2:30 at night on friday, I got this sudden urge to visit my relatives in Almora by bike (410 kms from Delhi) and unbelievable as it may it would sound it just required 15 mins of planning.
The only thing that was to be overcome was the thought of "What if something happens". Once this was overcome and the skeptical attitude chaged to one of 'Let's do it', then there was no thinking but just the goal. My first real long distance bike trip, alone apart from it being the first time i was going to try to ride on a hilly terrain. I was sure that this excitement in itself was fuel enough to take me a long way.
At 3:15 with a few clothes in my bag I and around 600 bucks in my purse I was ready to hit the road. Had a look at the route in google and figured out it was atleast a 10 hr journey. I woke up the guest house attendant, told him i was headed towards Almora, not sure how far i'll be able to make it but inform the same to anyt one who calls for me.
It was pitch dark and the moonlight added to the charm of the trip. Empty roads gave me the licence to hit the speeds i wished to, and in no time had i crossed Ghaziabad. It was time for the first Tea break. The best part about journeys is the eating at dhabas and drinking Tea at various chai wallas, making trivial conversation with strangers and giving lifts to anyone and everyone who asks for it. A tea and an oily bread ommlette down my stomach I was ready to move on.
Nearby Ghaziabad I found my first pillion rider somewhere in the middle of the highway. It was strange at first, with me recollecting all the Ghost stories i had heard about, checking my purse again and again, and looking into the rear mirror to check if the person was still sitting :D. Few minutes into the situation and after asking a lot of question to man, I was able to get back my confidence and by the it was time to guy to say good bye.
Having not slept the night I think I sleep rode thruogh most of the journey from there till somewhere near moradabad. Finally unable to keep myself awake any longer I went to sleep in a charpai at highway dhabha. Half an hour of sleep, 2 glasses of tea and a fan (a kind of patties) made me feel ready to move on. This was around 9 in the morning.
Met this italian hippi, in a tattred undershirt and pink pyjamas near kainchi dham. He was trying to find a address where a japanese guy had told him that there was gonna be a hippi get together. Well for a moment I felt i should go with him to this place but alas sense prevailed over me ;)
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On the way back:
With no protection i felt I could just freeze to death unless the sun god decided to have some mercy and show itself soon enough.
One of the techniques i found very useful on my way downhill was to follow a truck at a safe distance. This makes sure that the path ahead is already cleared for you.
I decided to make it fast and not stop at a lot of places on the way back.
One of most striking places was the sight of the 'Bhim Tal' fron a distance, surrounding by mountains.
My fisrt stop was the same dhaba near Bhimtal where I had stopped on the way up.
The stretch from Haldwani to Rudrapur whith forest on both sides of the road was a absolute pleasure to ride through.
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