My Journey to Leh

[Khagesh]

Dear Khagesh Sir,

Thank you once again for your words of encouragement, they mean a lot to me coming from a wise man like you.

Mad Max is actually a person having the balls to fly a microlight with a Yamdoot 350 engine (oh no, not again).

You are correct sir, new motorcycles do not need the 'classical' running in, unless they are Enfields heh heh heh.

I miss the old two stroke engines, just 3 moving parts, so statistically less prone to breakdowns. Four strokes are more complex, but nothing's more complex than human beings. Guess that's why people like you and I want to go to the mountains. Solo. Always.

Last year I was planning to buy Bajaj CT100, just like that, since it is essentially the same motorcycle as your Platina. Do you know the ex-showroom price? Just Rs. 32000. I love Bajaj auto for this. Too bad they discontinued it in the move to BS6.

So true sir, as Newton baba said, energy got to be transferred from one form to the other. Perhaps that's why all creative (=high energy) people have at least one kink. Van Gough, Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, you name it....

By the way, I don't think you're nuts at all, but I do think your, ahem, nuts are made of titanium...to attempt such a trip at that age, alone, on a unserviced Platina, with a broken helmet and a screwdriver+ tube. Did I miss anything?

Sir, have you heard of Shinji Kazama? The only man who has made it to both poles, Mt Everest, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Mt. Fuji. On a motorcycle. Yes, on a motorcycle. I think he might be your long lost twin. When asked where does he want to ride his motorcycle next, he is known to have replied "to the moon". I think he might be your long lost cousin. Did you ever go to kumbh ka mela as a child?

The Remarkable Resilience Of Shinji Kazama

This 71-year-old seems unstoppable like the physical, concentrated force that compels all of us to ride. If he could, he wants to ride a motorcycle on the moon.

www.motorcyclistonline.com

How did ma'am allow you to leave on the Leh trip? And don't tell me she didn't allow and you just left ha ha.

By the way, sir, do you own any motorcycle now? Why not? And where's the Platina? Can we see a latest picture of you and/or Platina?

About hijacking your Travelogue, I would say that the pearls of wisdom in your replies to my inane posts have added even more charm to your trip.

Bye for now Sir. Take care.

Rohit

Dear Rohit,

Whenever I see someone addressing me sir, some awkwardness ... was I knighted, which I bother least.

Is that you flew microlights, with Yamaha 350? It was called Pulsar, a two seater. I know engine seizure was a common phenomena, especially the rear piston. I know the tension, but that was at the takeoff only and that too till we reach the circuit height, generally 500 ft on our down wind leg. Then its all fine even if seizes also not fatal. As we are in the topic, the last landing, we make dead stick landing; switching off the engine and its a pure pleasure. Many have this wrong notion; if the engine fails its fatal. Its the wing that flies but not the engine. Nevertheless, sufficient altitude must be there to give the wing the air speed above the stall.

Owning a motorcycle? Naaa... Tell you what Rohit, when I was working with this microlights factory, after my training, I asked my boss to sell me one of the old microlights on instalment for I couldn't afford to buy one. Do you know what this wise french guy replied? He was pointing to four to five aircrafts on the factory floor, you can take any one of them and fly, why own? As long as its there at your disposal, why think of owning? So, is the Platina, its still with me. I named it "Himalayan Explorer". We both are happy. Now imagine that water crossing with a bullet with water nearly upto the seat level.. would I be able to push an inch either forward or backward? On platina itself in Mustang non existent roads I had a tough time.

No Rohit, the bike was well serviced by the local mechanic though on my both the trips. Engine oil change, chain sprocket changed, brakes, electricals, carb and airfilter cleaning and so on. On both the trips I had only to change engine oil. Well a service in Delhi on my way back at showroom. Yes, you did miss... God; I could feel the presence of God all the while.

Ah, madam allowing me: I read in many travelogues; getting permission from family itself is half trip done. No, I am blessed, she never refused. Do you know what, as I type this, I become nostalgic... at the start of the trip, I just hugged her and said ok bye, be careful. She was silent. Many days after my return she explained her silence; she thought I would never return! I am blessed that way Rohit.

Do you know Van Gough, Da Vinci, Michaelangelo... all these belong to a certain sect? ... credits to Dan Brown ... So is this Shinji Kazama.. credits my friend Rohit... Just too powerful people all those so much so that they are considered abnormal. But we do share our idiosyncrasies and you are not an exempt Rohit.

No, never to Kumbhmela. Somehow, I have taken to solo, solitude or whatever you call it. When I was trekking to Vasudhara falls, I could feel the presence of Him in every atom I was breathing, seeing and I myself is part of it. Such a nice feeling which I am sure, we miss, if its not a solo trip. No?

Picture of me and my platina? I did not notice this part in your post. Its night nine.. tomorrow I will post it Rohit.

Nice reading your posts and feel even more nicer to replies.

Take care.
Khagesh

 

[Khagesh]

Dear Rohit,

Here are the pictures as promised ... Platina is still there and you can see the sticker on the fuel tank... Himalayan Explorer.

The second picture from the other side ....Ammu can be seen..

As I look at picture now, I myself cant believe these two in the bike made it all the way to Leh and to Mustang.

Bye for now.
Best Regards,
Khagesh

 

[Rohit Allavali]

Dear Khagesh Sir,

I wonder how many Knighted 'Sirs' have had the balls or the gall travel to Leh on a 100cc putterette with only a screwdriver and tube as spares.

So till then, you are 'Sir'.

I haven't flown microlights but I have ridden Yamdoot RD350 when the engine seized at 120 kmph. Since then, even the mere thought of having that engine as my only source of propulsion at xxxx ft above the earth makes me like .

Sir you should see the preparations people make for Leh trip. My God they buy everything available at lifestyle motorcycle stores. And you, well....

Ma'am was silent when you left because she had probably read about Shackelton, lions and rats. I doff my hat to her.

Sir I think all great people have including the ones you have mentioned have some kink in them. Else why would one give up a perfectly sane life to embark on a point of likely no return? As Stan Rogers crooned:

How then am I so different from the first men through this way?
Like them, I left a settled life, I threw it all away
To seek a Northwest Passage at the call of many men
To find there but the road back home again​

Kumbhmela is an allegory, as the story goes there were two twins who got separated when they went to Kumbhmela (because its so crowded over there). And yeah, solo trips is where the secret lies. Just you, your thoughts, the motorcycle, and God.

Why nobody gets lost at the Kumbh Mela anymore | Allahabad News - Times of India

Throughout the two-month duration of the ongoing Ardh Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, city resident Pushkar Upadhyay’s routine does not waver. He reaches the

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Whoa Sir you didn't seem to have aged at all since the Leh trip. Ditoo the Platina. Way to go !!!!

My apologies for the late reply, no I didn't get Covid. Just lazy.

What are you up to now-a-days? No more motorcycle trips? Solo?

 

[Khagesh]

Dear Khagesh Sir,

I wonder how many Knighted 'Sirs' have had the balls or the gall travel to Leh on a 100cc putterette with only a screwdriver and tube as spares.

So till then, you are 'Sir'.

I haven't flown microlights but I have ridden Yamdoot RD350 when the engine seized at 120 kmph. Since then, even the mere thought of having that engine as my only source of propulsion at xxxx ft above the earth makes me like .

Sir you should see the preparations people make for Leh trip. My God they buy everything available at lifestyle motorcycle stores. And you, well....

Ma'am was silent when you left because she had probably read about Shackelton, lions and rats. I doff my hat to her.

Sir I think all great people have including the ones you have mentioned have some kink in them. Else why would one give up a perfectly sane life to embark on a point of likely no return? As Stan Rogers crooned:

How then am I so different from the first men through this way?
Like them, I left a settled life, I threw it all away
To seek a Northwest Passage at the call of many men
To find there but the road back home again​

Kumbhmela is an allegory, as the story goes there were two twins who got separated when they went to Kumbhmela (because its so crowded over there). And yeah, solo trips is where the secret lies. Just you, your thoughts, the motorcycle, and God.

http://[URL][URL]https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/why-nobody-gets-lost-at-the-kumbh-mela-anymore/articleshow/68008958.cms

[/URL][/URL]

Whoa Sir you didn't seem to have aged at all since the Leh trip. Ditoo the Platina. Way to go !!!!

My apologies for the late reply, no I didn't get Covid. Just lazy.

What are you up to now-a-days? No more motorcycle trips? Solo?

Dear Rohit,

Apologies? This interaction is more enjoyable if done on its its natural course; not as a mandatory. No? In fact I am happy that you take your time and just were afflicted with lethargy but not Covid.

I think you are more adventurous than me Rohit.. faced and survived to tell the story of an engine failure at 120 kmph speed on a bike which is really very fatal than they imagine if its in the case of an aircraft. The flying is simply exaggerated for they feel charismatic... but an engine failure would not be that fatal the aircraft will glide down safely provided that it has enough altitude. I never rode any bike at that speed even when the Yezdi 350 was capable of.

Wait but... so the Yamaha 350 seized on the bike? Well... so something basically wrong with the engine itself then. We, at the facotry, were thinking that its the cooling duct which we made was not right. Wish Joel Koechlin knew this, what a waste of time that we spent on innumerable modifications on cooling duct on this. Now tell me something Rohit, which cylinder siezed exactly. The front one if I am not wrong. Its twin cylinder engine.

One of my biggest solo bike rides would be Manasarovar but with this xenophobic Chinese, its just ruled out atleast for the time being. I plan to do Panchkedar Rohit. Spend as much time as possible in the Himalayas, destination hardly matters now. But off lately my wife is somewhat hesitant to solo trips.. Now, convincing her itself is half the trip done. Anyway, lets see. It would be only the next summer if at all.

Frankly I had to google Stan Rogers.... But if you talk about adventures, naturally I am all alert... the Northwest Passage... its Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian who did this first but before that his guru Nansen tried, I think his ship is 'Fram'. This Amundsen was the first one to reach the South Pole too. Sadly its Scott who was glorified just because he was British who always crave for glory anyway. There is a great book comparing both Amundsen and Scott on their epic journey to the Pole.

As the famous Telugu poet Srirangam Srinivasa Rao said 'some are born old'.... age is just a number as long as the prana shakti is there, nothing else hardly matters. I have seen a photograph of a very very old lady in Ladakh region carrying a gas refilled cylinder on her back to her home which is three days away. Do you think these people do this with their physical strength? Naa. Its just a number. And the bike; though its just nuts and bolts it has its own life if one could feel that that is enough. The man and the beast they used to call now in modern days its the man and the machine... there is some inexplicable bondage as you prettywell know.

Bye for now Rohit. Take care.

Khagesh

 

[Khagesh]

Sir you should see the preparations people make for Leh trip.

..... forgot to answer this point... yes, I am aware of all this Rohit; sort of read extensively before the trip. Everyone has their own passion, and everyone is right in their own way. But what beats me is making fuss about it so much so that it would make others doubting their own capabilities, in short making them sort of weak. This is not correct.

I have read the extensive postings on that Magnetic Hill, GPS readings, all those technical calculations, arguments and counter arguments... so much energies spent on a very fundamental things. A bare eye is enough to note the slope, any vehicle in neutral would go down the slope because of gravity. I did not even bother even to get down the bike there.

Khagesh

 

[Rohit Allavali]

Dear Khagesh Sir,

Apologies again. Ha!

I'm loving this interaction. Wish you were my teacher or something.

I survived because I pulled the clutch much before the Japs invented "Just-in-time".

Am so surprised that you do not know about the infamous seizures on the RD 350 engine. Just type "RD 350" and "engine seizure" on the internet and see how it vomits pages after pages of threads.....

Let's go to Panchkedar together. That will take care of ma'am too. Really, let's plan it. What say?

Ahh, Amundsen and Scott, the glory, the travel, don't get me started. (But when the chips are down, you need Shackleton Lol!)

You are right about the preparation part, to each his own. So be it.

Magnetic Hill LoL! The most obvious joke in the world.

Take care sir!

 

[Khagesh]

Dear Khagesh Sir,

Apologies again. Ha!

I'm loving this interaction. Wish you were my teacher or something.

I survived because I pulled the clutch much before the Japs invented "Just-in-time".

Am so surprised that you do not know about the infamous seizures on the RD 350 engine. Just type "RD 350" and "engine seizure" on the internet and see how it vomits pages after pages of threads.....

Let's go to Panchkedar together. That will take care of ma'am too. Really, let's plan it. What say?

Ahh, Amundsen and Scott, the glory, the travel, don't get me started. (But when the chips are down, you need Shackleton Lol!)

You are right about the preparation part, to each his own. So be it.

Magnetic Hill LoL! The most obvious joke in the world.

Take care sir!

Dear Rohit,

Reciprocal apologies for late replies. Its not the time we take to reply, its not the lethargy either, the main culprit is the spirt to reply. No? Its all understood, yet the customary apologies.

Lucky you, the clutch. Its a funny that the intuition attached with the clutch, more so on two wheelers. When in an emergency while braking the vehicle we tend to apply clutch in panic when its just the opposite. No? When we apply clutch the vehicle moves even faster unless its a uphill road and at the same time we tend to increase the throttle. Now, you can imagine engine screeching sound playing havoc on an already panic mind. Series of mistakes. Did you read the book "The Gift of Wings" by Richard Bach? .... series of mistakes in flight...

RD 350 seizure saga was during pre-internet era, nor the Escorts brief us on this for obvious reasons. Then the Rotax engines came into picture which did a perfect job and Yamaha was just a reminiscence.

Your teacher? lol... in fact, if my teachers, all of them, if are alive, I would not hesitate to kill them. They taught me (even you too and everyone too I suppose) everything wrong, never bothered to go out the textual subject. Even till today all the text books, I mean all the text books including those professional books are full of junk. The truth is far far away from what we had been taught at all levels of our education. But, sadly, I am a teacher now and I try my best to save atleast the next generation. Confused? Well, I ask you a question, under which law was Nathuram Godse was tried and hanged on Nov 1949 when our constitution came into force in Jan 1950, a full year to go. Why hurry? Can any Indian answer this question?

I know that, this is not a right platform to discuss all that. Sorry mods.

Panchkedar with you? What more I can ask for Rohit? Lets see. Are you aware of the time that it takes? Lets see. If its to happen it will happen. Lets keep an open mind lest face frustration. No?

I think we both belong to that crazy streak Rohit.

Bye for now. Take care.

Khagesh

 

[Rohit Allavali]

Dear Rohit,

Reciprocal apologies for late replies. Its not the time we take to reply, its not the lethargy either, the main culprit is the spirt to reply. No? Its all understood, yet the customary apologies.

No more apologies Khagesh Sir, Here's my reply. And I am a teetotaller so there's no question of any spirit HA!!

Lucky you, the clutch. Its a funny that the intuition attached with the clutch, more so on two wheelers. When in an emergency while braking the vehicle we tend to apply clutch in panic when its just the opposite. No? When we apply clutch the vehicle moves even faster unless its a uphill road and at the same time we tend to increase the throttle. Now, you can imagine engine screeching sound playing havoc on an already panic mind. Series of mistakes. Did you read the book "The Gift of Wings" by Richard Bach? .... series of mistakes in flight...

Someone who has understood an RD350 always rides with (i) two fingers on the clutch (ii) a clenched butt.
Richard Bach, hmm the Jonathan Seagull chap, right? Haven't read this one sir but will read and ask you technical questions.

RD 350 seizure saga was during pre-internet era, nor the Escorts brief us on this for obvious reasons. Then the Rotax engines came into picture which did a perfect job and Yamaha was just a reminiscence.

As they say, what you see, you forget; what you read, you understand; AND what you do, you remember. Ahem, so let's just say that I rode an RD 350 and lived to tell the tale.

Your teacher? lol... in fact, if my teachers, all of them, if are alive, I would not hesitate to kill them. They taught me (even you too and everyone too I suppose) everything wrong, never bothered to go out the textual subject. Even till today all the text books, I mean all the text books including those professional books are full of junk. The truth is far far away from what we had been taught at all levels of our education. But, sadly, I am a teacher now and I try my best to save at least the next generation. Confused? Well, I ask you a question, under which law was Nathuram Godse was tried and hanged on Nov 1949 when our constitution came into force in Jan 1950, a full year to go. Why hurry? Can any Indian answer this question?

1. That rant is exactly why I wish I had teachers like you.
2. The best thing that one of my 'unofficial' teachers (like you) told me is "If you are not happy here and now, you will never be happy."
3. To hazard a common-sense guess, Godse must have been hanged (hung?) under the Indian Penal Code, what else?
4. What classes/subjects do you teach sir? Just curious.

I know that, this is not a right platform to discuss all that. Sorry mods.

I love my Mods; they know what not to censor . Muaaah!

Panchkedar with you? What more I can ask for Rohit? Lets see. Are you aware of the time that it takes? Lets see. If its to happen it will happen. Lets keep an open mind lest face frustration. No?

Well, I from my place to Kedarnath (highest among 5) must be around 1500km and from your place, maybe another 500 km or so. Platina says "that's all you got?"

I think we both belong to that crazy streak Rohit

Not at all sir. You are on totally a different level.

Bye for now. Take care.

See you around sir, and do not let the spirit(s) take over again.

Regards,
Rohit

 

[Khagesh]

No more apologies Khagesh Sir, Here's my reply. And I am a teetotaller so there's no question of any spirit HA!!
Me, the same, including teetotaller... Spirit... lol... Beatles infamous Hotel California? lol
for

In one of the regular fighter training sortie, the student in the in the front seat and the instructor at the back, canopy closed. For some reason the instructor want to adjust the seat height and by mistakes he presses a wrong know which is meant for anti G suit which instantly inflates. Bit confused at such unwarranted development he takes the blade which is kept under his seat for such emergencies, slits his anti G suit and the content of the suit, a powdery stuff fills the cockpit. While all this confusion at the back seat, our poor student unaware of the developments continues his normal flight but once he sees this powder all over the cockpit mistakes it to be smoke. As per the emergency procedure, when smoke, switch off all the electricals and faithfully the students switches off the electricals. The instructor at the back want to communicate with the student but the intercom wouldnt work for the electricals are cut off. Now the poor instructor totally confused thinks that the aircraft is on fire instantly he ejects off the plane. Student, still flying, not aware the instructor is missing at the back seat, lands the plane safely, but to his astonishment, his instructor is missing.

That series of mistake it struck my mind. But you must read it from Bach.


As they say, what you see, you forget; what you read, you understand; AND what you do, you remember. Ahem, so let's just say that I rode an RD 350 and lived to tell the tale.

... God bless you.....



1. That rant is exactly why I wish I had teachers like you. we all learn from each other, some call it 'teacher'
2. The best thing that one of my 'unofficial' teachers (like you) told me is "If you are not happy here and now, you will never be happy."
very very true. its unwise to think that the heaven is somewhere and spoil the present.
3. To hazard a common-sense guess, Godsemust have been hanged (hung?) under the Indian Penal Code, what else?
Indian Penal Code came into force wef 26 Nov 1949 and Godse was hung on 15th Nov 1949 and he was tried on 27th May 1948 but, under which law?

4. What classes/subjects do you teach sir? Just curious.

To my bad luck the distorted social sciences and the borrowed language English which I must confess I am weak at. Both for 10th standard.


I love my Mods; they know what not to censor . Muaaah!

I dont know if the ever present Satinderji is reading this.

Well, I from my place to Kedarnath (highest among 5) must be around 1500km and from your place, maybe another 500 km or so. Platina says "that's all you got?"

Naaa, not that. Its the trek time for all the five Kedar plus overall trip duration. Not the distance.

Not at all sir. You are on totally a different level.

idiosyncrasies......

See you around sir, and do not let the spirit(s) take over again.
ok
Regards,
Rohit

I just logged in, good that I did, to edit the text which I felt necessary and ended up in replying.

Take Care Rohit,
Khagesh

 

[Rohit Allavali]

I just logged in, good that I did, to edit the text which I felt necessary and ended up in replying.

Take Care Rohit,
Khagesh

Dear Khagesh Sir,

Glad that you logged in. As they sang,You can check-out any time you like, but you can never leave . Heh heh.

Am reading Bach, will get back to you.

If your English is poor, then I am Hrithik Roshan.

I wonder if Satinderpedia is active nowadays. After the unfortunate demise of Yogesh bhai, the Forum seems to have taken a hit. Sad.

Trek time for Panchkedar I got no clue but will try and find out, I know someone who has done it successfully.

Any updates on Platina? Since the time I have been bothering you with my inane posts, I have developed an itch to buy a 100cc Bajaj motorcycle. Since your Platina engine is now no longer in production, I think I will go ahead and buy its siamese twin, the CT110X, and go to one more Leh trip on it.