Day 6
 |
| Heading Back |
 |
| The Pilgrims Progress |
 |
| The One that sheltered me 2 days back |
It was very hot and penitrating sun overhead when I crossed Ukhimath. I Had my lunch at a roadside Dhaba and rested lying on my back on oneof their wooden benches. The shop-owner understood and did not disturb. Chopta was 27Kms from there and it was 4Pm when I started. From there I do not remember any downhill, whatsoever, to comfort me. It ensured that I rode on bottom gears throughout. I would ride on seat for a while, then would lift my torso and swing to apply more thrust and then would walk for a while to rest my jaded quadriceps muscles. The sun was going down and the chilly wind laden with moisture swept the entire valley. The nature of the dense forest in that range is quite unrepresentative of the ones found elsewhere in uttaranchal, it looks like a tropical rainforest. The vehicles were very few and far between. I was constantly refreshed by the cool breeze and super-cool chirping of monal and warbler birds.
It showers almost everyday. It was dark at 8pm and I was 10 Kms short of my destination when the downpour started. There was no place to shelter as the trees were dripping more profusely. I had no idea whether I’am going to get any habitation before chopta or not. In the winding mountain roads the length of vision is only upto the next curve. I heard the howling of jackals and had a very strong reason to encounter one as these animals come out in open roads when it rains. A passing car ( The only one to pass in more than an hour) stopped and a middle aged man lowered his window glass, he thought I ran into some sort of trouble and offered to help. He told me that the next habitation is just 5mins distance. Comforted, I started to paddle with renewed vigor.15-20Mins past and I am still accompanied by the incessant murmuring sound of insects and pitch darkness broken only by my headlight. Then it dawned on me that 5mins is the time he might have taken on car on downhill road.
 |
| Wet forests of chopta |
 |
| I clicked my fear away |
I saw lights of a ramshackle dhaba on one turn.
Adjacent to it was a modest resort which he offered me to stay at 200/ only. Wringing-wet I went in, I could feel lactic acid in my legs while climbing stairs. The dinner that night was literally taken in the heart of wilderness.
Day’s summary – 68 Kms. Lost altitude from 2100 Mts to 1000,than gained to 2700 Mts.
 |
| Magic Mountains |
A contrast of sorts - Mini Switzerland
The most enchanting trek route
Day – 7
After half an hour of riding I reached chopta. I had to take a room to keep my bike as above that riding was out of question. Tungnath is located at 3700Mts elevation, some 1000Mts of climb inside 4kms distance. The trek passes through lush green meadows filled with early bloom. It was an ethereal walk amidst the alpine forest where the mist tumbles down the big ranges into the valley and makes walking a blissful experience.
Tungnath is a small seasonal settlement based solely on ‘Temple Economy’.For seven months of year it is blanketed with snow and is completely abandoned. The deity, however, is moved to a lower altitude, a custom followed at all high-altitude temples.
I was greeted there by Bill, a U.S anthropology student , doing his one year research in India
The striking point of the night stay was its cost, which is equal to dinner – 100 bucks.
 |
| The photogenic sadhu - Baba Kadakbum |
Day 8 – It was by far my coldest night. Bill and me parted ways as he had to follow a short-cut to Mandal , whereas I had to go the same way down to fetch my bike. The road from Chopta to Mandal is a thorough downhill road for 18 Kms, a cyclist dream ride. The only concern was the godforsaken condition of the roads where negotiating between patches was like playing Chinese checkers on raod. Shortly after mandal I met Bill, with two young sadhus, his new-found companions for his concluding destination ‘Valley of flowers’.
I dropped 1500Mts in less than 2hours.The change in vegetation and climate was palpable. The mid-summer sun was strong enough to make me stop in shade for couple of hours. The evening halt was at GMVN Guesthouse at Karanprayag, situated at the confluence of pindari and Alaknanda. The stay was dull and uneventful.
Day’s summary – 85Kms .Lost altitude from 3800Mts To 750 Mts.
Day 9
The ride from Haridwar bus-stand to home was the toughest of all. Back at home,I spent the evening watching Nadal routing soderling in a fiercely contested baseline game in the quarter finals of Wimbledon .
