March 2025 Part 2 The Bike Ride Part2

 

March 2025

Part 2 The Bike Ride Part 2

 

After arriving the temperature at the Homestay bedroom was dropping with approach of darkness. Another day getting wet. Cold again and no heating the kind people running the Homestay let us have an electric blanket. It was just what we needed and after a warming shower we headed for the communal room where the stove had just been lit and I was hugging it waiting for beer to arrive. I had been on a remarkable journey and survived. I had no idea that I would have to do it in reverse. All I wanted was to sleep. Over the next two days Gita and I did little other than clean our bike gear. The mud was so fine it got everywhere. The best way to remove it was waiting for it to dry and brushing it off but it still managed to impregnate fabrics and leather. My bike boot zips seized with it and it took days to get them working properly again. On the first rest day we had a trip to a monastery restaurant and then to Dorjeeling to visit the heritage village. 

The second rest day was a bit of sitting in the sun and getting sunburnt then a trip around the valley by car. We were in a restricted area and were not permitted to get to the snow line and the crashed helicopter.

Day four was the return trip. The Homestay was good fun with the gang. Another early start at six am without breakfast. Once again there was notice of road closures. After a drizzly start the weather improved to glorious sunshine that stayed with us throughout the morning interspersed with breaks for boiled eggs and bananas. About eleven we were halted by the sound of a heavy blast. This turned into one and a half hours waiting as we watched to road being cleared.

 In the mean time the weather closed in and it was raining quite hard when we had to stop for two hours for road works. By two pm we were in a cafe for lunch and shelter from the rain. By four the road was open again. Three and a half hours of daylight lost and also my energy. There is no heating except a modest fire that only a few could get close to. We pressed on through heavy rain until my energy ran out and I had a “Holi” moment on a narrow track falling to the right this time and my leg hit a rock. Fortunately only bruised but it was a warning that I did not have the strength to hold the bike anymore. It was about five in the evening, Still raining and even thicker mud. I bailed out and took to the car before I could hurt myself. There were still three weeks in India to enjoy. The car was uncomfortable being rocked by potholes and I was wet. It did not bother me on the bike but unpleasant as you warmed up. In a couple of  hours we were at the Hotel West in Aalo. Glad to have got there but sad that I had to bail out, better to be with Gita in the car.

It was more of a leisurely start in the morning, time for breakfast with the sun shining. I could dry some of my gear and I was able to put on dry fresh clothes for the first time on a morning. What a change to ride in the sunshine climbing the hills out of Aalo. Sweeping bends  with reasonable roads and only a few road works to contend with. A real treat. I was still a bit tired so Gita was pillion for Chinmoy leading the way on his yellow Suzuki with me following close enough to use the communicators. Bikash followed me to pick up the pieces.

Lunch was at Pasishap at another noodle place at my request. The sunshine and warm at lower altitudes abled me to shed layers. Being dry and some confidence there would be grip it was a faster ride. Post lunch roads were better and we had long stretches of dual carriage way broken to rubble to keep the speeds down. I managed to get the Husky up to over 130kph according to Bikash as he could not get by me. The speedo on the Husky was fogged after being drowned the previous day. I could see nothing only the neutral indicator light, but it did wind up well. It seemed like no time at all before pulling in at the Bogiebil resort just across the big Bramaphutra bridge about four for afternoon tea and a snack. Fighting with unforgiving tea time traffic on the last leg as it was getting dark. We safely arrived back in Bamunbari at Chinmoy’s house about six. Making a nine hour journey some 273 km for the day. Most people went home to come back later for an evening of camaraderie. What an expedition covering some 1000km in six days recorded on Jungle Jatri web site in their videos. https://www.instagram.com/travelling_hipp0/reel/DHdYcpNBOyX/               and

https://www.instagram.com/jungle_jatri/reel/DHXN-jbyU8B/ if you have an Instagram acccount