Off to Ladakh - All 3 of them!

Date : Wednesday, 20/06/2007
Time : 5.30am
Place : Vahuman Cafe, Next to Jehangir Hospital, Bundgarden Road, Pune
Occasion : Flag off ceremony for "The 3" riding to Ladakh.
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Rajat was damn excited about the Ladakh trip for last few weeks. Borrowing shoes, gloves, money...everything short of the bike and guts. When I met him on 19th evening at around 5pm, he had not yet packed, not slept well and probably guzzled booze the night before. All that he had done in the last few weeks under the flag of preparation was grow a beard. To get the "Biker" look! Giving bikers a bad name, idiot! Look at the pictures, aren't the rest shaved and well dressed? ;-) Anyways. The plan was that they would be meeting at 5.30am at Vahuman Cafe and leave sharp at 6am. Tall order....Roadshakers Standard Time as always.
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I had not been astride my Bull for last 4 weeks due to the burn injury and been missing the meets for 4 straight weeks. Seemed like a ,perfect occasion to bring out the bike. Hardest part was that i had not slept well for 2days myself. Its never an issue to stay up late but getting up early is a big naaaaaaaaah. But for this noble cause to further the motivation level of fellow Roadshakers, i set the alarm for 4.45am. Knowing fully well that it was going to prove real stupid cause Rajat & Naveen together beat the laziest of the lazy hands down and never make those times themselves. But they were going where I wanted to go. But for the one unproductive activity in my life called work, that provides for my all, I would have been riding along! But come September and I will.
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And guess what? I did hear the alarm and did wake up. It sure was hard with no time to make tea. So I simply put on the clothes (shut up!), jacket, hung the camera around my neck and went up to the bike rubbing my eyes. It didn't let me down, i must say. Started with precisely 3 half & 1 full kick. Felt real good to be on again and no better time to ride than early morning. King of the roads! Was there at around 5.30am, greeted by a familiar sight of only 2 bikes standing. Ram & Ujawal were the only ones on time. From then on it was...waiting, waiting, waiting. As people gathered, including Naveen who turned up at 6, junta started dialling to find out the where abouts Rajat. It was only after a lot of calling, getting mad, calling names & almost sending off Naveen all alone, that Rajat turned up at 6.45am.
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As expected, except for the serviced bike and donning of appropriate gear to suit the "Biker" look, he was completely unprepared. What followed was complete pandemonium for a solid 30mins. Rajat & Manish trying to tie up the luggage. Manish asking real difficult questions to Rajat & Naveen that they didn't really want to answer. Bawa clicking snaps & tying special tags to the two bikes along with Mustan. Finally...it was all secured. Talismans tied around necks, coconuts offered to the God of Travel (there must be one, right?), hand shakes, hugs, cheers & umpteen pictures later, off went the 3. Yep. 3! Rajat, Naveen & my shoes! Rajat had them on.....God Speed! Ride safe & have fun!
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