Preparations for the winter trip to Spiti Valley

So, we are in to start with the trip, and I shall try to write all my preps for that trip here, so as to not miss anything and make a better and comfortable trip, this one. Its with my family, including my little one.

Duration : The trip duration would be 9 days, with 1 day for any emergencies.
Dates : 25th Dec 2009 - 2nd Jan' 2009
Mode of transport : Ford Ikon' 2004 model.
Travellers : Self, wifey, our 6 yr(by then) old daughter, Jappi (is sure, he wants to join as of now. Rest others (Bunty, Geeta, Rimpi, Bimpi & fam are still thinking) are still thinking and contemplating about it. I guess I need to prepare a detailed plan to be able to convinve them.

This is the list of things I need to take care about, get done with, before we can start with the trip, am jotting down the things, along with the approx cost along side.

1. Leave application for 4 days 28-31st Dec'2009
2. Car silencer work to be done - 5000
3. Fog Lights required for the car - 1500
4. Extra bulba for the car - 500
5. Extra tubes for the car - 800
6. New tires to be bought for the trip, the tires are already 42000 kms old now - 15000
7. Camera - what about it, the 7yr old, 5 MP cybershot would not be sufficient, think about it. - borrow from a friend.
8. Car service - all oils and lubes to be checked/changed - myself to be there for the servicing and see/check everything. - 3000
9. First day stop at Shimla, to be booked in advance.
10. All winter wear required for further trip to be bought at Shimla - 5000
11. If there is more than one car, we shall buy good quality walki-talkie.
12. Prepare a complete day by day plan for the trip with map, soon.
13. Sump Guard - find out more, this seems like a must have. Find about MotorCraft in Noida, contact Raj Kapoor - 9811071147. Costing - ?????
14. How much a spare tyre would cost. I would only need the rim basically, while changing all the tyres, I can keep one of these as the spare one. That way I would have two stare tires always.

Shall keep on updating this with the new planned activities and their status.

What a long strange trip it has been.....LADAKH

My story about my ride to the roof of the world.

This was one long awaited trip of my life. I think if not everybody,most of the people while growing, would at least have once or more dreamt of one such trip.

Riding to Leh-Ladakh on motor bikes. Bikes........mountains.....snow all around....heaven....

This time when I was thinking of life as a passing thing, had thought of many things which can be done to rejuvenate myself. A long 10-12 days trek to explore the Himalayas on foot. A long 4 week mountaineering course in the Himalayas. A group organized trip to the Himalayas, Leh-Ladakh in SUV's , etc.

Nothing materialized for me, trekkers with whom I wanted to go, didn't want to take me along, as I had no experience. Almost 2 months ago, I was able to zero in to going to Ladakh on motor bikes. This got into my mind as Shail, my younger bro, who had now shifted to Jodhpur, had last year only bought the new cruiser in town, the Bajaj Avenger. I had ridden it, and me and my wife, both loved the ride. It was extremely comfortable for ride, is a heavy bike, at 152 kg unladen weight, the curves used to feel very smooth with a pillion as well.

So, the final decision was, that I shall be going for the the Ladakh region on the motor bike. I applied for 2 weeks leave in April itself. The leave was to be during the June'08 month.

The route to Leh region is generally closed for around 8 months. The snowing in that region is heavy and the BRO(Border Road organization) maintains the roads, clears the snow off them, opens the roads around June 1st-2nd week and maintains them upto 15th Sept.

Vital stats for the ride :

Riders
Prem Arora on Bajaj Avenger 180 cc, 2007 model from Delhi
Atul on a Honda Unicorn from Benaras
Haider on Pulsar 150 from Kanpur

Travel Duration : 14 days

Total Distance Covered : 3027 kms

Major events : One bad fall in a river near Srinagar.
: Firing near Hazratbal dargah, while we ere there

Night Halts : Hoels, tents, town houses, govt guest houses, etc.


Total Fuel expenses : Rs 3600/-

Rest all(food, hotels,bike repairs,etc) : Rs 4400/-

Trip preparation : Rs 25000/-

Trip Fun : Infinite

While you go through this, all the photographs are in small size. This is because, the first page doesn't take too long to open up. To show enjoy the photographs, you would need to click on them. Cheers...

Day 1 : Delhi - Chandigarh

Day 2 : Chandigarh - Simla

Day 3 : Simla - Bhawa Nagar

Day 4 : Bhawa Nagar - Pooh

Day 5 : Pooh - Banjar

Day 6 : Bajnar - Sissu

Day 7 : Sissu - Sarachu

Day 8 : Sarachu - Leh.

Day 9 : Thiksey, Hemis and Bike repairing

Day 10 : Leh - Mulbekh

Day 11 : Mulbekh - Sonamarg

Day 12 : Sonamarg - Batote

Day 13 : Batote - Chandigarh

Day 14 : Chandigarh - Delhi.