"If you take a leave right now, remember you dont get any during thedurga puja", " You have to make the full payment of the course fee by15th", "Abee, tuu maat bol, you hang off the bike while taking acorner, thats not the right way"..another thousand thoughts were crossing my mind when I joined a friend for a weekend ride to Chail.Chail is a small sleepy town, excluded by most tourists who flock Shimla in summers like migratory birds, but its historical nontheless.We will keep the historical aspets of the place for another day though.
Riding on the NH1 on a cloudy, overcast day with pleasant breezes blowing seems to be a biker's dream , or is it ? Honestly, I was waiting for the hills and only hills. But found a bunch of freinds in Karnal waiting for a few more, they were on the way to Spiti valley, an hour spent in catching up and chatting up. I was out on the road, heading for the hills after a long break, to be precise after February and would have been happier if some unwanted company didnot stuckup my ass like a leech. Nevertheless, at times even I have to compromise specially when there is nothing much at stake.
Once in NH22 and past Kalka, I decided "three is a crowd" and pulled away from the rest. Sweeping corners, willing mind and machine, recurring drizzles and a great road with hooligan traffic! That last bit spoils the party, and till whatever of Himachal Pradesh I have rode to, I am not impressed. My search of solitude cannot be met by lower Himachal atleast. After Kandhaghat, I reunited with the crew and we started riding together through the narrow road to Chail. We stopped every now and then, purpose was to capture photographs and also a bit of posing .
Hotel Kailash in Chail provided the answer to our accomodation question and the wine shop beneath it provided a warm welcome to a cold night, albeit for a price.
Next morning, a ride to see the World's Highest Cricket Ground at 7500 feet above sea level, Sidh Baba ki Mandir and breakfast in Chail market infused the feeling that I am a tourist after all and not some philosopher. I felt good and when we left the hamlet for Kufri, I decided to ride alone again. The road leading to Kufri passes through some desolate pine forests and was in nice condition for cruising at 50 kmph .
Kufri and Shimla was crowded a la Karol Bagh, but atleast we met a friend who was riding to Spiti with his office colleague, so again some time was spent chatting up with them. The ride back to Kalka provided a lot of posing for the camera oppurtunity and I gave in to the temptation.
Back on the plains, we started riding separately, met Mr.Deepak Sharma of Indian Riders, Bullet club of Haryana before Kurukhsetra. Deepak if you read this, just give me a ring sometime. Reached home, felt good after being back to the hills after such a long time.
One thing I should say, me and Yogesh must have understood after the Ladakh ride that we ride better when we ride a few kms apart. Our friendship have lasted major ideological differences, misunderstandings, faceoffs and whatnot but its always great to ride with you man!
I have a loong weekend coming up, another ride to the hills, who knows ?