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"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart", said Helen Keller.
Everyone say's that Kashmir is heaven. But no one ever said that North Sikkim is no less. One of the best trips of my life till date. And guess what I was not riding with a group of like minded riders, rather I was riding with by both better halves. My wife and my love(beast).
ME
Wifeeeee
Finally My beast, black lady and love of my life.
The most important thing is to have a good relationship with the bike... you have to understand what she wants. I think of a motorcycle as a woman, and I know that sounds silly, but it's true.
- Valentino Rossi
It takes more love to share the saddle than it does to share the bed.
Please pardon me for my mistakes as I am not a very good travelogue writer.
All this started 3yrs back at office.
A colleague(not to be named), "Hey Sagar, you are so passionate about bikes and touring, then why don't you join some group".
Me, "Which group does touring and all. Everyone these days wants to do stunts which I can't do".
Colleague, "Try XBHP bro, they do touring and all".
Me, "Nah I don't wanna be with any group".
=======End of conversation========
Next Sunday.
That inner voice. "Let's check XBHP website and do a bit of googling".
As soon as I opened the forum website. That awestruck feeling going through the tourer section, following the "KEEP SCROLLING BUDDY" and reading travelogue of some great rider's following there dream made me think and regret" What were you doing all these days Sagar".
From that date until today the Adrenaline (Indian term Kick) has been the same rather it grew with the time and tours.
Now lets come back to the heavenly trip as my friend and brother mentioned before [MENTION=41586]Divya Sharan[/MENTION].
Before I go ahead I would like thank a few people here without whom I won't have learned and survied in this biking faternity. [MENTION=40550]anand roy[/MENTION], [MENTION=41586]Divya Sharan[/MENTION], [MENTION=61921]SuvraGanguly[/MENTION], [MENTION=73549]BPD[/MENTION]. Thank you for sharing your experience and wonderful guidance. helmets off to you people and your experince.
I never knew that one of my best trips would be an unplanned one. 9th Jan 2015. It's been a month since I started my office. So much pressure and stress, it was getting pathetic day by day. 10:30pm at night to myself "I am done. I need a trip badly".
Called up [MENTION=40550]anand roy[/MENTION],
Me "Hey bro suggest me a place for ride"
Anand "Where do you wanna go hills, sea or forest".
Me "Suggest a place which will make me fall for it".
Anand "Give me 10min and come online in wat's up". Bye
Me "Ok, Bye".
5mins later this is what he sent and msg me
Lachung
Lachung asking if I wanna go there. I just asked him if snow will be there as it shows on the pic. He said yes. Done I said.
Now comes the toughest part for everyone, convincing wife.... But I am so greatful to have a wife with the same mindset like mine. I just had to show her the pic and tell her I wanna go there. She said let's roll....
Day - 1
3am in the night reached home from office. Had to get the packing and everything done within 2hr. 6am starting for my hometown (siliguri). This is the first time riding back home. Such an wonderful feeling and especially Lachung pics running through my mind. Happily riding through NH34 and suddenly after crossing Barasat huge pot holes with no roads at all. Thought came "Don't worry Sagar just for a few Kms then everything would be fine". Reached Krishnanagar still the roads didn't improve a bit. Finally took a break. When I asked the tea stall wala about the roads, he replied "kothai Jaba", means where do you wanna go. I said Siliguri. For a second he thought I was joking, then he made it out that I was getting pissed off seeing him laughing. Then he said the roads are pathetic. It will be getting worst as soon as I cross krishnanagar also said to go back as you have a lady with you, it's not at all safe to ride on these roads. I told my wife he is drunk I guess. Don't worry let's proceed. Roads started getting worst, and my brain telling me stop and listen to what the chai wala said. I asked Pooja what to do and told her that we just covered 150kms in 5hrs. Still 450kms left and it was 11am already. She said no problem let's continue. So the struggle was on. I was so badly cursing the government and the PWD department. This what they do to a International highway. I heard about NH34 but never heard of it.
Starting from Kolkata
This was condition of the roads till Islampur
Finally after a lot of struggle reached Berhampore. Had lunch on a dhaba. Meanwhile a small chat with a truck driver about the roads. I had one saying in my mind. My father always tell me if you want to know about correct road conditions then talk to a truck driver, they can provide you with the best update about roads. So I asked him about the roads. He told me after Berhampore the roads till Farakka are toll roads so the condition would be good, but after faraka till Purnia it will again be the same. So the total would be 200 odd kms that is good roads among 600kms.
Started from Berhampore at 2pm. A huge traffic greeted us. it took 45 mins or so just to cross 3kms. And as soon as we crossed we were greeted with this:-
Finally some good roads.
Soon we reached farrka 97kms within 1hr I will like.. woowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww atlast some good roads to enjoy.....
I had some emotional feelings attached to this place in particular as my grandfather had passed away on a train while going home on the farraka dam.... I was one of my moments to ride to Farraka and bid a send off to Dadu....
3pm we started from Farraka Dam. As soon as we crossed the Dam I should say dammmmmmmmm........ Again the same condition of the roads. At one point it felt like throw my beast away, sit on the so called roads and start crying. But then I thought let's be responsible I have my wife behind. So we carried on.
7pm we reached Raiganj Now the roads started getting a lot better. Thought of taking a tea break. Made a few calls to friends for getting the road conditions from Raiganj. Everyone said after Purnia the roads will again be toll roads. I was so happy and thought we can easily home by 10pm, not knowing what was about to happen next. From Raiganj to Dalkhola and Purnea more roads were good. it was already 8:20pm in the night and the entire roads were dark. Suddenly we meet a man riding on his bajaj pulsar 150. I slowed down to ask the roads to Purnea more, he said he was going towards Purnea more and we could tag along. I said fair enough. After a few kms we see that the man was riding his bike with his hands on the pocket. No matter what happened be it a pot hole or a truck in front he balanced his bike perfectly with his body with his hands on the pocket with no helmet. Both me and my wife go hell scared seeing him. My wife started telling he might be a ghost, how can someone ride a bike with hands on pocket. I said "there is nothing called ghost and all he is just perfectly balancing the bike" but to be frank for a moment even I thought the same. Entire stretch of 10 odd kms not even once he touched his bike handle. Later when we reached Purnia more I spoke to him and asked him how he did maintain the throttle and as to why does he risk his life like this. He replied stating that he is habituated as he rides in "Maat Ka Kua", for those who don't understand the translation would be Well of death and he was controlling the throttle by a rubber band made specially for this job that would control it and maintain the same speed. I tried to tell him about helmets and safety gears but as usual, "Nothing will happen". I ignored him and carried on having no idea what was about to happen next.
8:45pm reached Purnia More, with so much excitement about the very very good roads I heard from my friends. After crossing Purnia more I was like awesome roads should be ahead. I was pitch dark and I started to throttle. I was happily riding at 95kmph when suddenly saw this huge Pot hole just infront of me. I couldn't brake as I would have skid and if I fall there was a huge truck behind me and both of us would have been pasted under it if we fall. So there was no option for me and decided not to brake and go over it. The pot hole was much bigger than my exceptions rather the worst one till now however somehow I managed the balance but couldn't save my bike to damage. As soon as it went over it a loud sound came and I knew something really bad happened. I had to stop on a roadside to check what went wrong. It was so mcuh dark that we couldn't see eah others face. Them with the help of my cell phones light I checked the bike just it find out that there was 0 pressure at my front tyre. Somehow we managed to push the bike to a nearby puncture wala. He checked the tyre and said that the tyre was fine. Later we found out that he front rim was broken and it can't hold the air pressure. I asked him what to do. He said 3kms from here there is a wheel aligment shop owner Mr Akram and he could help. I said to myself "Sagar you are so bloody screwed". I asked my wife if I should call home and seek for help. She said no as we never informed mum we are coming and she might get tensed. We wanted to give her a surprise little we knew that we will be in such a big shock. SO we decided to virst Mr Akram. 9:30pm reached Mr Akram's shop just to find out that it was closed. Checked with a few localities and somehow managed his number from somewhere. Called him up. He was a bit irritated 1st but when I said I had a lady with me he just not to worry I am coming and will help you. So he came down and checked the rim. He said the only way to fix this would be changing the rim which was not possible so late at night. So I called up our very own [MENTION=73549]BPD[/MENTION] from kolkata XBHP. Conversation follow:-
Me - Hello Bappa Da
Bappa Da - Tell me bro
I told him the entire senario and asked him what to do. (BTW I didn't inform him about the ride as it was planned to quick.
Bappa Da - "Are you mad, you took your wife on NH34, Do you have any idea about that road. And used a few F's and B's".
And after a few scloding sessions asked where I was. I told kanki. Now please check this out carefully. I had a tubeless tyre so he asked me to put a tube inside the type instead and it will be fine while reaching till siliguri as I had no other options. The main problem was that because of the cracked rim it was not able to hold the pressure, so instead of that put a tube inside it and fill air and make it tube tyre. And it worked out. I guess this is what is called experience. Helmets off to you bappa da. You are a gem of a person and a true elder bro.
10:45 I started from kanki, still 115kms to go and with a cracked rim. Bappa da had also warned me to be careful atleast till I reach my home and change the rim. He said at any case don't go over even a single pothole. I had to ride very slow. I don't know if anyone here has any idea about the roads from Dalkhola to Islampur but it was not at all safe. Every now and then there a case of Dacoity and snatching. I was so bloddy scared 11pm at night time crossing these places that also with a lady. Rather this was the most scariest moment of my life. But decided to carry on as it wouldn't be safe to carry on. Suddenly a plan come to my mind. I once hear my father saying if you want to ride safe on a highway at night time then try sticking to a group of trucks and ask them help. Suddenly I saw 3 trucks going together. I started to ride along them. Roads started to become better to best. The truck driver's understood that I needed there help. And you won't beleive what hey did. it was a 6 lane road. They singnaled me to be in between there trucks. And it was like I had 1 truck infront of me and behind me 2 trucks which were parallel to each other. They were such nice human's I wanted get down and give them a Jaadu ki jhappi... So I felt a bikt safe now. For hours we rode together and just before Bagdogra I bid them goodbye as it was my place now I know it very well.
1:15pm reached home Siliguri. Called mum a couple of times she was sleeping. Then called Dad and as usual he picked up. I knew he would be awake watch Soccer. So I asked him to open the door. For a moment it was pin drop silence and suddenly I saw the door opening and I saw my mum cuming down. Trust me it felt like the "Khabhi Khusi Khabi Gham" Scene when Mrs Jaya Bachan comes to open the door for her son. And suddenly I came back to real world back and realized that my mother was very upset. So finally I reached home. turned on my phone and saw so many text msgs from Kolkata xbhpian's. They were very concerned. Specailly Bappa da and Anand. So called them and informed that I reached home. Had home cooked left out dinner. Had a very bad felling about this trip and was about to cancel the plan but suddenly again that biker heart. No let's do it and make the best one till date. And end of day. Not much of interesting pics till now but hope the next day would be good for you people.
Midnight bugs taste best.
Keep your bike in good repair: motorcycle boots are not comfortable for walking.
Everyone say's that Kashmir is heaven. But no one ever said that North Sikkim is no less. One of the best trips of my life till date. And guess what I was not riding with a group of like minded riders, rather I was riding with by both better halves. My wife and my love(beast).
ME
Wifeeeee
Finally My beast, black lady and love of my life.
The most important thing is to have a good relationship with the bike... you have to understand what she wants. I think of a motorcycle as a woman, and I know that sounds silly, but it's true.
- Valentino Rossi
It takes more love to share the saddle than it does to share the bed.
Please pardon me for my mistakes as I am not a very good travelogue writer.
All this started 3yrs back at office.
A colleague(not to be named), "Hey Sagar, you are so passionate about bikes and touring, then why don't you join some group".
Me, "Which group does touring and all. Everyone these days wants to do stunts which I can't do".
Colleague, "Try XBHP bro, they do touring and all".
Me, "Nah I don't wanna be with any group".
=======End of conversation========
Next Sunday.
That inner voice. "Let's check XBHP website and do a bit of googling".
As soon as I opened the forum website. That awestruck feeling going through the tourer section, following the "KEEP SCROLLING BUDDY" and reading travelogue of some great rider's following there dream made me think and regret" What were you doing all these days Sagar".
From that date until today the Adrenaline (Indian term Kick) has been the same rather it grew with the time and tours.
Now lets come back to the heavenly trip as my friend and brother mentioned before [MENTION=41586]Divya Sharan[/MENTION].
Before I go ahead I would like thank a few people here without whom I won't have learned and survied in this biking faternity. [MENTION=40550]anand roy[/MENTION], [MENTION=41586]Divya Sharan[/MENTION], [MENTION=61921]SuvraGanguly[/MENTION], [MENTION=73549]BPD[/MENTION]. Thank you for sharing your experience and wonderful guidance. helmets off to you people and your experince.
I never knew that one of my best trips would be an unplanned one. 9th Jan 2015. It's been a month since I started my office. So much pressure and stress, it was getting pathetic day by day. 10:30pm at night to myself "I am done. I need a trip badly".
Called up [MENTION=40550]anand roy[/MENTION],
Me "Hey bro suggest me a place for ride"
Anand "Where do you wanna go hills, sea or forest".
Me "Suggest a place which will make me fall for it".
Anand "Give me 10min and come online in wat's up". Bye
Me "Ok, Bye".
5mins later this is what he sent and msg me
Lachung
Lachung asking if I wanna go there. I just asked him if snow will be there as it shows on the pic. He said yes. Done I said.
Now comes the toughest part for everyone, convincing wife.... But I am so greatful to have a wife with the same mindset like mine. I just had to show her the pic and tell her I wanna go there. She said let's roll....
Day - 1
3am in the night reached home from office. Had to get the packing and everything done within 2hr. 6am starting for my hometown (siliguri). This is the first time riding back home. Such an wonderful feeling and especially Lachung pics running through my mind. Happily riding through NH34 and suddenly after crossing Barasat huge pot holes with no roads at all. Thought came "Don't worry Sagar just for a few Kms then everything would be fine". Reached Krishnanagar still the roads didn't improve a bit. Finally took a break. When I asked the tea stall wala about the roads, he replied "kothai Jaba", means where do you wanna go. I said Siliguri. For a second he thought I was joking, then he made it out that I was getting pissed off seeing him laughing. Then he said the roads are pathetic. It will be getting worst as soon as I cross krishnanagar also said to go back as you have a lady with you, it's not at all safe to ride on these roads. I told my wife he is drunk I guess. Don't worry let's proceed. Roads started getting worst, and my brain telling me stop and listen to what the chai wala said. I asked Pooja what to do and told her that we just covered 150kms in 5hrs. Still 450kms left and it was 11am already. She said no problem let's continue. So the struggle was on. I was so badly cursing the government and the PWD department. This what they do to a International highway. I heard about NH34 but never heard of it.
Starting from Kolkata
This was condition of the roads till Islampur
Finally after a lot of struggle reached Berhampore. Had lunch on a dhaba. Meanwhile a small chat with a truck driver about the roads. I had one saying in my mind. My father always tell me if you want to know about correct road conditions then talk to a truck driver, they can provide you with the best update about roads. So I asked him about the roads. He told me after Berhampore the roads till Farakka are toll roads so the condition would be good, but after faraka till Purnia it will again be the same. So the total would be 200 odd kms that is good roads among 600kms.
Started from Berhampore at 2pm. A huge traffic greeted us. it took 45 mins or so just to cross 3kms. And as soon as we crossed we were greeted with this:-
Finally some good roads.
Soon we reached farrka 97kms within 1hr I will like.. woowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww atlast some good roads to enjoy.....
I had some emotional feelings attached to this place in particular as my grandfather had passed away on a train while going home on the farraka dam.... I was one of my moments to ride to Farraka and bid a send off to Dadu....
3pm we started from Farraka Dam. As soon as we crossed the Dam I should say dammmmmmmmm........ Again the same condition of the roads. At one point it felt like throw my beast away, sit on the so called roads and start crying. But then I thought let's be responsible I have my wife behind. So we carried on.
7pm we reached Raiganj Now the roads started getting a lot better. Thought of taking a tea break. Made a few calls to friends for getting the road conditions from Raiganj. Everyone said after Purnia the roads will again be toll roads. I was so happy and thought we can easily home by 10pm, not knowing what was about to happen next. From Raiganj to Dalkhola and Purnea more roads were good. it was already 8:20pm in the night and the entire roads were dark. Suddenly we meet a man riding on his bajaj pulsar 150. I slowed down to ask the roads to Purnea more, he said he was going towards Purnea more and we could tag along. I said fair enough. After a few kms we see that the man was riding his bike with his hands on the pocket. No matter what happened be it a pot hole or a truck in front he balanced his bike perfectly with his body with his hands on the pocket with no helmet. Both me and my wife go hell scared seeing him. My wife started telling he might be a ghost, how can someone ride a bike with hands on pocket. I said "there is nothing called ghost and all he is just perfectly balancing the bike" but to be frank for a moment even I thought the same. Entire stretch of 10 odd kms not even once he touched his bike handle. Later when we reached Purnia more I spoke to him and asked him how he did maintain the throttle and as to why does he risk his life like this. He replied stating that he is habituated as he rides in "Maat Ka Kua", for those who don't understand the translation would be Well of death and he was controlling the throttle by a rubber band made specially for this job that would control it and maintain the same speed. I tried to tell him about helmets and safety gears but as usual, "Nothing will happen". I ignored him and carried on having no idea what was about to happen next.
8:45pm reached Purnia More, with so much excitement about the very very good roads I heard from my friends. After crossing Purnia more I was like awesome roads should be ahead. I was pitch dark and I started to throttle. I was happily riding at 95kmph when suddenly saw this huge Pot hole just infront of me. I couldn't brake as I would have skid and if I fall there was a huge truck behind me and both of us would have been pasted under it if we fall. So there was no option for me and decided not to brake and go over it. The pot hole was much bigger than my exceptions rather the worst one till now however somehow I managed the balance but couldn't save my bike to damage. As soon as it went over it a loud sound came and I knew something really bad happened. I had to stop on a roadside to check what went wrong. It was so mcuh dark that we couldn't see eah others face. Them with the help of my cell phones light I checked the bike just it find out that there was 0 pressure at my front tyre. Somehow we managed to push the bike to a nearby puncture wala. He checked the tyre and said that the tyre was fine. Later we found out that he front rim was broken and it can't hold the air pressure. I asked him what to do. He said 3kms from here there is a wheel aligment shop owner Mr Akram and he could help. I said to myself "Sagar you are so bloody screwed". I asked my wife if I should call home and seek for help. She said no as we never informed mum we are coming and she might get tensed. We wanted to give her a surprise little we knew that we will be in such a big shock. SO we decided to virst Mr Akram. 9:30pm reached Mr Akram's shop just to find out that it was closed. Checked with a few localities and somehow managed his number from somewhere. Called him up. He was a bit irritated 1st but when I said I had a lady with me he just not to worry I am coming and will help you. So he came down and checked the rim. He said the only way to fix this would be changing the rim which was not possible so late at night. So I called up our very own [MENTION=73549]BPD[/MENTION] from kolkata XBHP. Conversation follow:-
Me - Hello Bappa Da
Bappa Da - Tell me bro
I told him the entire senario and asked him what to do. (BTW I didn't inform him about the ride as it was planned to quick.
Bappa Da - "Are you mad, you took your wife on NH34, Do you have any idea about that road. And used a few F's and B's".
And after a few scloding sessions asked where I was. I told kanki. Now please check this out carefully. I had a tubeless tyre so he asked me to put a tube inside the type instead and it will be fine while reaching till siliguri as I had no other options. The main problem was that because of the cracked rim it was not able to hold the pressure, so instead of that put a tube inside it and fill air and make it tube tyre. And it worked out. I guess this is what is called experience. Helmets off to you bappa da. You are a gem of a person and a true elder bro.
10:45 I started from kanki, still 115kms to go and with a cracked rim. Bappa da had also warned me to be careful atleast till I reach my home and change the rim. He said at any case don't go over even a single pothole. I had to ride very slow. I don't know if anyone here has any idea about the roads from Dalkhola to Islampur but it was not at all safe. Every now and then there a case of Dacoity and snatching. I was so bloddy scared 11pm at night time crossing these places that also with a lady. Rather this was the most scariest moment of my life. But decided to carry on as it wouldn't be safe to carry on. Suddenly a plan come to my mind. I once hear my father saying if you want to ride safe on a highway at night time then try sticking to a group of trucks and ask them help. Suddenly I saw 3 trucks going together. I started to ride along them. Roads started to become better to best. The truck driver's understood that I needed there help. And you won't beleive what hey did. it was a 6 lane road. They singnaled me to be in between there trucks. And it was like I had 1 truck infront of me and behind me 2 trucks which were parallel to each other. They were such nice human's I wanted get down and give them a Jaadu ki jhappi... So I felt a bikt safe now. For hours we rode together and just before Bagdogra I bid them goodbye as it was my place now I know it very well.
1:15pm reached home Siliguri. Called mum a couple of times she was sleeping. Then called Dad and as usual he picked up. I knew he would be awake watch Soccer. So I asked him to open the door. For a moment it was pin drop silence and suddenly I saw the door opening and I saw my mum cuming down. Trust me it felt like the "Khabhi Khusi Khabi Gham" Scene when Mrs Jaya Bachan comes to open the door for her son. And suddenly I came back to real world back and realized that my mother was very upset. So finally I reached home. turned on my phone and saw so many text msgs from Kolkata xbhpian's. They were very concerned. Specailly Bappa da and Anand. So called them and informed that I reached home. Had home cooked left out dinner. Had a very bad felling about this trip and was about to cancel the plan but suddenly again that biker heart. No let's do it and make the best one till date. And end of day. Not much of interesting pics till now but hope the next day would be good for you people.
Midnight bugs taste best.
Keep your bike in good repair: motorcycle boots are not comfortable for walking.
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