BANGING THE ROADS OF GHARHWAL……PAURI AND LANSDOWNE.

So it started again. I don’t know y but spring season is the most the difficult phase of the year for me. Last year Chakrata ride helped me to sooth down this itching and now again it was at its level best. And the worst and the most depressive thing is that I didn’t had been on any ride from the past one year.. Shame on me…. 2012 begin with a list of 10 places to travel and that too at any cost. Already did Thailand and Trivandrum. Pauri was never in the list. I personally never liked Gharwal Mountain Range. It’s too barren for me. No greenery at all. I love Himachal “BEAUTY”……Sukrut sir insisted on Pauri and there I was waiting for him at our meeting point in front of New Friends Colony on 24rth March. We planned to start at 6 in the morning but started at 7.00. And this time luckily I convinced him to not to opt for canal route from Modinagar. I hate it from the first time I travelled thru it. A very very  boring and lonely route. Reached Muzzafar nagar and this time I got sure on my doubt that Sukrut sir is not good with directions. After asking twice or thrice, taking few wrong turns, roaming in the dusty streets of Khatauli, we finally got our road. This road takes u all the way to Bijnor and Najibabad. For this u need to travel almost 20 kms beyond Muzzafar nagar on the highway and then a signboard will indicate u to take left before the start of a Flyover. And boy o boy. What a road it was. No trucks, no potholes. Smooth plain road till Najibabad. And I drove almost at 110 kmph on this route and it was after so long. Me and my bullet (Tornado) were too desperate for it.  Once u reaches Najibabad, it’s a puzzle in itself. From there one need to go to Kotdwar and the roads are too confusing. Anyways Sukrut sir again did the same. Asked twice or thrice, took two three wrong turns, and finally we were on the way to Kotdwar. One thing I noticed in Kotdwar the moment I entered, “AVERAGE HOTTNESS RATIO” of girls is higher over here. Girls were hot. I asked sukrut sir to check out few but he being a sincere married man opted to concentrate on the aesthetics of his new CBR. I think other aesthetics which I was checking were also good. CBR  definitely deserves some line of praise but that will be done later on. Abhi toh let’s concentrate on food. Did breakfast over here at some sweet shop and as usual I forgot the name. All in all food was awesome.

From Kotdwar mountain ride began. As expected bikes got heated up in some initial uphill riding. Then we stopped for some time to cool off the engines and rest our paining asses.  After this we did something which made to title this travelogue as bang. We did the entire uphill at quite a banging speed. And then came the surprise. Puari was 50 kms and roads were going downhill and the temperature was rising. This was giving me lot of worries. As I was expecting some beautiful scenery at high mountains but here I was going down and down. We reached to satpuli. This was a very sleepy town at the bottom of the valley.  After crossing satpuli we were on uphill roads again.. (a serious note I took on this ride. If u wants to have beautiful scenery while travelling then do avoid gharwal mountain range. ).  road was good. Stopped at a village (I again forgot the name) for a short tea break. Pauri was just 15 kms from here. Did some photo sessions and then moved on. Reached pauri by 4.30.. It was a big city as pauri being a district. Massive construction was happening there. Roamed the entire city in search of GMVNL guest house.  It was a good place indeed and quite cheap. Got a deluxe room in just Rs 700/-. Caretaker of that guest house was a very nice fellow. And above all entire city could be viewed from this place. It also provided a very decent view of the mountain range ahead. But it was too hazy.

As per the, but obvious traditions a place was finalized to sit in the evening with OLD MONK. ALL HAILS TO THIS MONK………. Sukrut sir thought of ordering non veg. but here I was being a spoil sport for the very first time in my life as I promised dadi maa to be a veggie for the next 9 days (navratras). We went to market in search of some snacks and cold drink and soda. It was too dusty. Lot of construction. Nothing to be seen. Came back early and started the session of drinks and long bakchodi. Sukrut sir’s speed in drinks is worth to be seen. He was gulping one after other. And I was lagging behind by almost 2 to 3 shots. By 9.30 we both were high. Dinner was served. It was typical home cooked food which tasted awesome. and by 10.30 or so we went to sleep.  Had a pleasant sleep and we both were up by 5.30 in the morning. Ordered tea. Got ready and left the hotel by 6.30. Saw the highest football ground in Asia. Went to a temple but didn’t go inside. Then we were on the route back. One thing I noticed on the way back. CBR is a pretty decent bike. Very stylish, smooth on curves and awesome control and pick up. Sukrut sir was taking regular breaks for his photography.

 Reached satpuli and had breakfast over here. It was bad. After moving for about 20 kms i reached the spot from where one can turn towards Lansdowne. Within 5 mins sukrut sir came and we headed towards Lansdowne and it was the most beautiful part of ride. Awesome roads all covered up by trees. Lansdowne is a small town with the headquarters of Gharwal riffle regiment. It was indeed a very beautiful city. Didn’t spend any time over there. And started our journey towards Kotdwar. One thing that was good in this ride was awesome roads. I fell in love with the road from Lansdowne to kotdwar.  We were at Macdonald on Merrut bypass by 3.00 pm. Again I treated myself on veg stuff. Babes were hot and so was the weather outside. I was worried about the traffic jams which we were to encounter at Modinagar but fortunately we cruised out of Modinagar within 15 mins. Reached Delhi and then something happened which I was expecting. Like chakrata ride this time also the accelerator wire broke down and this time it came of. At that time I was climbing on a flyover and was in middle of traffic. The moment cable came out of the throttle Eureka moment strikes me. I held that wire in my two fingers and pulled it. Bike was running superbly. Although holding that steel wire was painful as it was piercing my skin but still I managed to cover up the distance of almost 10 kms in Delhi traffic and reached home safely.

We covered almost 769 kms in 2 days. This triggered the hunger for some more kilometers. Next time it will be for sure Himachal. Preferably Rampur Saharan. And that Next time is gonna come soon. Till then

CHEERzZ TO THE JOURNEY CALLED LIFE……