DAY 21, Khardung La Trip: Finally Home Sweet Home

DAY 21 : Finally Home Sweet Home

July 16th, 2008

Story

I don’t know what is the big day, today that we will reach home or that day when we made at the top of Khardung La. The joying of reaching some place of importance is sometimes same as the joy of reaching home.

Today too I and Varun started early morning. By 8am we were on the road.

The highway from Udaipur to Surat is in great shape. Not one pothole. So going fast was not as issue, worrying about hitting one.

First 100kms from Udaipur we were covering above 100km/hr. Within one hour I and Varun took a halt at a dabha kind hotel for breakfast.

As we finished it Rohit and Gauresh managed to catch up. We could make out that they too came as fast as we did.

From here Rohit went ahead with Gauresh. I and Varun took a small halt for refueling. Here is something I saw was difficult to believe. Check out the picture of a lizard and a squirrel together enjoying the view.

Now from this point ride to Ahmadabad is going to be non-stop.

After 5 hours of riding we were in Ahmadabad.

Crossing the city was irritating as there was traffic and pedestrian all over the road.

After exiting the city we took a small halt for tea and snacks. Also our legs got the much needed rest and stretching.

Now we were on Ahmadabad – Mumbai stretch. It was already 3pm so we again speeded over 100 to cover more distance quickly.

After an agonizing ride we were at Baroda bypass. We took late lunch at the hotel where we stayed on Day 1.

The food was just delicious as it was on DAY 1.

After food I and Gauresh left little ahead but after some time we got a call from Varun that his tyre got punctured. He said no need to come back, Rohit is there with him. So we will keep riding ahead but slowly.

In less than couple of hours we all were together.

By evening 6pm we were bypassing Surat. This is where we took last halt for fueling. And from this point there is going to be a continues traffic and bad roads till Mumbai. So riding in the night after this point was difficult. One will always have to be careful. In fact this is where everyday accident takes place.

After 5 hours of riding we were at Daman. It was 11pm. Just after entering Maharashtra border we took a halt for tea and biscuits.

The best part of today was that entire day and all the time during today’s ride there was no rainfall. Otherwise we could have not covered so much distance.

We started from that last point after taking a half hour halt.

Now next halt was straight at Manor junction which is close to  Mumbai.

Now the road started getting difficult. Cracks were showing up. Tyres were douching the potholes and a light breeze.

As we reached Manor junction I saw everyones face had a dead expression. Even when I saw myself in the mirror I got pulled back. All four of us I, Varun, Rohit and Gauresh were 99% stressed out, tired and exhausted.

It seem liked we all were running on the reserve power of our body and mind was the only thing keeping all together.

Now from Manor Mumbai is not far but road was full of potholes. Douching all was not even possible.

So we had to slow down.

After couple of hours. I saw the board of Mumbai 70kms that means Mumbai border (Thane) will be at 25kms. That was a relief to see as now all were really getting tired.

In half an hour I saw myself at inside Mumbai and funny I didn’t even realize that. The feeling to reach home was so strong that I even forgot to wait at the final halt.

Had to say good bye to all in my mind.

From the Mumabi north border my home is at a distance of 40kms (Chembur).

So another ride of 40mins for me.

By 2 in the morning I was at the doorstep of my house. No one was awake for obvious so I sneaked in. Not even my dogs heard me coming inside. I didn’t even fresh, just hit the bed and slept like I was in trance.

THIS RIDE WAS OVER BUT I WILL NOT SAY THAT IT WAS THE BIGGEST IN MY LIFE. I INTEND TO MAKE EVEN BIGGER RIDES IN DISTANT FUTURE. I WILL SAY THIS WAS ONE MORE A MEMORABLE AND CHALLENGING RIDE OF MY LIFE. I STILL KEEP MY RECORD OF COMPLETING ONE MORE RIDE (this will be my 50th ride) WITHOUT ANY SINGLE ACCIDENT. KARIZMA BACK HOME SAFE AND SOUND.

Log:

Total kms covered: Over 800

Average Speed: 100km/hr

Average: 39km/litre

Best Road: Udaipur to Surat

Worst Road: Surat to Mumbai

Memorable Events: Entire ride

Incidents: Entire ride.

My Expenses: Rs. 350 petrol, Rs. 100 drinks, Rs. 200 food, Rs. 400 petrol again.