Monsoon Mudding

While we were away in Ladakh, friends of Helmet Stories -- Ous, K1F1 and Speedy -- went mud plugging to Rajmachi Fort near Mumbai on their dinky little Hero Impulses and a Mahindra Thar. Wish we were there!

Nakeela Pass

Harsh surveying the route from the top of Nakeela Pass

Rohtang pass

The first view of Lahul Spiti from Rohtang Pass.

Rani Nallah

The first bit of mud and water that is Rani Nallah. It was far better than last year but still a pain to navigate through the only upside was there was hardly any traffic.

Welcome drink in Leh

A chilled welcome drink as we reached leh. Blog posts from the last few days to follow but for now where is the beer?

The Breakfast Club, Manali

Final checks

While the chef whips up a hearty breakfast we are making our final checks to the bike before we make our way towards Rohtang La and then Tandi.

A hard rain

Ready to ride

Spent all morning shopping and getting all the details ready for our ride tomorrow. So now the only thing left to do is kick back and relax and enjoy the view.

Health trip

Shopping for greens and veggies for the Helmet Stories Ladakh ride..

A time to momo

Chandigarh to Manali

We woke up to overcast skies and made a rather lazy start after several cups of coffee. It's Vir's birthday and it is the second time that I'm on the road with him on this day. The last time was at Whisky Nala below Lachung La on a blustery and savagely cold morning. 

The places we ride past is like a familiar litany -- Ropar, Kiratpur, Swarghat, Bilaspur, Mandi, Pundoh... And we still haven't escaped the fetid breath of the monsoon 150 km into the ride. 

Our early start has seen us escape the truck traffic that clogs up the stretch of road from Swarghat to Surendernagar and we pick off the straining trucks with ease swooping around them with calculated nonchalance. 

The road past Mandi is pristine and the long sweeping corners are a delight to carve into, the thunderous exhausts of Bono and Bumblebee providing a pleasing rhythm to the ride, the cadence rising and falling with each gearshift. 

Past Pundoh and the sky holds ominous portents of rain. Can we beat it to Manali? Of course not! We arrive in Manali drenched and bedraggled after an exhilarating ride, not fast, not slow, but one that felt just perfect. 

Afternoon from Pandoh

It's one hundred kilometres to Manali and a Trout lunch beckons. Its been a good day of riding and an excellent way to spend ones 33rd birthday.