Finally...Bhaskar is in!

Just got off the phone...I kept pushing, "If you aren't 200% sure, don't come because it'll only create complications later." -- he said, "Are you?" and I said, "1000%" -- so that was that. Then we got onto planning stuff. This link is maha useful: http://www.60kph.com/rides/north/sublink1/tripessn.htm for planning -- kudos to those 60kph people but I'll know this better after the ride.

We discussed about AMS, my hurting back from this morning, what do we do if we get stuck between Manali-Leh and aren't able to reach a tent? Do we have to buy a tent? Where do you buy motorcycle gear? And sleeping bags? Why isn't there an REI store in India? About splitting costs, what medicines we'll need, where to give my Bull for 2nd service (perhaps in Delhi or Chandigarh?), flight tickets Del-Mum, Del-Hyd (he's in Hyderabad) and costs, what to do if we get stuck in the mud, where do we stay ("I want to stay in that expensive place", "I'm definitely not" "I'll ask you this again when your butt is gone")...and so it went...so finally we got to, "should we freeze it?", "yeah, freeze it!"

So here's where the plan is as of now (I have to keep saying as of now because it keeps evolving):

Next weekend (Aug 10-13): Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Jaipur-New Delhi.
Then we fly back to our respective businesses.
Aug 31-Sept 8: New Delhi-Chandigarh-Manali-Leh-Khardung La-Kargil-Srinagar-New Delhi

Am still not firmed up on the return to Delhi but these are my thoughts of as of now. Oh better get back to work -- have loads of bills to pay and to complete payroll -- it's the 1st!

Mum-Del, Del-Leh separately?

Bhaskar called some time back. He confirmed with apprehensions (argh) but is also coming up with an idea of breaking the journey into two parts -- do Mumbai-Delhi seperately and fly back to do Delhi-Leh - that way he'd get sufficient time to practice on the Bullet and we'd get sufficient time to give our full to Leh. At one point he said why don't we just go now - very tempting! Am checking for tickets on Yatra. I want to use the Labor Day time also. Let's see what happens but it's a reasonable thought to break the drive up to give more for the Himalayas.

The Decision

I'm sure these ideas and thoughts were brewing somewhere inside but I didn't really think I'd want to do it so quickly after buyin g the Bullet and after the first drive. After my return from Daman, I smsed Bhaskar asking him if he'd be interested. The next day (yesterday) on the drive to work in a cab, I was going thru the Lonely Planet guide on India and firmed up my plans -- where it matters the most -- in my head. Read up all about getting to Khardung La and figured the difficulties. By evening, Bhaskar and I spoke (he said, his mom would faint if she knew! -- no one in my family knows yet ;-p). He said he's 90% confirmed. I'm starting this blog so I can document everything -- from the planning and what happens during and after -- so I can remember it. And as my friend Samir says, if it benefits someone else, hey it's an added bonus for writing it.

The toughest part indeed is going to be Manali-Leh and here's the best article I've found on it: http://www.60kph.com/interact/manali_leh_tips.htm

The basic plan is as follows (as of now): Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Jaipur/Ajmer-New Delhi. Stop over at Brijesh's place - unwind, check the Bullet, give it for servicing if needed (gave it for its first service this morning - check the pic 5555). Next Delhi-Chandigarh-Manali-Leh-Khardung La. Khardung La - the highest motorable place in the world is where I want to get to. Possibly drive back via Srinagar to Delhi and leave the Bullet under Brijesh's care in Delhi and fly back to Mumbai (it'll just be too difficult to be away longer).