Ride Inn - Manali part Deux

So if you have not heard of Ride Inn in Manali then well I just did you a favour. Now that you have let me tell you that after a few years they have moved down the road a bit and opened up a new location in Manali to host weary travellers on the well trodden Manali Leh route. 

The Inn keep and her husband are insanely great people who will take immense care of you while you are a guest at their property. We love going and hanging out there whenever we can. 

Before I left for Spiti I got them to send us some pictures of what the new place is looking like and let me tell you we cant wait to get up there and spend some time checking it out and eating that great local mutton dish their kitchen puts out. 

Here are some of the images they sent me. More when we are there in the next fortnight.

Himalayan Roads - Manali To Spiti - Turn by turn

We at Helmet Stories are all about jumping on your bike and heading out to explore the unknown trails that criss cross our world. But sometimes we have to give a hat tip to those who dont share our enthusiasm on two wheels and would rather do it on 4.

On such crazy person is Himanshu Khagta. We first met on some social media (not tinder) and then we actually hung out (not first date) when Ouspeh and I rode to Kaza in the winter on two Triumphs in search of snow.

Himanshu was there spending the whole winter just documenting Spiti.

Well I just saw this seven yes seven hour video he has put up on his drive from Manali to Spiti. Every god darn turn. So for all you people who want to sit on your butts and see what the drive is like this is your chance.

Run to the shops stock that fridge with beer get some snacks and sit back and watch.

#headabovetheclouds Instagram competition

So the Manali - Leh road is almost open and its time to start packing up your saddle bags and get your bike ready to head out into the depths of the Himalayas. Be it alone on the top of Baralachala or with your crew camping by Pangong Tso or tearing it up on the More plains. We want to see your view when you are out on your bike with your #headabovetheclouds. We will pick a winning photo every week

See contest details below.

1. Follow @helmetstories on Instagram

2. Post a photo with the hashtag #headabovetheclouds and #helmetstories to enter.

The winner will be sent a Helmet Stories T-Shirt and some other goodies (you will only know what it is once you have won it). 

Packed and ready

We spend all of yesterday checking our tents and gear and stocking up the supplies. Now we are good to go. The weather is looking good and we are in the main market of Manali waiting for the backup crew to roll in and then we are off. Pangi valley here we come.

Manali with the Himalayan Odyssey

After a fine ride over Jalori Pass and crossing over two of the major rivers of Himachal, the Sutlej and the Beas, the Himalayan Odyssey has reached Manali. Caught up with Vir and the rest of the Helmet Stories crew who are riding a day ahead of me to Leh.

Today is a rest day for the Odyssey so after prepping for tomorrow's ride, I'm off fishing!

Special Helmet Stories ride from Leh to Manali

Today we hit 4000 likes on our facebook page so Harsh and I thought as a thank you we will run a four day bare bone ride from Leh to Manali in the first week of July 2013. So here are the details.

We will start early from Leh and ascend the world’s second highest motorable pass Tanglang La. We will take a short detour to our camp at Debring set up near the ‘white’ saltwater lake of Tso Kar where you can sight migratory cranes from Siberia and the Kiyang—the wild ass of Ladakh.

The Second day is another early start as on this day we cross the Moré Plains—a flat stretch of 40 km, At an average height of 4200m. Stop at Pang for a bite to eat and then onward to the double-humped Lachulung La (5060m) and then the Gata Loops. It’s awe inspiring scenery all the way to our camp in the plains of Sarchu.

On the third day we ascend Baralacha La and ride onwards to Jispa and make our night hault overlooking the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers that become the Chenab at Tandi. This is one of our most favorite places in the world.

On the last day we leave Tandi and start to climb the steep Rohtang La leaving the arid landscapes behind and ride into the lush Kullu valley towards Manali where we end the ride with a BBQ and many a cold beer.

The cost for the ride is Rs 20,000 per person. The cost will only include motorcycle rental, accommodation for four nights on twin sharing basis, Breakfast/Dinner and experienced tour leaders (thats us). There are 5 seats open for this ride so better book yours spot soon.

Check out the ride on our facebook events page or drop us an email at info@helmetstories.com if you are interested.

Off we go!

And we are off. Next stop Tandi.

The Helmet Stories Breakfast Club, Manali

And then there were 2

Ouseph and Jamshed will be riding up while we drive. Our bikes are all ready waiting for us in Manali primed and ready to ride.

Follow these tags on twitter for more updates of the ride Pangi HelmetStories

Heading for the Hills

Leaving Chandigarh on our way to catch up with Ouseph who has ridden in from Mumbai on a Multistrada and then we shall be on our way to Manali. 

Follow these tags on twitter for more updates of the ride Pangi HelmetStories

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.

Things we seen, things we don't

It's 2:30 in the am and we are just back in our room after a long hot soak in a natural hot water spring. And that's after a great meal that started with momos and ended with sumptuous grilled trout....

Hotel Marble

Helmet stories' favourite penthouse room in Manali

Manali!

Mellow Yellow Tour

The bikes have arrived in good shape! Tomorrow to Manali early start to beat the heat. Bumblebee is running a bit harsh but we'll see to it at Bilaspur. Fingers crossed! Watch this space...

Rain in manali

On our day of rest we got rain.
Sent from BlackBerry® on Airtel

Bullet Memories #2

We were going through some old boxes of crap and we came across some old negatives. They turned out to be pictures of an old ride to Manali. This one picture really sums it all up we think. The season is around the corner and the mountains are calling.