Bike:GS-150 Suzuki
Date: February 28, 2021
Day: Sunday (Funday)
Distance: About 216KM + 4KM beautiful walk
Fuel: 14 Liter (round trip)
Temperature: 5C to 23C
Time: 6:30am to 5:30pm (11 hours with too many stops)
“Ek cup Chayie ka aur lay aien” after finishing my breakfast at driver hotel which is famous from tandoori pratha , channa and chayiee. I think it was about 7 o clock in the morning when I had stopped harnoi village which is not very far from our village about 20 minutes ride from my village however couldn’t resist the lush breakfast. Though it was cold like anything it was about 5C when I left the hotel hut for getting back on my bike seat.
I love traveling and I love diversity in culture and languages so imagine my excitement when I came across a treasure of trove of travel and how we feel before during and after we travel. I am Hamza from Abbottabad in my late thirties, working in a school system and enjoy flora n funa, walk and ride through bit and pieces in Pakistan along with my GS 150 with 30k on clock. I usually don’t do solo ride but some time traveling solo means getting to know the real you and your capabilities. To make this happen I had putted my kit on and decided to have a round trip to Islamabad but not from typical route but infrequent way.
We had this plan for last weekend but something occurred ( ha ha ha ) to my friend so we have to postpone the proposal . Before I was preparing for a day trip which include my body armor safety shoes and significantly air pump because I was using some odd ways in which I might not gonna see any tyre repair shop in between or put in this way I wasn’t expecting too many people on the way. So it better fully equipped rather than speculative on road side for ages .
I have called my fellow rider with Yamaha YBR 125G if he really wanted to go this time or he has some other excuses not to join me. As expected, he has come up with explanation so it was me all alone happy and sole hitting on the road. Breakfast is something i am so fond of. The best ever meal of the day is my breakfast which I have already done.
I had to do and hour ride though it was only 35 km but it was straight uphill and tight road with lot of frost on it. So couldn’t ride fast nor make monoverse. I was riding 7000ft above the sea level and its was so wintry though there we didn’t witness enough snowfall this year but the sensation of illness I had to stop at Nathigali bazar to purchase myself some biscuits candies and bottle of water which I have bought at reasonable price.
Heading off to Baragali and it was about 2 hours when I have left after breakfast. It was surprisingly fairly busy lot of tourist and students was getting off from their vehicles and heading off to Mushkpuri Trek and Donga Galli pipe line trek with big backpacks ( no clue why do they need this for 2 hour trek). Leaving people behind I was about to leave for road which I have seldom travelled because I usually come here in summer. Twice in summer with my kids to do walk here but I can see the snow on the road and sun wasn’t showing mercy either.
Snow on the side of road and frost on the road will make rider life tough. I believe any rider can understand this whenever they had any coincidental to travel similar road
. Lucky me though road was peaceful and it took me too long to cross the 5 to 6 km. I would say longest ever ride which made me so tired because it took all body to cross frost covered road arms legs and shoulders etc.
As soon I have spotted the sunshine, I have parked my bike on the road edge to take a break. I have bought a corn and in the meantime lot of monkeys has gathered around me(might be considering me one of them) so I have bought few more corns to share with them.
I was adoring the stunning sunshine which was broad ,direct and very good source of vitamin D. It took me an half an hour while sitting there so I thought its better to vacant the room for other people who started parking next to me. I was confident I ll get supplementary of vitamen D because weather forecast was bright and sunny in Islamabad. So, I headed towards to Muree.
The period in-between what I have underestimated the fuel which I thought will take till Barakaho but bike rejected so I have putted my bike on reserve and so no other choice but to refill bike from Muree.
Now what I have heard lot about Muree on the media I wasn’t convinced about this because media do manipulate things as my believe however I have personally witness the behavior of locals which left me in shudder & surprise. As soon I saw a fuel station, I have requested him if he would guide me towards wash room and his answer was for using our facilities you need to refill from us. It is only for our customers. Allah knows I was there just to refuel the bike but the brashness OMG .I have told him that I was about to get some petrol from you but you are really miserable business man and stupid human. I left the place immediately and head off Muree behind leaving myself on stake that what if fuel tank get empty. I was so fuming that I didn’t think about this however I knew this there will be more possibilities on the way as soon I ll leave the muree behind. Even did not stop for a cup of coffee because of their behaviors and miserable attitude towards tourist was un acceptable. Twenty miles down on the GT road I have parked my bike and went to toilet as they directed me toward and later I had refuel my tank with V-power which have given my bike extra smooth ride. Sat there for a while and enjoyed the sunshine.
Now good thing I saw the richly picturesque place so I have parked my bike there and met few riders on the way who actually came all the way from Rawalpindi. They all seems quite decent and sober rider. We had good chit chat and I have shared some candies and had some productive talks regarding responsible rider.
Well rested and joined the N75 after 2 minutes ride. And here we go …gave the throttle to bike and rode up-to good pace. The road was broad and excellent so I have covered good miles parked my bike in between my ride where I can observe plenty of sunshine.
I really wanted to have a light snack so I have bought some fresh oranges from mobile shop as I have parked my bike by lake view parked and settled on the grass for a while and enjoyed delicious oranges. All sudden I thought why I shouldn’t pop in for a while and should have a cup of tea here and then I thought its better to have a cup of tea but with very famous channa chatat Sitara market.
All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.” – Friedrich Nietzsche though it wasnot with me but it give the soothing feelings with beautiful sidewalks and lot of trees. So I have parked my bike there and went for walk and took me approximately and hour for 4 KM walk.
Later I went to Rahat Bakers to Blue area to treat myself a personal pizza with the bottle of water. It was time for zuhr prayer. I do prefer to pray in Faisal mosque instead of somewhere else because I like it there.
After praying I have to go to Monal to enjoy the most awaited cup of tea which I was thinking to have since morning. So I headed of Monal restaurant and enjoyed the scenery.Road towards Monal was full the shurbs and moss. Though it was quite pleasant but when you are equipped with armor riding trouser and jacket with top and high visibility vest so for sure it will slightly make you feel warm so did happen with me.
As an alternative, i should visit Monal I have seen park on the right side of while going up there. So I have turned my bike there and started walking on the trek which was lavish with flower pots and lot of flower arrays. Though it wasn’t busy but I had enjoyed few steps in the park and enjoyed very strong cup of tea. It was superb cup of tea which made me feel energetic again. So here I am again on the road towards my next destination which was villageTajwaal. Beautiful and quite road and though I was so impressed by the infrastructure and road construction work along that area.
I have seen small tiny water fall and creek alongside road. Smooth and new paved road make you feel that you ride in heaven. What an astonishing place surrounded with hills and mountains and trees and water. To put this in net shell it was a piece of heaven on the earth specially while you are crossing all villages and isolated valleys. It was about 3 o clock when I have parked my bike on road side and went to drink some water from local hotel because I have left my bottle somewhere in Islamabad I believe when I was having tea in Damme Koh Park.
Bangs I have hitted the unpaved patch of road which was under construction! It took me about an hour ride when all sudden it was well off road experience but sometimes I do want some off road which make riding more exiting. So about out of 68 Km to Tajwal 20 km was under construction and heavy machinery and caterpillar giants are working there.
I was thinking to avoid GT road because I don’t like GT road at all. So, I have taken turn towards another primary route which ll lead me towards my next destination Havalian village. Few patches were not upto the mark but eventually it got stop by village BODLA. And once again off-road riding has started yet for 3 or 4 Km and then paved road. Again, if you are about to see sunset and you ll not have a cup of tea I consider it isult to tea so I have parked my bike in Bodla Bazar and went for cup of tea which you could consider it my last cup of tea of the day.
Duniya Jalti Rahay,
Chai Chalti Rahay
Had a chit chat with owner of hotel and local government issues and concern as considering it our own constituency.
It was my last stop during the trip because I would prefer if we reach home before it gets dark or preferably before maghrib. I personally recommend everyone don’t ride after maghrib specially if you are in some where new place. Pakistani are hospitable people and always show kindness and compassion for travelers but it’s better to be safe from curvy turns and unfamiliar roads.
Now it was my last leg of trip which I have done lot of time because in Havalian I have spent my lot of childhood in my mamu house and with my cousins. So as soon as I have reached Havalian village I took right from there and headed towards my hamlet which was about 35 minutes ride away.
As soon I have parked my bike right before my garage It was magrib time so I would say it was about 6.10pm. Had a shower with warm water and light dinner with lot of happy memories and smile on my face I was sure I am going to had a wonderful sleep so I did so.