Deogarh

I am bringing myself around to write - whatever it is that am going to write here today. Point being, that I now feel pointless writing a memoir - for what is worth remembering, I shall remember and many would fade away in sands of time. I click less now, because what I feel as and then can never be captured, can only remind me of the way I felt but never make me feel the same way. But today I am trying to write.

Many things happened in 2020 for all of us, a disruption - good/bad dependent on each's point of view. Travel did not happen and neither did riding - many uncertainties along the route. About a month and a half back (just after Diwali), I took lady Gill riding to Mashobra for an overnighter. All that talk of it would be tough, my back would pain, my bums would get sore, it will be cold - was replaced by - it was fun, it wasn't that hard, I enjoyed it. Soon enough a small trip to Nangal then an overnighter to Palampur was done - just to keep the momentum alive. Buoyed by the response post Palampur ride - I acted on the feedback that if the seat was replaced with a superior one, the possibility for longer tandem rides would begin to exist. Credit here is due to www.jpcycles.com - they deliver fast. Mustang Super Touring Deluxe Seat along with HogWorkz Black Air Wing Luggage Rack arrived within 7 days of ordering. Now that the seat was there and rack for additional luggage bag, it was time to do a test run.

Day after our 3rd marriage anniversary we were off to Ajmer. As expected a lot of fog and a lot of traffic thanks to farmers agitation - to and fro tractor trolleys, all kinds of cars/suv's with flags of Kisan Mazdoor Ekta and so on and so forth. We were careful. Every hour/hour and half we would break for ladies to straighten legs (Malvinder was along with his partner) and continue our journey. We completed our 650km journey in about 11 something hours. Highlight of the ride was stretch between Jaipur and Ajmer at dusk, where we were riding right into the deep orange setting sun - amazing view. Lady Gill's feedback to new seat - a world of difference in riding comfort among the old and new seats, and there and then the money spent was worth it. Pegs - Chilli Chicken - Dinner - Fruit Cream and Good Night.

enroute

Malvinder & I had been to Deogarh Palace in December 2011. Deogarh was 141 kms from our location. We booked our lunch for four as their kitchen was closed (covid aftermath) and left Ajmer by 10.30ish. In two and half hours we reached Deogarh and the palace/hotel looked the same it was 9 years ago. Our partners loved our choice of destination as we settled in open seating, soaking in the sun and palace. Beer (needles to say) works a different charm in the sun. The delicious fixed menu lunch - which I hogged on - made me think to stay/sleep in Deogarh itself and cancel on Ajmer. Under carb induced coma, we somehow managed to reach back Ajmer where I treated myself to a much needed cup of Ginger Tea. Needless to say night routine followed sans the dinner part for majority of us, as we were full, but ridder discipline made us wind up early as next day return was long.

Deogarh squad

In the two days that we had left Chandigarh there was a marked change in weather. We started early and rode in freezing conditions till we crossed Jaipur. It felt good to feel the hands and feet again after all this while. Down with the breakfast and couple of chai's and off we were again. Because of blockade on NH8 by farmers we had to take a detour which entailed a fair bit of off-roading for a cruiser, but we were back on highway soon. We took the Western Peripheral Expressway on the way back than the Panipat-Rohtak-Bawal route while going. Its a treat to cruise on this endless expressway on Harley Davidson touring machine. Mal & I discussed that one day maybe we should just take a hotel near to the expressway - reach their on day one and day two just keep doing rounds of Western/Eastern Expressway on cruise control till the time we just dropped from our bikes and return the next day. Thats a plan - maybe you hear about it someday. By sundown, the riders and the machines returned safely to pavilion - thanks to the over-watcher. 

Grateful that we could squeeze out time and do this before New Years eve. Grateful to be able to enjoy the company of Lady Gill - it was so different than riding alone - I loved it. Thank You Lady Gill. Thankful to Mal for his ever brotherly advice and JPCycles for getting the job done.

Deogarh Lunch was fun. Thank you 2020.