Paths of Glory...

Sakthiananth

Sakthiananth

Rider
The paths are nothing but a curious person experiments on him how he could describe himself.

Actually story begun in the normal day when he was doing his desired job with distinct dream to visit Lonely Planet and started sketch his dreams into a real plan, And Perhaps it was very fortune that he got all through in ease. OOPs... Sorry I forgot to tell about the dreams but it’s naive that I normally forget most of the time but not the dream I dream.
It was three year back I actually planned for it with some of my friends.

For many of my friends it’s still a dream land yet to cover.

This’s the outline of our plan and the paths that we had covered. It’s approximately 3270 Kms.
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On July 4th early morning 3:00 we had started our journey we really didn’t know that it’s going to be content with so much of trills but we did assume it going to be fun.

Our journey machines. These’re going to be on my pictures for my next 11Days...So just skip to next picture, yes I’m serious.
Day: 1 – Saturday: 3:00Hrs
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Really I got to tell this, that daba put some smile on all those faces… After about 4 Hrs of journey. The world happiest moment is when you’re served with appetizing edible.
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This’s a quick nap after our lunch and all the way we get started to climb the Himalayan Ranges. (Feeling breeze)
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@20:00Hrs we made it to Manali. The rest of the day went really tired and drowsy.
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As Usual we had a plan to leave Manali early but the other day riding took toll on us so we were only able to leave for Sarchu around 6:00 not bad. The early morning selfies are energy boosters.
Day: 2 – 6:00Hrs
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All posing for long ride:
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This’s the first view of the Rothang Pass from Manali before Gulaba Check post.
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We reached Gulaba Check post around 7:00 Hrs There were few cars and bunch of bikers so we were easily able pass the check post. This’s a rising halo on valley just next to the check post
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Starving to have anything, since that morning we had nothing served for breakfast so all tired when we reached Rothang pass.
9:00 Hrs – Rothang Pass
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Here’s the queue of military vehicles @ Sissu.
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This is the traditional picture @ Tandi for the people who travel for Ladakh. Great road too.
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Our vehicle got filled with necessary goods.
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A picture of Bullet with complete armor for the trip.
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I guess this’s our first Iron Bridge.
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We reached Keylong around 15:45Hrs. This’s a view from the hotel where we had our lunch. I think its Chow Mein such a terrible food but no way to skip this because it was the only option all we had. (Never ever expect tasty food all the way, sometimes you’re blessed most of the time you’re not.)

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Finally around 16:40 Hrs. we reached Sarchu. The view and the hospitality was absolutely fantastic.
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An embracing coffee over the lawn.
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Dinesh and I started fixing our minor issue in our vehicle in the meantime Bob was busy in posing for pictures.
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What else we would be looking for after we comforted with tents and bed, obviously Bonfire – We’re choosing the perfect location and things to burn down.
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So finally everybody set over selves together to fire both inside as well outside.
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Day: 3 - 5:50Hrs
The Rising sun on east with sarcastic smile behind the walls.
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It’s good bye time for the folks who made the day wonderful and peaceful. (3rd & 5th from left)
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This was our first water stream crossing and vehicles are waiting to pass the stream. I forgot to tell you that from the Day 2 to Day 4 we’re isolated from the virtual world – NO Network NO Mobile.
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This’s the view after crossing the stream.
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Here is the land slid and the BRO on the field to clear out the mess.
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Trucks waiting to pass the land slide road.
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Met a fellow in Zing zing bar he cycled all the way from German to Ladakh and we were so excited to see him. His bicycle odometer readings astonished us.
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After several water stream and road blocks we reached the heaven – The first view of Baralanchala
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Here’s the another one.
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There was a heavy downpour – It’s completely amazing and fun riding in freezing temperature.
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Roads were really in very bad shape and sometimes we thought this’s where the real adventure hidden.
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We got struck in rain, suffocated in truck smokes and horrible Gata Loops so we couldn’t picture it a lot and the temperature was started decreasing considerably so we were indeed to find the shelter to save ourselves from the horrible temperature. This’s the one we captured @ the tent.
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Day :4
Fourth day begins with wonderful with favorable weather. Suiting up the things on the vehicle for the ride and last day of reaching Leh city.

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A selfie of me with my brother in a morning, you barely see smile on the faces because we suffered a lot in cause of lack of oxygen and the rages of Himalayan fields dragged us to the High Altitudes Sickness – no one escape from this. Most importantly - People suffer from fragile respiratory please carry your prescribed medicines & oxygen cylinder.
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A distance view of our tents where we spent our night, apparently it saved our souls.
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This’s the first view of the Lama land.
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Here the some random pictures
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Entering in to the Alien Planet…
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It feels like we’re no more in 21st century but in Stone Age.
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This one we’re absolutely on Mars.
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The curves of mountains.

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An Army base. I wonder and proud of our fellow army people how they serve our nation seamlessly in such breath piercing wind and cold.
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A complete stretch you can take your vehicle up to its mark but beware of bumpy amidst that could
Experiment your vehicle suspension and end up vehicle breakdown.
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Part - 2:
http://www.bcmtouring.com/forums/threads/paths-of-glory-part-2.66092/#post-1180261
 
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Sakthiananth

Sakthiananth

Rider
This’s one of my favorite picture.
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Tiny water stream.
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This’s the picture of Siva @ 2nd highest pass.
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Meadows of Himalayas…
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This’s the first sign board to say Welcome to Leh…
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First view of Indus valley civilization – Remember the history?
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Resting in between the trivial break.
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At last we found a hotel for the stay though it was inside the hassle town the hotel remains calm and pleasant.
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Parked our precious…
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So as we…
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Day: 5.
This day complete rest without taking out our bikes. We had a time to look around the places in Leh.
Cutie taking morning sunbath.
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After the tragedy and all of us were able to put some smile on the face at Ladakh. A still from hotel before we set the day off from riding.
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A view of Shanti Stupa from the hotel.
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View of Leh Palace from the Hotel.
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Clicks of Shanti Stupa.
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On the way to Leh palace captured a picture of tribe of Ladakh.
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Pillars of Leh Palace.
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The Aerial view of Leh city from the palace
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Rooms in Leh palace, seems dampened but I admire their architecture capabilities.
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Deity of the Palace.
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A compatible view of Palace.
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Surprised to see people there too crazy about the walls…
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Day 6:
This’s the historical day I would say personally because this’s the day where our destiny calls us to touch down the highest motor able road in the world.

Cheering our unforgettable moments of the life.
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After this amazing target we soar eminently towards Hundar the Desert. Unknown mountain pass with ice capped mountains.
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This’s one of the Army check post on the way to Hunder.
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Some random pictures on the way to Hunder.
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@ Lunch… Tired again and we were able to feel the lack of oxygen and I remembered the 3rd day of the expedition after the Gata loops. We’re blessed to stop here and grab the food (Rice + Dhal). Besides all the odds this food tastes heaven.

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Besides all the odds trying to put smile on the face but it didn’t worked pretty well.
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Gradually the temperature started rising but the river didn’t. It remains the keeps its tradition.
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I was able to recall the ‘Mummy’ movie here how in amidst of sand dunes one can see and feel the greenery surrounded Meadows.
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In banks of Shyok River.
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Slowly recovered from the lack of oxygen and feeling spirited by nature.
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In the middle of desert.
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Can you believe your eyes desert in such a high altitude?
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So finally reached the Hunder and settled down in dormitory and get refreshed to gather in sand dunes for camel ride.
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Here are the camels lined up and waiting for their masters.
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Finally camels set on their courses.
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Continue.. Part 3 - http://www.bcmtouring.com/forums/threads/paths-of-glory-part-3.66094/
 
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Sakthiananth

Sakthiananth

Rider
A final pose @ Sand Dunes
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A canal on the way back to dormitory
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Just an evening patch up/worship work nearby monastery.
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The monastery, I wonder how they climb it to reach. They’re really the crouching tigers.
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The Dormitory @ Hunder.
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Day 7:

As usual, the day starts with wonderful and we found Army camp Café where we filled ourselves with Idli & Dosa this’s the first time we had our south food in the Last seven days of journey it was like we were in wonderland and stunned to see mermaids and fairy dusts.
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After our appetite we headed for the world most beautiful site – Pangong and a big tragedy too we didn’t expected it though.
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Zombies on the Road!!!
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Brunch time.
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Final checking about the road status @ one of the BRO check post.
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Just after a place called Khalsar there was a water stream on the way due the heavy rain the other day. Because of the rain our planned road was flooded and washed away by the floods. So we pushed to take another road towards Durbuk which actually leads to Pangong.
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Here is the another water stream on the isolated road and our field work.
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This’s where our Humvee was saved by BRO’s bulldozer . The guy was so humble and he refused to accept the money for his work and he said it’s his duty and no complementary needed – I really had goosebumps and salute for his work. In a land of corruption there’re still people living their lives away from those.


Our rider Dinesh & Humvee waiting to hit the water.
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Thanks to the two fellows they were there waiting to help us to cross the heavy water stream. The water was so cold that one could stand in it for only about 30 to 60 Secs. If we try to experiment it then we can start feel our bone and our muscles gets numb.
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After all the deadly water stream and bad weather this’s the first view of Pangong Lake.
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The spectacular view of Pangong Lake.
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Finally, searching for woods to make some fire in the icy wind.
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We set up the fire in place and gather around to talk about so many. It was never ever happened moment of my life in the roof of the planet and on the banks of beauty.
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Day 8:

Really this day going to be very long because we had to cover about 500 Kms in a day in such a heavy rain and cold. Today we headed to Kargil from Pangong.

One of the Tent that we had spent the day in the banks of lake.
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Dawn of the sun begun to fall on the lake.
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Here the morning view of the lake from the tent.
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Guys were already cheering to get back home.
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Our final selfie in background of lake.
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Leaving behind the lake. Sad.
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Yaks crossing the roads of Pangong to Chang La pass.
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Distance view of Chang la – This’s snowcapped mountain yet to climb.
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Frozen pond…
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Climbing the Chang La Pass
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@Chang la
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This’s one of my favorite picture.
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Back to the Ladakh – Srinagar highway. As soon as we hit the freeway it was like our vehicles were running over feather, it started speeding. The road was perfect to ride.
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This is the place called “Moon land on the Earth”.
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This’s the last picture in the Land of Lamas.
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From here the sun begun to set off for the day so we were too and we reached our destiny for the day and we stayed in the hotel near Kargil.
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Day: 9

This is the day to reach Srinagar. It was raining when we wake up and it’s was not encouraging to start the day riding in rain.
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There was no sign of this rain going to get away and also we heard news from the army people around that this weather going to be get worse in another 24:00 Hrs, So we had no way to hang in the tiny hotel and wait for the rain to pour heavy, So we decided to move..
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The next stop on the way was commemorative of Kargil war. Every coffin in the graveyard convey many story about the war.
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The Names in the Decals are the great souls they gave away their lives for this great mother land and sleeping silent in the ranges of the Himalayas and protecting us.
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Behind this rapturous mountain where the Kargil was held and taken away hundreds of life’s.
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The next stop at Sonmarg check post. It started raining heavily and all we got is wet ever where. All the accessories we carried and said to be water proof are no more water proof.
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The Mist over Sonmarg.
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In addition to the rain our vehicle front axis was broken when it was climbing the Sonmarg and it made us to spend the night in the foot hill of Sonmarg.
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We found the nearby tent to get away from the drizzling.
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Day 10:

So we were already running out of days and office work started bothering us one by one. That time we realize how the last 9 days went by was utterly pleasure of life and no telephone, mail, whatsup bla bla blalalala…

Guys no more interested in posing for pictures. We were concentrating on reaching back home.

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Continue.. Part - The Last: http://www.bcmtouring.com/forums/threads/paths-of-glory-the-last.66095/
 
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Sakthiananth

Sakthiananth

Rider
By the time we taken this picture we were on the Srinagar – Jammu Highway. This’s the truck queue to pass the Eastern tunnel.
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It was completely flooded with water.
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It was already 2:00 AM when we reached Udhampur so we decided to get rest in hotel named Royal Place.
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Day 11:

This’s the last day of the trip and the other day riding went very hard and before we recovered from the insomnia we started our riding around 7:30 AM in the morning.

This’s the first picture in the day after Jammu and before Pathankot and the Weather was already started cooking us from inside our multi layered jackets.

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We reached Pathankot around 1:15 PM.
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This was our final target and end of the story line.
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I’m so grateful to the BCMTouring and my fellows in the forum who actually made my trip very easy and helpful by providing their valuable feedback and insights about the places around and things to Do and Not to Do.
 
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