Tweet
Before I begin my trip log and my experiences about the same, let me introduce myself & my co rider who went through the odds to
travel the mountains in the rainy season.
I am Anand Roy, a commuter by origin taking off to small short trips once in a while, this trip being the first ever trip of my life (in bike)
Rahul Dutta, another co rider, residing in Bangalore often participates in short trips in the place of residence.
We both met up in a local gathering of Riders from different parts of city & became friends (but we took our time to develop the friendship)
This is a blog about a trip to the following places
KALIMPONG
DELO VIEW POINT
LAVA
GANGTOK
SEVEN SISTER WATERFALL
NATHU LA
SUKHIA PUKHRI
ITIHARI IN NEPAL
DHARAN IN NEPAL
BHETEDAR IN NEPAL
NAMCHE IN NEPAL
Here you go, every link making the trip possible. :-
This trip I am dividing into three parts for the ease of sharing pictures, & posting as well
PART 1
2 month before the trip 1 month to go for the trip7 days before the trip
Meanwhile, my exams ended, Rahul arrived Howrah station with two duffle bags, (a skinny figure emerged from the gush of of people shooting here & there), yes, I was there to receive him,< after all he was the only soul who was, finally, going for the trip along with me>, apart from Rc who was still nodding.
A days or two passed & my exams ended. We had to take our bikes for a combined service.
Morning was followed by the day which was concluded by the evening along with the service of our bikes including the cleaning of Head of the both bikes, tappet adjustment, engine oil change, Chain lube, clutch assembly change.
TOOLS WE TOOK FOR THE TRIP
Hence it is handy to carry-
2) An Foot/air pump to fill up that extra psi when required
3) Tool kit containing allen keys, screw driver, etc
4) Basic Food rations like cakes, biscuits, cookies ( trust me for a student like me it saves extra cost on breakfast or evening snacks)
5) Cellotapes ( the broad ones), try carrying two pair of shoes if riding in rainy season, gumboots if you can manage to ride with them, Raincoats.
JUNE 16 The day of throttle
Ride started at around 5.30 am in the morning, We had somewhat, a deep 6 hour sleep. (no, Im joking, he had a snoring 6 hour sleep while I was just trying to keep my eyes closed, I guess that is normal for an abnormally excited stubborn guy like me)..
Well, sooner than we realized, the highway lay straight in front of us, but we decided to take it slow & cover till Silliguri (around 636kms)
We decided to divide the initial leg of the trip to Siliguri in 6-7 breaks with a 10 minute break every 100 kms .
The first 100-120 kms on the National Highway was a bliss ( our plan was to take nh till Burdwan, then proceed towards NH34 & reach directly to Siliguri via Malda).
..ride ride ride.. Ahhh, Mangoes, Mangoes, stop stop ( showed him that punch up in the air sign signaling him to stop), he did stop, well !! followed by a round of modern slangs, followed by another set of local Bengali ones, which was okay, as I slanged him back & showed him I know some Judo moves so ,huh, (basically it was fatigue, dehydration getting to us even though the last day I & him almost gulped water like a camel in a desert) It was 6pm already, I was so amazed to see so many mangoes, the scent, the trees, the greenery amidst which we side stood our bikes while I purchased some 3 kgs of mangoes for rs10 per kg ( yeah see, why I got 3 kgs?)
We made a couple of calls to our folks, started our ride again not realizing that the really really bad stretch of roads were yet to come :P J (the roads showing us the evil grin)
Ahh, what the hell, anyone except the one writing this must be bored by now- here you go some pictures of the mangoes & the size of them & lot of them below :P
Moving on now, the sunset that followed as we escaped Malda towards the new roads (for us)
Rode another 100 or 130 odd kms & the night set in, it was really dark. & this was by the way also my first night ride ever.
I was getting exhausted slowly, actually both of us were, it had been more than 14 hours of riding & we had just crossed Malda, My back started aching, stomach also started rumbling so we decided to take a 40-50 min break around 10 pm or so, near a Indian Oil petrol Pump, I decided to take out the cupcake that my Mom had given me in abundance ( like I had 20 of them :P) I had one & tossed one to him, then after sharing another piece of chocolate do-nut (you have no idea how awesome It felt, the soft bread being crunched between my teeth, the flavor of chocolate mixing with the over drooling saliva, you have no Idea what that do-nut made me feel that day, we sipped on maza along with it) I sprayed Volini on my neck, shoulders.
Me with the Do-nut
& yes my front indicators also broke off while leaving that day so no indicator on the front side right
The huge traffic near Dalkola I think, it was a check post
We started Riding again, now sleep became an issue, I & Rahul both of us were getting tired, to such an extent that riding even in decent pitch roads with small sized craters (mind it it was awesome roads for us as we covered hell compared to this) felt as if a burden, so we decided to pull of near a small highway type town, there was a small tool, I just got off my bike, lay down on the table & went out for half an hour, Life never felt so good after that sleep, Rahul in the meanwhile was looking at his phone when I got up being bit by figure nail sized mosquitoes; weirdly he was very understanding & encouraged me to move on. We did, it started raining now, but we rode & rode. By the time it was almost morning at around 4 am, we reached our destination Siliguri. I had arranged for a check in, from a common friend, several futile calls at early hours had no response, so we moved further to bagdora in search of a resting place, alas we found none.!!!!
I added lets head to Kalimpong directly as we are feeling refreshed (and we were) & check in then & there only.
He was too tired to make a decision so he agreed (this chap had experience of mountain riding in Nandi hill in Bangalore on several occasions while I had none)
RIDE TO KALIMPONG
A monastery near bagdora, actually while exiting bagdogra towards Kalimpong
This picture is taken from Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary where I stopped my bike to take a snap ()
This picture taken from a bridge (Sevoke Bridge)
The above image is of a different bridge.
Now,
We both started riding again to the blissful of greenery everywhere. I was being blasted with so much of green from everywhere like the plasma gun blast off emw in Star trek movies, & honestly every such sight made me refreshed every second. (before this Iv never seen any mountains as such so yes, this was my first time experience in the mountains too)
The mountain roads started
I was riding fine till now,
We just dozed off till the evening refreshed, we headed to the market to get dinner.
(*well the next day we did change the room to a better room with a fantastic view* for rs 500)
End of part 1
travel the mountains in the rainy season.
I am Anand Roy, a commuter by origin taking off to small short trips once in a while, this trip being the first ever trip of my life (in bike)
Rahul Dutta, another co rider, residing in Bangalore often participates in short trips in the place of residence.
We both met up in a local gathering of Riders from different parts of city & became friends (but we took our time to develop the friendship)
This is a blog about a trip to the following places
KALIMPONG
DELO VIEW POINT
LAVA
GANGTOK
SEVEN SISTER WATERFALL
NATHU LA
SUKHIA PUKHRI
ITIHARI IN NEPAL
DHARAN IN NEPAL
BHETEDAR IN NEPAL
NAMCHE IN NEPAL
Here you go, every link making the trip possible. :-
This trip I am dividing into three parts for the ease of sharing pictures, & posting as well
PART 1
2 month before the trip 1 month to go for the trip7 days before the trip
Meanwhile, my exams ended, Rahul arrived Howrah station with two duffle bags, (a skinny figure emerged from the gush of of people shooting here & there), yes, I was there to receive him,< after all he was the only soul who was, finally, going for the trip along with me>, apart from Rc who was still nodding.
A days or two passed & my exams ended. We had to take our bikes for a combined service.
Morning was followed by the day which was concluded by the evening along with the service of our bikes including the cleaning of Head of the both bikes, tappet adjustment, engine oil change, Chain lube, clutch assembly change.
TOOLS WE TOOK FOR THE TRIP
Hence it is handy to carry-
2) An Foot/air pump to fill up that extra psi when required
3) Tool kit containing allen keys, screw driver, etc
4) Basic Food rations like cakes, biscuits, cookies ( trust me for a student like me it saves extra cost on breakfast or evening snacks)
5) Cellotapes ( the broad ones), try carrying two pair of shoes if riding in rainy season, gumboots if you can manage to ride with them, Raincoats.
JUNE 16 The day of throttle
Ride started at around 5.30 am in the morning, We had somewhat, a deep 6 hour sleep. (no, Im joking, he had a snoring 6 hour sleep while I was just trying to keep my eyes closed, I guess that is normal for an abnormally excited stubborn guy like me)..
Well, sooner than we realized, the highway lay straight in front of us, but we decided to take it slow & cover till Silliguri (around 636kms)
We decided to divide the initial leg of the trip to Siliguri in 6-7 breaks with a 10 minute break every 100 kms .
The first 100-120 kms on the National Highway was a bliss ( our plan was to take nh till Burdwan, then proceed towards NH34 & reach directly to Siliguri via Malda).
..ride ride ride.. Ahhh, Mangoes, Mangoes, stop stop ( showed him that punch up in the air sign signaling him to stop), he did stop, well !! followed by a round of modern slangs, followed by another set of local Bengali ones, which was okay, as I slanged him back & showed him I know some Judo moves so ,huh, (basically it was fatigue, dehydration getting to us even though the last day I & him almost gulped water like a camel in a desert) It was 6pm already, I was so amazed to see so many mangoes, the scent, the trees, the greenery amidst which we side stood our bikes while I purchased some 3 kgs of mangoes for rs10 per kg ( yeah see, why I got 3 kgs?)
We made a couple of calls to our folks, started our ride again not realizing that the really really bad stretch of roads were yet to come :P J (the roads showing us the evil grin)
Ahh, what the hell, anyone except the one writing this must be bored by now- here you go some pictures of the mangoes & the size of them & lot of them below :P
Moving on now, the sunset that followed as we escaped Malda towards the new roads (for us)
Rode another 100 or 130 odd kms & the night set in, it was really dark. & this was by the way also my first night ride ever.
I was getting exhausted slowly, actually both of us were, it had been more than 14 hours of riding & we had just crossed Malda, My back started aching, stomach also started rumbling so we decided to take a 40-50 min break around 10 pm or so, near a Indian Oil petrol Pump, I decided to take out the cupcake that my Mom had given me in abundance ( like I had 20 of them :P) I had one & tossed one to him, then after sharing another piece of chocolate do-nut (you have no idea how awesome It felt, the soft bread being crunched between my teeth, the flavor of chocolate mixing with the over drooling saliva, you have no Idea what that do-nut made me feel that day, we sipped on maza along with it) I sprayed Volini on my neck, shoulders.
Me with the Do-nut
& yes my front indicators also broke off while leaving that day so no indicator on the front side right
The huge traffic near Dalkola I think, it was a check post
We started Riding again, now sleep became an issue, I & Rahul both of us were getting tired, to such an extent that riding even in decent pitch roads with small sized craters (mind it it was awesome roads for us as we covered hell compared to this) felt as if a burden, so we decided to pull of near a small highway type town, there was a small tool, I just got off my bike, lay down on the table & went out for half an hour, Life never felt so good after that sleep, Rahul in the meanwhile was looking at his phone when I got up being bit by figure nail sized mosquitoes; weirdly he was very understanding & encouraged me to move on. We did, it started raining now, but we rode & rode. By the time it was almost morning at around 4 am, we reached our destination Siliguri. I had arranged for a check in, from a common friend, several futile calls at early hours had no response, so we moved further to bagdora in search of a resting place, alas we found none.!!!!
I added lets head to Kalimpong directly as we are feeling refreshed (and we were) & check in then & there only.
He was too tired to make a decision so he agreed (this chap had experience of mountain riding in Nandi hill in Bangalore on several occasions while I had none)
RIDE TO KALIMPONG
A monastery near bagdora, actually while exiting bagdogra towards Kalimpong
This picture is taken from Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary where I stopped my bike to take a snap ()
This picture taken from a bridge (Sevoke Bridge)
The above image is of a different bridge.
Now,
We both started riding again to the blissful of greenery everywhere. I was being blasted with so much of green from everywhere like the plasma gun blast off emw in Star trek movies, & honestly every such sight made me refreshed every second. (before this Iv never seen any mountains as such so yes, this was my first time experience in the mountains too)
The mountain roads started
I was riding fine till now,
We just dozed off till the evening refreshed, we headed to the market to get dinner.
(*well the next day we did change the room to a better room with a fantastic view* for rs 500)
End of part 1
Comment