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Welcome to chapter seventy-six 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

The road of dreams…

Before riding to one of the most famous places on the planet, we tackle a high pass and a route that probably resembles what you imagined when you first started riding. Maybe even similar to one you dreamt of as a youngster.

Mount Everest glistens in the distance as we wind our way down a road with more than 117 switchbacks.

Each bend adds to the euphoria. Excitement and anticipation build as every turn reveals another glimpse of this majestic mountain range. We’re not talking about any mountain range; these are the Himalayas. The scenery is jaw-dropping, and the whole experience feels like a dream.

Some words of advice?

Stay present.
Soak up every second.
We’re really here.
We’re really doing this.

“What an amazing trip!

It was so good on so many levels – the riding, the company, the views, the culture, the crazy Indian driving, the off-road stuff.

It’s a must-do for any rider with a sense of adventure.

Can’t wait to do it again” – Denise
Denise, we couldn’t agree more.

Once you start adventure motorcycling, you can’t stop.

There’s more to this ride than Everest Base Camp…

During our Rode To Everest adventure, we spend our rest day exploring the incredible city of Lhasa and Potala Palace.

There’s a lot to see and do in Lhasa. It’s one of the highest cities in the world at 3,650 metres and steeped in history.

Potala Palace in particular was built in 1649 and has been the home to 14 Dalai Lamas. It’s a spectacular place, and legend says it roughly contains 4 tonnes of gold. After a few days of riding, the legs will be grateful for a good stretch, but a word of warning – prepare yourself for lots of steps!

After exploring this legendary palace, we also have time to take a trip down to Barkhor Street, spend time at the Dreprung monastery and sample some of the many restaurants, with a cool beer, of course.

Let’s face it, the adventure continues when we’re off the motorcycles too and exploring these fabled lands is something you’ll never forget.

Never too far away from a motivational message…

The Indian Himalayas are renowned for their breathtaking scenic landscapes and profound spiritual significance.

As we navigate the winding roads across this lunar-like terrain, we frequently encounter yellow road signs dotted along our route.

At first glance, you might mistake them for destinations, but on closer inspection, you soon realise they are often very blunt motivational messages.

Despite their stark tone, they are well-intentioned, designed to encourage safe driving, promote environmental consciousness, and inspire adventurers.

They often bring a smile or a good laugh.

There’s something about them that adds a touch of charm to the journey.

The long road ahead…

We’ve all been there.

On a path facing a long stint ahead, whether it’s a journey, a project, or a challenge.

Sometimes it can feel daunting.

As fear creeps in, we find ourselves ruminating on potential outcomes.
Will it all work out?

Will it go the way we planned? And so on…

Ultimately, we never know what will happen.
These are things completely out of our control.

But what we can do is prepare ourselves for the worst and hope for the best.

The same can be said of our adventures.

We face challenges, we face long stretches of road that seem never-ending, and we don’t know what’s around the corner.

Despite all this, we make it happen.

Enjoy the ride.

I’ll see you on the next one.