Journey to the Peaks: Riding the Ultraviolette F77 Day 10 Episode 13

Ultraviolette F77 Ride

Journey to the Peaks

A Journey to Remember 💓

Panasonic Lumix S5

Instagram updates : https://instagram.com/baala_manikandan?igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg==

https://airalo.tp.st/ZiMPg9gi

Episode -13

DAY -10

On Day 10, I woke up later than usual, around 9 am, to a bright and promising morning. Although the sun hadn't quite shown up yet, the rain had ceased, and the sky was clearing. The sight of the distant snow-capped mountains energized me. I checked on my fully charged bike, packed the charger, and prepared to leave.

The owner, busy preparing food for some guests at the restaurant, took some time to chat with me. He also introduced me to his family shop, where I purchased some handmade winter socks crafted by his family members. Unfortunately, I couldn't acquire other handcrafted winter clothing they offered. Afterward, I returned to my room for a refreshing bath, checked out, and had tea and omelet for a late brunch.

Around 12 pm, I bid farewell to the wonderful folks at Hari Om Dhaba and hit the road. I called Kapoor brother, but he was away in Manali town. He assured me he'd meet me on the way once I crossed the town.

It was approximately 12:45 pm when I passed through Manali town, but unfortunately, I couldn't meet up with Kapoor brother. I bid my regards through a call and continued on my way. I stopped intermittently to capture some stunning pictures of the bike against the backdrop of nature. My next highly anticipated destination was the Atal Tunnel.

It was quite eventful on the way as I ascended the mountains. Rain started to drizzle, prompting me to stop and hastily put on my rain gear. After a few kilometers, the chain on my bike began making an unsettling noise. I realized I hadn't lubricated it before leaving in the morning. Amid the chilly, rainy conditions and with limited space, I stopped on the sloping mountain road and quickly cleaned and lubricated the chain. However, my peace was disrupted when two individuals approached, making me slightly uneasy. Hastily, I packed up and left the spot.

Continuing on, I slowly glided towards the tunnel area, reaching the famous Atal Tunnel South Portal around 1:30 pm. The feeling of achievement and happiness was overwhelming, especially since I was the first person to arrive there with an F77. I took some pictures and relaxed briefly before entering the tunnel. Prior to entering, the police stopped me and gave instructions on maintaining speed, distance, and not halting anywhere inside the tunnel. With gratitude, I embarked on my memorable ride through the tunnel, which turned out to be even colder than I had anticipated

Crossing the Atal Tunnel and reaching the other end, the North Portal, was a significant milestone in my journey. The area was heavily guarded by police and army officials, and they didn't allow vehicles to stop in front of the tunnel. However, I managed to find a spot and captured some pictures. With the help of a fellow tourist, I took a photograph of myself with the bike at the Atal Tunnel North Portal. It was an incredibly proud moment, knowing that India's first Ultraviolette F77 had successfully crossed the Atal Tunnel and was en route to Leh.

While taking pictures, a police officer approached me hastily, instructing me to move the vehicle. I requested a moment to take a few pictures before leaving promptly. After explaining my bike and journey, the officer seemed intrigued and took some photos of the bike. Once done, I continued my journey, crossing the iron bridge and joining the Leh-Manali highway, en route to my next destination, Jispa, where I planned to charge the bike.

After crossing the bridge and joining the Leh-Manali highway, I encountered a checkpoint where police were stopping vehicles, presumably for tax payment. However, upon seeing the green plate of my electric bike, one of the officers asked if it was an electric vehicle and allowed me to proceed without any tax.

Meeting Churchy (@01lesscar), who was cycling around the Himalayas, was a delightful encounter. He shared his journey of traveling worldwide on a bicycle, which was incredibly inspiring. He mentioned that the Baralacha Pass was closed, and he was turned back, heading back to Manali. Surprised by this information, I wished him well and informed him that I would try my luck at the pass when I get there. He mentioned having a flight to catch to meet his girlfriend for their planned cycling adventure in another country. It was amazing to meet such adventurous couples. We took some pictures, bid farewell, and I continued towards my destination.

Check his IG : https://www.instagram.com/01lesscar/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Around 3:35 pm, I arrived at Keylong and decided to take a break. I found a shop where I had tea and Maggie for a late lunch. The locals were incredibly kind, and I engaged in conversation with them, discussing various topics from politics to other matters. The chai and hot Maggie were a great comfort in that cold climate. One elderly gentleman at the shop was proficient in English and showed interest in my bike, like most people do, asking about its range and charging time. After enjoying some pleasant moments and conversations, I expressed my gratitude and continued my journey towards Jispa.

It was an exhilarating experience riding through those mountainous terrains on an electric bike for the very first time. The sensation was nostalgic, and I continued riding while relishing the beauty of nature. By 4:40 pm, I arrived at Jispa Padma Lodge for my charging break, a location guided by my friend Udheep Guptha from Lioncharge. Upon reaching the spot, I parked my bike near the charging point. Luckily, there was already a 16-amp power plug installed there. It's worth noting that this was the last domestic charging point available in Jispa.

After arriving, I met Lopzang, the owner of Padma Lodge, who graciously allowed me to charge my bike. I set up the charger and connected it to the plug point, which worked perfectly. The weather was fantastic, with the sun setting in the background. During our conversation, Lopzang, juggling multiple tasks, helped me by checking the route to my intended overnight stop for rest and charging. Unfortunately, he informed me that the check post was closed due to heavy snowfall and avalanche, preventing vehicles from passing through

He kindly offered me coffee and suggested I stay there to assess the conditions and leave the next day if the border opened. Concerned about my budget, I mentioned this to him, but he reassured me not to worry and offered a very affordable and wonderful accommodation

I checked into the room on the second floor, settled my belongings, and took some time to freshen up and relax. The room boasted plush wooden interiors, a cozy bed, and provided warm woollens. Moreover, the view from the windows was delightful. As I had noticed some chain slack, I came down equipped with the necessary tools: Motul Chain Lube and Motul Chain Clean. I began by cleaning the chain thoroughly and proceeded to adjust it using the available resources. During this process, other guests at the lodge took an interest in my bike, offering their well-wishes and inquiring about my journey.

Once I completed the basic servicing tasks, I took a stroll around the property. It was a picturesque place offering various types of accommodations, and I was pleasantly surprised to find adorable Husky dogs with their pups around. With snow-capped hills and a river flanking the area, it was a serene setting.

While chatting with Lopzang, he shared an interesting anecdote about a renowned guest who stayed here during their bike trip—it was none other than South Indian actor Ajithkumar and actress Maju Warrier. To my absolute delight, Lopzang mentioned that the room I was staying in was the very room Ajithkumar had occupied during his visit. This unexpected revelation filled me with immense happiness and joy, as Ajithkumar is a significant role model for me in the realm of bike touring

Kunzang the Nephew of Lopzang and also in-charge of Padma lodge. a kind hearted ,soft-spoken, helpful guy who took care of me during my stay and shared the picture of Actor Ajith Kumar during his ride to this property.

During my spare time, I seized the opportunity to use my LUMIX S5 camera to capture some breathtaking pictures and a time-lapse of the sunset with clouds drifting over the mountains. The restaurant area, in particular, was a fantastic spot to unwind. They were preparing a buffet dinner for the evening and kindly invited me to join them at 8 pm.

As dusk fell late around 7:25 pm, the weather shifted. It started with a light drizzle that quickly intensified into a heavy downpour. Hastening back to my room, I decided to engage my Instagram followers by going live to share the experience

By 7:45, while I was in my room, I overheard someone speaking my local language (Tamil) on the phone. Curious, I stepped outside to check, but couldn't locate anyone. Eventually, I traced the voice to the adjacent room and found out that they were also from Chennai. They had rented a bike from Shimla and were en route to Leh. However, due to a closed check post, they were compelled to stay the night to wait for the route to clear. It was such a pleasant surprise to meet them, and we engaged in a lengthy conversation before heading for dinner together. Dinesh and his friend were great company for those few hours. They were riding a newly hired Royal Enfield Hunter.

Amidst the ongoing rain, we had our buffet dinner, spending time in the restaurant until around 9 pm before making way back to our rooms. Meanwhile, my bike had fully charged, so I disconnected the charger, securely parked the bike, and retired to my room, hoping for a better morning and praying for the road to be clear. That's the end of day 10.

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Read more about my journey...... >

                                      DAY 10 :  Distance Covered : 102 Km 

Read More Episode 14

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check out the Stay : https://maps.app.goo.gl/8YEQfLEVNuYFgcVC7

For F77 Bookings: https://www.ultraviolette.com

Sponsors
Panasonic LUMIX

Carbonado

Motul Lubricants

Bluarmour
Powersports International 

Lioncharge

9T9 Mart