking, had some water and was enjoying the surroundings that after almost 10 minutes I saw another bullet on the same road. I was perplexed, as no other bike has passed me. Later on when I will continue with my journey, will I realise that the road on the other side of the gorge seemed quite near but was actually quite far.

Some pictures:-






See 2 people on a bike!























I will continue to ride solo, as Mr. X is no where in sight, for another 1 hour 40 minutes. This was an unventful ride and as I was alone, I sorely missed my daughter and wife (in that order). I don't know how but I started humming "main wapas aaonga, ja raha hun main yahan jaan apni chodke". So after numerous repeats and riding on that terrain for almost 100 minutes (undoubtedly the most without stopping), I stopped for a butt- water break. I guess I was just short of losar (time was 11:44 a.m.). Some clicks:-







































Losar was like a ghost town, it was roughly 12:15- 12:30 and there was no one in sight. Only few buildings, no vehicles, no local villagers, couldn't even locate a dog.

But we did manage to locate a dhaba, on the highway and as we went in a local lady greeted us and boy oh boy she had every thing in stock. We started by having some juice and she went inside to prepare fresh lunch for us that was thoroughly enjoyed later and she was an amazing cook.

We left Losar at around 01:00- 01:15 p.m. and as soon as we started riding we hit a checkpost (I guess this was end of Spiti). The mandatory enquiry about the route etc. followed and we were allowed to leave. On questioning about the Chandrataal route the officer in charge said that a bull dozer was supposed to start operating from the morning, but he was unsure whether it has actually started operating or not. As Sun was beating down on us and I was using a gel based seat cover over the stock seat, my back side was burning and I requested Mr. X to stop. So I splashed some water over the gel seat and covered it from the Sun. Some pictures:-





















Soon thereafter I signaled Mr. X to continue and I begin to follow him. After 30 minutes of riding Mr. X's Bult had a blown fuse (the same one that has been troubling us for the past few days). I must confess that the place where it happened was again so awesome that "shooting break toh banta hai mere yaar".

Some shots:-


















I guess this happened just before the Kunzum la pass. I don't know how far Kunzum la was but I took us almost an hour to reach the same. We were at a high altitude pass for the first time and spent almost 20- 25 minutes fooling around the top. Some clicks:-





























This was the last picture from a proper camera. We were quite happy with the way we have travelled so far and that too without an incident. No punctures (touch wood!), no crashes (touch wood!), no mechanical failures other than bullet's fuse, so spirits were high.

I didn't knew then but someone told me later that there is a downhill trek (thats comparitvely easier) to Chandrataal from Kunzum la. There was no negativity around and everything was going according to the plan. We both were quite happy already with the way the things were going.

As mentioned earlier, we were in no hurry to move on and ended up spending quite a bit of time at Kunzum La. The pass at that time was quite easy to negotiate, the weather gods were merciful and as we have been travelling at high altitudes for a while there was no sickness (mind you although we were carrying Diamox, we didn't use the same).

There's a temple at Kunzum La and most of the vehicles do stop there for a while. This was a turn ahead of the place where we had stopped and we saw the temple when we started riding again. Few pictures:-

***Some problem with photo bucket; I will upload the pics and continue with the blog soon***

So long guys

Some fantabulous pics here. Bring it on.

age to badao yaara nice log man bada patience chahiye log likhne ke liye keep up the good work

Day 5 contd.










While I used my i phone to click these pictures, Mr. X moved ahead and I joined him at an intersection where the right turn leads to Chandrataal and the left one to Batal. Mr. X was waiting for me over there. When I joined him we could actually see couple of dhabas to our right downhill and correctly presumed it to Batal. Now I suggested Mr. X that we should go down to Batal and enquire about the Chandrataal route and then decide the next course of action. Mr. X refused the offer saying that he is no mood to go down to Batal (few Kms downhill, easily visible from the place where we had stoppped) and then retun back. I was taken aback and tried reasoning that it must be few Kms only and we have come all the way to see Chandrataal. I don't why but he was quite adamant and refused my suggestion. He said that he's quite tired and doesn't wanna ride extra Kms. I also suggested him to wait at the same spot for sometime, while I will go down to Batal on my bike, enquire about the Chandrataal route and come back. Now this was a decent offer to someone who was quite tired and didn't wanna do "extra Kms". But he simply rejected the offer and said point blank that he's going to manali. It went in like a bullet, we have come all the way to Chandrataal as a group and supposed to take group decisions the how the f**k in this world can he say that "I am going to manali". Where and when did this "I" happened, even I was clueless. Post this I again tried coaxing him that if he's tired then I am volunteering to do the hard work and he should not have any problem with that. But he rebutted me and again said those ghastly words, "I AM GOING TO MANALI". This proved to be too much for me and I simply told him that in such a case his and mine ways are seperate and he should please continue on his ride. Post telling him this I simply moved ahead towards the ravine and Mr. X without saying anything packed up started his ride and zoomed off. I WAS LEFT STRANDED 900 Kms AWAY FROM HOME!

that's why they say solo rides are best... although i myself have not done any yet

its an interesting log. pls continue

Ahemmm....

At last the secret revealed

Is he jealous about your photo clicking ?

I think he felt inferior from when he moved ahead and arrange hotel in every spot and able bargain the price to lower due to his normal bike and you can't due to your expensive stead and come back to you and take you to the hotel.

I presume if this is the case, one must equally divide this task & everyone need to do that alternative spot OR approach altogether.

Please don't take me wrong way ....it is just my thought/assumption.

As fellow member already mention....Solo is the way to go. OR the same bike owner.I know.... this is heard to find a Ninja owner want to ride his stead in those road, sacrificing the comfort of his luxurious SUV.

So, finally the twist unfolds... and what a twist it is? Mr.X takes a "U" turn... phew.. what about you sirjee? did you continue your ride? where did you go? how did you feel riding solo in the middle of nowhere?

I guess another option is to have a bigger group, there a single person cannot influence the entire group, and our plan initially was to ride with 4- 5 guys, but it didn't work out. Since this incident I have severed all ties from this stupid fellow because I belive in the saying that an intelligent enemy is better than a stupid friend.


See the plan was to ride together, in plains and even in hills (when the road condition was good) I used to lead and wait for him at various intervals. I had an option of even riding at 130- 140+ whereas his ride could do 120 max and you cannot ride at those speeds for long else your engine would go for a toss (it's a bull). But this guy never even bothered to halt for me and to ride to the next spot and locate a hotel wasn't a decision that was forced on him. This was not the reason, I guess the stress got to him, but again why him why not me? I was the one who's riding a track bike on non existent roads. See, these questions will never be answered, even I have been asking myself the same question. I guess I (at 33; riding my first bike) was tougher than him (at 26).

For that my brother you have to wait, I am alive though.

Interesting turn of events! I am sure you had a situation in hand at that time, but I look forward to the next part with much enthusiasm!

In situations like this people show their true colors , the attitude shown by your Mr.X was not correct and choosing your riding partner is more important than planning one ride.