Triplog approved.

@om: That is hardly the way to post a Leh ride! Unacceptable, actually. I would seriously suggest you to post the trip log and the pictures, directly, in this thread. That would really be lovely.

Om, the triplog was half left before the xbhp crash... now plz complete it...

You guys were riding wiht Partas

later he finshed his ride with me ..I rode with him till Leh

Shriman OmVaikul ji . Please post everything here. Going to some external link and reading the log trip feels so un-xBhp .

lolz .. looks like a joke ..

but nice pics

I don't mind posting here........but for that it will take a little time.

Before crashing that was fine.

I was posting each day, one day log. That was easy......this is a bit boring.....copying entire 20 days content and pasting .....copying pasting copying pasting....

but.....will do it anyways.

June 26th, 2008
Day 1
Story:
A day before the meeting point was decided, somewhere in north mumbai at a famous Sai Baba temple. But the time was early morning 5am, means most have to get up at 4 in the morning. Sounds like a big challenge, not the ride but getting up early and this is a challenge that I will never complete successfully. I slept at 1 am and when I got up it was already 5am. Sandeep called me up (thank god he called otherwise I would have got up after sunrise) and I told him to carry on. I will catch up somewhere at Manor.
Some how got up from the bed, everything was packed and started moving to Manor. There were light rains but within couple of hours I was at Manor. Met the gang for breakfast. Also I was meeting few guys for the first time.
Soon we were back on the road and some heavy showers started. Riding condition was little difficult but riding in rain is fun too.
Just as we crossed Daman border we came to know Pratas had met and accident. Locals helped us to take him to a near by Hospital.
Till the time doctor looks after him we found some mode of transportation that will take him and his bike safely to Mumbai. Luckily we found one such transportation in a jiffy. His hand got a plaster and some wounds were on the jaw. He and his bike then were off to Mumbai. Also loading his bike on the vansmall naphotel but it was a good place. Food was excellent and there was a lake view from the room. Roommotorcycle touringcomplete tragedy.
His bike was then loaded in a rickshaw kind of thing and transported to Ahmadabad.
Rest went ahead to find the workshop but I with Varun as pillion, Sandeep and Prasanna were following the rickshaw.
Following at speed of 40km/hr was a big challenge for some one like me. Still this one I managed to complete successfully. Some how after couple of hours we finally reached the workshop. Man it was deep inside the city. Took some rest and the work on his bike started. Got to know it will take the entire day to finish it up.
So just after some rest and talks it was decided that the plastic group except Viral will now leave ahead.
We exited the city very quickly and managed to cross 40km from Ahmadabad before sun down.
Sandeep spotted a good place to staysome photography on the hotel terrace.
My Expenses: Rs. 500 Petrol, Rs. 100 Stay, Rs.12 tes and biscuits, Rs.64 water and cold drinks. Rs.130 Dinner.
Rains: There were no rains today.
New thing learnt: Slow riding makes me sleepy.
Funny thing: All directions and help line numbers are written in Gujarati.

very good lunch at Udaipur bypass. And as I took a halt for fuel stop I signaled rest to keep going straight on NH-8. I came to know later than they accidentally entered Udaipur city but by the time they were back on the road I had crossed them.
Believing that they are ahead of me so just to catch up I was going very fast. But then I noticed that a km stone is showing Ajmer 169 that like I covered a lot of distance and still no sign of the gang. So took a break, called up sandeep, his phone was not in network but then later I got a call from him and got to know they were actually 60-70 kms behind me. So till the time they come up to me I took a nap more like some resthotel for stay

found a guy who was riding to canought place and he said that there is a Castrol Bike Zone near it, somewhere in Laxmi nagar. So we followed him and in an hour we were where we should be.
The guys in Castrol Bike Zonesabka bazar named place just opposite the house. I with the entire plastic gang spent hours inside till they close down. What a shopping that waslunch halt somewhere on the outskirts on North Delhi and just ripped our bikes for next 150kms.
Soon we even crossed Ambala before night fall. Road here onwards had work going in them so we had to slow sown.
At a steady pace then we started to move towards Chandigarh.
By 10pm we entered Chandigarh city

lock broke off. Found a mechanic within no time but no spare lock available near by. All said that we will need to go back to Ropar. Height is that he had a spare in his toll box that we found out on the last day of the trip.
The mechanic managed to fit a pulsar chain lock on the bike chain and get the mean machine moving. We told rest to start moving ahead and only I will stay back with Rohit beacuse next day after getting the proper lock fixed he and I can ride fast than others. So we will catch up with all staright at Manali in just half a day.
We spent the night at a near by lodge and waited when the morning will greet us. We were eager to reach Manali.
Log:
Total kms covered: Just 90kms
Average: Just 49km/litre
Average Speed: Just 60km/hr
Best Road: Chandigarh to Ropar.
Worst Road: None
Memorable Events: Bribing the Chandigarh cops.
Incidents: Rohit;s bike (thunderbird) chain lock broke off and I lost my helmet.
My Expenses: Stay Rs. 250, Food Rs. 500, Misc. Rs. 100, New Helmet Rs. 200






DAY 8
July 3rd, 2008
Here onwards I believe ride to heaven starts.
I and Rohit got up little late but were quickly off on the road. Straight went to Ropar and found a Royal enfield workshop. Got his chain fixed within no time. And started ride for Manali. Some how we wanted to reach before sundown. So just as usual started accelerating harder with quick halts for photos. The view what we were getting here onwards was just amazing. Himalayas are truly Himalayas. I always enjoy riding in this range. In fact this is were your actual skills and potentiality is tested and not in just races. By 3pm we managed to catch up with the our plastic group. They were waiting for us just few kms after Mandi.
I then got to know rest everyone were already in Kullu. So again hard acceleration comes in. After couple of hours of fierce riding we reached Kullu and found everyone who were waiting for us and were ready to go for river rafting.
River rafting in Kullu was just a treat for 6 day extreme ride. Water was cold but it was a pleasant activity. Have a look in the videos section for river rafting videos.Gauresh

where Rohtang Pass was at 36kms. We decided that we will wait for the rest here. Till then we will do what we do best, Photography.
Within 25mins rest had caught up with us. The place was good for some group photography. It was long since we did that. So after some quick shots we were off for Rohtang. Just after 10kms I was at the last. Always had something or the other on site to click.
Also met a Austrian guy who then rode along with me till Rohtang.
By the time Rohtang km stone showed 15kms, it started raining and a lot of fog started coming up. Could not see much view but just concentrated on the road as from here could not make out where is the road - all mud and landslides.
In an 40mins I was at Rohtang with the others. Such sudden change in climate and temperature was making me cold. Ordered some soup and omelette.
Took some rest and the plastic group were off ahead.
The ghata loops begins from here onwards. Riding on them was fun. Just after completing few loops we took a halt at a stream and were admiring the beauty of it.
Started riding towards Koksar after a photo break. But just as I saw Koksar was 6 kms away Sandeep told me that my tyre looks punctured. I took a look at it and replied that it does not looks punctured but it is punctured. Luckily it was not totally flat so I managed to pull it till Koksar. Rohit was far behind from the metal group. He had all the repair kits. So instead of waiting we found out a puncture repair shop in koksar. And straight went there to fix it. The guy knew how it has to be fixed properly. I had that worry in my mind that will he do it properly. But he fixed it quite well.
Within hour I and Sandeep after getting the tyre fixed were back at the dabha where we had decided to wait for everyone.
Now that all were here and it was dark we decided to camp here itself. Took the dabha owners permission and started putting up the tentsStarted with the packing and I with photography. Took some shots of the amazing village called Koksar and started the ride for Sarchu by 9am.
The road till Jisspa was up and down. But I saw no change in speed. Within 1 and a half hour all were at Tandi.
Tandi is where the last Indian Oil fuel pump before Leh citysmall nap at Darcha.
After some rest I think all should be at their best.
After Darcha next halt was straight at Sarchu. Here onwards we will be jumping 3 altitudes in one go. But we did not realize this.
After 3 hours of riding and crossing extreme extreme streams, we were at Baralacha. Took a small break and off to Sarchu non - stop. But just as we started our bikes and started riding, at first turn ther was the mother of all streams. This one was quite a broad one. Most did it but had their feet wet. And Gauresh fell in this one. I think he did got a bit of hypothermia. He was given some brandy I think then.
Even my feet were getting too cold so I quickly changed my socks.
After this point Sarchu was not far. Within 50mins we were at Sarchu where we could see a 3 to 4 tents of some adventure companies. We took night halt in some such tent group.
Not luxuries but they were quite decent.
At this point a lot of guys were getting health problems. Mountain sickness, Altitude sickness, Nausea, Head ache and more. Even just as we went in our tents at least I got up straight next morning. Did even get out for dinner. And got to know later only 3 of us did.
Log:
Best Road: Darcha to Baralacha.
Worst Road: Koksar to Jisspa
Total kms covered: 111km
Average speed: 40km/hr
Memorable events: Crossing that broad stream
Incidents: Viral and Gauresh had a small accident. Viral on sand and Gauresh in water.
My Expenses: Rs 200 Fuel, Rs. 200 food, Rs 100 stay, Rs. 600 at Sarchu Tent site.
Info: We are now above 15000ft.

DAY 11
July 6th, 2008
Story
Today I got up early. Well not early but around 9am. Started packing up my stuff, warming the bike and getting ready for final day to reach Leh. But next moment Ashish came inside the tent and told me all wickets were down. That means we are not leaving today.
When I saw others I could not control myself. I was laughing out loud at Sandeep. I was finding it funny. How the face expressions were coming up was interesting to watch. So now it was decided that we will leave tomorrow morning for Leh.
Late morning we had our breakfast in the dinning tent. It was a good breakfast. Though most had lost appetite but still managed to eat something. Food was necessary for the body now but eating anything was turning up to be difficult.
I then with Gauresh and Varun went to the other side of the road to see what view we get from this sidelunchDamsharatforeign group21 ghata loops which starts few kms after Sarchu.
Ghata Loops is not at all I found difficult but overtaking the trucks on those loops was a task. A difficult task. Already the road is not that broad and curves come almost every second. So had to be careful.
After completing the ghata loops everyone went ahead except I and Rohit. We were riding along with Gauresh. The next 80kms till Pang was some amazing site. What we were seeing was very impossible to believe that this is all in India. We were enjoying our ride. Climate too was getting pleasant.
By late afternoon we were at Pang. Here we got to meet the Royal Enfield Odyssey. They were returning from the Leh - Manali route. Some of us had a chat with them.
After having some noodles in Pang our next halt was Tanglang la. Tanglang La is the second highest motorable point in the world. Ride to Tanglang La was challenging. Climate was getting cold now. While nearing tanglang la there was even light snow showers. I was enjoying that but Sandeep was getting unconscious.
Ashish our doc came to his rescue. Gave him some injection which made him feel better.
After some tea we started ride for Rumste. Here onwards it was total descend. Climate even started getting warmer from this point. And just as the J and K border is crossed the road gets better and better. When asked a local how is the road ahead, he replies its just like your express highway of Bombay.
Only 5 of us reached Rumste first had food and waited for the rest. After an hour everyone arrived and gave us the news that Sandeep met a small accident. His pulsar 220 was damaged but it was still in good condition to ride.
From Rumste now next halt was straight at Leh city. The last 60km for Leh city was just something that my eyes could not believe. Pink mountains and pink atmosphere

breakfaststarted ride to khardung laKHARDUNG LAstarted ride back to our hotels.
Getting was easy. Just after the dirt track I started accelerating down fast and faster. Rohit kept is balance perfect and in less that hour we were at the bottom of the hill.
Rode quickly to our hotels and I started applying so many sunblocks on my face. My cheeks were burning like hell. I was feeling some intense pain. After couple of hours it went down. I went for a small nap in my room. At this time rest were roaming in the market and few were at the garages on the airport road to get their bikes fixed.
By evening I go up and got to know few have decided they are now couriering their bikes back to Mumbai and 8 guys are catching train from Jammu. Will hire a Scorpio ti take them from Leh to Jammu. And 2 other will take the flight to Mumbai. But I Rohit Gauresh and Varun we are riding back to Mumbai via Leh - Srinagar highway.
At this time the problems in Jammu were little minimized.
I will say our timing was perfect to cross from that side.
By late evening all went for shopping in the market area. Night Leh was a neat placebike packing was almost done.
After packing everyone came back to the hotel to fresh up and it was now when we actually started shopping. I bought a couple of t-shirts, a hat and a pen knife - not swiss knife but pen knife.
Now the cash was going short so its time to hit the ATM but in daylight there is a horrible ration Q for the ATM. I decided that I will go after dark.
By 9pm we had our dinner at a near by Bar - Restaurant. It was fun. The food the drinks and the laugh.
Late at midnight we came back to our hotel. At night only I packed up my stuff because tomorrow morning the concern riders will go for their flight and train. The ones who will be catching train from Jammu had hired a Scorpio to take them till Jammu from Leh.
Only I Rohit, Gauresh and Varun will ride back to Mumbai via Leh - Srinagar highway.
I knew return is going to be much faster than our arrival in Leh.
Log:
No ride today.

@om: I appreciate you posting the logs and a wonderful trip, but it would be infinitely better if you post your pictures inline with the text, it will help us understand appreciate your travels much better.