Episode 266 : The Devbhoomi Experience- Part 15

Day 15: October 14, 2008

We are nearing the end of the adventure, I think to myself. The feeling is very depressing. I understand what others meant when they said they had begun to suffer from "low altitude sickness" within weeks of returning.

The plan was to halt at Bardot for the night. Mussoorie was initially just a footnote and never a destination. So we rectify it.

The landscape is brown and the lack of green makes us unenthusiastic. Zim stops in front of a shop that sells liquor. I am about to give him a piece of my mind when I spot a dhaba next door.

After a few rounds of toasted bread and omelettes, we set off towards Tehri Dam.

61227 @ Tehri Dam

The dam at Tehri is built on a geologic fault zone. Its construction required the evacuation of the old town of Tehri. Consequently, the town of New Tehri was built to house the populace and claims to be the first planned hill town in India.

The groups splits here. Ron and Tiger set off towards New Tehri while the rest of us ride towards Mussoorie. Srini and I stay together while Zim goes ahead to arrange for accommodation in the tourist home there.

I had not filled up the tank at the first opportunity. Given the state of the land here, getting petrol can be quite daunting at times. I had not learnt anything from my earlier experience at Joshimath! I see a bunk on the outskirts of a village. But over-assured me decides there will be another "better-looking" petrol station there.

There is none!

61282 @ Dhanaulti

I wander into Dhanaulti looking for petrol. No petrol. Srini and I wander out and I am dismayed to find none on the way. The next place to get fuel is Mussoorie and I have another thirty kilometres to go!

I ride at optimum speed, reducing throttle at slopes and giving just about enough power to the motorcycle while climbing. This is the only way to ride a motorcycle when you are in your last litre of fuel. Of course, I curse myself every time I have to cut throttle. But the landscape makes up for the loss in speed!

The road to Mussoorie soon looks like a street in a very large park. Concrete medians line the edge of the road and the region looks very green. The road however is as narrow as a street!

As I enter town, I get caught in a traffic nightmare. Calling it a congested road would be overkill, but that's exactly what had happened. A truck carrying the instruments for a marriage band was unable to turn, causing a kilometre long pile-up. Fearing the worst, I switch off the engine and ask a few locals the way to a petrol station. They point me to a narrow back lane and tells me the station is a few kilometres "down".

Down is the word, literally. I feel like an invader as I ride behind houses and scaring people in the process. Just when I fear that I have gotten lost, another local tells me the station is further down. The motorcycle limps into the station just as the fuel almost runs out.

61314 @ Mussoorie

On my way to the tourist home, I enter the town through the wrong side of Mall road. I end up paying a hefty toll! And am the only one. The traffic congestion had cleared up for the others so they entered the "right way".

I like the night life in Mussoorie. But as we walk through the streets of Mussoorie, I find myself still wishing to be in Nainital.

Afterthought;: Yes, it is exactly a year today.