Sunday, March 29, 2009

Day 20 - Kolkata to Siliguri

March28 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

564 KMs Trip Meter - 3946. Will be 4k before i leave the country...

Thought of making a run till siliguri or stay at behrampur or malda if the going gets tough. As i had heard of bad road conditions in this route.

Bid farewell to my friend's relatives and managed to start as late as 7.30am. Good that i was placed near dum dum and getting out of city was not a problem. Found my way to NH34 and i was ready for traffic atleast for few hours. Roads are looking good but for the traffic. i keep going. It tough to find places to take a butt break. Managed to find one after every 100-150 kms. Even after like 200 kms from kolkata feeling like i am still in the city. The two laned road with trucks and buses who do not know how to use breaks. The ever present tricycle carts making the buses and trucks take wild turns. then i got hungry and was looking for a place to eat from like 12 pm. Finally found a nice restaurant by 2! at Malda.

It was to be more of frustrating ride ahead with never ending traffic. So many cycles that i felt that i was invading a cycle rally! As a biker it was very tough riding conditions with so much slow traffic but as a person i do feel guilty that these people are leading a tough life while i am here on a pleasure trip splurging money!. It was to be like this till Dhalkola which i reached by 6 pm. Got ready for some tough night riding but there was a surprise for me. Dhalkola joins NH 31 and its 4 lane highway out of nowhere just when its getting dark. What a relief. Now took it a bit easy and indulged in few sunset photo session. Then i embarrassed my self for the impending attacks by the Kamikaze insects in the twilight zone. I was not disappointed and i could barely see through the visor by the night fall. Glad that i had enough water to clean it.

Just when i was enjoying the smooth ride, with music in the ears and clear visor and HID glowing the road, the four lane ended! and it was tough tough ride in the two laned busy roads. The HID really making opposing think before they do their wild overtaking maneuver. After a few diversions the road got four laned and some nice ride. Just when i was thinking of getting into a cozy room at siliguri. The road got two laned and just when i was 15-20 kms from siliguri it started raining! With my rain gear deep inside my luggage i ran for cover under empty hut. Waited for 10 mins and it was still raining. So thought of getting into the rain gear instead of wasting time. By the time i am done with the process the rain stops! Irritating. Reach siliguri which was dry, in a rain suit! Get into the old Hotel Hill view. And that was it.

Misty moring at Kolkata...



Find a place for first butt break..



Goat market at one of the villages





Boy am i happy to find a place to eat...








can you believe the amount of insects!



One tough day of riding and i will never do this route again! Tomm will be going out of country. Bhutan calling ... :)

8 comments:

Abhi said...

Awesome man! Didn't know you were out on the road! Will follow this blog from now on! Ride safe!

Anonymous said...

guru said...
Great Going Praveen.... Have a safe ride

Mridula said...

Those insects! Have a safe ride. I linked your post from here- http://www.blogbharti.com/mridula/travel/kolkata-tosiliguri-on-a-bike/

Srinidhi said...

The last but one pic....BWHAHAHAHAHAH!

great going pokemo...

--xh-- said...

awsome, mane. never knew u where on the road.. all the best for teh ride.. keep them trip logs and snaps coming...

Capt. Debasish Dey said...

Get Going ! How was overall road
condition between Kolkata to
Dalkhola on NH34 ? is it potholed
all way through ? or nicely surfaced ?

Cheers
Debasish

Praveen said...

Yeah Abhi, was on road for some time and only let it out a few days back :)

Thanks Guru :)

Thanks Mridula :)

Jaja i was really shocked Srinidhi :)

Thanks --xh-- not able to relate to your name.

Thanks Captain. 95% of the road from kolkata to Dalkhola is butter smooth. Most of it newly laid. I dont rmbr potholed roads but for some rough roads.

Unknown said...

boss its awsome, even i am plannin to move out to darjelling with my avenger, onece i get back to the country, how many km u can drive a day without squezzing much out of u. can u get back to me.......