Dude if i am not wrong you are the same guy i met when u was heading towards Pangong.

You should be, bcoz saw only 2 Ninja's in Whole trip.
One was Mine & other yours...

Good one bro.. nice to know that you completed the tour...

Day 10 24-June-12 Srinagar to Kargil

Day 10 24-June-12
Srinagar to Kargil


3 nights & 2 days in the valley, it was seriously hard to pull myself out of the bed, on just the thought that a major part of the holy beauty is going to be left behind now. Nonetheless, LEH was just 2 days away now, and we knew journey would be all the more challenging and adventurous en route.

Not that I am lazy, I slept till 8.30 AM, just to ensure proper sleep, was aboard the bike sharp at 9.18 AM, where I took note of the time & ODO reading.

We started rolling out of town at around 9.30 AM, fuelled up and raced for the highway. Met a German cyclist, who was on a ride to Zanskar, LEH, NUBRA & Manali. Inspired & surprised, rode away hailing the almighty.



Road was all fine till we approached Sonmarg, and then the tarmac started to dwindle into lose gravel. Had ourselves stuck in jams due to Army convoy. Air had started to feel dry, and though it was cold, I could feel the sun noticeably whenever I opened my helmet visor. The altitude was showing its effects.


We had some patches of good & bad roads for the next few hours, which I cant remember very well now. We had this river flowing alongside the road, the name I cant recall. I was just waiting to see a perfect moment to take a few snaps, but we were also getting late, hence decided to stop as less as possible, still managed a few clicks with pee & nicotine breaks.






While I was finding my way through Army Convoy in sonmarg, I saw a group of foreigners on C500s, about 8 to 10, and lot of them looked quite aged. I was inspired again. Later, while I had parked for a while for the breaks, the group went ahead, waving & muttering. I and my friend hurried to follow them, and to our joyful surprise they had parked on a elevated perch alongside a huge curve on the road. This guy again started yelling and weaving at us, so we headed for them too.




Introduced ourselves with every member of the group and the Group Leader was particular of interest, his name is Marteinn, yes I remember the spellings. He had special interest in Ninja, since he himself has a ZX10R at his home in Europe. The whole group was from Netherlands and they aged 50 to 55 in average. We chatted for some good long time, smoked together & parted. They had their luggage & food van coming their way, on that very place they were supposed to have a picnic lunch. We wished we could have too, but for some reason, we left.












Something is there in the name itself, quite intriguing, months before the ride, I had read that Zozilla tests you patience, and it did ours too. This was the slowest ride we had till time on our journey to Leh. Both of us were not acquainted to such classy mountain passes, but we were prepared for the worst too. In fact after a couple of hairpins, we started enjoying this, this pass has loose dark soil in particles, partly like sand and a bit too dark in color, and boulders in it. So your rear tire keeps rolling sideways too. If it rains here, then the situation can become horrifying, quite like Rohtang La, minus the water crossings.

We were at the top of the pass now, saw an army check post. Decided to take a very small break. Our courteous army friend offered us freshly made tea, and we felt like kings. All the men there checked on at my ride, inquired a little and wowed, and this time I felt like King again (but alone )





Zozi







It started to rain now, though slowly, so I put on my rain upper, for rain bottoms, it relatively take a lot more time to wear it, and its somehow clumsy too. Over the fact that I almost never wore a rain suit whole my life.

We soon hit Drass, where we cleaned ourselves, had lunch and left for Kargil

We both were merrily moving down towards Kargil, after a a couple of hours the road turned into a complete loose gravel with no sign of tarmac. I had the rush, maybe from the joys of Zozila, consequently started to speed, yet under my limits, and my accomplice was left behind a few minutes. I had no trace of him for quite a long time, even on perfect straights.

Now I stopped under a sign board to wait for the lad. Since the accommodation for the night was his courtesy at an army guest house.





We went to bed at around 11, with the anticipation of much more of adventure and flavor to our ride for the coming day. The day when we reach Leh.

To my count, there have been 4 including yours now. You must have seen HR26 XXXX green ninja. Or this must be you with this number, but your city on XBHP suggests something else. Hence 4 Ninja this season, that i know of :

1 Paramjeet -- parry..i.e me
2 Mithun - guy with black ninja, he is here on XBHP too
3 Rahul - You
4 Mr X on a Green Ninja with HR XXXX number

regards

rest of the log dude, waiting eagerly......pls write up soon

Hi...Congrats first of all for you and for your ninja ....the Tlog is awesome....when i am reading this, am very exited about the next... keep coming

The HR26 XXXX Ninja was mine only, i am form Mumbai But bike is HR Passing.
So #3 & #4 are same.

^^^

Oh great! I remember you had PSD 140 on rear, right? and your partner was on CBR250R i believe!

Yes mine had PSD 130 on Rear & Red CBR250R my partner had..

World is too small

Awesome write-up mate! I am pretty sure you had an experience of a lifetime.

Mithun

It sure is, and memories are fresh like a flower as of now. All up for the trip again next year & probably Spiti will be added too.

Hi,
Wow!!! Ultimate experience of a lifetime. This ride will actually get the best out of you as a rider. Riding gears are really essential. Getting Leh'd on the Ninja 250 R is not at all a cake walk. Congratulations to you and your funny companion (ref: Engine Oil cap incident ). Waiting for more to come. Cheers!

Regards,
Adhip

thanks mate, not really getting time to complete the Log ever since i came back from Leh!

Re: A Thump addict gets Leh'd on a Ninja 250R in June'12

(Back after a hell lot of time.... Kindly apologize.

I was being indolent & was also busy to a great extent, got married, had a kid and all that. Could not write at all.

My riding was also compromised to a large extent, however still managed to feed my soul.

I am changing the format from a detailed & descriptive, to a summarized photo feature)

Day 11 - 25-June-2012
Kargil to Leh

After crossing Zozilla, the roads are not there pretty much, except for the last few miles before Leh. Since, it was my first experience on such mountain passes; I took a relative time to be comfortable & carefree.

Few stops here & there due to a break or the road blocks. Leh was almost there now.
















































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Day 12 & 13
Leh & Around
26-June-2012 & 27-June-2012


Since we followed the Srinagar route, we didnt much need to acclimatize further. Dint sort of have any problem whatsoever with breathing etc. To be in Leh already had two feelings : 1) half the fun is over 2) half & maybe the better one is yet to be explored.

We settled in Leh into a budget hotel, and explored local markets, went to see a monastery and did a round short trip to Khardung La.

Drank, ate & lazied on....



Much needed cocktail break, soul was being fed but the body surely was craving.....









Spoilt brats....You know.




For a quick service at Juma....the best available in Leh




Monastery captured


















With the Monk.




Kayak, anyone???




Our home in Leh...generous hospitality