Of all the riding destinations,that continued to evade me,perhaps the most elusive one was Lansdowne.Despite its sweet sounding name(I have a thing for Brit sounding names,Mc leodganj being the other one)and its proximity,it still remained unchecked in my list.
Protocol checks done,tanked up,packed and ready.... all the previous night,the only thing that remained was withdrawing cash from ATM.That can be done enroute.That shouldn't be difficult right?Read on.
So that fine sunday morning, I set out at 0400 hrs on my minotaur with tankbag strapped and my friend following on his TBTS.We made quick progress to Meerut and stopped for chai at aound 6am.My friend complained that he didn't want to lug around the backpack and asked me if I was carrying bungee cords.I was proud of my resourcefulness and offered it to him readily.(Unforunately.)
We sped away onto the Mawana road through cantt.This must be the biker's paradise.Neat tarmac.Straight roads sans traffic garnished with splendid scenery either side.As I was losing myself, I picked up my friend blinking his headlight on my rear view.I stopped and noticed him all panicky"My bag's fallen down somewhere...." and zoooom he turned and went back.I obviously didnt have time to pour sense into him that the chances of his bag lying at the same place it fell was like a million to one.But still to ease his spirit I followed and we lost a fat two hours in treading.Mawana to meerut and back.I swiftly pulled off the hanging bungee cords from his backseat lest it should remind him of something.My disappointed friend told me that he was going back to Delhi.Like Lord Krishna I stood at the junction and told him:"You go right and two hours you'll be home.sad about your bag and more sad about missing the ride.You follow me to the left and three hours you'll be in Lansdowne probably forgetting your tiny loss and pleased for completing what you set out upon.": Saying thus I sped off knowing him well.
Soon I heard another thump join mine and we reached Lansdowne for early lunch.THe first sight of the hills was refreshing and the road from Mawana-Bijnor Najibabad-Kotdwara-Lansdowne was perfect.The only observation was we have stopped in 6 atms till now and all of them rejected my ICICI card.A helpful soul in Kotdwarar told me that I should proceed to Lansdowne and use the multiple ATM facilities it has to offer.I trusted him and went up to find only two SBI atms there and both temporarily unable to service my request.I had a SBI card but it had negative balance and I dint want to risk giving my location to the SBI stalkers.:grin:
THe 200/ in my wallet was used up for lunch.With an empty wallet and a broke friend by my side I set out to hunt for a hotel.Hotel Mayur was the only plce we got.It had a decent deluxe room for 1000/-.I asked him for his bank account so that I could get money transferred to him from Delhi.Sad.IT was a sunday.No problem.I was there till next morning I could get it transferred first thing in the morning.Sad er. Next day was Eid.Holiday:shock:My friend suggested that we ride back to delhi with the only resource we had then.fuel.I was not even considering that option.
Then as crazy as it sounds, I actually took the mobile number of the hotel owner called a friend in Delhi and had him recharge his phone for 1000rs.Again delhi bsnl recharge was not possible and I had to call up Chennai and tell a friend to top up for 1300/-All this with just one small bar of network on my airtel mobile.THe owner accepted!and I took the extra 300 as cash from him and used it for rest of journey.
The return trip next day and things we saw there are relatively less eventful and already well recorded in these forums.
The morning ride downhill was like ballet where biker and bike become one swaying in sync to the well orchestrated tune of the serpentine roads.And thus the next day we reached Delhi thankful to technology and e recharge!!
LESSONS:1) Always carry some cash in hand and in different places.Dont put all cash together.2) SBI is undoubtedly the widest atm network in the country.Put up with their indifference to customers when you visit their branch and reap the fruits of their atm service in the remotest of hills.3)BSNL can fail in Connaught place but in densest of jungles it will not fail you. 4)Tie bungee cords properly ensuring to pass it through atleast one strap in your bag5)Never give up!
p.s:Ill put up some pics asap
Cheers.Ride safe!
