Trailer: North By North-East ride

The trailer of the ride is out. Since there was not a single video on my entire ride so had to collate pics only. It looks nice though.

Here is the youtube link -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lzo7aiiPOM

And my bike - The X is back after the servicing. I'm real pissed, not happy with the new brake lever they installed. The old one broke a bit, I see they fixed it but instead of mounting that they give me a new one. Money greedy people you see.

Anyway, a new year ahead. 

Returning post

Its been long years since I posted something here. Lets start a new series of travel blog, a cycling tour I did in 2015 end. Yes, lets do it.

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NORTH BY NORTHEAST ‘21 – POKHRA NEPAL’

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Pokhra Nepal
Distance this period: 0.00 km Total Distance: 4874.97 km
Pokhra – 117.2 km
Chainpur (camp) – 125.61 km
Butwal (camp) – 89.66 km

NORTH BY NORTHEAST ‘20 – CHISAPANI TO POKHRA NEPAL’

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Agaiya – Chainpur – Butwal – Syangya - Pokhra Nepal

Distance this period: 465.47 km Total Distance: 4874.97 km

Agaiya (camp) – 117.2 km
Chainpur (camp) – 125.61 km
Butwal (camp) – 89.66 km
Syangya (camp) – 91.0 km

Pokhra – 42.0 km

Today’s ride was full of excitement. Started with fear while crossing Birdia National Park. Previous night people at the dhaba told me scary stories of wild animal attacking passerby in broad daylight that too on a wide road. So rode like anything… then at the end, already getting dark and entered Banke national park, again all alone big jungle both the sides of the road. Scary.. Dinner and found a tin shed to camp.

Total KM – 117.2 kmTotal expense – 400/- rs.Approx time – 6.35 hrs.

Hate these flat roads.. breakfast at Kusum. Lunch at Amilia. Met 2 cycling couple all the way Spain. Roads were empty due to strike. Chainpur…. asked a hotelwala if I can camp in his yard, but thats for bus parking he says. But he opens his terrace though, bike parked in garage.

Total KM – 125.61 kmTotal expense – 410/- rs.Approx time – 10.00 hrs.

All flat to Butwal. At Junction turned left to Pokhra road. En-route lots of hotel and food points but none offered proper meal and stay. They were open but offered drink and snacks only. Found a flat ground by roadside and camped.

Total KM – 89.66 km
Total expense – 280/- rs.
Approx time – 7.20 hrs.

Hills again, and I’m loving it. Speedometer stopped working today. Kali-Godawari river bridge… ups and downs continued.. Camped 5 kms short to Syangya town.

Total KM – 91.0 kmTotal expense – 290/- rs.
Approx time – 9.00 hrs.
Ups and downs continued.. Sunny day. Made it to Pokhra today. Lake Side area is where all the fun is someone told me.. At 1st roundabouttook left to Taal area, saw a bike shop, went in, found a nice guy, little bit of talking and he refers me to a cheap hotel nearby. Booked it for 3 rest days.

Total KM – 91.0 km Total expense – 290/- rs.
Approx time – 9.00 hrs.

They say they found first civilization proof somehwere here

A goodnight it is

Nice Spot by roadside.. a cold one though

Views are lovely.... and miles to cover

Nepali breakfast

First view of Pokhara Nepal

NORTH BY NORTHEAST ‘19 – DARCHULA - NEPAL TO CHISAPANI’

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Pasti – Khichlek – Amargadhi – Godawari - Chisapani

Distance this period: 386.17 km Total Distance: 4406.31 km

Pasti (camp) – 35.44 km
Khichlek – 74.36 km
Amargadhi Dadeldhura – 80.49 km
Godawari (camp)– 112.22 km

Chisapani – 83.66 km

First day ride in Nepal. Tea and followed the Sharda river for about 20km. Good road so far.. lunch at dhaba then its up to Pasti top pass. lots of punctures today. At top got another while fixing that a nearby shop owner came and helped me. offered to stay with them for the night. Played volleyball, had dinner and set up a tent nearby.

Total KM – 35.44 km
Total expense – 150/- rs.
Approx time – 3.28 hrs.


From Pasti its about 3 km uphill ride, then flat, then downhill. Hit a bridge, then up 10 km to Sillake top. Made it to Khuchlek police check post, little verification and booked a room.
Total KM – 74.36 km
Total expense – 280/- rs.
Approx time – 6.20 hrs.


Uphill for 15kms to Satbanjh jn. right goes to Baitadi Jhulaghat, another entry point to here. I took left to Patan. downhill then up for 22 kms, steep and killing uphill. Khudpe. Left goes to Bajhang, further to China border on foot. I went straight after lunch there. Climbs here are pretty steep. Amargadhi. A motorcyclist offered a stay at hotel Greenland. Met the owner. Mild knee pain due to
bloody climb, hope tomorrow’s good.

Total KM – 80.49 km
Total expense – 880/- rs.

Approx time – 8.20 hrs.

Wow… what a ride today…. Started 9ish without breakfast. Tried ATM but no cash. Too many ups and downs… the one steep downhill to Godawari bridge. Lunch at Budar. no pics taken today. Fog in the morning fog in the evening.. then rain made it worse…. Downhill was so fun but scary… low visibility… Found one empty govt. building and camped there. dinner at nearby hotel.

Total KM – 112.22 km
Total expense – 415/- rs.

Approx time – 7.36 hrs.


Speedometer started giving different readings, changed battery. Now I was in the flatland nepal, called Tarai area. Hot and humid. Atariya has ATMs, big town. ATM charged me 500/- nepali rupees for my 10k withdrawl. Night in a shitty room, food is nice though.

Total KM – 83.66 km
Total expense – 1190/- rs.

Approx time – 5.22 hrs.

First day in Nepal.. looks nice

Lunch time..

Nepal really has some steep climbs... my knee started hurting on some climbs.

Mela time... some mandir there

Celebration..

Sceneries are beautiful..

 

This climb all the way from down... exhausted me completely..

Bed time...

Bed time... I like this one... this is better than previous one.

NORTH BY NORTHEAST ‘18 – BIRTHI TO DHARCHULA - NEPAL’

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Birthi – Munsiyari – Jauljibi – Dharchula - Darchula Nepal

Distance this period: 138.25 km Total Distance: 4020.14 km

Munsiyari – 32.60 km

Jauljibi – 71.60 km

Dharchula – 30.90 km

Darchula Nepal – 3.19 km (yes, its without h.... Nepal side town)

Morning short walk up to Birthi Falls was refreshing. After breakfast started riding up to the top then some down to Munsiyari. Booked a room @ KMVN rest house. Then shopping, TV after a long time. The caretaker tells me entry to Nepal from Dharhula is not possible. Jhulaghat is also doubtful. Looks like its going to be a long ride to Banbasa.

Total KM – 32.60 km

Total expense – 720/- rs.

Approx time – 3.41 hrs.

So September month has stated today, weather is nice, Panchachuli view is refreshing and I continued riding downwards. Rear tire giving me headche, fixed two times already. Got talkin to a guy who tells me of robbery. And as I recall same robbery story one guy at Tabo Spiti shared his travel stories of this area. So told myself no camping till I touch Nepal. Then a car stops, police van actually. The DSP of Dharchula sitting inside, a cyclist himself. He tells me once I reach Dharchula go to police station they will arrange my stay. Nice. Jauljibi is the place for tonight though. Sharda river from Dharchula side and Gori-Ganga from Munsiyari side meets here.

Total KM – 71.60 km

Total expense – 680/- rs.

Approx time – 5.20 hrs.

It will be a uphill ride today. Sharda river and other side Nepal. Met the DSP again on the road, he tells his name Himanshu Shah, yeah I forgot to ask yesterday. Then road-workers, the GREF, lovely bunch of people. One guy plays tough on me initially asking so many questions then he offers food, taught me how to play rummy. Talks, advises I loved their company. Dharchula. Found a hotel (Hotel Shivam). Went to border crossing, well first went to police station, they had no information of my arrival. yuck! KMVN rest house is nearby but no luck there. One batch of Kailash-Mansarovar yatra coming today. So the hotel room booking. Then the Border crossing, SSB guy tells its possible to cross. Lucky me.

Total KM – 32.90 km

Total expense – 570/- rs.

Approx time – 3.40 hrs.

Started at 9am from hotel. DSP saw me riding past police station, sent one orderly to fetch me, how nice…. Listened to their planning of a meeting on some matters, then he takes me to his residence. Tea parantha, his cycle adventures. Showed me his trek MTB. Took his number said my good-byes. Now at crossing bridge, SSB guy needs written permission from SDM office, wow…. rode back to SDM office, asked the guard where to approach. Met the orderly and waited… the young reluctant SDM fellow says no. He cannot help me… Now back to bridge, then to the senior offices cabin. He says type a letter. The guard takes me to his quarters, his colleagues wrote a letter for me to let me pass, here are my credentials.. Happy officer lets me pass through. Bag checking on our side and checking at Nepali side as well... Into Nepali land now.... First thing I need Nepali rupees. ATM charges 50 bucks to withdraw..great… exchange counter exchanges note for free. Pretty messed up day to ride so booked a room. Parked my bike at the back. Ate Nepali non-veg thali. Went back India side on withdraw money, crossed the border over bridge again, exchanged the notes at the exchange counter. Time to relax at buggy smelly room.

Total KM – 3.20 km

Total expense – 480/- rs.

Approx time – 00.30 hrs.

Birthi KMVN rest house... nice place..

Birthi Falls

Selfie time...

 

Tea break at the top..

Waited long here for the Panchachuli view but no luck..

After about 2 hours.. still out of luck.. no view

 

Well... from KMVN rest house room window got some view at the evening though..

O yes.. thats the road.. thats river flowing furiously alongside and thats right in the middle of the road, good for car wash but me? you get the memo right?

Road widening work in progress, thats Sharda river.. other side is Nepal... tomorrow I will be there..

Dharchula.. Indian side.. last day today here...

NORTH BY NORTHEAST ‘17 – ‘DEHRADUN TO BIRTHI’

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Dehradun – Rishikesh – RudraPrayag – Harmani - Bharari - Birthi

Distance this period: 442.80 km Total Distance: 3881.89 km

Byasi, Rishikesh – 86 km

RudraPrayag – 100.10 km

Harmani – 79.90 km

Bharari – 105.50 km

Birthi – 71.03 km

3 days of rest and family visit was lovely. Reached Doon by bus, had breakfast there, by 10 am was ready to say good-bye. Went firefox, changed tire and sarted riding towards clock-tower onto Rishikesh via Raipur, a quite road. Rishikesh but then continued. Found one empty tea stall shed, pitched my tent inside and slept.

Total KM – 86.00 km

Total expense – 1180/- rs.

Approx time – 6.30 hrs.

Started pretty early following The mighty Ganges on my way up to Dev Prayag sangam, took right to Srinagar and found one hotel 15kms short of Rudraprayag.

Total KM – 100.10 km

Total expense – 560/- rs.

Approx time – 8.30 hrs.

Rudraprayag. then good road to Gaucher KaranPrayag. At junction asked a hotel guy for night stay he says Narayan Bagar for night. Road is bad now, widing work in progress. it was 6 already so continued in dark. A bad decision. Scared but found a place called Harmani, bought juice n stuff and camed at the varandah of SBI branch by the roadside. One drunk guy came said he is a local reporter and I need to get permission from the brach head before camping there.

Total KM – 79.90 km

Total expense – 250/- rs.

Approx time – 7.30 hrs.

Started early, at Tharali took left turn towards Roopkund road, thinking of a trek upto to Bedni Bugyal but couldn’t make a decision at the junction. Pretty good road till Gwaldam, lunch there and downhill to Baijnath, turn to Bageshwar. Rakhi day so market was closed. made it to Kapkot. School kid came asking for a ride so gave them for a round. 2 kms up Bharari and found hotel Glacier for the night.

Total KM – 105.50 km

Total expense – 330/- rs.

Approx time – 10.00 hrs.

Bharari is the place where you get perters for your Pindari Glacier trek. I went up riding to Sama. Pretty quite road. Then the road was hell, small stones big stones you name it. I was pushing my bike downhill crazy!!! so many punctures. Then up/straight at the junction of Tejam. Talked to a policeman he offered me tea, 2 cup of them and said KMVN TRH Birthi some 12-15 km from here. Made it there by 7:30pm headlight clutched in-between my teeth. Got dormitory, dinner and sleepy good night.

Total KM – 71.30 km

Total expense – 450/- rs.

Approx time – 8.10 hrs.

For the good-night

DevPrayag- where Alaknanda (right) and Bhagirathi (left) rivers meet and take the name Ganga or Ganges River.

 

Yes. this road will take you there.. The Mana Village. last town at China Border

Lets take a U turn

Well.. distances to go

Lovely day to ride..

Some sleep time...

 

See the nightmare? downhill & rocky surface full of accidents..

Nice TRH at Birthi... yes thats a beautiful Birthi Falls up right corner

 

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NORTH BY NORTHEAST ‘16 – SUNGRI TO DEHRADUN’

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Sungri – Hanol – Damta – Dehradun

Distance this period: 283.90 km Total Distance: 3439.09 km

Sungri – 0 km
Hanol – 85.10 km
Damta – 99 km
Dehradun – 99.80 km

I entered Uttarakhand today. Its all downhill from Sungri. Rohru… Got a puncture. And while fixing that my front wheel got a bad alignment, which I realised very late. Result… well the tire got some bad cuts which foreced me to take a decision to de-tour towards Dehradun. Thats the only place I could get a new tire. Luch rajma-rice @ Tiuni. A bridge then left turn to Hanol. Right turn goes Chakrata. Before bridge the road leads to Shimla. Rohru to Katkoti is dusty bad riding, bad traffic. Booked a hotel in Hanol, by roadside ovelooking a temple.

Total KM – 85.10 km

Total expense – 410/- rs.
Approx time – 6.00 hrs.

Next day started uphill to Mori. From here straight goes to har-ki-dun. I look right turn to Purola. Lunch. At Naugaon, took straight road to Dehradun. Nice road, Rained. Made it to Dumta. Booked Hotel.

Total KM – 99 km
Total expense – 480/- rs.
Approx time – 8.00 hrs.

Good road till the junction, where left goes via Mussoorie right goes vai Vukasnagar. After lunch of parantha there look left turn to uphill ride. Quite road till the Fall, Kempty Falls then lots of traffic. loud music and waste by roadside. Foggie top at Mussoorie then downhill. Track & trails shop is near Kalika Market but they had no tire for me. Gave address of Firefox store near Wadia Institute. They had one.. Called a friend, stored The X there for next 3 days and went to Haldwani to see my family.

Now leaving Himachal... Approaching UK

Hanol Temple.. Mahasu Devta Temple.. ASI has marked it as heritage site.. that Tons river or Tamas means the water in it is forbidden.. not to be used for irrigation etc..

And I got a weired look

Then there are beautiful villages..

Yup.. thats the road I just peddled up..

Thats Kempty Falls on the back.. Me climbing up in fury

Guitar

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BABOK_Guide_v3_Member

North by Northeast ‘15 – Chitkul To Sungri’

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Chitkul - Chaura - Daran Ghati - Sungri

Distance this period: 232.30 km Total Distance: 3155.19 km

Chitkul – 0 km

Chaura – 100.90 km

Daran Ghati– 56.0 km

Sungri – 75.40 km

Plan was to stay in Chitkul for a longer duration and relax, but I felt kind of odd there so left next day. Breakfast at Sangla, Tea, piranha, Jalebi & kept Bananas for the ride. Urni climb took some time, lunch at Tapri, a nice dadi chawal. Jyori was the target, asked one guy about staying option there. Turned out to be a nice guy, offered me to stay at his place. Had a nice bath, his family was away so just both of us. His cousins cook food for us. He was on leave from his unit J&K rifles. Opened a bottle, rest I have no idea when I slept.

Total KM – 100.90 km

Total expense – 160/- rs.

Approx time – 8.04 hrs.

Army-mans cousin helped me pack my stuff, it was a nice stay. At Jeori took left turn and climbed all the way up to Gharat. Apples everywhere. From Gharat it was a flat ride. Mashnu was messy so was the left turn from there. Real bad kacha road, slush and jungle, on top of it there was no human soul around. I was scared like hell. It was a 12 kms of scary ride all the way up to the top. Tea shop at the top and a HPPWD rest house. Caretaker was there at the tea shop, drunk. I asked if I can camp there inside the rest house perimeter, he says no. So booked a room, bath followed by tea. He tells me it was built in 1913 by British, re-newd recently. Rice meat for the night, lots of stories, his Arunachal trip for a marriage, his encounter with a bear and langoor hunting. The rest house is lovely, in between jungles.

Total KM – 56.0 km

Total expense – 400/- rs.

Approx time – 6.00 hrs.

HPPWD stay was awesome, had the leftover meat in the morning with parantha. Started the journey downhill, real bad loose stones for 4 kms. Hit bottom at the river bridge, Taklech. market, had chowmin, Just after the bridge took left turn. right goes to Rampur. Uphill starts, some curves are quite steep. At top jungle starts, flat riding to Bahli. Lunch, waited for PWD rest house caretaker, but bad luck! no rooms. worthless 2 hours of wait. Withdrawn some cash from SBI ATM, and started towards Sungri around 6pm. Again scared of bear attack peddled hard. Asked The caretaker at Sungri PWD rest house if I can camp. A suspicious guy, but offered me room, ordered food. At night some other fellow came and slept in the same room. Nice view from the rest house. Britishers surely had a good taste.

Total KM – 75.40 km

Total expense – 455/- rs.

Approx time – 7.30 hrs.