The Redstone Rockets

Bulls on Parade is getting bigger & better with each new ride...and this ride was no different, we were contacted by Zice Holidays-an organization providing Experiential Products and Services in Travel, Adventure and Learning(get more information at www.ziceholidays.com), they wanted to arrange a Biking Expedition to their Camp Site in Uttarakhand named Camp Redstone(www.campredstone.in) in cooperation with BOP. The site which is some 18 kms. from Dehradun provides a nature-laden experience filled with Adventure Sports, River-Side fun, camping Masti and some time to relax...we jumped at this opportunity for a different sort of ride and started to invite nominations from BOPians...sadly only 3 of us were ready and then 4 of our non-BOP rider friends also joined in...The dates were also quite apt for a weekend ride...2-3-4 October being a long weekend...

The Redstone Rockets were:

• Dips on his Black Electra
• Tsering on his Red Electra
• Adit on his Black Pulsar 180
• Vihans on his Orange FZ-16
• BK on his Red Karizma
• Dhruv on his Silver Pulsar 220
• Che on The Mighty One

Day 1 - Friday - 2nd October 2009 (Gurgaon – Delhi – Meerut- Dehradun – Camp Redstone)

The day started on a bad note, I got an SMS from Dips that his bike had a flat tyre and he would not be able to join us at 5 AM and would catch-up after getting the repair done...Vihans stayed overnight at my home and both of us reached the rendezvous point of Nalli’s at South-Extn. Where the other riders were to meet us...then the first silly incident of the ride...Tsering read Nalli’s as Naali(Drain) and was waiting for us at some Naali in the market...I spent a good amount of time explaining him the nitty-gritties of the Queen’s Language and finally he got me and came to Nalli’s...good riddance in the end...so finally after the English Language classes we started the ride at 5:15 AM...



It being a long weekend the roads were already starting to cramp up with cars zooming past us...this was the first time I had seen so much traffic on this route at this early part of the day...we knew we were up against some serious overtaking manoeuvres for the rest of the ride...

We went past the manic Meerut & Modinagar Roads in relatively less roads and kept tugging along...all this while Dips was in constant touch with me through SMS and letting me know about his whereabouts...we stooped for some Tea and Sutta at a highway Dhaba past Meerut...

Post this break it was all about bad roads, petrol fumes and ugly traffic...we kept countering all of them and went past them as true warriors not allowing either of them to stop our charge...and finally took refuge in a Dhaba for some much needed rest after almost 2 hours of crazy riding...in between this Tsering stopped by to help some of his rider buddies as one of their bikes had stalled...they were off to Harsil...another destination where I wanna ride to one day...



All of us decided that we would wait for Dips at this Dhaba only and ride to our destination together...as it was 2nd October and Gandhi Jayanti, we knew that it being a Dry Day we won’t get any open thekas so I was carrying 12 big cans of Kingfisher...and what better way to while away time...open the cans and let the good times begin!!! Vihans being the Jugaadu person he is also arranged for some ice and the cans started to chill...amidst this chill factor, he also struck a conversation with 2 Policemen who were also biding away their time...they had a free-wheeling conversation about Free Sex, Bangkok and what not...indeed quite an interesting conversation it was...and anyway we never shy away from any Bakchodi opportunity and this time also we duly took part!!! Soon the beer cans were opened and the bakchodi started to free-flow...Dips finally came at 11 Am amidst some loud cheers and some awe-struck people...he was duly welcomed with a chilled beer can and he was more than thrilled at this grand welcome...Tsering found a novel way of sleeping using his bag & a chair...I must say he must get this style patented and he would make millions out of it...how to sleep with minimal resources with maximum comfort...he is one crazy rider indeed...





After the long long break it was all about reaching Camp Redstone and we barely stopped except for some piss breaks...the mountain ride finally started but it was still very hot & humid...we reached our destination at 3 PM in grand Bikers Style...Dips brought his Bandero out and I ripped my Goldstar to make our presence felt...surely it was frightening for other tourists who had thought this would be their peaceful & relaxed stay at the Camp but all their plans vanished in no time...



The campsite was beautiful...nestled in the foothills with lush greenery and had some cosy tents...we wasted no time & decided to head straight towards the man-made lake to have some watery Bakchodi...another fun session started and we had a great time...



We had lunch after this...normal tourists would rest after a long ride & lunch but by now you very well know us...we are a class-apart...we went to play Volleyball after all this...and I was nostalgic...I was playing Volleyball after 6 years and the last time I played I had a fracture in my right ankle but I kept the past behind and had a great time playing volleyball after all these years...I played my heart-out smashing & falling down to pick the ball!!! the noteworthy part of the game was BK’s involvement...the maximum he moved to pick the ball was 3 inches and that also demanded a lot of effort from him...he surely knows how to conserve energy...quite a sensible player he is!!!

After the sweaty game Tsering used the Air-Gun like a true marksman...he hit the target like a professional...everybody was awestruck at his brilliance and to celebrate his playmanship we went for another water-session...this time with beers and loads of Bakchodi in our mind!!! We came out fresh as daisies and then after changing our attires went towards the lounge area where we had hot tea & coffee...and also some relaxed moments after the hectic & playful day...but sports was not out of our mind...we then played Carrom...another activity which riders rarely indulge in during a ride...this ride was going totally the way we had thought it to be...totally different from the way our other rides go!!!



Another long Bakchodi session followed after the sporty adventures and Tsering played the good-old Tea-Maker for the young kids around, he even taught them some magic tricks and all of them were thrilled to bits...to save the fellow tourists of the pains of our loud Bakchodi we went towards the Amphitheatre and this was the legendary place where Dips tried his best to become a photographer and tried to click pics at all possible angles but very tragically his endeavour was a big failure though I give him full points for trying...we then went to the riverside with our stock of Beer & Rum and had an amazing time...the gusty river Tsong flowing beside us and the moonlit sky above us, with Rum, Beer & friends we couldn’t have asked for more from Life...Bakchodi also flowed like the river, sadly we had to leave for the waiting dinner and more importantly our stock got over, we had our dinner and then lounged around for a bit before calling it a day...the first time in a BOP ride all of us were perched on our beds by 11 PM.

Day 2 - Saturday – 3rd October 2009 (A relaxed day at Camp Redstone)

The day started with shock & awe for all of us...another of Tsering’s Bahaaduri Kartab...we were shocked to see him sleeping casually out in the open with a mattress & quilt with no trouble whatsoever...when he woke up he told us that he found no place to sleep in the tents so he went to one of the tents where a couple was cosily sleeping on one bed and he pounced that opportunity and pulled the mattress and came out in the open and slept without any fuss whatsoever...what a man...so adjusting, I am sure his wife would be a very lucky wife even though he is a man full of surprises but still an amazing rider...



All of us gingerly came out of our tents and went straight for breakfast where some hot Poor-Chhole were waiting for us…we gorged them and then were off to the Bike Trek to some cave…yes we trek also using our machines!!! So much for conservation of human energy…me & Vihans didn’t go for the trek and went back to our tents for a short nap…we went a bit further with the conservation thingy!!!



All of us gathered then at 11:30 for our next activity for the day…the river-crossing trek and the Rappelling session…river-crossing was fun with walking on the slippery stones and the steady flow making it a bit tricky…I gathered all my inner strength for the rappelling adventure but when my turn came, I got shit scared from the height and aborted my maiden attempt!!! This was my second aborted try…I did the same thing way back in 2004 when I went for an adventure trip to Dhauj in Haryana…maybe…I would be third time lucky…



After my failure and my buddies' successful rappelling attempts it was all about the river for us, we again got into the chilled waters for another aquatic fun session…we finally left the waters for our empty tummies and another gorging session…see our priorities are pretty much in place…nothing comes between us & the food!!! Hmmm well Beer comes at times…but still beer also has some medicinal properties which only BOP knows and we keep experimenting with them…



We rested for a bit after the heavy lunch and post that got pulled away to our favourite spot of the camp-site…the lake or pool whatever one can call that…and God also blessed us then…it started to rain heavily and our water-fun became 10 times better…we had a ball…soon beers were out and it was a dream sequence after that…I got into the mood and started to blurt out some fun songs at the top of my voice…had a ball…came out of the water finally when it started to get really chilly…



We rested in the common seating area…but then we tend to get a bit loud and it was getting uncomfortable with the families around…so off we went to the river side for another BBB Session under the moon-light…the river was splashing against the rocks and was producing a melodious symphony…it was a scene straight out of a dream sequence…beer, friends, river, moon-lit sky and ample Bakchodi to boot!!!
We came to the camp site for the dinner but it was to take some more time and to bide our time went towards the amphitheatre area for another BBB Session where me & Vihans danced our heart out to some raunchy songs…a cheap & vulgar show…a kid came towards us and then watched in utter shock when I was dancing…saw into my eyes and then ran away…I am sure he must have gone straight to his mother and would have told her “Some aliens are around, better be careful!!!”



We had our dinner and called it a day at 10 PM…had an amazing day and were bust throughout but the watery fun kept us relaxed through the day…and it was strange for us as rarely we sleep by 10 PM during any of our rides…but at the camp-site there was nothing much to do when the night struck so it was better to sleep early considering we had to start for Delhi pretty early…

Day 3 - Sunday – 4th October 2009 (Camp Redstone – Dehradun – Saharanpur - Panipat – Delhi - Gurgaon)



We woke up at 8 AM and after having our breakfast and the customary snaps session started from the camp at 10:30 AM, all of us had decided that we would first go to Mussoorie and then go towards Delhi as it was some 50 odd kms away…and it was one of the worst decision I ever made…we mis-calculated the total time of the return ride and then the rains made matters worse for us…the moment we reached the Mall at Mussoorie and it started to rain cats 7 dogs and we had to take refuge under a Tea-Shop shed…had some hot & piping tea with Maggi…Vihans, BK & Adit bought rain-coats…a good decision as the rain was in no mood to wither away…after waiting for an eternity for the rain to stop which never happened we all decided to start again in the rain only…and it was heavy indeed…

In 2009, Rains have never left me…It has rained during Bike Rides to Mcleodganj, Binsar, Bhangarh & Redstone and to other trips to Wellington, Mt. Abu & Bharuch…so what India was hit by a drought this year, no such sorrows for me atleast!!!
We had to finally stop once we hit Dehradun as the rain was painfully heavy and we just could not ride further…we took refuge under a tin-shed and waited for another 35-40 minutes…but the rain didn’t stop…we rode then in some light rain for the next 50 odd kms…the rain finally stopped near the UP-UK Border…and it was a huge relief…
We were taking a different route while going back via Saharanpur and then NH-1 to avoid the scary roads of Meerut & Modinagar…they surely are the worst roads while coming back to Delhi and I have faced it twice during my bike rides…but then Saharanpur was a big pain…there was some religious procession passing the city and we were stuck for 40 odd minutes…but me & Vihans didn’t let it overcome us and danced on the Dhol Beats to the utter surprise of the bystanders!!!

We took an amazing route after the Saharanpur fiasco…through the UP Villages…under the moon-lit sky and following one-another…it was pure riding bliss…and then Vihans stopped…don’t worry…not a mishap this time…but at the most apt location…a Theka!!! We enjoyed chilled beer at the Village Theka with another longish Bak session…
We hit the NH-1 finally after the rains, beers & village roads and it was fun riding on the smooth & wide NH-1 Road which now we call it our own after riding through it so many times…



And then the first & only mishap of the ride…just before the Panipat Flyover I hit a cycle which just sprung up from nowhere and with me riding at 100 kmph I had no time to react and sway away…and I banged straight into the cycle…luckily there was nobody riding on it and a man was just pushing it to the road from the behind… it was really a frightful bang but NHAI saved me!!! They are widening NH-1 and I flew straight towards the mud pit and due to the muddy base I just thudded staright into the mud and had no major injuries, both to me or the bike and when I got up the cycle-guy had vanished into thin air, I am sure he knew once I get up I would thrash the shit out of him!!!

I gathered my senses & thoughts and checked my body before starting again…thanked God…once again he saved me from major injuries…I am sure some good deeds of mine saved me this time otherwise I was gone for all money…there was severe pain in my right toe and I was unable to change the gears so I rode till Gurgaon in the 4th Gear only…it was surely tough as I rode for some 170 kms like that!!! Kept thanking God during these 170 kms for saving me…

Finally reached home at 2 AM…bruised, exhausted & battered but not out…an X-Ray in the evening confirmed a fracture in my right toe…took a rest from riding for some 2 weeks and now am yearning to get back on the road…with these lines for some inspiration !!!



The BOP Anniversary Ride to Ranthambore is just 3 days away…and BOP is all geared up for that…would be the biggest ride till date…16 riders confirmed!!!

Pics:
Dhruv: http://picasaweb.google.co.in/manurules07/BOPRedstoneRockets
Tsering: http://picasaweb.google.com/topguy59/101MSDCF?feat=directlink
Che: http://picasaweb.google.com/bullsonparadeMC/TheRedstoneRockets?feat=directlink

http://scorp15.blogspot.com/2009/10/redstone-rockets.html For the first time...A poem on our ride...Thanks to Adit...

Dips' Blog... http://butcheredsoul.blogspot.com/2009/10/bulls-on-parade-to-redstone.html

Che would be back on the road again…

Till then ride safe & have safe sex…

Hasta la Victoria Siempre…