March 2025 Part 2 The Bike Ride 1

 

March 2025

Part 2 The Bike Ride 1

 

Nazira to Bamunbari a welcome escape with Chinmoy, his family and friends to his home. We will be staying there a few days enjoying the delights of Rural Assam before setting off on an adventure. E had one glorious day of sunshine before the weather changed to persistent rain sometimes very heavy as the weather fronts moved through. It was the day to check out the bike, fill up with fuel and give Gita the chance to test the comfort of the Husky. When it did stop raining it was almost dark and no time to do a test ride. Chinmoy did all the preparations and fettling necessary for the trip.

We were up at six to have an eight am departure. Breakfast consumed, geared up, communicators working we set off in light rain with Gita on the back. We rode as a group to Arunachal picking up bikers on the way including some welcome breaks in the weather. There was a short delay at the border to check our permits to enter. It is close to the Chinese border and has a strong military presence. Shortly after the border we stopped for lunch at a hotel. Some spectacular views even though the clouds were low and around us and wet.

Some distance on we were on a very poor road that went from potholed tarmac to just potholes and rocks. It was hard work for me but very uncomfortable for Gita and I asked her to take the car which she was happy to do. I could manage the rough road without Gita on the back. We rolled in to Aalo at around 5:30 in drizzle. I did not know it at the time but we had covered 270km in about nine and a half hours. Google maps says a six hour journey time. I had arrived at the Reyi Homestay cold and wet. There was no heating only a hot shower and no way to dry my gear.

A very social evening around an open we retired early in preparation for a 5:30 am start. To do this we were was up at 4:45 into we gear packed and ready to go and did get away just before six. Gita was in the car again as it was raining. As we progressed to the mountains and into the clouds the rain became heavier with more standing water with mud lining the road. Through the clouds the rain eased and was on and off along the route. We had warnings of road closures at mid day for road works. The pressure was on to keep going. Short stops at small cafes on the way kept me going. The road seemed like a perpetual road work with miles of mud challenging my riding skills. Sometimes the mud won and I had a “Holi” moment. Holi is the festival of colour where it is distributed everywhere. Mine was mud on my jacket. I had problems with my wrist coping with holding the throttle and operating the front brake. I pressed on with frequent stops. In many place the road improvements had been completed and we had lots of miles on four lane roads but it was not continuous marred by Bailey bridges that had potholes and or mud to contend with before, after and on. I had had enough. We had lost touch with the car. It would not be coming back. I had to keep going. By this time we had been on the road for seven hours in the most difficult conditions I had ever encountered. We stopped at Tato for lunch where Chicken noodles sated my hunger. I had nothing much to eat other than fruit and nuts when the car was around. After eating our riders group was on the road again. Poor roads were a nightmare, potholes and mud seemed to be at every corner. My wrist problem persisted and more frequent stops. Finally we were dropping down into Mechoukha and pulled into GTL Homestay at about 4:30 pm. Ten and a Half hours on the road covering 184km. Google says it is a 6h 12min journey. It may be in dry conditions but not in mud.