Desert Storm - 24th Jan 2009 - 29th Jan 2009
Run to the Thar Desert - an experience worth recollecting. A noble cause and a message to be spread across the desert. Like the sand travels with the wind we travelled 2000 kms on our roaring beasts. We faced the dry sun; we travelled the vast barren land across the Thar desert covering the famous 3J's of Rajasthan - Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer.
Start Off for the Pink City
24th Jan: Early Noon 11 A.M - Delhi, Taj Palace Café coffee day outlet was the start off point where we all 17 riders gathered to follow an unrealized dream of traveling to the mighty THAR. Friends and family gathered along to say a good bye for 6 days riding tour. Our sponsors were Café Coffee day and NACO (National Aids Control Organization). The message we were given to spread across the desert was: ''Prevent AIDS That's The Cure!!'' by NACO was something that did not relate to me. First of all this idea of going on a social service ride looked very flimsy and being very true to all of you - I would admit that I was very cynical about this whole idea of riding together the to mighty Thar with banners on our bike and pamphlets and stickers in our bags. For me riding was a passion and travelling my favorite hobby. I took a break to revitalize myself, charge up my batteries, to fulfill a dream of riding through the desert, I wanted to satisfy my urge to feel the roaring beast amidst barren land - overall for me the ride was for fun.
We started off our journey from Delhi at around 1:30 PM. The route was simple and the ride was smooth except that we all were new to the group and we took time in understanding each other's riding style so as to properly adapt to the group riding experience. We were getting late for Jaipur as we lost a lot of time in regrouping. We stopped on the outskirts of Jaipur to attend a phone call from the local radio station which aired our message in Jaipur region. After the regroup we crawled through the busy roads amongst tourists and locals to reach our hotel to relax. The hotel where we stayed was very simple, although the name of the hotel was very flamboyant - Bhanumal Palace (aaa heritage kothi - as told by our travel agent). The roof top dinner and first night chat with the group were great and gave us time to discuss our first day's journey.
Eye Opener: Enroute Jodhpur
25th Jan: Early Morning 4:30 AM alarms rang and the run to the bathroom started. Three of us who stayed in a room time sliced our visits to the bathroom to hurry up and get ready for the ride. We took the morning tea and headed towards Jodhpur. On the way we had to refuel our tanks so we stopped by at the highway patrol pump. I saw our organizers talking to the patrol pump guys and giving away pamphlets and sticking sticker around the area. I became inquisitive to see some of us doing such a thing early morning at 06:00 AM. At the next stop on a roadside dhaba, I accompanied them for a little chat with the local and heard them propagating the message. I was shocked to see that people living not far off from the highway, people who are surrounded by tourists and learned people coming from all over were not aware of such a fatal disease as AIDS. They told that they still use boiled syringes. This incident was an eye opener as for me these people were unaware of these things till the point I talked to them. From then on I made a point to start using this opportunity to serve my nation and serve my society. After that every tea stall, every dhaba, every auto rickshaw stop where we stopped I conveyed my message all through my trip.
Run to the Golden City
26th Jan: A historic ride from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer; all riders beautified by the tri color flags on the bags and helmets, a ride worth remembering for times to go. The thumping beasts with in-sync motion of the flags on back of the helmets gave a stunning look like a caterpillar crossing over a stick, was heart stopping. It was in itself a Republic day parade which we missed watching on the television due to the early start. I often slowed down to get to the tailend of the 15 riders to take a look at this ravishing sight. Our stop at Pokhran for a photo shoot with a hoisted flag could not be taken as we got delayed due to some technical lag in some motorbikes. We reached Jaisalmer in the evening and we pushed off to the famous fort to capture the glimpse of the sunset in the golden city. We were relaxed and had a great ball there.
Shop festival
Morning 27th Jan: An early morning wake up call alarmed everybody in my room. After the beautiful sunset we couldn't expect to miss the view of the sunrise. A beautiful morning from the sunset point was the best we could expect to start our day. On top of the fort all photographers were lined up to capture the sunrise; a best souvenir a photographer could take for his friends and family. On that January morning in Jaisalmer, on top of the fort - a hot tea was only the best choice we could think of to make sure we didn't miss anything. We all stopped by at the famous Hanuman chowk where we had Firni (very thin saviyan) with hot goat milk and gathered a group of people, auto rickshaw drivers, tourist guides, and shopkeepers to convey our message. We also went to the Civil hospital and met Dr. Damodhar who was heading the AIDS awareness program in Jaisalmer region. After storing our luggage in the hotel aacloak room we all headed to the city for sighseeing. The early morning shopping digged deep in our pockets as all of us were busy collecting souvenirs from the local market.
Camping: on the dunes
Afternoon 27th Jan: All riders tied all luggages to the Royal Enfield's backs and got hold of the reins of the desert beast to ride for the camp sight at SAM (some 40 km. from Jaisalmer). One bike got punctured four bikes stayed and rest 11 moved on to catch the sunset from the sand dunes. I was amongst the 4 contestants who stopped and for whom reaching Prince Camp before sunset became an ''Amazing Race'' against sun. We quickly unloaded the luggage from the punctured bike. Took off the tire and sent two people to get the puncture fixed. We waited for them and as soon as they reached we fixed the tire to the bike and started on our journey for the sand dunes. Two ''ship of the desert'' were waiting for four of us. As soon as we reached the camp we untied our luggage, carried it to the tent and came running to the camel to catch our friends on the sand dunes and on the camel back we found time to catch our breath. We found people rolling down the sand dune, yyburying themselves in the sand, doing camel race and then there was the sunset on the sand dunes. Miles beyond we could see nothing but sand and barren land and there was the mighty sun saying a departing good bye. It was a day for the thphotographers: the sunrise from the historic sunrise point of Jaisalmer fort and now the sunset in the Thar Desert. The camps were beautiful, the camp fire and the traditional folk music and dance were great. A party on the dunes was best wwwe could expect after the long journey some 900 odd kilometers on motorbikes. With loads of jugal-bandi and rajasthani folk, the party was all set for dance and masti. I had never seen a sky so densely studded with sparkling stars as we were lucky to be there on a moonless night. After taking the dinner and the sweet Churma some of us decided to go out of our camp for some photo shoots and see the recently formed sand dunes some 5-10 kms away.
Re-track
28th Jan: The first flush of morning at the camp, chilling cold breeze, the sand pot and the open air loo added fun to the camp experience. Few of us chose to go out in the sand to freshen us in the open with mineral water with us. Without wasting time in taking bath we all hurried up to our bikes and loaded our luggage and set off for Bikaner the second longest ride of the whole trip. The ride was tiring as we were exhausted with the last days fun. We gathered around people and talked to them about AIDS and educated them and took some photographs with them. All hurried up to reach Hotel Sagar (in Bikaner). The hotel was splendorous - the room had an extraordinary elegance and the centre veranda where they had some puppet show and folk songs arrangement created an engrossing sight. We had some drinks to celebrate the last night of the trip where we all were together.
Finishing Off
29th Jan: Early morning 5:00 AM The group leader assembled each one of us in the courtyard and the plan of action for the last day was told. The plan of action had the following items: 480 Kms to cover; No breaks for Photographs; Follow the Leader.
It was as if the group leader knew how desperate the riders become on the last day of their journey. We began in order but one bike that could not make above 60 restricted the motion (we called that bike: Babloo). Four guys decided to stay with Babloo and set the rest of the gang to chase to the next destination some 150 km from Bikaner for a hot breakfast. As expected our ride was slow and the road seemed un-ending. We kept our slow pace and met them all for breakfast. The next stretches were wobbly with bad roads between Jhunjunu, Chirava, Narnaul and Rewari. At the last regroup on Narnaul-Rewari route the group leader again requested people to keep order in riding and follow the leader as the uneven roads made the rider unruly amongst the group. As soon as we touched the Highway the horses were let loose and the final stop was taken at 32nd Milestone where we concluded our journey with some last pictures of the group just keeping in time to let Mohit (the pilot for whole 2000 Kms) enjoy the freedom of the LOO.
No major trouble: All Riders were safe and all bikes kept their riders spirit high.
''Prevention of AIDS is its CURE'' - Mission Accomplished!!
Waiting for the next Ride: Dark Rider!!