Section 3: The Journey > Chapter 39: Fixtures & Fissures

June 12, 2010

We're in Khalsar. I know not what became of the family three - RomeoMike, Drifter and Ashwin. They probably follow at a dwindling pace. The path has been all but rosy, for Motorbreath too has contracted a puncture. So afraid was he of accusations of a sluggish pace at the hands of Spiderweb that, despite my warnings, he has kept up momentum well into the three digits at the risk of contracting a severe case of rim bending. Fortunately he hasn't. As we feast on a lunch of noodles and rice, we inquire around for a mechanic. There is none in the region, we are told. We might find help at the army base a kilometer out. A curious tourist family will inquire about our safety gear, our vocation, our vacation, our journey. They will invite us for dinner in Diskit - for they are headed that way too - but they will not leave an address. We did not intend to honour the invitation either, but the dynamics of the invitation amuse us nonetheless.

We head on out to the army base. Once again, I am pushed to the fore to negotiate for help. Once more we meet with resistance. One more time I will plead for aid. They will eventually allow one of us to enter. Motorbreath will navigate his steed into the camp and emerge a half hour later informing us that he has not one, but three punctures. With only one strip at hand, he will fix the largest one. With the rest, we can only hope for the best. As we are about to head out, Spiderweb will spot a familiar site on the hills above. Biru and his troupe navigate the curves. They've caught up with us. Delighted with the prospect of their company, we ride back towards the township for we know they are likely to halt for a meal. Our conjecture is bang on, for we find them taking solace in the very place we occupied not long ago. Once more there's jubilation on meeting the brethren. But we have more reason to rejoice, for following suit, not long after, are the family three. They made it - a swiftly I might add for our high speeds would have warranted a larger gain on them.

RomeoMike will inform me that the man under the walnut tree was indeed of help. For he possessed a foot pump that enabled them to reconstitute air pressure in the Passion's tyres. He was, though, unable to help them fix a puncture. But the little help went a long way for it enabled the family three to pick up pace and catch up with us.  

Vishal's steed will be inspected by one from Biru's troupe concluding that the tube is too worn out for repairs. It will need to be replaced. And while we all carry tubes, none carry sizes amenable to the Passion. Nonetheless, I recommend we head to the army base camp for help. They are less helpful this time round - for their mechanic will declare his inability to help without due inspection. 

RomeoMike, Drifter and Vishal will head directly to Diskit to look for a mechanic. Spiderweb, Motorbreath and I along with Biru and company will head to Panamik, Nubra. We bid adieu to the family three. Once more our steeds rumble. This time a lot more metal, a lot more clank.

Spiderweb assumes lead of the entire troupe but not for long - for a false turn on this part will force us to dive into a U-turn, allowing Biru to resume lead. Motorbreath and I will drag race for a few meters despite low fuel just to amuse ourselves. Motorbreath will emerge victorious for the R-15 performs abysmally on short streaks. Fortunately Motorbreath will not be so presumptuous as to say he is better than me. Eventually Spiderweb will fall back too and lead only us for he believes the group ahead rides in-cohesively. I can only assume that they expel him for they ride as one.  We will take a few pictures - but for the most part, I will be convinced that the beauty of Nubra is perhaps overrated. The Universe will not argue, for today, it shows me nothing astounding.

As we enter a micro settlement Motorbreath will halt. His steed has run into reserve - he might not be able to ride alongside us for long. This surprises us for Motorbreath's steed has a larger tank and we had hoped that in case of a crisis, we could draw from his tank. We now recall Motorbreath's spill and realize that he lost that which we banked on. Spiderweb will insist that Motorbreath leave his steed within the confines of the settlement and come pillion. Motorbreath will resist claiming he does not believe it to be a safe dwelling. Curious eyes from those around don't lend us any comfort. Unsurprisingly Spiderweb will push harder trying to convince Motorbreath to leave his steed behind. Motorbreath will instead choose to stay with his steed and meet us on our return. Eventually I will suggest that we keep riding for I am aware that those ahead of us carry spare fuel which we might avail off. We all agree and resume riding.

We don't see the Biru and company for many minutes. Eventually we will find the group's designated tail sitting on the sidelines with a look of exasperation. On inquiry, we are told, that the plan is to visit the hot water springs in the vicinity. However we've missed the bend to the springs about a kilometer from whence we came. The steed on the tail had stopped for directions for he sensed something was amiss, while his company had nudged on, not realizing they were missing a man. He joins us and we turn back. A kilometer out, we see a dirt track headed straight up with no indication as to its destination. We conjecture it must be the springs for we see concrete installations up top. As it turns out, our assumptions are on the money. We park our steeds and rest our backs. Hysterically we see the rest of the company, presumably realizing their folly, riding up and down the lanes several times over, missing the dirt track at every pass despite our attempts at attracting their attention. Eventually they will find their way up. After heated exchanges with the tail, we will all settle down and walk up flights of stairs to see the hot springs.

The hot springs are disappointing as well for the facility is rather small. It would appear that a lot of effort has gone into advertising Nubra for I don't see it living up to its promise. I know I must refrain from being cynical, but to think I've risked running out of fuel to reach this place, I had hoped for something more grandiose.

An elderly gentlemen will slip on the mossy terrain and plunge to the cemented floor. I will help him up for his offspring is much to young to rush to his aid. We will all take handkerchiefs, soak them in the hot spring water and wipe our skin with it. I am told it has healing properties like none other. I believe this to be untrue. After some pixellation, we will decide to call it a day.

Motorbreath will pull me into a corner and inquire if it would be advisable to excrete in a specific structure he points to. I look inside and realize that it's an under construction spa which will presumably draw water from the hot springs. I advise against excretion in such a splendid structure - which would be catastrophic to the generations to come - suggesting instead that we break en route and the shrubs and bushes may lay witness to his evil deeds.  We must ride back to Diskit now for the family three await us.

Biru and company though, have its own complications. For one of them refuses to ride. He claims night riding was never on the agenda and he will not be part of it. This, despite the fact that - given the dynamics of the time frame we are in - the night ride will last no more than 20 minutes. Sissy is all I can come up with in my bid to judge him for I do not believe one can pretend to be a princess when we ride like beasts. Biru indicates that we should move along. The company has no choice but to seek shelter in Nubra.

And so, Spiderweb, Motorbreath and I will throttle up once more - but not before Motorbreath will borrow a litre of fuel from one of the company. The ride to Diskit is laborious, perhaps more so because we continue to run the risk of taking out the stress of which is taking its toll on us. Tanking out in a hilly terrain with no humanity in sight and an ill-natured climate is an alarming proposition. We make no halts - with Spiderweb leading us through treacherous terrain for several hours. Eventually we will find Diskit and we will seek shelter in the first lodge we can find. It's relatively expensive, but we couldn't care less. We will look for the family three the morning next.

We dine, feast our eyes on inmates of the opposite sex, return to our quarters and tune out of the Universe...