Saturday, July 4, 2009

Day 118 - July 4 - Panchkula to Pathankot

July04 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: Travel Community

256 Kms Trip Meter 15453 KMS.

Laze out the morning and start by 10 Am to Meet Akshay in Chandighar. Now its all about 90 degree turns and circles. Ask my way on the grid to get myself near the tire shops. Not before calling Askhay quite a few times. Had to even watch out for the strict cops. Well it was hot as well. Thats ok will be freezing in a couple of days i guess. I am still very casual. It still hasn't hit me that i am actually making my way to Leh! Will be attempting the clock wide circuit of Ladakh. Taking altitude gain gradually and Save the bad roads for the end of it. Or so i think. Any way unfortunately m45 front is not available. The current tire looks like its manageable so continue with it. Shrest also joins us to see me off. Bid byes and start as late as 1 pm. Jammu looks impossible today unless it push it to late evening with some night riding. So Pathankot seems to be the feasible option today. Still not really pushing as i kinda have some time you see.

Catch the highway and its getting pretty hot. But have support of plenty of hotels and dhabas on the way in case i need some rest and fluids. The roads were just fantastic. Just that had to ask around a lot to find the next strech of highway after each town. The Laned roads were a beauty. It seems these are private roads and there were toll collection booths on every stretch of highway between towns. But two wheelers have a free passage, much to the envy of the 4 wheelers stuck in the Q, who had just overtaken me. Pretty much uneventful ride today as well and just ride through day. Then i realize its going to be a stretch for the next day with 400 kms to Srinagar. Wished i had a couple of hours so that i could have hit Jammu. But i have decided no night riding unless absolutely necessary. For some reason i started feeling tired and just wanted to get to pathankot so that i could crash on the bed. Nearing pathankot life gets tough. The road construction under process and it dusty dusty and dusty. The road littered with rounded stones. It was hot as well. I pass the right turn to get into the town. Later when i came to know i was in no mood to get into the dusty town. I would rather ride out to jammu i thought. And geared to ride out some 100 kms more and feel some energy. Cos there would be sunlight as late as 7.30 and would only be some time in dark. As i catch the highway i see lot of motels to the left and what the heck. Found one and bargained for a reasonable price at 500 called it quits for the day with a promise that i will start pretty early the next day and make it to Srinagar.


Its all about numbers in here...


Beautiful spacious streets of Chandighar...


Big mansions of rich people...





Have to navigate by these boards at the circles. Like i said its all about numbers...


My bike couldnt stop posing...


Shopping complexes with lot of parking space...


Akshay and Shrest seeing me off from Chandighar...


Cathing the highway exiting from chandighar...


Some barrage on the way...


Express roads...


Its free enough to take pix like this!!


Toll plaza...


Now who ever said i am carrying more on my bike ;)


shooting the sky for a change...


Buffalo shed :p


Yup i am heading there!!


Mc D, no time to stop for a break...


Construction nearing Pathankot


Dusty Pathankot...


Turkey in the backyard of the Motel...


A duck...


Some Geese?


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