You are my DHARKEN

Jaisalmer ride was proposed by Sunil, Navdeep and Malvinder and these guys saw it through. The idea was to hitch a long ride before summers set in as all we can do then, are short day rides. Work thing is always there but when you have to do it, then you have to and everything starts falling in place magically. I joined in the last remaining days before the ride commenced.

There were two set of riders – 5 from Chandigarh and 3 from Jalandhar Ludhiana combined. The organization bit was shared, with each rider taking care of his share of responsibility. Since the plan was 4 days of ride covering 2000 kilometers, the pillion seat was left vacant and so occupied lounge seat back home. Come to think of it now, the less mind you apply to things and allow them to happen, the outcome is easy flowing – sans resistances.

Day 1 was 660 kilometers stretch from Chandigarh to Bikaner. Apart from an apparent NO ROAD stretch of 27 kms just ahead of Suratgarh, everything went fine. We met with Jalandhar guys in Barnala, and introductions were made. The final tally was 3 Fatboys, 2 Iron’s, 1 Sportster and 2 Intruders. Javed, the guy from Ludhiana, had sumptuous sandwiches packed for the long day and on we went. Weather converted from nip to heat as the day progressed and we entered the land of sand dunes. Each made it safe to Vesta Bikaner Palace parking lot and - the Old Monk rained.

@ Sam Sand Dunes

Day 2 was 340 kilometers from Bikaner to Jaisalmer. Midway we discovered what eventually was termed as Biker Playground – the 70 kms stretch between Phaloudi and Pokhran - a fantabulous place to get cracking on throttle and feel the full force of air. Open road, straight without curves, negligible presence of humanity, zero potholes and roads as far as the mirage would allow you to see. Each was checking his bike’s speedometer limitation – 160 kph, 175 kph, 180 kph, 220 kph - the various speeds clocked. And then we had model to model competition for pick up, top speeds and what not. The freak in each was out there, naked. I am sure that safety prayers for each of us were in place as we all made it through safe. The firang crowd at Gorbandh Palace Jaisalmer was taken aback with that number of CC’s making their way in. And then - the Old Monk rained.

Day 3 was ride back to Bikaner, but with an early morning furlough of 80 kms to Sam Sand Dunes. Couldn’t do much, but see the sun rise amongst clouds and camel shit scattered all over the place. Couldn't take bikes up the dunes for their weight. Back to hotel and off to Bikaner via the Biker Playground, and the freak act repeated. That night - the Old Monk dripped.

Day 4 was home run through a new route to avoid the NO ROAD stretch. For the long ride, we started early, it was bit dark and we had first fall. Adesh tripped over a nasty pothole injuring himself and the bike - luckily both were in moving condition. Two hours later, Gurinder's Fatboy had brake failure as the brake fluid reservoir was leaking. Good luck again - they were in moving condition. Pain increasing, Adesh had to drop his bike at Bathinda and hitch the ride back home on car. Jalandhar guys hit the sack back home around 7ish while we did around 8ish.

4 days and 2000 kilometers was a decent feat and my machine behaved. No wonder I dedicate this post to her, inspired from a sticker on rajasthani jeep - "You are my DHARKEN"