Ladakh 2024: Roadblocks and Resilience - Episode 2

Embarking on a train journey to my hometown, I brought my bike along as luggage, arriving in Bikaner, Rajasthan, on March 22nd. The excitement built as I meticulously prepared my bike for the upcoming adventure, ensuring my riding gear and luggage were all intact for the challenging ride ahead. However, just before the ride was set to begin on April 5th, disaster struck – I fell ill with a fever. With the daunting prospect of a 14+ day ride ahead, health became a major concern.

Despite my worries, I took medication and rested in hopes of a swift recovery. The following morning, we were scheduled to depart early, around 6 or 7 am. However, there was a crucial task to be completed before hitting the road – collecting snow chains from Karol Bagh, which we had ordered from Jaipur. Unfortunately, there was a delay, as the transport vehicle had gotten stuck at the border, resulting in a four-hour wait for the chains to arrive. 

Making the best of the situation, I spent the time relaxing in a nearby restaurant, taking my medicine, and allowing my fever to subside. Finally, at 11 o'clock, I set out to collect the snow chains, which arrived at noon. From there, I headed towards Murthal to rendezvous with my fellow riders. Despite the delay, the excitement of finally starting the ride together buoyed our spirits.

As we hit the road, our enthusiasm was palpable, and we cruised along at speeds of 110-120 km/h on AH43. However, our jubilation was short-lived when, after an hour, Venky's tire suddenly burst, causing his bike to sway precariously at speeds exceeding 100 km/h. Miraculously, he managed to bring the bike to a stop without incident.

We quickly pulled over, and Venky began the task of removing the damaged tire. Without hesitation, Dheeraj and I rushed back to Panipat city to procure a replacement tire from MRF. Despite Venky's initial hope for off-road tires, we settled for a suitable highway tire for his Himalayan bike. With the new tire fitted, it was already 5 o'clock, and we had only covered around 100 kilometers from Delhi.

Determined to make up for lost time, we embarked on a non-stop ride for the next three hours, covering an additional 200 kilometers before finally halting for the night in the village of Landran, located on the outskirts of Chandigarh. Despite the challenges faced on the first day of our journey, our spirits remained high, fueled by the anticipation of the adventures that lay ahead.