Map created by EveryTrail: GPS Community
276 KMs.... Trip Meter 13149 KMs
After three days of supposed rest with bad health. It was time to hit the road. It was real bad as in i was on soup and juice the previous 2 days as the stomach had gone on strike! Puked water! And hardly any sleep. The weight lifting and the restless offroading had taken its toll. After seeing no improvement from the weakness, cramps and indigestion for three days, i had enough of it all. May be should have gone to a hospital, but then dunno the implications of it ahead. So i decided to hit the road what ever happens.
Woke up the alarm at 4.30. Supposed to be a 485 kms journey if i wanna hit Varanasi the same day. But not so easy. Felt totally weak. Takes a few minutes just to get up. And everything happens in slow motion. Every small chore is a big task now. Finally its like 9 am when i get started. Again had just soup in the morning. Ride out to uncertainty. To road towards Butwal is hilly for like 160 kms and it was just double of 80kms i thought to butwal. The road was full of tarmac but seemed dishaped as if melted in heat or so. Prolly the weak road gave way to the heavy trucks that ply. All these bumps not helping my cramps at all. But i find some energy and something magic happens! I am feeling hungry! This is not the first time riding has curing effect on me! This is what i was looking for. But not much of eating places around. Not till i reach Walling i find a place to eat. Have rice and curry. Solid food after couple of days feels good. I hope it passes. Now i am feeling bettor. I am in ride mode. Wonder if there would be the same improvement if i was in the room for one more day! The curvey ride contineous. And the road quality becomes great and i actually start enjoying the ride now. But all this and late start means its doubtful of reaching varanasi.
Nearing Butwal like 2pm and i again feel hungry. Hurray the food passed. Just before hitting the planes near Butwal there is a road block due to a Landslide. Takes some time to clear it and let the opposite traffic pass through. Then hit the plains nearing Butwal and head straight towards the border town Sunauli. Wide straight roads and it was some time i had cruised. Find one more place to eat more solid food. I even get a cup of curds. Then i head to my country. Was kinda worried cos i was like 5 days over the road tax i had paid. It was hectic near the border. Lot of trucks lined up waiting for their turn to get checked. Exchange the Nepali currency to Indian at the border. This is my fourth border crossing in the trip and this is the first one where India had a Arch saying 'Welcome to India'. I am now between the two gates. Take customary pix. Nobody is bothered to check my papers. I call on to the Nepali cops and deposit the temporary number plate given to me at Pashupatinagar when i entered. They just took it and said its done! No checking of the road tax! Good for me. As i cross over to India with a smile on my face, and India soldier wants to check my stuff. On telling that i am on tour he lets me go. Saved me a lot of time. It was lil more chaotic on the Indian side. And its hot. Its only going to get hotter as i head south. If felt great to be back in India. I find these wide empty roads. The speedo says 110 and even touched 120! Been a long time. Felt great to talk to the wind. Its like 3.30PM and i see a board saying varanasi 304KMs! Looks like not happening. And i am tired too. Well i was tired even before i started. Did not want to push too much so decided on Gorakpur for the day. Its still a 90 kms away.
Cruised my way there and when i the town... err city... it was chaos every where. I was shocked and scared. People, vehicles come from all directions. Have to watch out for people coming on the wrong side. Just got tense as finding a place to stay. After like riding half hour in the city, Asked a petrol bunk guy who suggested me Hotel President which had parking. It was tough to identify that. Cos there are like millions of hoarding on the road that its very difficult to find what you want. And boy was it hot there. Finally make it to the hotel and settle into the room. Everything seems reasonable priced. Though unlike in Nepal cant play big money any more. But still things were reasonable priced. There is nothing much to do but settle some bills and visit ATM to cash up in Indian currency. Then doze off thinking will start early tomm.
Woke up the alarm at 4.30. Supposed to be a 485 kms journey if i wanna hit Varanasi the same day. But not so easy. Felt totally weak. Takes a few minutes just to get up. And everything happens in slow motion. Every small chore is a big task now. Finally its like 9 am when i get started. Again had just soup in the morning. Ride out to uncertainty. To road towards Butwal is hilly for like 160 kms and it was just double of 80kms i thought to butwal. The road was full of tarmac but seemed dishaped as if melted in heat or so. Prolly the weak road gave way to the heavy trucks that ply. All these bumps not helping my cramps at all. But i find some energy and something magic happens! I am feeling hungry! This is not the first time riding has curing effect on me! This is what i was looking for. But not much of eating places around. Not till i reach Walling i find a place to eat. Have rice and curry. Solid food after couple of days feels good. I hope it passes. Now i am feeling bettor. I am in ride mode. Wonder if there would be the same improvement if i was in the room for one more day! The curvey ride contineous. And the road quality becomes great and i actually start enjoying the ride now. But all this and late start means its doubtful of reaching varanasi.
Nearing Butwal like 2pm and i again feel hungry. Hurray the food passed. Just before hitting the planes near Butwal there is a road block due to a Landslide. Takes some time to clear it and let the opposite traffic pass through. Then hit the plains nearing Butwal and head straight towards the border town Sunauli. Wide straight roads and it was some time i had cruised. Find one more place to eat more solid food. I even get a cup of curds. Then i head to my country. Was kinda worried cos i was like 5 days over the road tax i had paid. It was hectic near the border. Lot of trucks lined up waiting for their turn to get checked. Exchange the Nepali currency to Indian at the border. This is my fourth border crossing in the trip and this is the first one where India had a Arch saying 'Welcome to India'. I am now between the two gates. Take customary pix. Nobody is bothered to check my papers. I call on to the Nepali cops and deposit the temporary number plate given to me at Pashupatinagar when i entered. They just took it and said its done! No checking of the road tax! Good for me. As i cross over to India with a smile on my face, and India soldier wants to check my stuff. On telling that i am on tour he lets me go. Saved me a lot of time. It was lil more chaotic on the Indian side. And its hot. Its only going to get hotter as i head south. If felt great to be back in India. I find these wide empty roads. The speedo says 110 and even touched 120! Been a long time. Felt great to talk to the wind. Its like 3.30PM and i see a board saying varanasi 304KMs! Looks like not happening. And i am tired too. Well i was tired even before i started. Did not want to push too much so decided on Gorakpur for the day. Its still a 90 kms away.
Cruised my way there and when i the town... err city... it was chaos every where. I was shocked and scared. People, vehicles come from all directions. Have to watch out for people coming on the wrong side. Just got tense as finding a place to stay. After like riding half hour in the city, Asked a petrol bunk guy who suggested me Hotel President which had parking. It was tough to identify that. Cos there are like millions of hoarding on the road that its very difficult to find what you want. And boy was it hot there. Finally make it to the hotel and settle into the room. Everything seems reasonable priced. Though unlike in Nepal cant play big money any more. But still things were reasonable priced. There is nothing much to do but settle some bills and visit ATM to cash up in Indian currency. Then doze off thinking will start early tomm.
Good to be back on road...
Seeing the last of Nepali mountains...
Some great roads towards Butwal...
Last Nepali valley view...
Land slide nearing Butwal...
Motorcyclist closely follow the Earth mover as its working towards clearing the land slide!!
Straight roads towards Sunauli...
Trucks lined up at the border....
The Nepali border arch...
There's one for India too here!!
Looking back towards Nepali gate...
Long way to go...
Empty roads i see after a long time...
Wow! Indian veg thali :D Wish i was in a position to eat all of it :(
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