Roads on wheels: November 2008

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The next day we got up early and bid good bye to the Camps and started towards the Pangal nala. En route we saw that the nala has slimmed down. ans soon we reached the crossing point.

Chetan and Me crossing it. Was surprised that Chetan went first as he used to tail the formation. Good to see that his confidence is up. :-)

I was a bit carefull with my clutch. So maintained some momentum and it was all fine. Would see the water splashing.
Sunil Crossing the River. Pics taken from my mobile

As you see above the last section is a little deep step. And he has his own style of doing it.

Then Sumit followed him

Sumit got a hiccup at the last part. Our 'enthu' driver ran for help but pushed him from the wrong angel and Sumit fell to his right. hmmmm. Soon he got up and took his bike up.

We all changed/wore our shoes and moved towards marsmikla/ marsimikla. Then the driver on a deviation stopped and said we will ve something at pangong Tso and then move as he was already hungry.
Sumit chetan and Sunil who was infront of the Scorpio turned back and went. Then the scorpio reveresed fast and HIT ME DOWN. Though I yelled when he was close the buger didt stop and next moment was down under the Scorios wheels. Another inch more the wheels would ve been on the heals. But luckily he stopped and then help arrives. Luckily no damage to the bike but the custom Crashed was bent and it was more like a Engined guard now. My toe was hurt and I felt immense pain. I was so angry with the driver that I asked Sunil to get rid off that chap. He purposely slowed us yesterday and delayed our crossing. In the morning he pushed Sumit down and now he almost ran over me. Good that I didnt knew hindi well else I would ve scolded him properly. While these things were going on Sumit did a great comedy. Since the bike was not properly parked, his bike starting falling to right when he touched it from the left. In a zeal to safe the bike he somersaulted to the right above the bike and the bike fell on him. I was great scene ;) to see and Everyone started laughing to their lung out. This helped he regaining my cool. Then we rode to the Camp onthe banks of the pangong Tso. The guys went a resting place but I drove to the Lake. I felt I need some solitude to bring myself back. The pain was so immense but I didnt want to spoil the already delayed trip. went to the banks of the lake and sat down for a while.

The beauty of the beast really made me forget the things.
Then slowly Mohan came near me and started speaking to me. I know Sunil would ve sent him to see how I was ;-)
had some noodles and tea from the dhaba and moved to PorBang and then to marsmikla/ marsimikla.

Soon we reached PorBhang - the Last village enroute marsmikla/ marsimikla. We should our permits to officer their and moved towards marsmikla/ marsimiklawhich is 22 kms odd from PorBhang. The route doesnt ve anything. No vegatation, no living being not even an ant was found. Why ants, not even germs and bacteria was found to eat this corpse. The body was lost all hits fluids. But still its not eaten up. and absolutely no smell.

Sunil resting to fight AMS

The route. Me at the far end, Sumit and followed by Chetan.

The terrain was challenging and I rode well ahead of the others. All I had in mind was marsmikla/ marsimikla. Every incline I made sure that I rode at high speed so that the momentum will help me getting past the top of it. After a while I decided to stop to give the engine a break. Gulped some water and poured a little on the cooler gauze ( Worlds fastest Indian Style) ;-)

Ten minutes past - no sign of the bike. I felt did I ride so fast?
Twenty minutes past - Someones bike was stalled or may be the Scorpio.
Thirty minutes past - Man are they all ok? Should I ve to go back for them ?
Forty minutes - And I hear the pulsars beat. Yes that should be chetan.

I a joy I ran down see him and moments later he came and as he came My comet slipped a bit and fell. Shit the bike was in Neutral. I signaled Chetan to continue. Then came Sunil. When he saw my Bike down he was soo tensed.

Sunil- "your bike is down, its bleeding.. that.. this".
I said - no it fell when Chetan Passed.
Sunll - "How can Chetan pass when he sees one of his companion is down.. Shit man thats bad attitude etc...."
I didnt get him, I said - "You continue I will follow. BTW where is Sumit".
Sunil - "Sumit is not coming. You to dont come thats it"
I kept Quite and ya AMS is playing its part.. As soon we took the turn, I followed him ;-)

The ride was ok and just twice I needed to put my leg down. I could see Sunil following chetan. then I followed him and at a point I see chetan and sunil posing with a milestone, that means We are at the TOP. ufff....

And when we were done with our pose-ings and about to leave, we saw Sumit and the Scorpio from the far end.
The scorpio was stopping frequently to cool its engine. meanwhile Sumit refilled his tank. They they started.

From here we started shouting 'Come on Sumit, Come on' etc.. he took impressing from the cheer-up and rode all the way up in a flash.. May be was only Guy to each marsmikla/ marsimiklaStanding. ;) The scorpio too follwed.
Another set of posings ;-)
The Brave Hearts

Then we turned back towards Pangong Tso

While coming back I was full zeal and I crazily took sharp decends. Which made me fall twice ;-) and whenever I fall there was sumit to laugh at me. ;-)
It was funny. The entire gang was happily and doing some crazy stuffs.

Check the Inclines

Then we came down. and it was time for all of us (and the bikes) to refuel. Had some snacks. Some chit chat. and Asked SUmit to Somersault but he didnt. ;-)
There was river by the side. So was a nice place / moment to relax. Then I confessed to then that my toe is still paining and need some medicines/sprays. By then I and the driver had become friends ;-)

We then moved to Pangong Tso for lunch. We quickly had our lunch and moved towards Chushul. The ride around Pangong Tso was the Best. Blue blue all the way.. ;)

but the happiness didnt last long. Soon we saw a scorpio stuck in Nala. That means we have to turn back. Our driver promised the other driver that He will come and help him in the night when then nala sleeps. We turned back and returned to the Camps.

There again another discussion started whether to sleep in the tents. Chetan wanted to be adventurous and took Sumit to the Tent ;-) Mohan opted for a single tent and Sunil wanted to sleep in the room. The discussion went for a while and then It was decided every one can sleep where ever they wanted.. ;)

around 4 I felt dizzy and said am sleeping. Sunil and Chetan brought me a tablet and said e to take it. they its a paracetamol and it will be sleep well. Afer 10 minutes I felt so active and so fresh. I was sure that they gave me some thing very powerful. When asked they said its a pain killer plus paracetamol in fact they planned to give me 2 of those. If they had then I would ve ran to Chushul that night itself.. ;0)

Then another conversation started One said I was first to reach marsmikla/ marsimikla the other said I did it in 2nd gear and the reply I did it 3 rd and 4th. abbe How is that posiible so they were riding at 19K feet on a incline more than 60 deg in 4th gear at a speed of 5 kmph is it? But then I too started I waited for 40 mins for you guys.. ;-) and then changed the topic to Mohan's blog. I pulled him saying his blogs gets a hit of 1000 in a day at times. He took is a compliment and replied but many sources to his blog had irrelevant search contexts. Then I pulled - ya ya the avg time that some spends in his blog is 0.6 secs. which means almost every hit is irrelant. So the number of hits U get on your blog is the number of times google makes mistake. There was loud laughter after that and he got pissed off..

Oops both the conversation was not proper and AMS will make it worse(I mean it) so we turned our focus to Bird photography