Raid de Himalaya 2010

VVrrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooooommm

Fell in love with Spiti in June and we were looking for an opportunity to go once again. Raid de Himalaya proved to be our messiah and come October he headed down the same roads again. Did I say same?? Heck no, the landscape had changed with the seasons and it was a new place all together.

Fried Mirch at Chatru 

Raid de Himalays always has a special place in the heart of the Himalayan lover, adventurist, motocrazy guy. 

We got the hint of an opportunity and with due persual and thanks to Abhey we were in. Countless days of dreaming and talking about the raid, the desire to head in became stronger. 

Kunzum

Officials convoy at Kunzum 

Finally the day came, all our friends left early in the morning and we would start later in the evening after a day's work. 

Loops

After the seconds ticked by, evening came, gaadi was readied earlier, samaan packed, final byes done and vrrrroooooooooom. With the setting sun behind us, we were gunning for Shimla.

 The start point for the raid. After we crossed Chandigarh, the raid presence was palpable with sports exhaust note trumpeting in the air of every other gypsy that went by. Subaru with its deep throat was the most amazing car to cross us, we raced with them and yelped with joy at our mini rallies.

 Bleary eyed we checked into Holiday Home at Shimla, the parking was full of gypsies and rally guys. Had a short sleep and early morning jog, caught with old friends and introduced to new ones. The day was spent in getting stickers pasted, radio fitted and completing the formalities. Interesting aspects were walnut coffee which we shared with Priety Zinta etc and the photo studio. 

At Dhalli, there is a famous cofee dhaba with many bollywood star autographs run by 3 very hospitable surdars. We had some very unique cofee there and followed by the best passport photograph ever taken of my face. 

Next day we were off for day 1, flaggedd off from Peterhoff and returned to Shimla. The pictures of the day are lost as are the pics of the next day, so only the story shall persist. The route on day 1 was through all rubble roads in the hills, followed by some pleasant wooded areas. Ended in Shimla, crashed in at Peterhoff again, next day we were raring to go higher up. 

Most amazing bikers

Crossed one of the most beautiful hillsides I have ever seen, close to Jalori and through backdoor entered into Manali. Raced all the way from Jalori to Manali. In the mean time the radio sets were becoming great fun, with radio and music on demand interspersed with "MINNIE" time and again. 

Parc ferme at Tabo

We were having a great time in Holiday Inn at Manali as we had a late start, but rudely that was cut short by a radio message saying that a KTM biker was down near Marhi. 

Off flying we were, but all was well. Waited at the spot till all the cars passed by and then resumed our duty of being the sweeper. Crossed Rohtang, Gramphoo, Chatru, all were so different from when we last saw them, the snow was almost gone, the dust was in full tempest and sun was hot. 

At Chatru we had some ??RED BULL and food. By now the officials formed a convoy of our own and trailed the rally.

Close to Baralach la

 The conversation was spicy and fun. Abhey was a missing thorn and we had a great time at his expense, though. (Sorry Abhey- couldnt resist this part..:)  ) 

Any how we were moving slow and suddenly the darkness crept and swallowed us up. It was pitch dark, no one knew our night halt and after some frantic radio comm we were headed to Tabo. Reached our night dwelling very late, all dusty, drowsy and dreading the early morning start. We collectively decided we will have dinner and crash in 10 minutes. But who knew destiny??

Soon as we entered there was an issue about our stay that promptly was resolved by Rishi Kapoor wanting to go back in a second to Delhi....:)  (All personal jokes are to be taken with a smile, deliberately included as we have had a lot of laughs thanks to them) 

Ate some "kutta meat momo". Tarun, Abhey, Kunal, Nutan, Anirban, Raghav, Rishi, Deepak, Manisha Bobby were all at their entertaining best. 

Next morning came sooner than expected. Tabo to Tabo the circuit. Had a leisure drive and some forgetful food. The day to follow was the killer - Kaza to Pang - to Gata loops and back to Manali. 

Started early and at full pep, but being the last car role, our pep was determined by the most looser car pep.

The road and the road book 

 Pang was fun with fauji arrangements and Zing Zing bar, Whisky Nallah, Twing Twing bridge only added to the fun. Did a bit of offroading, spotted Yaks in plenty. Gata loops were fun when we not on the loops or the road. 

Followed by the long trudge back, by the time we were at Kelyong the sun had set and made a dash for Manali.

Midnight at Rohtang

Crossing Rohtang when its closed for the season at midnight is a fun few would have had. And in Manali by breakfast we were. Too tired to rest...no issues lets all get together and make merry, thats exactly what the doc ordered and we got at Casa Bela Vista, till it was time for the PD. And the merry continued after that as well. 

The drive back to Delhi could have been straight but we decided to relax and have a vacation, crossed the valley again and were back in Mashobra, spent a couple days there and reached back Delhi, with great set of friends made and huge list of repairs to be undertaken for the scorpio.