Aug 06, 2007 09:47 AM
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(Updated Aug 06, 2007 09:54 AM)
We became grand parents to Anika, on 11 June 2007. We started our journey by Jhelum Express from Pune station to Jammu on the evening of 27th June. Arrived Jammu afternoon of 29th June, picked up the bike from GATI go down. They had neatly damaged the Speedo and both RVM.
Gave the bike a nice wash and we were ready to load the 30th morning. Loading was tedious, with two extra bags mounted on the specially fitted carrier designed by Mr. Pendharkarof Bajaj Auto Services at his garage to mount Medini’s luggage.
We started for Patni Top(distance 114 kms) through beautiful twisties. It was obvious the bike was groaning under overloaded conditions. Medini carried enough luggages both by volume and weight to load a Santro!! I protested about this to Ashwani Khanna, but he refused to empathize with me.
Arrived Patni Top in good time to take a tour of the wonderful place. Rode a 1 hp horse for 12 kms out there. Stayed the night at JKDTC cottage (Rs 800/-) . Patni Top is a magical place.
01 July, started for Srinagar (198 kms). Again great ride through the Kashmir Mountains.Jawahar tunnel was a scare though Banihal pass was very very charming. Arrived in good time in the valley. We had Army booking in the BB Camp, a high walled high security area. I had to clear my luggage through a sniffer dog bomb disposal squad. He sniffed around my Cramsters and neatly peed on my rear wheel.
The Army Transit Camp mess was simply magnificent. We had time to do a quick tour of the city. Picked up a few maps. Had dinner, drinks and slept through the night all for a princely sum of Rs 114/-.
02 July: Set off for Sonamurg, on a route skirting the awesome Dal Lake. The road was a beauty, with green hills on both sides and a lovely river bisecting the hills through the middle. Arrived Sonamarg around 2:30 pm at theJammu n Kashmir Rifles TA Bn Camp. All the officers, including Col Pathania, the Commanding Officer, were waiting to receive us. The weather was wonderfully cool. A few Brandies followed by a sumptuous lunch. Afternoon siestas for an hour and off we were to the beautiful meadows of Sonamurg for a photo shoot. We off roaded to the hills on a beautifully green carpeted terrain. The scenery was beautiful. I got a glimpse of a Para glider, but missed the shot. Sonamurg is like Paradise on earth. Even the militants love Sonamurg. Who wants to do Switzerland? Not me!
That night, Medini became unwell. An Army medic attended to her, we decided to spend an extra night here. Medini spent the better part of the day in bed and was not allowed to ride the Zojilla pass on the bike.
