Manali, My first motorcycle trip to Hills

[Yogesh Sarkar]

I know it?s too late to be posting this trip log, but I was going through the photos and was amazed with how much details of the trip I remembered. I guess the first trip always leaves a big impression in ones mind, so here are some pics of my ride and the circumstances which lead to it.

Often life gives you a kick in the ass to make you realize/appreciate some thing beautiful in life. In much the same way I got a hard kick in October 2004.

For past few months; my job and then team leader were giving me a hard time, so much so that I began to wonder why I was working in the first place. Spending 6 days a week 15-16 hours a day working and commuting, I was left with no time for any other activity apart from sleeping. All this was taking a heavy toll on my personal and professional life and it was high time I needed a break from all this. I needed some solitary time to reflect on life and lay back and not be bother by the ?routine?.

Ladakh seemed like a place that fit the bill nicely, even though I didn?t have any experience in touring, I decided to visit the holy grail of motorcycle touring.

With high hopes I approached the reincarnation of Saturn (my team lead) for leaves. With over 20days of leaves left in my leave account, I was confident that I would get 12 days off easily. For a moment I almost forgot that I was asking the Saturn himself for a leave to visit heaven!

So Saturn a.k.a. my team lead after a big devilish laugh shot down my request, but I wasn?t ready to let this chance go and asked a couple of days off instead. Reluctantly the Saturn granted me my wish and I had couple of days plus weekly off.

With only three days for the trip, I was in a fix about what place I could visit. Since I couldn?t go to Ladakh, I settled for Manali. Mostly because I had never been there and while searching online the route seemed simple enough!















here is the link to the detailed writeup

www.yogeshsarkar.com/trips/manali04

[Scorpion King]

nice write up and good pics i cant imagine your condition without gloves. how the hell were you able to let go of the handle bars after having held on to them while riding must have been heaven and hell all at once.

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Rohan at that time it was a bit scary, off course since my hands were literally frozen I didn?t feel any pain, in fact after a certain time I couldn?t feel any thing! I know it was stupid of me to ride without gloves, but the experience was well worth it.

In fact I have started to love the extreme cold that I encounter on my trips, one of my favorite being getting my shoes wet during a water crossing and the cold winds almost freezing my feet?s :P.

[abhijithora]

"Today's Expert was a Amaeture in 2004"

[cbz xtreme]

Without a glove in a frozen place.

YS, I have a doubt.?

Are your hands made of any special Armour.?

Your first trip, a special trip indeed. The picture's where really cool, esp. those taken en route Marhi.

[Vikas the Shokeen biker]

Originally Posted by Yogesh Sarkar

Rohan at that time it was a bit scary, off course since my hands were literally frozen I didn?t feel any pain, in fact after a certain time I couldn?t feel any thing! I know it was stupid of me to ride without gloves, but the experience was well worth it.

In fact I have started to love the extreme cold that I encounter on my trips, one of my favorite being getting my shoes wet during a water crossing and the cold winds almost freezing my feet?s :P.

I can relate to your situation at that time Yogesh. I had my first trip to hills in the end of november to Shimla-Kufri-Chail and that was enough to tell me the importance of the riding gloves. No prizes for guessing that I bought a pair as soon as I came back to Delhi.

Keep Riding and keep posting!


Vikas Shokeen

[Vikas the Shokeen biker]

Originally Posted by cbz xtreme

Without a glove in a frozen place.

YS, I have a doubt.?

Are your hands made of any special Armour.?

Your first trip, a special trip indeed. The picture's where really cool, esp. those taken en route Marhi.

First trip is special to everybody for that matter mate. Even I can't forget my first trip. I even remember the details like names of the places where I stayed, how much I paid for everything including food at various places etc. Though I lost the pictures of my first trip unfortunately.

Keep Riding and keep posting!


Vikas Shokeen

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Originally Posted by abhijithora

"Today's Expert was a Amaeture in 2004"

neah, just a little more experienced.

Originally Posted by cbz xtreme

Without a glove in a frozen place.

YS, I have a doubt.?

Are your hands made of any special Armour.?

Your first trip, a special trip indeed. The picture's where really cool, esp. those taken en route Marhi.

Thanks, and no my hands weren't made of armour, that's why I was shivering like anything

Originally Posted by Vikas the shokeen biker

I can relate to your situation at that time Yogesh. I had my first trip to hills in the end of november to Shimla-Kufri-Chail and that was enough to tell me the importance of the riding gloves. No prizes for guessing that I bought a pair as soon as I came back to Delhi.

Keep Riding and keep posting!


Vikas Shokeen

Thanks Vikas, yeah the first one is always special

[abhijithora]

It was your First Honeymoon with your lovely Bike....isnt it Yogesh

[koolharry]

Yogi bhai,

This is brilliant. Its true that the first love stays in heart forever. Very nice writeup and equally brilliant photos.