This time its not solo we are a group of 3 person. I was actually dreaming that I'll be solo for this expedition but last moment my 2 friends shown interest to join this adventure.
We are all being careful to buy all the required stuff and plan each and every day of our journey keeping buffer time along in case of difficult situations.
There is a list of necessary items in my opinion are necessary and you should carry them with you for road trips in Himalaya:
1. Bikers kit (helmet, jacket, gloves , guards etc) and heavy leather shoes. Also take on rubbers shoes or Rubber Toe Gumboots these are required when you are going to ride off roads in muddy roads or on roads having snow.
2. It will be good if your bike has carriages to hang your luggage on it so that you can ride freely.
3. Winter clothes and mainly gloves and Bike Ride Face Mask usable in winter. You can find them very much helpful when you are at high altitude and in the areas where temperature is less than 2 or lower. In such conditions you can keep single body part in open otherwise you fainting of it.
4. UV protection bike goggles. This is must for whole ride on highways with temperature more than 40 degrees to the Himalaya with temperature 0 degree. This will save your eyes from the wind.
5.
Flight from Pune to Delhi flight.
Ride from Delhi to Ludhiana.
Ride from Ludhiana to Banihal.
Long stretchy journey. We planned for Srinagar but seems it’s underestimated and can’t be reached so we think of to stay in Banihal. But to reach their we got late night and on those curves and short roads we were riding in the night and my other riding partner was so scared but we covered the distance finally.
In our life for the first time we have seen deployed army. We have heard that army is always on duty in Kashmir valley but living with that is not that easy for my mind.
Ride from Banihal to Srinagar towards Kargil.
With yesterday’s experience of late night riding we started early in the morning. We planned the day in such way that we could reach Kargil by 6 pm.
This day India vs Pakistan match was being played. Results of this event can trigger unexpected changes in the valley that’s for sure so we need to leave valley at earliest.
In the Kashmir when militants convoy is passing on the road civilians are not allowed to travel on the road so we stuck in the Srinagar-Kargil highway for around 2 hrs.
With this delay and road blocks in the middle we were manage to reach Sonamarg by 4 pm. From there to reach Kargil is not a flat highway, it’s muddy road with snow spread on the road near zojila pass.
We did a mistake of not wearing rubber shoes on this road so you keep yourself dry.
With wet shoes and cold air we are riding through zojilla pass.
By end of the day we thought of staying in Drass just before Kargil war memorial.
Luckily we found a local home stay in Matayen village. They served us best local food and chicken as well thanks .