Bulls on Parade to Ranikhet

The Ranikhet Rustics 18,19,20 June

This was one of those rarest of rare rides that Nishant Jha was not present due to 'The Kuwaitian Job'. But he was all-supporting in organizing the ride. The weather was expected to be hot. The hills were expected to provide respite. The final tally of riders included:

Vibhor Bhardwaj - Royal Enfield Machismo 500 - Guruji
Pravin Kora - Royal Enfield Standard 1956 - Polo
Ankit Sheoran - Royal Enfield Lightning 535 - Screwdriver
Saurabh Khanna - Royal Enfield Thunderbird - Air Filter
Sandeep Chadha - Royal Enfield Standard - Excel
Vikas Garg - Royal Enfield Modded to a new level - Kurchu
Mrinal Doley - Bajaj Avenger - Worldspace
Javed Hazarika - Bajaj Pulsar 200 - CuntPrayag
Vihans Gupta - Yamaha FZ16 - Guchhi
Diptinder Singh Chhabra - Royal Enfield Electra - Lekhak
(Theres a story behind each one of these nickname)

18 June 2010 (Gurgaon - Delhi - Moradabad - Bazpur - Kaladhungi - Nainital - Ranikhet)

Javed was the first person to arrive at the Gathering Point in front of Nalli's Showroom in South-Ex. Maybe he was most interested in buying a sari. In fact, he had hardly slept that night. The same had been the case with all of us. It has always happened that a long ride begins with riders having lack of sleep.

With a loud warcry of JAI BoP, we took off at 4:45 AM sharp. Nowadays, even that sounds late with the sunlight already dawning. Pravin was late and as per rules, he was left behind to catch up. I was at the back-end as I recently had cardiac surgery on the Bullet. So, I was to face the onslaught of "Move On" jokes yet again. Vibhor tried to give me company but he managed to last till Ghaziabad only. Its not easy sustaining a speed span of 40-50 kph for long.

Hapur was crossed with ease. Then came the ugly stretch of broken roads and speed bumps at Brijghat. There's always loads of traffic here. A single road can simply not cope with the vehicle volume. The only pleasure is our sweet memory of Sanket bhai's rum shots and offroading during our Corbett ride.

We stopped for breakfast at Giani's restaurant at Gajraula. Now, the roads were getting pleasurable. Pravin also caught up during breakfast. The parathas were ok but not upto Murthal standards. Moreover, the waiter was very rude. He's also not to be blamed completely as the orders were being given one by one instead of a collective one. But the waiters should be used to such stuff. Its worth mentioning here that Chadha paaji's Lassi was served without straw here. If you know BoP, you'll know how fatal that is. This place is to be banned from future pit-stops. Chadha paaji obliged us by being the treasurer for this ride and out came the famous excel sheet with the names of riders and individual contributions and expenditures. This guy is very meticulous about his responsibilities.

The road onwards from Gajraula is smooth. You can do full speed runs on this highway. As we neared the Moradabad bye-pass, the eventual happened. Mis-navigation. Pravin and I were at the tail. It had been decided that we would all gather at the Jim Corbett turn. While the leaders did so, I took the Lucknow highway and dragged Pravin with me. Realising the mistake some time later, we turned back and then criss-crossed the city till we reached the road to Kashipur. The others also joined us here later. They told us about a hilarious sugarcane juice boy incident at the Jim Corbett turn. He had made a mistake of taking half orders. So, the amount of glasses kept on increasing infinitely. I can only imagine his plight.

Now that we were back together, this time there was no mis-navigation. The road from Tanda to Bazpur was single but not traffic-heavy. So, progress was swift here. From Bazpur onwards, the roads turned really exciting. This is the Corbett trail upto Kaladhungi, home of Jim Corbett. Great wide curves with forests around you. Its a dream in daytime. As we reached the turn towards Nainital from Kaladhungi, we found that Saurabh had suffered a breakdown. Some broken rod that I was unable to place. Thankfully, Pravin and Ankit were still with him. Pravin found out a mechanic and brought him to the motorcycle. We, at Kaladhungi, also helped by drinking lots of shikanji and something called, aloo guthka. I did not dare to ask the contents.

We decided to wait for them at Nainital. Ranikhet would also be easily reachable from there. Just 60 kms. Plus, there would be the huge Delhi and Punjab-based crowd to ogle at Mall Road. Now the roads turn hilly. All the pain of travelling in the heat is rewarded by the fantastic tarmac from Kaladhungi to Nainital. Its also so much fun to play with the 4-wheelers. Two-wheelers have an edge, even over the big, powerful SUVs on this surface.

It was about 3 PM when we reached Nainital. All of us gathered in front of Cafe De Mall, right in the center of Mall Road. Chadha paaji found this place fascinating for lunch and what Chadha Paaji likes, we follow. We had a lazy lunch since it was going to be a long wait for the three comrades catching up.

Pravin came after we had finished lunch. He had been urged to move on by Saurabh and Ankit as they attended to Saurabh's Thunderbird. Then we received a call from Saurabh asking us to move on. Since it would get dark soon and our destination was still 60 kms away, we moved on. And right away got stuck in a traffic jam. The Bowali road is a single steep one and a military truck was blocking half of it. This had led to kilometers of jam.

The two-wheeler advantage played again and we were cleared to move on. Now the roads were even more fantastic. By now, the pacemaker of my Bullet's heart was well oiled. I was so excited that even when others stopped for a sutta break, I chose to ride on. But my excitement was surpassed by Javed. He was flying. He wanted to watch the Germany Vs Serbia match, which was starting at 5:20 PM. Pravin also didn't stop.

We reached the entry gates of Ranikhet, Ashok Dwar, at 5:30 PM. By now, Javed had gone ahead and explored most of the city. Sadly though, he did not know where we all were put up and had to wait anguishly for the rest of us to arrive. By the time we reached the guest house, it was 6:30 PM. Javed rushed into the room to switch on the TV only to find DD as the solely telecasted channel. Disappointment was ripe on his face. The guest house was a small one and we had the entire 3 rooms booked for us. No fellow guests meant that the caretaker would surely be saved from much embarassment as seen by our previous guest house owners.

We lined up the bikes side by side for the utmost important Motorcycle pic. This also came as very high priority from Nishant Jha. Saurabh and Ankit were yet to reach the place. But they were well on their way as the Bullet repairs were done. As some of the riders cleaned up, the rest just lounged around doing what they do best, bakchodi. Within an hour, Ankit and Saurabh also arrived.

Order for snacks and dinner had already been given. Booze was already imported from Delhi and Haryana. The bar contained Royal Challenge Whiskey, Johnnie Walker Black Label Whiskey, Black Bull Rum, Royal Stag Whiskey, Superior 10000 Beer. The furniture was laid out in front of the hotel and the real game started. Cheers.

Thoughts come out when booze goes in. Nothing against teetotallers, but you're not sharing your inner most ideas. That night was a very knowledgable one. Infoshares happening all around. Things we knew("Awesome Roads") and which we didnt("You know me, yaar" ???????). Chadha paaji, as always, was the first to have dinner. But, still he kept us company till late. We gave the caretaker, Anand, a hard time, as he was climbing up and down the stairs from kitchen to the bar area many times. For dinner, the spread contained Mutton, Chicken and I dont know about the rest.

I had reached my limits and said goodnight. Know when to quit. But some people have the principle that a bottle, once opened should not be left unfinished. Guruji and Polo were still on their way after dinner(P.S. they did not eat). Such was their intensity that once Ankit came up to collect something and he was made to drink one more peg. Their noises could be heard inside the rooms too where Doley, Javed and I were discussing our favourite topic, Sinha Saab. That topic is enough to make some noises go from the inside to the outside. Later in the morning we heard about Pravin cutting his hand by brushing it against some thorns. To what purpose, don't ask.

19 May 2010 (Ranikhet - Almora - Binsar - Almora - Ranikhet)

I always get a good sleep in the hills. I always get up early too because the sleep is so refreshing. Its so funny to see the effects of last night early in the morning. You can see the furniture and utensils lying here and there. This time, it was people too. We were short of one bed and had forgotten to tell Anand ji. Pravin chose to sleep outside on a chair. Dont know if he got any peaceful sleep. But then, this guy hardly sleeps.

The plan of the day was to ride to Binsar. But first, Chadha paaji wanted to go for a walk. I joined him. We learnt that Vikas and Pravin had already gone for a walk and they were telling us that there was nothing worth to be seen. I guess, hill people, or all people for that matter, do not open the bazaar at 5:30 AM in the morning. This was the reason that they did not get to see anything. When Chadha Paaji and I were roaming, we found lots of open shops. But one additional thing they got to see was the army parade marching around.

We returned in time for breakfast and to find the others getting up. Aloo Parathas and Bread Omelettes. The morning after is always a lazy one. We got set to leave for Binsar only by 11 AM. Pravin had chosen, wisely, to leave his Bullet behind. The terrain onwards was expected to be steep and with only 700 kms on the odo, it was best to save it from any kind of torture.

All this while, Javed was much too eager to travel on some unknown route. He had heard a lot about some trail that led through forested areas, sidelined with grass where you can even spot leopards. Sadly, no one else shared his enthusiasm. The route was unknown even to the locals that we asked. But still, he was all too crazy to try that route.

It was the first time that all of us were riding in formation. Pravin rode as pillion with Vibhor and was the constant butt of jokes. The excellent roads and the formation riding combined, creates an exhilarating atmosphere. Those 40 kms looked like a perfect motorcycle expedition.

As we neared Almora, it started to get hot. But, as we took the turn towards Binsar, dense trees provided respite from the heat. Also, the traffic lessened. Saurabh was having trouble with his Thunderbird, solved by creating a direct air-intake for the engine.

We reached Binsar gate where we had to sign in and pay a fee of Rs 150 per head. We tried to pass off as students(Entry Fee Rs 75) by feigning innocence, but it did not work with the authorities, I wonder why. It seemed a waste to pay for entering an area in non-peak hours where we would not be sighting any wildlife. It was just a money-making exercise by the government.

Some 15 kms of offroading saw us park our motorcycles at the KMVN Guest House. The buffet lunch was selling at Rs 200 per head, another money-maker. There was no other restaurant nearby. Moreover, the food was not that great. Vihans was interacting well with the other guests at the restaurant. So would you, I believe, when asked the question, "Are you from College?".

We took the customary bike formation pic here. Now, the group divided with most opting to trek to the Viewpoint. Pravin and Javed declined. Maybe they were sore from the constant pun and not finding the hidden trail, respectively. The majority group again dividing after reaching the point from where the trek started. The route looked good enough to ride. So, 4 people rode(Vibhor, Vihans, Ankit, Chadha Paaji) and 4 trekked(Saurabh, Vikas, Doley and Me).

It was a short 2-km trek, but tough enough to expose our fitness levels. At the end of the trek lies a Machan with a view of Himalayan Ranges. I'm sure it would have looked spectacular early in the morning with a clear view, but that day was hazy and hot. So, we chose to turn our backs to the view and have beer instead.

We returned from the trek to find Pravin having an affair with a visiting tourist while Javed did not disclose his exploits. The return journey started with Pravin pillion-ing with me now. Just as we got out of Binsar gate, there was the kind of scenery that we liked best. One Suzuki Intruder, One Honda CBR, 2 Kawasaki Ninjas. It was xBhp. Pravin pointed out that they were carrying the most expensive camera made by Canon. Sponsorship has advantages. It grew dark as we reached back to our guest house. Tommorow was the return journey back home. Although that night also saw us finishing the booze, but we quit earlier than the previous night. This time however, we did have the extra bed.

20 June 2010 (Ranikhet - Nainital - Bazpur - Moradabad - Delhi - Gurgaon)

It was going to be a long day for Pravin and me. Pravin was the first to wake up and go to the mechanic to get his clutch plates replaced. He had been there the previous night too, but the shop had closed by then. This was done before the others woke up. The descent was swift. It seemed as if we would make it to Delhi before dark. But, nature had some other plans.

We stopped for tea 15 kms from Nainital. But instead of tea, some of us took Jaljeera, that too on empty stomachs. Talk about smart decisions. After crossing Nainital, we stopped again at Saritatal for breakfast. The weather was cloudy and looked pleasant. We felt blessed on being relieved from the heat. But as our breakfast ended, our relief turned to horror. It started raining. And it rained heavily. We were stuck. Only Javed was carrying the raincoat and he dressed up pretty quick. All to no avail as none other was ready to leave. So, he just stood there all dressed up with nowhere to go. He was needled though to go out and at least wet the raincoat.

As the rains slowed a couple of hours later, a new trouble emerged. Pravin's bike failed to start. A mechanic was not to be found nearby. The locals suggested to take the Bullet to Kaladhungi. The route was all downhill so it was easy. While descending he was also able to push start his Bullet and continue.

As soon as the hills ended, the sky cleared and the sun shone brightly. It was getting hot and we were in mid-afternoon. At Kaladhungi, Pravin was suggested to take the Bullet to Bazpur and ask for Kaku Bullet Specialist. I tailed him till the workshop. The news was serious. Brand new clutch plates were all burnt. Kaku cited the angular center as the reason. The facing on the inside of the clutch plates came out in pieces. Its a wonder how the motorcycle was still functioning, something you'll find only in a Bullet. The repair job would take another couple of hours. Since, we were not on the main road, the others had overtaken and reached Tanda. They were having beer at a theka. We called up and asked the pack ahead to move on.

Kaku also told us of a beer bar at Bazpur and we headed there. It was in a residential area discretely hidden and not visible from the main road. The place was lovely. Such a place in Delhi would have been quite expensive but at Bazpur, Tuborg was available at Rs 110. The most noteworthy piece however, was the Chicken Pakoda. MAN, they were tasty. Even the lunch we ordered was well cooked and juicy.

We reached back to Kaku's shop to find Pravin's Bullet all set. But the piston was seized. Kaku suggested to stick to a speed limit of 55 kph and not overheat. The 200 kms to Delhi would be painfully slow. By now it was also 5 PM, so the darkness was another cause of worry. Since, I was also on the process of running in my Bullet for the 80 kph speeds, I went ahead telling Pravin that I would be stopping for him at a critical turn.

I stopped for him 10 kms to Moradabad at a petrol pump, had water and waited. The petrol pump owner was very curious about the knee and elbow pads I was wearing. 10 minutes later I got Pravin's message that he has reached Moradabad. I tried calling him, but he was not answering. Quickly, I mounted on my Bullet and raced ahead. I was confident that with his restricted speed, I would be able to overtake him much before Joya. But he was nowhere to be seen. I was also getting some swaying from my Bullet, probably due to misalignment. If any spokes broke here and it stalled, I would be stuck in the middle of nowhere. Lets face it, UP does not have a safe reputation. I'm sure Pravin must be facing the same fears.

I messaged Pravin to catch up opposite Giani's dhaba at Gajraula. Midway between Joya and Gajraula, I received a call from Pravin. He had gone the wrong way mistaking someone else for me. How is that possible, don't ask. I reached Gajraula swiftly and waited for him at a dhaba. On this highway, at that time of the night, I would recommend not riding alone. I would also not shy away from the fact that I was as scared as Pravin when I was riding alone. It was a relief to get some company at last. Pravin told me about this scary incident where a vehicle kept on following and overtaking him. It had forced him to exceed speed limits.

I had dinner alone. Pravin did not want to eat as it would cause him to sleep. Vihans called up to let us know that they had reached home. By the time, we moved on, it was 1 AM. The road onwards was the worst stretch. Brijghat with its single lane. Thankfully, there was Jeth Dashehra preparation at that time so the heavy vehicle traffic was kept at a minimum. We crossed Brijghat with none of the miserable traffic you normally encounter there. There was a strong crowd of devotees at the ghats.

Crossing Hapur, we found the roads still deserted. Most of the traffic was on the opposite side of the road. Only 3-4 vehicles must have passed us since Brijghat. We stopped for one final rest just near Ghaziabad. This stop was to prevent the Bullets from overheating. Watched some of the movie being played loud on TV, Aksar. It helped in calming the mood. It was clear that both of us were sleepy.

The last stretch is always the most tiring. Unless, you're coming in from Rajasthan, the road till Gurgaon seems as never ending. We reached Gurgaon by 3 AM. For the customary beer pit stop, we stopped at the theka near Convergys. Cheers to a fabulous and adventurous ride, we rode on back home.

A ride always has its own way of throwing surprises. Whats amazing is that you enjoy the troublesome moments as much as the fun ones. I sure hope the debutantes enjoyed enough that they would join us for future rides too. We sure enjoyed very much riding with them. My only regret is that I was not there during their troubling time. Apologies for that. Next is our biggest ride till date. A Blitzkrieg Ladakh ride that is going to leave us all exhausted and drained. Till that time,

JAI BoP !!!