[vredesbyrd]

Prologue

Ever since the Kufri trip, which had been a success (at least from an automotive standpoint), I had been raring to go on another trip.
It was not long before a whatsapp group was created and profiles shortlisted for the operation. OP S-203, as we would call it (since all participants had been residents of S-203, Abode Valley, Chennai)

With that underway, the final shortlist of confirmed attendees was released.
Starting clockwise from top left:

• Akash "Balbir"
• Abhinav "Pluto"
• Shantanu "Taau"
• Yours truly

With dates shortlisted and a proper itinerary, it was go time.
Regroup happened at Lucknow.

Balbir testing out the new camping chair:


Picking up Taau at 4bagh station:


Ready to rumble:


The kit was the new Z5 along with the trusty old 28-300mm ED and a really cheap but horrible Yongnuo 35mm F2.
Video duties were performed by Hero 10 and 14 Pro.
Off we go!

[vredesbyrd]

To Binsar P1

Got up really early and the crisp cold air stung the lungs like the fact that NGT is still out of prison. Thinking that the journey ahead would easily be 14-16 hours long, I was both nervous and excited.

Right outside home at 03:10 HRS:


Quite an uneventful ride till we stopped somewhere parallel to Dudhwa for tea and pakoras:

https://youtu.be/c7blgP4Y9XU?si=jIj0nVNxp7qJSI5q

Decided to take some more pictures and see exactly how horrible the new 35mm is:







We soldiered on. Laaymun Jeera anyone?



Google map did put us through situations but lucky us, it was a winter morning. Sitting on the passenger side sure feels different:



But that meant I could take photos!







Balbir on wheeling duty:


Soon, we were at Pill-bit:


Some arrow-straight roads and peaceful scenery where stopping was not suggested (the joke was to lure in a striped yellow cat while pretending to take a leak, capture it, and make it drink expensive golden-brown liquids with us):





Here's the same route on the Hero 10:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LZ5CTDXF98&t=21s

We did not stop till we were in a cat-free zone and then took a break:











Hill climb starts in P2. Stay tuned!

[vredesbyrd]

To Binsar P2

We pressed on, till we saw some hills and the temperatures dropped ever so slightly


What had kept us sane all this while were some chips that the boys were carrying and I had a spare packet of Dorayaki (Japanese pancakes filled with sweet bean paste) lying around.
But we had to get a proper lunch, sooner or later.

Quick analysis showed UK-04 Retro Cafe as one of the better rated places right in the middle of Haldwani. Armed with this information, we started climbing.

Parked:


Cafe interiors:










Nom nom time:


With filled bellies and empty bowels, we soldiered on. With myself back on the driving seat, the roads got interesting:

https://youtu.be/_tH-IEEivJc?si=r2Jy5YlsMCfCKIXT

I had missed an exit at Almora and that did cost us about 20 minutes but then got out of that mess:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT3U0nSVbjE

And before we knew it, the sun went down. Here's a video of the fantastic stretch before Binsar and music composed by yours truly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qesFRrRWro&t=288s

Eventually, we reached the last checkpoint before the trail and had some really nice cardamom tea:


Oh boy, here it goes. 2.5km of super narrow dirt trail after sundown. Pure unadulterated horror and fun. Audio had to be replaced with cool epic music due to the extremely explicit language being used:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNi8lRhKaZk

The fun only lasted about 15 minutes. Very soon, we were at the parking and offloading:


A trailer of what follows in the next post:


Stay tuned!

[vredesbyrd]

Binsar

Before starting the uphill trail for the homestay, Balbir had phoned-in ahead for a fitting snack of chicken pakodas and sweet tea.
The same was emptied in a matter of seconds. We were famished and tired despite driving duties being shared between Balbir and myself.

We started at 03:10 from Lucknow and had our luggage unloaded at 18:35 in the homestay parking lot. Someone from the group suggested that we should go for a night drive after 23:00, that idea was shot down quicker than an Crysta 2.4 trying to race a 911 GT3 RS (we all know that the former would win).
Instead, we cracked open some smooth amber liquid and decided to hunker down for the night. The liquid flowed with the music (this is a desi/EDM/modern pop free zone, only rock, metal, 80's pop and sea shanties allowed, or you will experience being thrown out of a Scorpio-N going at 70 kph).

In goes the liquid, out comes the Z5:


Pointed upwards:


"SPACE!!!" - Tim Curry:


Trees and stuff:


Capturing Andromeda for the first time ever. I was pleasantly surprised that we could see it:


Eclipse resting with a laptop and some bikes (no offence to the owners. No! I will not share my bluetooth speaker so that you could play punjabi music on it!):


The next photo was green for some reason. Felt like I was back in omicrons, ferrying alien artefacts and dodging weapon platforms hidden in the nebulas:


More trees:


Homestay:


Since the choice of liquid was good, we woke up without a headache (as usual, I woke up first). We woke up just to be absolutely smacked in the face by the scenery (Balbir had warned us about this in advance).

Beansar really giving the Beans:


Rise and shine:


Back from the Blue:


Soft fellow. He tried to bite, so I attempted to bite back. He was in complete disbelief. We became friends later:


With a nice breakfast of omelette made with maggi masala and some regular maggi, we set off to some creek that was scouted out by Balbir during his previous visit.
The brilliant tactical genius I am, I forgot to put the SD card back into the Z5. We only had the Hero 10 and phones. The creek in the next post!

[vredesbyrd]

The Creek

Armed with our phones, we set out again. This time, towards a small stream which Balbir had discovered during his ride earlier.

Here is the trail in broad daylight, again music made by yours truly:

https://youtu.be/PyjOdlpEOZc?si=77lEIrO2DWreZWhe

Being the absolute tactical genius that I am, forgot the SD card in the macbook. So, phone photos galore.

Le wallpapeur:


Flying bug:


Group picture before departing:


At the waterfall:


Pluto, well, plutoing:


Losing balance:


Planetary:


Badass Taau (Bau):


Going to drop the new album:


Every Dey is a new Dey:


Another sick 90's nu-metal album:


With over 100 photos taken, we decide to hurry back to the homestay, but not before a tiny detour of 47 metric tons worth of paneer butter masala and dal. On the way back:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-G60WrpSv8

With a relaxing crawl, we managed to get back to the starting point of the trail:


The same trail for the third time but in orange sunlight. The entire trail:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWTXxI1Podk&t=444s

While others enjoyed a pretty sunset at the parking, I had to rush back in order to grab my SD card, but the rush was worth it:


Winds drown out all traffic noises by this hour:


We certainly love our tea and music:


And then, a bonfire:


Flame and liquids went in. Out came the lyrics to an old linking park or deftones track:


We retired for the night with a moon still shining:


We're headed for Ranikhet/Majkhali the next day!

[vredesbyrd]

Ranikhet/Majkhali

Woke up early as we were travelling. Some flexing before we left:


Milky way during the day:


What a bright and sunny Dey!:


Taau and Balbir taking one last picture before leaving Binsar:


Some editing before leaving:


Rest of the route was pretty bog standard with nice scenery, fun roads and the usual rude hill traffic. Balbir getting excited after seeing a bike:

https://youtu.be/LEppaRmoU-c?si=9bHFRD8BQz8FbwDo

The only detour was Sun Temple near Almora:


Relegated to rear bench after lunch:


Japanese looking tree:


Some village before Majkhali:

https://youtu.be/dF2hhch5dxA?si=etMa9CNSvitjoRjM

Balbir having a grand time:

https://youtu.be/aQD4TBiR7lA?si=V4MEad0FdnuBf4Xa

We were at Majkhali soon:


Had booked a nice Airbnb villa:


Taau showing us his 4k MMR skills in DOTA:


Ordered some pizza and pasta from a nearby joint, ate early and went to sleep.

We're headed to Marchula via Ranikhet tomorrow!

[vredesbyrd]

Marchula

Rise and shine, duster! We're off early:


Breakfast on the way:


Silence:


Had a mighty time, blasting through the challenging roads:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWG3UFEYATg

Balbir and Taau making use of the front camera:


Scenery:


Spot the Scorpio:


Keep on pushing:

https://youtu.be/vZbZUTU_j10?si=EuWMVUvQmVWMz1Lp

With nothing else to go on, we reached Marchula:


Room ready for capture:


Lunch planning:


With a few hours of deep sleep, we decided to head out for a bit. Reversing was a pain:


Made it to the riverbed, just before sunset:


Katakuri does not deserve such a high bounty!:


Some doofus from Ghaziabad had a "controller disconnected" moment. It was rescued a few minutes later and the electronics were still working:


With sandwiches down our gullets, we went back in order to see Taau school some fools:


So the first day at Marchula draws to a close!

[vredesbyrd]

More Days at Marchula

Since the boys decided to forgo jungle safari (bad decision), we tried checking out nearby places, specifically Corbett Falls.

On our way:

https://youtu.be/eJkY825FRrQ?si=zjWAb28RHklqP1dA

With many photos taken there:




The waterfall:




Tomfoolery:




Exhausted, we head back to Marchula. With Taau at the helm this time:


Busting out of the falls:

https://youtu.be/SeroIUMOqyU?si=lHgdvZ6qGtTOeRTe

I took the wheel again and the return was nothing but chaos. At least I can put top-notch music on the journey:

https://youtu.be/iajs1sOCUmk?si=9feWAHhCjVOfGH-8

Reached just in time for some piping hot paneer and chicken:


There's just one more post left!

[vredesbyrd]

Last Day Dwelling

There was a riverbed nearby which I have wanted to check since 2021. This could be the opportunity to do it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_z1TNbkj80

Now we're talking classic rap:


Eclipse parked without complaints:


The boys took some nice photos:






So I did the same:


















The riverbed:


Some shorts taken at the riverbed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFpbDEdWsr8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jRMSf0Sk2Q

The thread is going to end soon!

[vredesbyrd]

More Pictures

Shri Hanuman Dham of Ramnagar:


Another shot at the riverbed:


Under the bridge:


On pale ale run:


Green water:


Depth charge:


Not Malta:


Giving up and watching One Piece new episode:


Floff:






As all good things must come to an end, so should this trip and the thread

[vredesbyrd]

Epilogue

Here is a short summary of the entire trip in case there are too many posts:

https://youtu.be/Ep3fxd6vlgs?si=vnMjz_OIQVZHgA9u

The return was painful and the feeling was unkind

I fell sick and Balbir took the helm and got me home safe and sound:


That's all for now.

Here's a small portion of the next thread I am working on (Balbir returns):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BrTiJa_afo&t=202s

As expected, that thread will take a long time to finish like this one did

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!