sI am anydays anytime up for off roading experience, riding through mud, slush, gravel, rocks, I love that but no offroading experience on what's supposed to be roads & that too with HELL lot of traffic around & a pillion with me !!

Grow up Dipu! ab shararat ke din nikal gaye. You're married now

MJ where is Day 2?

Day 2:

This write up is courtesy of Seema!

Thanks Seema.
Day 2: Lansdowne – Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple – Joshimath (13th August):

As per the plan, a total of 335kms on hills was to be covered on the Day 2. As the first day was bit of a relaxed ride for all of us, we decided to leave early on this day so as to reach the destination comfortably. But this trip did not see any of our plans getting converted and leaving early, i.e. at 7 AM was one such plan. Though, we all were able to get up pretty early, activities like repacking, preparing ourselves for the rains and getting the bikes ready for this long day extended our morning stay at Lansdowne a bit too long. Finally we left from there at around 9: 00 AM, but this brought good photos though!!







The short ride of 35 kms from Lansdowne to Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple was a smooth one, though the weather was getting a little hot. I enjoyed this stretch clicking the riders in action and the beautiful sceneries around. Best view was when we were moving parallel to dense clouds. A mesmerizing view with a mix of beautiful & bright colors; green trees, blue sky & white clouds, which forced us to halt for a few minutes and capture it perfectly.

Shiv on the twisties.

MJ Doing the twisties!




The roads just got tighter










Minutes later, we were at the Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple, an exquisite place with tall trees and immensely peaceful surroundings. A small walk took us to the divine place, which definitely required a few undisturbed moments.

The real long journey was to follow. We left from the temple at around 12 o’clock, thinking that the ride till Pauri is going to be cool, as the roads were supposed to be good. The situation gradually changed as we moved on, roads were getting bad to worse, with all slush and patches where there was no road at all. This was a tough ride, adding to the fun was the weather playing hide and seek with us. At one moment, it was like no rains at all and the next moment was all cloudy. Finally, we decided to keep the rain gears on for the entire day. And it really helped, just when we crossed Pauri it was raining like cats & dogs. It was around 5 in the evening and Joshimath was still around 200 kms.




This was the point when the discussion started to take a night halt before Joshimath, either Rudraprayag or Karanprayag. We knowingly lost the track of hours vs kilometers, as all predictions seemed to be failing for the day. So, we just moved on enjoying the rains and the darkness growing stronger. Till this time, considering the limited days in hand for the trip, it was decided that we will cover the distance to Joshimath today only, whatever time it may be. It was around 9:45 that we took the dinner break at a dhaba near Karanprayag. The locals told that all police check posts will be shut after 10 and we will need to get them opened, else take the bikes under them. Anyways, now when the destination was clear, this was not a big issue. We had a quick dinner and started the last part of the day’s ride. This stretch covered the landslide prone areas, so had to be extra cautious. Left side was the Alaknanda River, which we could just hear in the darkness and right side were the mountains with some commotion off & on. Hardly noticed any other vehicle on this route that time, this was really scary, eyes to be kept on the mountains, just in case some stones falling. To add to the adventure, a fox, rather two of them were seen on the road. Now, the fear of a leopard or any other wild animal was added to the list. Keep moving on were the only words running in everyone’s mind. Braving through all this, finally reached Joshimath at around 12:30 midnight.

Great work out there by Seema, a very nice and crisp write up. Yes this day was quite challenging and I loved it from smooth butter roads to crossing nullahs in dark with the help of bikes headlight was amazing experience. And specially with rains the pleasure and adventure was added. There were many instances when the ride was to be altered, but a few discussions with Seema and the destination was to be kept as it was - Joshimath. She braved out all the odd weather conditions and sitting pillion in those beautiful non-existing roads was something which was very courageous and brave of her.
Rakesh rode superbly all the way in these conditions with her as a pillion. His riding experience speaks up to his skills. He is a very mature rider and also has full control on his bike. He is an excellent rider and yes he rode beautifully well with Seema as pillion in the twisties and the slush and several nullahs we crossed in the night.
MJ rode well too when it was daylight but in dark he for some reasons didnt wanted to push, as it is I think this was the first time he was riding so much in hills, so its all good and fine. His HID though I know didnt help him, but would always be useful to us to locate him in night in the rear view mirrors of our bike.

There were many locals whom we met when we stopped for tea breaks, they got psyched out knowing that in this weather and at this time of the day we were going to Joshimath. Our Bike's Number were penned down in case of any mishap at one place. Those locals informed others through call. It was all very exciting as well as a bit scary and weird at that time. But we were all at Joshimath at 0130hrs by God's blessing... you see its after all DevBhumi

Few pics from my side


MJ resting after coming abck from Tarkeshwar Mahadev temple


Sangam of few river streams


the only pics where we are ALL there


the lush green valleys




Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple

Wow!! You guys seemed to have a blast of a ride..

Sorry guys had to miss it, as I had to go home but I am so jealous looking at the pics. It reminded me of our trip. I am gearing up for the next one. Hopefully soon we all will again ride together.

Bring on the rest of the logs and pics.

@Shiv: As always, Nice words and wonderful photography there buddy..
@Rakesh: As usual you are at your descriptive best.
@MJ: Nice fillers in between brother..

Bring on the rest guys!!

12:30 at night to Joshimath!! thats quite crazy. Nice ride.
3.5 years back we had taken the karnprayag road from Ranikhet, to realize that some sections of the road had not yet been built!
We did make it to Joshimath at 9 pm. Next day phatt gayi while coming back when we realized the terrain we had crossed in the pitch darkness was pretty dangerous.
Bring on the Auli pics.. Any snow?

Absolutely Rachit! We had a blast....

Looking forward to ride again wit you bro! Real soon

This praise belongs to Seema! She wrote day 2....

This was the same scenario on the day when we returned seeing the terrain and worse the landslides happening!

As for Auli, there was no snow but the roads were mighty fun... especially down hill as i ride an under powered machine!

Day3: 13th August

After reaching Joshimath at 0130hrs the previous night we all decided to be a bit easy today. After all you see it isn’t easy to ride in rain and tough terrain. The destination for today was Govind Ghat which is just about 20kms from Joshimath. Now we all decided that we will leave for Govind Ghat at around 10 or 11am after breakfast. But as you all know, since last two days that punctuality was something which had gone into big toss in this ride or I can say that it got washed away in these rain . So after having our meal and getting ready we finally left Joshimath by around 1230hrs. We had only carried the necessary items for this ride and left the remaining in the store room at GMVN, Joshimath.

As we left from the Hotel, Rakesh’s FZ started having problem with its front brake making some strange noise. After checking we found out that the brake oil was not showing any signs in the brake fluid container. Alright we went to get it fixed, after a lot of tries we waited there at the mechanic for around good 30mins, but nothing was done. Well since the front brakes were still working a bit, we decided to go slow and move ahead to Govind Ghat, and when we return back then will get it fixed. Now as we turned downhill the beautiful valleys were amazing. And yes it also started drizzling after some time; we all were taking frequent stops for clicking and enjoying the beauty of the Dev Bhomi. All the way stopping and clicking and enjoying we finally reached Govind Ghat at around 1500hrs. We parked our bikes, took the receipt, loaded ourselves and finally started our trek for Ghanghariya.


as we started down from Joshimath


Jaypee everywhere


Yeh Haseen vadiyaan


mast tarmac


my pals going ahead


rainfall waterfall


jharna


nadii


Brave Seema


Anna had it enough, we wanted to know his last wish





this is when he said les ride uphill and hence we let him


both standing ready to push Anna


hence we moved ahead








loved riding in these roads





the poky mountain




the bad patch


Now Ghanghariya is a 15km trek mostly uphill. We haven’t trek anywhere in Himalayas ever. Now as per the info these people said it will take around 6 to 7hrs for us to reach and hence start tomorrow morning as everything closes down in Ghanghariya at around 2300hrs (11pm). But we thought we will make it anyhow. Now it would have been hardly around 2kms of uphill trek, and I was completely exhausted. I was like at this rate it would take us more time to reach. Then I decided I wouldn’t climb more to MJ and then I took a u-turn and came back. Till the time I reached down back to Govindghat it was around 1830hrs and yes it was raining since an hour now. I took a hotel and settled down there. I gave a thought about today and yes I know I will do it again and go to VoF, but when is still to be decided. And now in bed after dinner, my mind was having all strange thoughts, that whether they reached all safe and sound? Where would they put up? I could see black clouds up ahead in hills, so don’t know how much rain they would have faced? And on top of that there is no mobile connectivity of Airtel atleast at Govindghat nor Ghanghariya. I tried calling all 3 of them in the night around 2230hrs but all phones were off. Now thinking all this I slept after taking my dinner and medicine for my cold.




Ghanghariya


Trek Route


MJ- in Green after Go Green




dense clouds


playing hide n seek




trek route







So the question arises is what time did Rakesh, Seema and MJ reached at Ghanghariya? Or did they even reach there? How much rain they had to face? What was there condition when they reached? And could they cover the Valley of Flowers? For all these questions one of them would have to write… AND yes did I stay in Govindghat the next day i.e 15th August –The Independence Day???

hey nice shivi bhaiya aur agar kisi short ride pe jana ho toh please main bhi chalunga ab toh Driving license bhi ban gaya hai......

Nice trip that guys!! The scenes look really brilliant.
Kudos to the lady who sat pillion on this adventurous ride.

Waiting for the rest of the log, to uncover the mystery shrouding the safety of other 3 riders who went trekking.

hi

it looks u guys had lots of fun there.
shivu next time though....

Thanks Tibby, yes Seema is a very brave girl, and the best part is that she enjoys these rides.

Jesus Christ bhai where have you been, been more than a year since heard from your side... hows everything going on there. You have my number right text me please

Dude No mobile connectivity?
we had no money! you had the most money at that point remember? And you took it wit you

Anyways our side of the story latest by tomoro morning!