| Day 2
6th June 04 I got up at 0230Hrs but still kept lazyin around in my bed till 0430Hrs when i went on the walk to the bridge and back ....Fresh air seems so Healthy.. Damn GOOD .. u gotta b there to feel it - Truly Amazing. In a God gifted valley everything seems so refreshing and truly awesome. I left Bhuntar about 0700Hrs though wasnt real early as I would have liked to be but was okay. Just doing the favor of returning back the keys to the caretaker. He wished me a good bye and a requested me to return back. This is so special about this place in which it seems like forming a wonderful bounding even  without
knowing each other with a wonderful beginning to another day I was on my
way to Manali. In Manali, got some fuel in tank - as expected I went
straight to Sumit Chadha's Hotel room where was enjoying his holidays with
some of his friends so I had to wake him up, had breakfast together and he decided to accompany me
on hired bikes till Rohtang La (In Ladakhis term LA stands for a Pass),
 So
I went along with him to check out some bikes for him nd his friends. They
were all set to join me but I left them as it was almost getting late for me as they have to get their bikes tanks filled with Fuel. I left them with all with a hug and good wishes for the rest of the journey. It was like day 2 got started only after Manali I was on the run as i again got a chance to burn the rubber for another 40kms another 11kms before Rohtang La(Name Rohtang means Roh - to cry and tang - travel suggesting its presence of deadly facts where most people cry as of height sickness), Nd in this 40kms I have already had two close calls - on a right u-turn where I missed the apex on the turn and Other one was a screeching hard braking right behind a Maruti Van who stopped at his normal speed but It was me who was on my pace. But better late then never no more fast cornering atleast till I m very clear and for sure I wasnt doing it again at any given costs. Lets Thrive and drive for pleasure now. I crossed Rohtang La at altitude of 13050 Ft. Taking out my camera and not missing on to grab some first Ice shots.  Next was
all downhill right to Gramphoo where I had my warm cup of a tea at this
small wonderful place owned by two sisters and Indeed very nice natured
people. Heading down Downhill still as roads were good to drive on. But by
now I got the news that bridge at Darcha is broken and it can only be the
last drive through point on my todays date. No contact at home for almost
2 days. Roads after crossing khoksar bridge - ASK wat Not .....?.. Its a
day, its been wet, its been windy and its now rocky... PHEW!! About to
leave a wonderful trail of memory on my minds video.
 Well I was at
Stingri
- with a wondeful view of Helipad right next to a man's created small lake
and this all was next to the Chandra
river but again I would say those roads can break anyone's back but
nothing can beat u if you are up for the grabs... I was driving across
some of the best view of nature right parallel to me separated by Chandra
River. And i was totally addicted to nature's presence untouched by man.
Reaching Tandi at 670kms from home I almost decided to keep driving but it read last petrol pump till 365kms and now I was in two minds as to get the fuel or not SO I finally turned back and got the fuel till the brink of the tank.  Just 280Rs and 7.84Ltrs including two 2L of bottles that I was
carrying just in case I need some fuel on way. Tandi
was also
special on my map as two rivers - Chandra and Bhaga - making it Chenab-
have a meeting point here giving us some wonderful views. Crossing
Tandi,
Roads are like - No roads- just some crushed rocks, dirt and beauty of
nature to let you feel it - You are not alone - God's wid yea DUDE
!! I reached Keylong with nothing but awesome beauty by the roadside. Next
on way was Jispa - truly appreciatable making one forget all - roads were
just nothin in front of it. I was now with a clean fresh mind with no
thoughts and ready to learn, realise and remember.
 I met some road
repairing guys just by chance they all turned out to be 8 brothers from
Bihar doing a road repair job at such a height where almost no one can can
even walk for 10 minutes and these people work for 2 hours each day- I
shook my hands with them making them feel that there is someone who still
appreciates what they do - A good lesson for myself. Appreciate and be
happy with what you have. Jispa is a small village and next off was
Darcha
as projected ...  I was
again driving in rain and I can see the Darcha broken bridge with lines of
trucks and oil tankers. I parked my bike right next to a small dhaba -
Made of Tin Walls and tin roof all seasonal. Beds were lined together with
no Doors. So put my bags in a corner telling the worker to take care of
them. I was looking at the river with vehicles stuck in between the river.
I met a Tourist guide from Delhi accompanying group of 4 danish tourist
actually a family whose Qualis was struck in middle of the river. AS night
started to close in I met the tourist guide - Sapan - who was also on a
bike. He took me for a ride to small village named Gemur on his Enfield Bullet, 14kms
back where theres a last STD on the way before LEH. And he introduced me to one of his old pal where we had dinner and he got me some farm made liquor "LUNGTI" - After I had a first glass I told him its hit me and I feel as if i m Done - I literally told him - Dude i feel like as if I m flying. But after half an hour it was all settled and back to normal when my second glass came it was as if nothing now. I tried to make a contact at home but seems like Mom wasnt there at home. So no contacts at home for whole 2 days now. We started back again and reached to Darcha at 2335hrs all tired and we headed for our tents. Well It was a lying around act once again as I slept and got up at 0130hrs and it kept raining all night and i slept at 0430 hrs again to find myself getting ready at 0600hrs. Starting at 23510 kms at Bhuntar. Destination at 23707 at Darcha. Total Distance Traveled 193kms. Total Expenses 642Rs. |
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