Hebden Bridge Matters Magazine

Check out this months Hebden Bridge Matters magazine where I appear to be on the front cover!!! Inside is a four page spread featuring some of my photographs and an article...so fame at last!! How ironic though that I rode the most dangerous roads in the world then dropped the bike in Morrisons car park and bust my ribs...hey ho

Kibber to Losar to Rothang to Manali in 1 day

"Breakfast is served at 5am", we were told, and I knew this day was going to be a killer! Two boiled eggs, hot chai and Tibetan bread later we set off on the ride to end all rides. Well, to cut a long story short, I didn't make it! About 3 hours into the ride the air was becoming thinner and I was wheezing again, I lost concentration on the Kaza pass, felt the back wheel go from underneath me and I fell to the right side of the bike (luckily it wasn't the left or I would have been over the edge). I smashed my head on the rocks, no soft mud this time, bruised my ribs but not my pride and decided to call it quits for the day. This time I had nothing to prove, I had rode the Rohtang pass successfully and the Jalori too and exhaustion had well and truly set in past the point of no return.

Riding on the Moon

View of Kibber

Into Thin Air

After an exhausting day we arrived in Losar at 6pm. I was finding it increasingly more difficult to breathe by this point and after feasting on fried momo's and noodles I took to my bed early. However, I woke up at 2am unable to catch my breath, I decided to sit up which helped slightly but after a sleepless night of tossing and wheezing I decided to consult Ayo our medic. He decided I would benefit from extra oxygen and hooked me up to a canister for a quick 10 minute blast after which I was feeling much better. And so off we set from Losar to Kibber.. The ride can only be described as unbelievable, the weather was kind and I was enjoying the twisty turns and stunning views of the Himalayas. Remember though, never to take your eyes off the road or you will end up as part of the road, this is potentially hazardous riding conditions and you need 100 percent concentration 100 percent of the time. I've never rode on the surface of the moon (obviously) but I"d imagine the landscape to be kind of like this (well, in my imagination anyway). Thankfully the ride wasn't as difficult as previous days and we all arrived safetly in Kibber before sunset.

Shot of Losar at sunrise

Manali to Rohtang Pass

MANY RIVERS TO CROSS Another early start was in store for us as we left Manali behind, riding through the early morning mist and drizzle that we had now become accustomed to, the sweet smell of cannabis ever present in the air (it grows wild at the side of the road)

we climed higher and higher until we reached the top of the Rohtang pass. Admittedly, I wasn;t looking forward to today's ride but the weather turned brighter as we descended over the other side of the pass and I managed to successfully ride the rock, mud and boulders without coming off. However, as always in this unpredictable place, the riding was soon to become increasingly more difficult as we climbed another pass (Kaza) and the dreaded river crossings loomed. I did manage quite a few but they were becoming more difficult and deep with hidden rocks and boulders around every turn. I ended up dropping the bike with the bike landing on top of my leg with me wedged underneath. Luckily, someone was looking down on me and Ranju our mechanic rushed to my rescue. Unluckily for me after completing the Rohtang pass and the increasing altitude and a few more soakings in rivers crossings coupled with 8 hours riding I decided I couldn't carry on and decided the spend the last two hours ride in the Jeep.

Jalori Pass

Another ride in the extreme...due to a landslide we were informed that we wouldnt't be able to ride to Tabo and the only option was to retrace our steps and ride back down the original Wangtu-Ranku road (by this point I really was beginning to feel like a contestant in one of those Japanese game shows where the only objective is to stay alive and in the least pain possible!!)..I am sure I will look back on this but today I am wet and tired and having to ride damp from yesterdays'soaking. I managed the river crossings successfully, however, my worst nightmare, the thick slippery mud finally claimed me and I dropped the bike in mud up to my knees. Luckily for me the mud was very soft and I didn't hit any hidden rocks so essentially not a bad day all in all...just very wet and tired

Shangri La

DAy 4 - shangri la After a short ride to the nearby town to get our innerliner permits sorted for the Spiti Valley we fueled up our bikes (mine came to R300, about 3 quid) ready for tommorow's big ride to Tabo and its famous monestry. "Tabo monestry stands in the cold and arid barren desert of Spiti with 9 temples, 23 chortens, the monestry held its 1000 year of foundation in 1996" I had been reading about Tabo and its monestry and its somewhere I was looking forward to visiting. However, it wasn't to be as later on in the day we heard reports of another landslide and the road was completely impassable. The plan for today was to double back the way we came down the Karchem to Wangtu Road (I use the term road very loosely here!!) The only problem with riding is that you cant take photographs plus you are concentrating all your efforts on actually keeping the bike upright in the first place.

Ok, I didn't keep it quite upright, I fell off in some knee deep mud, luckily for me it was soft mud or I would have been in trouble, anyhow no harm done. I have come to the conclusion that this trip is not for the faint hearted and that yesterdays posting being the ride of my life will shortly be replaced by another more exciting and equally crazy road. Watch this space!

The Ride of My Life

Day 3 After a breakfast of paratha and curried vegetables we set off back down the mountain pass taking in all the twisty turns in reverse. I didnt know it yet but today turned out to be one of the most exhilirating and challenging days of my 30 year biking history. We rode through landslides, over boulders and rocks and through thick sand and mud and dust but the most challenging of all were the river crossings. Hesitation is not an option and I soon discovered that the only way was to literally just "go for it", point the bike in the right direcdtion, easy on the throttle, feet up and go. The Enfield is a truly remarkable machine (I know I am constantly singing its praises but it really is!) and it carries you rather than the other way around. On many an occasion I felt the back wheels slip from under me as I hit boulders and rocks on both the river crossings and through the thick mud and gravel road surfaces and it kept true to its "bullit" proof name and carried me thorough in once piece. Upon arrival at our hotel we were greeted with well deserved cups of steaming hot chai and paneer pakora. After dinner I drifted peacefully to sleep in the extremely comfy, spotless bed of the Shangi La Hotel surrounded by views of Mount Kinnear Kailash from my bed, a perfect end to an amazing day. Cant seem to add photos from this pc, will try again in a few days time..over and out...

DAY TWO - RAIN STOPPED PLAY

The Road up to Sarahan in between the torrential rain and fog we had a bright moment. Another day in paradise, high up the mountains, we had a change of plan. Today we should have been on our way to our tented accomodation but due to a landslide the road is now closed and looking likely to remain so, hence we have stayed an extra night here. A really beautiful little village with an ancient temple complex dating back hundreds of years and an important pilgrimage site. Sarahan is small town in Himachal Pradesh of India. It is the site of famous Bhimakali temple, dedicated to the mother goddess Bhimakali, presiding deity of the rulers of the former Bushahr State. The temple is situated about 180 kilometers from Shimla and is one of 51 Shakti Peethas. The town is known as the gateway of Kinnaur. Seven kilometers below Sarahan is the river Satluj. Sarahan is identified with the Sonitpur mentioned in Puranas. Its very typically Indian but with a Nepali/Tibetan feel to it and plenty of momo and chai stops to keep me occupied on the rest day.

UP TO SLOW DOWN

Day 1 on an Enfield My new Mantra for the day...... Slowly geting used to the feel of my Royal Enfield Bullit. I have been reciting the word in my head over and over during the first days ride..."up to slow down, down to speed up" I've only ever rode an Enfield once in India and that was many moons ago and trying to remember that, not only are the gears on the wrong side, they are back to front as well (i.e, one up and 4 down) as opposed to the standard UK/Jap/German configuration, also, the brakes are on the opposite side as well. Confused? Yes, I was. Hence my mantra to self. After an early start from Shimla and a pre-bike briefing on the complexities of the Enfield and how to kick the bike up sucessfully (just about mastered this after about 10 goes)!! we set off on the road of many hazards. There were pot holes, cows, and landslides a plenty, not to mention the kamikaze truck drivers who overtake on blind bends and a heard of horses and that was all in the first hour!! Gradually after a few hours riding it all started to come together and I could begin to relax(sic) and enjoy the hour after of hour of twisty turns. Enfield V BMW The Enfield is a great ride and perfectly suited to these roads, and, I hate to say it, handles far better than my newer, more modern BMW F650 that I ride at home. Cornering is a piece of cake and you are not constantly up and down the gears (are you listening BMW sat at home in Hebden Bridge??). No, I'm not writing a review on the Enfield Vs the BMW for Bike Magazine but, if I was the Enfield wins hands down, no contest!!!

Eric and Vicky, my two biking mates from Todmorden, if you are reading this, do you remember our last ride out over the tops? Well, thats a pretty accurate description of the conditions of yesterdays ride out (only consolation is lots of brew stop for steaming hot chai), exactly like being at home although not quite. As they say, onwards and upwards and its pretty high up here in Sarahan (not sure of the spelling) and hopefully tomorrow I won't need my MANTRA.

The Road to Recovery

Its been a while since I last posted on here and quite a lots been happening. I am now over two years into my recovery from cancer and to help me along my own road to recovery I have a little trip planned for August. I’m off to ride a Royal Enfield Bullit 500cc motorbike over the highest mountain passes in the world up in the Himalayas in the Spiti Valley and what a trip its going to be!! I’ve been preparing for a year or, for anyone who knows me, I have been procrastinating for a year and panicking starting ermmm... NOW!! The very kind people at challenge cancer have offered to fund my trip of a lifetime and on the 2nd of August I set off for Shimla in India. check out their website at: www.challengecancer.org.uk When I received my diagnosis at Christmas 2010, yeh, I know great Christmas present especially since I’ve always been a little “ bah humbug” anyway, I made a choice to sell my Guzzi Breva motorbike and honestly never thought I would indulge my passion of bikes ever again. But fate stepped in, I went to the gym, got fit, worked through the pain barrier and purchased myself a BMW F650 ***. Long story but it was more off the road than on and had major carb/electrical/brakes etc etc problems. But, to cut a long story short I got it back on the road a few weeks ago and took it on its maiden voyaage with two new lovely biker mates Eric and Vicky from Todmorden. We hit the Hills and started off in Pendle and over to the Trough of Bowland and onto a major 10 mile twisty, the like of which I have never seen. It was an amazing confidence inspiring day with the essential many brew stops thanks to Eric’s kettle and Vicky’s boiling stone and my homemade Vegan flapjack and perfect riding conditions, you can’t go wrong. Check out the photo’s below and if you have never been to Pendle and the Forest of Bowland I would thoroughly recommend it as an undiscovered biking gem, great roads and even greater tea and cake shops and Lancashire hospitality, no, I don’t work for the North West tourist Board!!