Delhi - Leh - Delhi, Lay Man to Leh Man on Bikes (29th may - 14th June)

tanwaramit · 22nd June 2010, 15:22

Roads look nice. Havent yet got towed by anyone, wanted to know if a stone comes in front of you, like the one here (in 43 secs, though at one corner), since you are getting towed, braking is ruled out, do you have enough time to navigate around that stone ? OR is it that one has to go over it !

SamtheLeo · 22nd June 2010, 15:32

We saw a frozen river on the way. Saw some breathtaking sceneries.Our new found friend did not accompany us. Saw few Yaks grazing on the way for first time. Reached Tangtse, got the checking formalities done, with it still snowing. Reached the lake finally with weather still not very clear. It used to change every 10 mins, it snowed, drizzled & sun shone.

The water was Icy Cold!!!!

SamtheLeo · 22nd June 2010, 16:26

A few more pics of Pangong Tse lake

SamtheLeo · 22nd June 2010, 16:30

Having some masala tea & snacks in cold weather

Pashmina goat

Icicles hanging from fresh falling snow

harishnayak · 23rd June 2010, 10:00

Nice pics and nice adventure too. Post 64 - 5 Qualis's in a row.wow.

SamtheLeo · 23rd June 2010, 11:33

@tanwaramit : You are right, at slow speed there was a chance to dodge but when the tractor was accelerating there was no chance except to just go over the obstacle. More over ston were less an issue, big potholes full of water were omnipresent & deadly.

amitk26 · 23rd June 2010, 13:32

I am speechless most inspiring Ladkah travelogue on this forum.

Why don't you add word Motorcycle in thread title itself.

SamtheLeo · 24th June 2010, 11:16

@ Amit : Thanks a lot. I have requested the same to our mods now!!!

SamtheLeo · 24th June 2010, 11:39

So today was the day, finally we would reach to the highest part of the journey & enjoy the pristine beauty of nature, all of which we have heard & imagined a lot!!! We cam back from Pangong Tso in the evening & it was cloudy all night. It even rained so we decided to start late, had breakfast & left at 10:30 - 11 am. Reached South Pullu around 12 & were stopped by army as convoy was to pass. We had to wait there till 3 pm & it snowed at least 2 hour there.

SamtheLeo · 24th June 2010, 11:52

After having some much required Maggi & tea at the South Pullu Tea stall. We finally moved at 3 & saw some breath taking views, It was continously snowing & the air was so cold that we had to use 4-5 layers of warm clothes & monkey caps under our helmets. The hands were numb inside two pair of gloves & we used our engines to keep them just warm!!!

SamtheLeo · 24th June 2010, 12:14

I dont have words to appreciate the commendable job which BRO does to keep these road motorable. Inspite of all the odds the pass is open most of the year

SamtheLeo · 24th June 2010, 12:31

After a small Traffic Jam (Even There

) we finally reached K Top. There was still some snowfall, got customary photos done.

Planned to move asap but as soon as we kicked start the bikes snowfall started heavily but we kept going.

SamtheLeo · 24th June 2010, 12:52

Our target was Nubra Valley but the Road to North Pullu was even more treachrous & covered with more snow.

After North Pullu roads were smooth & we descended fast to reach Khalsar village.

SamtheLeo · 24th June 2010, 21:01

After Khalsar we had the first view of River Nubra, its valley & the almost untouched & unparalled beauty. We reached Diskit & just after that were able to see Nubra Sanddunes, in the fading sun the experience was like reaching some other planet, though we tried to capture it as much as we can but Camera has limits.

deky · 25th June 2010, 20:05

Beautifull Pics of the K-top specially after the fresh snow fall. Also I am glad that your ride has been behaving itself for a while now.

There is one correction that I would like to make and i.e

TSO in Tibetan means a LAKE hence it should be Pangong Tso and not Tse.
TSE I think means a MOUNTAIN like Loh Tse, Imja Tse.

Thanks for sharing this beautifull experience and please continue.

22nd June 2010, 15:22	#61
tanwaramit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dilwalon ki Dilli Posts: 1,930 Thanked: 497 Times	Roads look nice. Havent yet got towed by anyone, wanted to know if a stone comes in front of you, like the one here (in 43 secs, though at one corner), since you are getting towed, braking is ruled out, do you have enough time to navigate around that stone ? OR is it that one has to go over it !
	() Thanks

22nd June 2010, 15:32	#62
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 8. Pangong Tse We saw a frozen river on the way. Saw some breathtaking sceneries.Our new found friend did not accompany us. Saw few Yaks grazing on the way for first time. Reached Tangtse, got the checking formalities done, with it still snowing. Reached the lake finally with weather still not very clear. It used to change every 10 mins, it snowed, drizzled & sun shone. The water was Icy Cold!!!! Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

22nd June 2010, 16:26	#63
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 8. Pangong Tse A few more pics of Pangong Tse lake Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

22nd June 2010, 16:30	#64
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 8 Pangong Tse Having some masala tea & snacks in cold weather Pashmina goat Icicles hanging from fresh falling snow Attached Thumbnails Last edited by SamtheLeo : 22nd June 2010 at 16:32.
	() Thanks

23rd June 2010, 10:00	#65
harishnayak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: DELHI Posts: 1,396 Thanked: 125 Times	Nice pics and nice adventure too. Post 64 - 5 Qualis's in a row.wow.
	() Thanks

23rd June 2010, 11:33	#66
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	@tanwaramit : You are right, at slow speed there was a chance to dodge but when the tractor was accelerating there was no chance except to just go over the obstacle. More over ston were less an issue, big potholes full of water were omnipresent & deadly.
	() Thanks

23rd June 2010, 13:32	#67
amitk26 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,089 Thanked: 715 Times	I am speechless most inspiring Ladkah travelogue on this forum. Why don't you add word Motorcycle in thread title itself.
	() Thanks

24th June 2010, 11:16	#68
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	@ Amit : Thanks a lot. I have requested the same to our mods now!!!
	() Thanks

24th June 2010, 11:39	#69
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 9 . K Top.!!!! So today was the day, finally we would reach to the highest part of the journey & enjoy the pristine beauty of nature, all of which we have heard & imagined a lot!!! We cam back from Pangong Tso in the evening & it was cloudy all night. It even rained so we decided to start late, had breakfast & left at 10:30 - 11 am. Reached South Pullu around 12 & were stopped by army as convoy was to pass. We had to wait there till 3 pm & it snowed at least 2 hour there. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

24th June 2010, 11:52	#70
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 9, K Top After having some much required Maggi & tea at the South Pullu Tea stall. We finally moved at 3 & saw some breath taking views, It was continously snowing & the air was so cold that we had to use 4-5 layers of warm clothes & monkey caps under our helmets. The hands were numb inside two pair of gloves & we used our engines to keep them just warm!!! Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

24th June 2010, 12:14	#71
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 9, K Top I dont have words to appreciate the commendable job which BRO does to keep these road motorable. Inspite of all the odds the pass is open most of the year Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

24th June 2010, 12:31	#72
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 9 . K Top After a small Traffic Jam (Even There) we finally reached K Top. There was still some snowfall, got customary photos done. Planned to move asap but as soon as we kicked start the bikes snowfall started heavily but we kept going. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

24th June 2010, 12:52	#73
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 9, K Top Our target was Nubra Valley but the Road to North Pullu was even more treachrous & covered with more snow. After North Pullu roads were smooth & we descended fast to reach Khalsar village. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

24th June 2010, 21:01	#74
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 9 , Nubra Valley After Khalsar we had the first view of River Nubra, its valley & the almost untouched & unparalled beauty. We reached Diskit & just after that were able to see Nubra Sanddunes, in the fading sun the experience was like reaching some other planet, though we tried to capture it as much as we can but Camera has limits. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

25th June 2010, 20:05	#75
deky Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Jaipur Posts: 1,194 Thanked: 1,247 Times	Beautifull Pics of the K-top specially after the fresh snow fall. Also I am glad that your ride has been behaving itself for a while now. There is one correction that I would like to make and i.e TSO in Tibetan means a LAKE hence it should be Pangong Tso and not Tse. TSE I think means a MOUNTAIN like Loh Tse, Imja Tse. Thanks for sharing this beautifull experience and please continue.
	() Thanks