Got Leh'd! One bike, two riders and one hell of a journey (Part II)

For long we had been looking forward

to making an adventurous foray.

Timing of vacation and season combined

‘I’ decided this time –  it’ll be Leh.

 

Packing done, flights booked, bike sent

before ‘he’ could make a turn-U

this time I didn’t take any excuse and

we reached at the gates of heaven – Jammu.

  

Bike full throttle, a few photos did we take

Spent some time in Srinagar and beautiful Dal Lake

Enjoyed Sonamarg equally, till someone reminded

“Real biking starts now – Are you Prepared?”

 

With snow on both sides; Potholes, stones, water on front and rear

We were emotionally confused between excitement and fear

We slipped, we fell, we got tanned, dirty, muddy and wet

Finally a shepherd said ‘You’ve crossed Zozila, My dear Friend! ’

  

While we crossed Drass, the roads turned heavenly

Grand Kargil Memorial made us salute Indian bravery

“O Brave soldier! Your sacrifice has no equivalent in history”

At Magnetic Hill, even ‘scientific us’ could not resolve the mystery

  

Blue-green rivers, clouds and mountains of varied stature

Dark black roads surrounded by brilliant colours of nature

We were still stunned, when people greeted us with ‘Julley’

We realized - there we were, at the Lama Land - LEH !

  

T’was just a beginning of myriad experiences to come

Zozila was over but Khardungla was not yet done

Awestruck, Snow-stung, breathless - challenges we faced

But finally at 18380ft, highest motorable road we scaled

   

Prayer flags, Monasteries, Yaks, Dimsum and Thupka

White sand-dunes and double humped camels at Nubra

Mesmerising shades of Pangong changing with sun

All this, BRO signs, and so much more just left us stunned