5G check

Twenty Sixth of January - a national holiday - this year lay on a Thursday, which is close to a weekend but not close enough to make it a long weekend. Invariably, the weather had not been supportive of a longer ride these previous weeks owing to extensive fog and overcast skies. Having cleared up in last few days, ride had to be planned and executed. Following are write ups, live from location.

27/01/2023 / 0541 hrs / The Picaddily, Lucknow

Yesterday morning as I woke up on schedule for planned ride, clearing the curtain presented with a dreaded view of foggy morning. Immediately my mind made the whole ride concept - suspect, for the previous time I attempted something like this (mileage wise per day) I ended up hitting a dead animal on road in dense fog and barely made it sitting on the bike. That is to say, the damage incurred to bike notwithstanding. Added to that, recent development of Punjab Government banning sale and use of Chinese thread for flying kites during and around days of Basant Panchmi. Last year had the misfortune of having first hand experience of this thread, evidence of which is marked as a permanent feature on my forehead. Having said that, the counter support to argument was too strong to fail - I need this break - I need to play a little with my toy, as all work and no fun makes Simran a dull boy. Don't think just move - be sensible, be safe - MANTRA.

Last ride to Gwalior I barely stopped myself from turning towards the amazingly lucrative on-ramp to Agra Lucknow expressway. It is safe to say now, that the seed of this ride was sown at that moment in time. Next ride - and here I am in Lucknow - penning down thoughts of previous day with help of a double shot coffee and happy sounds of a marriage celebration to accompany. It will be day break in another hour or so, and the sound (which I think is from upstairs) is of men and women singing Hindi songs, with someone accompanying the Dholak. This is fun, as I can hear them laugh / having a good time, yet they are not loud which makes me enjoy it. Wish marriage celebrations in our part of the world were as inclusive / engaging than being so monotonous and predictable.

almost Lucknow

Yeah it's a riding blog - right ! I come back and share that 819 kms of yesterdays ride were pure fun and a good exercise of seeing myself moving away from centre line time and again, and then correcting it. Awareness status is so fickle. Three expressways - KMP, then Yamuna and finally Agra Lucknow (the longest of all, with a stretch of 302 kms including an emergency air strip). Rating wise - KMP is the worst - badly kept and very bumpy to ride. Second would be Agra Lucknow - very smooth yet initial section from Agra a bit patchy. And better among all - Yamuna expressway. With a total toll tax of Rs. 530 in the day; Rs. 205 for Yamuna and Rs. 325 for Agra Lucknow - its the highest toll tax I have paid for a two-wheeler in a day. Don't really mind the toll, so long as I am given access to the expressway - I hope and pray that same sense prevail upon operators of Mumbai - Pune expressway. Inshallah soon - off to Jaipur now.

Toll

28/01/2023 / 0548 hrs / Ramada, Jaipur North

On my way out yesterday morning, found the security guard in mood for a chit chat as I set up the machine and placed my luggage gearing up. The conversation that started with the usual pricing and fuel economy, soon reached a point where he (the Guard) shoots a serving Brigadier of the Indian Army and currently, himself and Brigadier Saab are suspended (for over a year) pending outcome of a trial court. Bhupendra Tewari - by his own version of events shot at BDE CDR twice in the leg on being mistreated and mismanaged by the alleged perpetrator over a period of time. Adieu Bhupendra - I have to leave for Jaipur.

Doing the expressway from other way had an observation - I was enjoying it more today - reason - I was fresh. The previous day, I had already covered 500+ kms and had been on saddle for 7 some hours as I approached the on ramp. Somewhere the ride becomes mundane, especially on an Expressway where your engagement is relatively low and bike is running on cruise control. At that point - you just want to hit the room - the earlier the better. Point being made - tiredness affects enjoying acumen.

Dissected through two towns yesterday - Agra then Jaipur. Other than these two stressed patches, the whole ride was a sail, just as fellow traveller mentioned at one of hydration stops - Bindaas road ! Crossed Fatehpur Sikri after 12 years - reminded me of our business meet at Agra, when self and Vineet took a detour and had ourselves a thoroughly informative tour of the Fort and Buland Darwaza. Vineet's haggling with the guide - member flashes - fun times.

Horrible place, horrible service and horrible attitude @Ramada by Wyndham, Jaipur North. Right from parking woes as I entered, to non-functioning doorbell, to misprinted bar menu, to amateur unwelcoming staff - Pathetic. This hotel has all the makings of a property doomed. Maybe it is for stark comparison to my previous night's stay - but any way you paint it - horrible is horrible. Off to home.

Route

29/01/2023 / 0531 hrs / Home

The trip where bike odo crossed 40k was a good trip - another one in the books. Reconnecting with self works best solo for me, which is what I have been doing lately. Other then that - Greater Noida, Agra, Lucknow, Jaipur - have one thing in common; and that is they all have 5G - while we the Chandigarhiyas, are still a generation behind #4G. Also proves that my phone is really 5G compliant and all the necessary updates are in place, just that the signal is missing!

5G CHECK COMPLETE