READY TO RIDE
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Welcome to chapter fifty-two of our ‘Ready To Ride’ short stories series.
These are five quick snapshots of what we do, where we ride, the laughs had, and the general shenanigans and goings-on, while riding together over the Himalayas & through South India.
I’m posting these every Friday, and they’re an easy read; a few minutes are all you need.
Enjoy!
Alex Pirie
Founder & Lead Rider
“I grew to like it so much on the Roof Of India trip that I make my own now. Love it!”- Tony.
Chai has that effect on people.
It’s one of the best roadside drinks.
This hot sweet tea is the perfect refreshment after a long ride, especially if it’s been wetter and a little cooler.
Nothing beats a good cup of tea on days like this, right?
And chai definitely does the job. It might seem a little unusual at first, but I can assure you, you’ll be loving it before the ride’s over – 100%.
We visit plenty of chai stops on our Roof Of India ride – they appear in the most unlikely of places, yet at the perfect time.
Almost like a mirage.
Funny how things work out like that.
Do you reckon it’d keep up with us…?
Luckily, we ride the iconic Royal Enfield 450 Himalayan over terrain it was lovingly designed for.
The Himalayas.
This is a place of extremes and one of the most stunning and exciting motorcycle adventures in the world, so having the perfect motorcycle for the job is key.
Cool mornings…
In January and February, the mornings are perfect for riding here in South India.
They start off cool, around 18°C, with a slight haze, then warm up as the sun rises.
We pass many locals, some even wearing woolly hats. After a few days of riding, you might find yourself acclimatising, and as we set off, it can almost feel a bit chilly.
But the temperature soon creeps up as the day unfolds, which is why we make the most of the mornings.
The canopies also provide a great respite from the heat!
The day is up, the day is gone…
Robert “Rabbie” Burns, the legendary Scottish poet and lyricist, once said:
“Freedom and whisky gang thegither.”
I’ll translate – freedom and whisky go together.
I couldn’t agree more.
There’s nothing quite like a wee dram (or two) after a long day of riding in the Himalayas.
We cheers to the day, knowing we’ve made the most of the past 24 hours – making memories that’ll last a lifetime.
Good morning,
From a very beautiful Kathmandu.
Everest, here we come.
Enjoy the ride.
I’ll see you on the next one.
JOIN THE
KNIGHT CLUB
So you’re considering taking on a real adventure? I remember the feeling. In 2006, I was sat right where you are now… wondering if it was for me.
Join our mailing list – The Knight Club – and I’ll send my no-BS thoughts on why you should (or shouldn’t) take it on. No sales. No special offers. These rides aren’t for everyone, but if you’re the right kind of person, it can remind you what it means to be alive.
All the best, Alex.