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cdlxxvi |
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cdlxxvi Nearly there...
Joined: 13 Feb 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 23:21 - 23 Oct 2016 Post subject: Pootling in the Himalayas |
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The Mrs and I went to Ladakh for a few days. We flew to and stayed in Leh, which itself is a hideous little tourist trap, the only redeeming feature being some great Tibetan food and hospitality available. Still, whichever direction out of it you take, you will find itself surrounded by immense beauty. Windswept deserts, majestic peaks, clean rivers and hilltop monasteries are in abundance.
https://i63.tinypic.com/2cps5xd.jpg
The roads crossing the area are famed as some of the best for biking in India, so we did the right thing and rented this:
https://i63.tinypic.com/wapvsk.jpg
Aye, the wet dream of every boy on the subcontinent - the Bullet 500.
I rode another Enfield before and was not too impressed, so my expectations were rather low. It was therefore a pleasant surprise that for very reasonable 1100 rupees a day (haggled down from the tad expensive 1300 off-season price, the season standard being 1600) I got something rather nice, all things considered:
+ Did not break down even after some abuse
+ Coping well when a road is just the strip of land with slightly fewer rocks than the surroundings
+ Quite comfortable for whole day riding (but not so for the pillion, her seat being much narrower)
+ Excellent fuel economy (3-4l/100km or about 80mpg in medieval)
- Prehistoric engine. Teeth-cracking vibrations, terrific racket and no power to speak of.
- Front brake worse than the one on KLE. And that's quite something.
https://i63.tinypic.com/wapvsk.jpg
The low parts of the Srinagar highway are perfect for relaxing rides. Easy and smooth, with mile after mile of cool air and distant scenery.
https://i63.tinypic.com/19ov3q.jpg
Instead of lighting and crash barriers the Border Roads Organisation tries to enable common sense.
https://i66.tinypic.com/21o4wba.jpg
Every so often you need to stop for an army and/or police checkpoint. The state of Jammu and Kashmir being wedged between China and Pakistan is heavily militarised.
https://i67.tinypic.com/149z792.jpg
Leaving the valleys and climbing a bit, things are cool figuratively and literally.
https://i67.tinypic.com/14mb2it.jpg
One of the popular roads is towards Pangong Tso, a mountain lake on the Chinese border. To get there you need to go over the Chang La pass. The climb towards it is very rewarding scenery wise.
https://i68.tinypic.com/290ufys.jpg
The road is the toughest we went on. Many kilometres with bad surfaces, steep slopes and hairpins all mixed together.
https://i65.tinypic.com/rb9x6g.jpg
Still, the views. The views!
https://i66.tinypic.com/t537tl.jpg
After that, Pangong Tso itself does not seem so wonderful.
https://i67.tinypic.com/racaoy.jpg
Another way out of Leh is north, through Khardung La pass. Touted as the highest motorable road in the world (which it is not), it is certainly (one of?) the best. The first 20km of the climb from Leh is spanking new, smooth surface on an overdose of winding wonderland.
https://i63.tinypic.com/5x4wok.jpg
With a rocky layer cake all around it is difficult to keep eyes on the road.
https://i63.tinypic.com/9qdzb4.jpg
Higher up, though, the weather gets tricky. These black strips will disappear in half a mile or so.
https://i66.tinypic.com/2j5gvix.jpg
The last 2km or so to the top of the pass is an ice rink. Cars without snow chains are rare. Those big crash bars on the Bullet got tested many times.
https://i63.tinypic.com/2md15wm.jpg
All that makes it feel more rewarding to get there.
https://i65.tinypic.com/2e4et5s.jpg
All in all, it felt like a proper adventure. Chilled to the bone, dropping the bike on ice, narrow mountain roads in total darkness, miles away from the nearest phone should something go wrong - an interesting change from Cat and Fiddle on a Sunday afternoon. After those few days I definitely want more; the entire Srinagar-Leh-Manali route is now on my bucket list.
Last edited by cdlxxvi on 13:38 - 30 Oct 2016; edited 13 times in total |
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Posted: 21:57 - 25 Oct 2016 Post subject: |
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cdlxxvi |
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cdlxxvi Nearly there...
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cdlxxvi |
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cdlxxvi Nearly there...
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Posted: 23:12 - 30 Oct 2016 Post subject: |
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Fantastic ____________________ Triumph Trophy Launch Edition |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 7 years, 206 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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