Leh 2010: A Trip of a Lifetime! (Overview)

In the motorbiking community, a motorcycle trip from Manali to Leh is considered the Ultimate Ride, or to borrow a phrase from the Late Saddam Hussein, the Mother of All Rides. Some die hard riders do this annually - like a Pilgrimage. 


So it was, that I, had to do it as well. The bike had been bought last year (2009). Initially as an alternative mode of transport since my car was being used by my better 0.50 for commuting to work. I needed some transport since this was Delhi and the distances ...(blah blah). Ironically I had settled for an e-scooter, till my wife suggested I go for Royal Enfield. She had loved my previous steed, a 1979 Standard Bullet (when it worked) and knew how much I loved big bikes. Hardly had she suggested it, I had done the spadework and ordered the bike! Now that the bike was here, it took on a life of it's own - the creation of this blog was testimony to what a machine can do to a man. 


Thus it was that two other 'friends' and I decided to take the bait and head out for Leh. Nine days and 2484 kms we returned with some awesome experiences and terribly sore bums. Incidentally, I met one of the friends for the first time on the day of the ride and the other one I had met once before the ride. So how did we tie up - on the net of course.


This post will be followed by a series of posts covering the actual trip and will be based on the photographs taken during the trip. 


Stay tuned.