Reaching the Peaks: Riding the Ultraviolette F77 Day 12 Episode 15

Ultraviolette F77 Ride

Journey to the Peaks

A Journey to Remember 💓

Panasonic Lumix S5

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Episode -15

DAY -12

Sleeping in Sarchu at -10 degrees Celsius for the first time, especially in a tent, was a unique and challenging experience. Despite being bundled up in multiple woolen beddings and bedspreads, the freezing cold was relentless. Even a simple task like going to the restroom became a formidable challenge. The howling wind added to the discomfort, making it difficult to get a good night's sleep.

As the sun rose around 8 am, I welcomed the warmth and headed to the kitchen tent for breakfast and a hot chai. The warmth of the kitchen tent was a much-needed respite from the freezing temperatures outside. I was immensely grateful to Vijay and his team, who endure the harsh conditions to provide food and shelter for travelers like me. Their dedication and hospitality in such an extreme environment were truly commendable.

With the Camp Owner Bijay who helped me a lot 

Bidding goodbye to Vijay and his team, I left the camp with a heart full of gratitude, heading towards my next destination: Pang. Though the sun was up, the freezing cold still lingered, and I knew another challenge was waiting for me ahead.

As I began my ride, the rugged terrain and towering mountains reminded me that every mile brought a new test. Yet, despite the hardships, the thrill of pushing forward on this journey and the beauty of the surroundings kept me motivated. Pang was waiting, and I was ready for whatever it had in store, knowing that this adventure was far from over.

With every turn, the landscape became more surreal, and I braced myself for the next challenge that lay ahead.

After crossing the check post and the temporary bridge where I fell the previous day, I focused all my attention on crawling over that spot again, this time safely. That moment will be etched in my memory forever. With relief, I continued on, as the road ahead was smooth for a few kilometers without any worries.

The next landmark was the Gata Loops, though I didn't know its name until I reached the area beyond. Later, I learned it's also referred to as the "Ghost Road"—a name that gave me chills after the events that followed. The climb was scenic and enjoyable, offering breathtaking views, and I was in awe of a few cyclists I saw braving those treacherous terrains. A big salute to them!

It was peaceful with no large vehicles around, and I cruised along, savoring the experience. But suddenly, I was met with a traffic jam ahead. Several lorries were stopped, along with two tourist buses carrying Indian army personnel. The bus, struggling to climb the steep road, had caused the soldiers to get down and walk up the Gata Loops. I managed to squeeze past them, noticing some of the soldiers were taking a shortcut to climb the mountain instead of following the winding hairpin bends of the road.

As I crossed one of the hairpins, I overheard someone say, "Tayar puncture ho gaya" ("The tire is punctured"). I initially thought they were talking about the bus, and I continued moving. But after a few kilometers, I felt something off—my bike was wobbling. Losing control slightly, I pulled over to check.

To my horror, my rear tire was punctured. A wave of shock hit me, as I stood there, in the middle of one of the most challenging parts of my journey, at a completely wrong and coldest place. It was my first-ever puncture on the Ultraviolette F77, and I couldn't believe it had to happen here, of all places, miles from any help.

I didn’t know how to react.

I parked the bike carefully on the edge of the cliff road and immediately untied all the bags, as the puncture kit was buried deep inside. The biting cold made it incredibly difficult to remove my riding gloves and woolen layers, but somehow, I managed. With all the bags laid down on the side of the road, I finally pulled out the puncture kit and began inspecting the tire to find the puncture spot.

The challenge of working with the side stand on the Ultraviolette F77 is something only F77 owners would understand—it’s a tricky maneuver on uneven terrain like this. After struggling for what felt like an eternity, I hastily pasted the first patch, but my bad luck wasn’t done with me yet. I’d misjudged the location of the puncture, and it was the wrong spot entirely.

Frustrated but determined, I checked again and finally found the actual puncture. This time, I carefully applied the patch to the correct spot. Fortunately, I had carried my Portronics Portable Tyre Inflator with me, a lifesaver in such situations. I hooked it up to the tire and started inflating. Just as the PSI hit 31, the inflator turned off due to a dead battery.

Despite the freezing cold and my numb fingers, I felt a sense of relief knowing that the tire was inflated enough to continue the journey. The entire ordeal had been a tough one, but I knew I had overcome yet another obstacle in this epic adventure.

After patching up the tire and repacking all my gear, I set off again, grateful that I could still continue the journey. The roads were smooth for a while, and by around 10:40 am, I reached Nakeela Pass, standing tall at an altitude of 15,547 ft.

The pass was dry compared to the snow-covered stretches I had previously encountered, though I could still see snow-capped mountains in the distance. I decided to take a break and soak in the scenery. There was no one around—it felt a bit eerie to be all alone in such a vast, remote area, surrounded only by the towering mountains and the chilly wind.

I took some pictures, capturing the surreal emptiness and the beauty of the rugged landscape. After a brief photo session and enjoying the calm, I hopped back on my F77 and continued riding, leaving Nakeela Pass behind, ready to face the next stretch of this incredible journey.

By 11:30 am, I had reached Lachungla Pass, towering at an impressive altitude of 16,616 ft. The landscape had shifted yet again. The roads were no longer smooth, now covered in gravel and treacherous patches created by the melting snow. Snowbanks lined the roads, and small streams of water trickled down from them, making the pathways even more slippery and unpredictable.

Riding through this section required extra caution, especially with the constant flow of heavy vehicles kicking up huge clouds of dust and debris. I kept my focus sharp, maneuvering carefully to avoid losing grip on the unstable terrain. Despite the challenging conditions, the breathtaking views were still worth capturing. I stopped briefly for a quick photo session, snapping some shots of the snow-covered mountains and the winding roads.

With the dust clouds still swirling around and no signs of the road improving, I geared up and set off once more, eager to keep moving forward through the rough terrain of Lachungla Pass.

As I was cautiously making my way towards Pang, the road conditions remained tough with patches of snow on my left and a deep valley on my right. I noticed that my saddle bags felt loose, and I decided to stop and check them. Carefully, I tried to park on the left side of the road, where snow covered the ground. I deployed the side stand and began getting off the bike.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t noticed a stone under the stand, and as soon as I let go, the side stand bounced back. In an instant, the bike tipped over, and I fell along with it — both of us crashing down into the snow. It was a terrifying moment. Fortunately, the soft snow cushioned my fall, but the impact caused my left mirror to break into pieces.

I lay there for a few seconds, stunned, with the snow beneath me and my bike toppled to the side. I could hear the sound of passing lorries, but I was too focused on the task at hand to worry about anything else. I got up, still shaken, and attempted to lift the bike. I loosened the saddle bags and tried again, but the weight of the bike combined with the slippery, snowy terrain made it impossible for me to do it alone.

Just as I started to feel overwhelmed, a lorry that had been behind me pulled over. The co-driver hopped out and ran over to help me, but even with the two of us, we struggled to lift the heavy bike. Thankfully, the driver soon joined us, and with all three of us working together, we managed to lift the bike and safely park it on solid ground.

I was so grateful for their help — without them, I would have been stuck there for who knows how long. The moment had been a mix of relief and frustration, but I was glad to have avoided any serious injuries or major damage to the bike, other than the broken mirror.

After thanking them, I took a deep breath, checked the bike, and ensured everything was in place before continuing on my journey toward Pang, feeling more cautious and alert than ever.

After the incident with the fall and all the effort to remount the bags and set everything up again, I finally got back on the road. The conditions hadn't improved much; the road was still rough, and in some places, it seemed to get worse. I even crossed a dry river where the bridge was still under construction, making the ride even more challenging.

It felt like riding through a natural tunnel, as both sides of the road were flanked by enormous mountains, towering above and making me feel small in the vast, rugged landscape. Despite the challenges, the scenery was breathtaking, almost like a scene out of a movie.

By 1:40 pm, I finally reached Pang. My next goal was to find the Lion Charge Station, where I was hoping to recharge the bike. However, I was hit with another setback — the charging station was no longer there. The people at the nearby Dhaba told me it had been removed and hadn't been used for quite some time.

Feeling a bit defeated, I decided to take a break. I stopped inside the Dhaba, where I could warm up a little and grabbed something to eat. It was a much-needed pause after the grueling ride. I warmed myself up, ate some food, and had chai to relax a bit before figuring out the next step.

Once I was feeling better, I asked the people in the Dhaba if there was any nearby camp where I could possibly charge my bike. They pointed me in the direction of a camp just a few meters ahead, so I geared up again and headed toward the camp check post area, hoping this time I would have luck.

As I approached the camp checkpost and explained my situation, I referred to my previous charging experience at the Sarchu camp. After verifying everything, they kindly allowed me to park the bike near the checkpost office room and directed me to a charging point. Unfortunately, there was no power at the time, so I had to wait for it to return. In the meantime, I went inside to warm myself up.

The soldiers at the camp were incredibly kind and accommodating. They shared their Wi-Fi with me since my Airtel network was completely dead, which was a huge relief. Additionally, they offered me hot water and chai at regular intervals, helping me stay warm and comfortable. The room was heated with a kerosene stove, and the warmth made a significant difference in the freezing conditions outside.

Despite the power delay, I felt so much more relaxed and at ease, especially with the soldiers' hospitality. They made the situation bearable, and I took this time to rest, recharge myself, and prepare for the next leg of the journey. It was a nice break from the stress and challenges of the road, and I was grateful for the unexpected kindness and warmth in such a remote and cold place.

As the sun set behind the camp at 7 PM, painting the sky in a beautiful display, I noticed two gentlemen approaching my bike near the office. They checked it out, and I introduced myself. To my surprise, they introduced themselves as the major and the doctor of the Pang camp. I was thrilled and honored to meet them.

The major was especially excited to see the Ultraviolette F77. He revealed that he was a huge follower of UV and had been considering booking one himself! He was completely amazed to see the F77 at such a remote location, and we had a long discussion about the bike, the technology, and the experience of riding it on this challenging journey. We even connected with some folks at UV over the phone, and he got a lot of valuable insights, which made the conversation even more engaging.

The camp doctor, in the meantime, checked up on me and offered advice regarding my health, especially given the tough ride conditions. Thankfully, he assured me that I was maintaining a good riding pattern and was in great shape for the journey ahead, which was a relief to hear.

When the major asked about my plans, I told him that once the bike was charged, I was considering leaving for Leh by night or staying at the local dhaba and heading out in the morning. He strongly advised against night travel, pointing out the risks involved, such as the rough terrain, unpredictable weather, and potential road issues. He suggested that it would be much safer and wiser to stay in the camp overnight.

What happened next was completely unexpected. The major turned to the soldiers and instructed them to allow me to stay inside the camp itself, in the guest room! He warmly said that I would be his guest for the night. I was in shock, but in the best way possible. It felt surreal to be offered such hospitality by someone so highly respected. I couldn’t have imagined a better way to end the day, and I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to stay inside the camp under their care and protection.

It was a moment of immense happiness, gratitude, and humility, realizing how far I had come and the incredible people I had met along the way. Staying at the Pang camp with the major and his team turned out to be an unforgettable experience.

By 8 PM, my bike was fully charged, and with the major's permission, I was escorted inside the camp to the guest room. I parked the bike safely in front and felt a huge wave of relief wash over me. Finally, a place to rest and refresh. After a long, challenging day, I took a hot bath—a luxury I wasn’t expecting out here. It was exactly what I needed to feel revived and recharged.

Soon after, the major came by to check on me. We had another enjoyable chat, where he offered some important advice. He cautioned me not to venture outside the room at night, as snow leopards had been spotted in the area. The camp was open on the other side, making it easier for the elusive creatures to roam. Hearing about the snow leopards got me excited—it’s not every day you hear about the possibility of seeing such a majestic animal in the wild! But as thrilled as I was about the idea, there was no way I’d be stepping out into the freezing -15°C night! Staying cozy and warm in the room was a far better plan.

Dinner was served soon after, generously arranged by the camp’s hospitality team. It was warm, delicious, and exactly what I needed to end the day on a high note. After dinner, I tucked myself in, feeling incredibly grateful for the warmth, the care, and the comfort of a proper place to rest. As I lay in bed, I reflected on the incredible journey so far, the amazing people I’d met, and how even in the remotest areas, the kindness of strangers had truly been a guiding force.

With the cold wind howling outside and the knowledge that snow leopards might be lurking in the distance, I finally drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep in the warmth of the camp—completely relaxed and ready for the adventures that awaited the next day.

With Major of Pang Camp

  

                                     DAY 12 :  Distance Covered : 84 Km 

Read More  Episode 16

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