READY TO RIDE
CHAPTER FOUR
Welcome to chapter four 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
“Which one is Everest?!”
Ok no-one really said that, but as we wind through the mountains the eagerness to spot that fabled peak mounts.
Excitement’s in the air.
You find yourself questioning “is that it? Or is that the one?”
You’ll know when you see it – top tip – just look for the biggest one!
In just under 2 weeks…
Our riders will have arrived in Goa and we’ll be kickstarting our Grand Canyon India adventure.
The motorcycles are ready.
The weather is glorious – averaging at 30°c with beaming sunshine.
The route is incredible; taking us along the coastline of the Arabian Sea, through the Kali Tiger Reserve, teak forests, through the Western Ghats, to golden beaches, to the stunning Jog Falls and to the magnificent Grand Canyon of India.
Who’s ready to start their year this way?
No one said it was easy…
Last week we spoke about having the right attitude for adventures like this.
Along the ride, we face challenging conditions which, more often than not, are out of our control.
Facing them requires the right attitude: to push on, to ask for and accept help, to offer help to others, and to stay calm.
It’s not easy, but that’s exactly why we do it.
We don’t want to coast.
We want to feel every moment of it and finish the ride with a deeper understanding of ourselves.
When you’re tackling the Himalayas, water crossings, forests and more, every obstacle becomes an opportunity to grow.
That’s the one!
The other day we shared a top tip when trying to spot Everest whilst on our motorcycle adventure to Base Camp.
If looking out for the biggest one isn’t enough – this is what we’re looking out for!
Whilst Everest is an incredibly breathtaking sight – you can’t ignore the beauty of the entire landscape we explore.
The surrounding mountains are still some of the biggest in the world such as; Mount Makalu (5th) & Cho Oyu (6th).
Just being there, in the presence of this magnificent mountain range is every bit as spectacular as reaching our destination.
Don’t forget to take it all in.
You’ve probably heard about the food here in India…
But this isn’t like the curry house you frequent on a Saturday night.
Far from it.
Whilst some can be nervous about trying food, they’re always surprised at how flavoursome it is – rather than blow your head off spicy.
There’s more to Indian food than heat.
South Indian dishes stand out in particular with flavours of tangy tamarind, creamy coconut, and an aromatic punch of mustard seeds and curry leaves.
Definitely try some of the popular dishes like dosa, idli, sambar, and rasam.
Many riders say the food here is some of the best they’ve ever eaten.
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.