Wild Wife in Assam

A Bike Trip in Assam.

Thursday and we are doing last minute packing. So we are off to Dibrugahr about three hundred miles east, Bhonti, Gita’s sister and Majoni,  sister in law, are coming with us. Deepa, another sister in law, is missing out as she has to take time out from work. I get the impression of some family discord over this. An easy flight on a prop engined plane that takes about an hour. Taking off north east over the Brahmaputra river and turning right over the Pakke Tiger Reserve then east following the river.  We are in Dibrugahr by early afternoon, collected by taxi and delivered to Chinmoy’s place near the village of Tini Ali. This is a literal name in that Tini means three and Ali means road. It is the meeting of three roads. Chinmoy has arranged for me to see a Himalayan and would hire it for me. I decline but have a ride on an old 350 Bullet that is a right gear change and left foot brake. No helmet, nothing just a nice breeze in shirt sleeves however it stops on me because the fuel tap is not on properly. Fortunately Chinmoy is with me on his Bullet and I’m quickly on my way again. I even manage to kick start it without drama. 

The old British Bike feel just like the old Bullet I had when I was eighteen now that is nostalgia. My Velocette Valiant seemed faster and so much smoother being a light weight flat twin. Later we went off to Tini Ali to see a Hamalayan that I could ride if I wanted the next day. It had a broken head race and had a very clunky steering. This would not be good for slow speed manoeuvring. Back to Chinmoy’s home then we were out again to see Chinmoy’s sister and doing a round robin visited one of our friends father  who is very ill and then dropped in on Neal Akash at his studio in Moran Hat, Assamese Pop Star. We have connections.Just d roping a few names if you can remember my article of my trip to L’Aigle 2018, when I had a sick bike and needed to take a car, “Not a bike trip’. The car you saw at L’Aigle was used in a pop video for another star Manas Robin. If you feel the need, you can see it on Youtube in the song titled Gun Gun. Then back for a few beers and a not very early night when a few biker friends popped around.

Majoni, Gita , Bhonti and me by the Brahmaputra.

Friday was the little trip out on the bikes with all of Chinmoys friends. I had a choice of bikes and chose the old Bullet I had ridden the evening before. It was Chinmoy’s brother’s bike. Totally illegal but was nice to ride for a change. Soon the road turned to a sandy track as we headed off to the banks of the Brahmaputra. Lots of pictures, selfies and videos were taken on the way. Just before the river we stopped for the rest of the family, in the car, to catch up. It was a photo shoot with Gita Bhonti and Majoni taking turns posing on the back of the bike. 

Gita stayed with me as we went on to the river back to park up. Deep sand is no fun two-up and it was hard work keeping the bike going where I wanted it to go. We had a picnic on the bank, more selfies and the ladies paddling and posing. We had a drone buzzing us taking more pictures.Someone had made a selfie stick from some available vegetation. 

Going shopping on the way.

On the beach.

Early afternoon we made our way back to Chinmoy’s to go out in the car. There were selfies and videos taken on nearly everyones phones. Not something I would want to do in the UK. I would be scared of dropping the phone. I know the damn thing would switch itself off or not work when you pressed the take icon or something just so I would not be able to manage it. Even so enough of the guys got pictures and videos making it the best part of the day.

March 2020 News

March 2020 News.

I am normally not short of ideas when it comes to titles but this one is a bit lame and I apologies for that. Keeping it simple has been a problem with a Trojan messing up things on my PC and more than one virus going around that is keeping me out of circulation, albeit self enforced nothing much is happening for me in the outside world. It is coming to me via the internet that is playing up due to over usage never before admitted to but very apparent as I tried to buy some polyguard vinyl gloves   as I was getting low and about to use more on my next mini project of stripping and refurbishing an elderly 2CV engine with heavy flywheel for use in the van. In doing so I have managed to do something stupid to my left foot that has left me hobbling in pain. This had ensured I stay put and not go anywhere that could put me and my wife at risk of the dreaded Lemonade virus. Corona made lemonade in the 50’s and 60’s and was a very popular brand. Not sure what they are called now or is it a Mexican beer? I have been in for a week already and my brain is starting to degrade from overload of news of few things that are good. I did have a good read with Mark Holmes Rebirth that records his travel around the world on a Triumph Rocket 3 and how that journey changed his life. He started as a widower that prompted his travel and came back a married man and a new life. 

I first met Mark at the London Motorcycle Museum when he turned up to pay us a visit. He said he was going to start in a few weeks. This was from the Ace Cafe  and I advised him that if he got to India in August/September time he would get very wet. Monsoon time. Leaving a couple of months later would see him in the dry season and be able to be part of the Goan Biker Mania that is held in November. He writes a nice story and I received a book from him when we met at the London Bike Show in February. The MAG Road magazine had published his, very much abridged version just before Christmas and I was able to supply him a copy of his article. 

Other news is not so good. I have just received the latest BMCT News (British Motorcycle Charitable Trust) and was surprised that Colin Seely had passed away in January. Colin was a keen racer successful  in the sidecar racing arena. When he retired fro racing he turned his talents to making sidecar outfits and special frames for many motorcycles among them Norton, Matchless, AJS, BSA, Velocette, Yamaha, Suzuki and anyone who wanted something special. Have I missed anyone? I met Colin at the opening of the Minter Cafe at the Museum in 2017 when he introduced the new facility. He was a good friend of Bill Crosby who ran the museum until recently. Bill was in good health the last time I saw him in late February.

Colin talking to Ian Kerr.

 I’m staring at my foot looking for inspiration as I wait for a new ignition switch for the Buell to arrive from Twin in Belgium. I’ve had to buy some of those “secure” Torq sockets to do the job. Ordinary Torq’s do not have recess to accommodate the pimple in the head of the bolt so you need a special one for the job. I don’t know why manufacturers have to make life so complicated, Allen bolts would have sufficed. I wait for the new switch to have another challenge.