Foreword
One week earlier
GTO calls- "Dude, got something for you, want to go to Ladakh and drive some Mercs - mid October?"
"Ouch, got some important meetings coming up, let me know schedule?"
"Dude, I need to get to a computer and confirm by 12 noon tomorrow!"
A few hours later - "Dude - it gets better, you get to drive the GL's and .....hold tight, the G55"
Eh? 507 PS in the mountains?
"Count me in!"
Day "0"
Met up in the hotel with two other folks on the trip, they were not related to the automotive world, more from the travel world. (great! more wheel time). We had breakfast together and made our way to the boarding gate. Delhi airport is huge!!!
At the gate in the front end of the queue, I see an old familiar face, Hanmust.
The flight was awesome - clear skies, brilliant views.
We could not take pics at Leh, being a defence airport.
Most passengers scambled for their woolies but alas, it was 23 degrees. Leh airport reminded me of good old HAL airport a few years ago. I met up with Hanmust. All of us regrouped and walked out.
Ta da - An M Class and an R class were waiting. All the other passengers were wondering who the hell we were. We were staying at the Grand Dragon,
The most expensive hotel in Leh, clean, decent rooms but the heating makes odd noises. Wireless is an expensive affair, Rs 600 per hour, tea and pakoda's for 3 cost the same!!
On entry, our licences were collected and copied and various non disclosure forms were signed. Things looks pretty stiff. We had a quick breakfast then Hani, the travel writer's and myself sat out in the sun and got to know each other and we established a great rapport.
Being an asthmatic, I had been apprehensive about altitide sickness. Was on homeopathy, but I felt okay. Meanwhile, my wife is panicking about my health, the ex-military in-laws were panicking about the roads and my "excessive" love of driving. They've been stationed even further up in Ladakh and seen a lot!
But where were the cars? there was only an R class lurking around, the ML class was shuttling between hotels running errands. The cars were on the road with the first batch who had driven down from Srinagar to Kargil to Leh. Today, they were being driven to Pangong Tso via Chang La Pass.
Our route was explained to us.
Day 0 - rest - we were taken to the market in Leh.
Day 1: an easy day, the previous batch needed to be sent to the airport. Our flag off was at 11.00 to Nimu ,where the Zanskar and Indus rivers met and flowed to Pakistan. Since we arrived by air, it was best we took it easy and chilled out on the banks and do some off roading.
Day 2 - This would be an intense day, a 450 km round trip drive to Pangong Tso via Chang La Pass. The roads could be bad but we were told, nothing could stop these cars.
Day 3 - Return home