April 2025

 

April 2025

 

Just back from another visit to India and documented in March 2025 postings. The highlight for ma was the 1000km bike to Arunachal Pradesh. I would not say riding for three days in the rain and mud enjoyable. It was an experience and an achievement at being the oldest man on a motorcycle to do that journey and can be seen by looking at jungle_jatri on the internet. Back to more mundane things and the Wey Valley Observed Sunday and barbeque not becoming an annual celebratory event for the club. It was a cold wind but the sun was shining making it reasonably pleasant to sit outside. I went on the Kawasaki testing out the saddlebags and discovered how wide the bike had become. Something to work on.

I did a little fettling over the next few days with the mounting brackets and gave the El Cid a once over for the trip to Bristol over Easter. Staying with my brother Adrian with the plan of going to the 2CV National Rally held at Martha’s Down near Salisbury in convoy. It is a good flat camp site albeit on the top of a hill which means it is open to the weather and can be cold and windy. On the way to Bristol I could smell oil and when the oil light came on it was panic time. I stopped on junction 17 slip road of the M4 and threw what oil I had in the engine. Continuing on to Leigh Delamare services a mile away I bought more oil and topped up the sump. Only fourteen miles to go I coaxed the car along just getting to Adrian’s when the oil light came on again. I breathed a sigh of relief arriving with the engine intact. But what was the problem? Oil appeared to be coming from the rocker box seal. An easy job if that was all it was.

Good Friday was a trip into Bristol by bus to visit the Old Duke for jazz. That was pre Covid now instead of every day it is twice a week  and not today so we headed to Weatherspoons for cheap beer and food It was raining most of the day and retired to Adrian’s for a takeaway. Barry, my eldest brother, came over for a bit of a reunion.

Saturday was another dismal day. We managed to find a car accessory shop open in Chipping Sodbury and bought oil and gasket sealant. When the weather cleared in the afternoon it was time to tackle the job. The El Cid parked on Adrian’s drive blocking his garage. Nice to work on but he would not be able to use his Dolly until the job was done. Front off to gain access to the heat cowlings and reveal the oil pipes to the cylinder heads. This showed the main cause of the oil leak. The oil pipe had broken next to the union on the left cylinder head. We did try to silver solder it but we could not get the silver solder to stick. Abandoning that , Adrian retired to a safe distance while I dismantled and removed the fan and the housing  to get to the oil pipe running between the heads. Oil pipe removed it was time to stop and get cleaned up for the evening.

Sunday  was our day to visit Martha’s Down and the 2CV National Rally. With our convoy left on the drive and in the garage we went in the Picasso. At the rally there was the meeting of old friends and ECAS to buy the spares I needed. There was a really nice selection of cars and vans to look around and talk to their owners. It was cold again and we left early along with many people decamping to go home. One time I will stay long enough to enjoy the evening’s entertainment, but not this year.

Monday was another rainy morning and I had to wait for the sun to come out to start the repair.  Fitting the oil pipe the copper washers were annealed by Adrian  to make the sealing easier and for the banjo bolts to bite. Filled with oil the engine started to test for leaks. A successful job. While things were apart the oil cooler needed a clean and so did most of the engine bay to remove the oil that had been distributed. Much engine cleaner and a spray bottle to get the cleaner into where it was needed. Even requiring a brush to get the muck off the oil cooler. That had not been done for years. When we were happy it was clean enough the fan cowling was fitted then the fan, fan belt and finally the front of the car. A successful test drive and we were ready for my journey home.

Tuesday return home with a stop at Membury on the M4 to check oil. There was something below the left cylinder on the chassis. I wiped it off and continued. There was some when I got home but no discernable change in oil level. A few days later I checked the oil level and engine bay and it was all clean. Job OK and no more work to do.

March 2025 Part 3 Finale part 2

 

March 2025

Part 3 Finale Part 2

Returning to Guwahati, the main city of Assam, was to be quite busy. Staying at the India Club was a central location for us to meet up with old friends. Joonjyoti had arranged for us to join up with a ladies group on holiday from Nepal who were celebrating two birthdays that day. They were ladies who were at school together and have remained friends even though a few have emigrated to America. Two of them had husbands and sons interested in my cars and bikes that helped to make a very interesting celebration along with the champagne and birthday cake. Joonjyoti being the excellent host he is arranged the venue, music, cake, champagne and transport to bring them to the club. What a group of ladies!

The next day we were whisked away by taxi to a Homestay location to be part of a comedy show. All arranged by Lakhu, Chinmoy’s sister, and TV presenter with  writer, director, actor Nisha Kalita. It took all day to do the shooting and went well into the evening. We did have to rerecord the vocals again as they were not good enough live. That was done the next evening at Deepa’s flat. The video appeared about two weeks later.

In You Tube type

Bihu Main Season 3 Nisha Kalita Comedy series

I had a meeting with Pikoloo Deka  while he was visiting Guwahati and good to reminisce and talk about the future of the Museum and received the plaque.

More efforts from Lakhu as we were taken to News Desk 24, ND24, for a joint interview. We were interviewed for over an hour and with lots of clips from our trip to Arunachal. The interview was published within two days under ND24 #tag interviews. Hosted by Manash Pratim Deka

In YouTube type this into the search box

lovestory#assam#britain#manashpratimdeka

Not to be outdone  by ND24 another TV company wanted an interview this was Asom 24 and it was done in Deepa’s living room, by Rajdeep Bailung. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1F1vc91wAU/

 

Your comments please.

Having spent much time doing these things  an afternoon talking to Joonjyoti about future plans for a road trip was refreshing. In a few days were back in Delhi rounding off the holiday with seeing Omar and Roma with lunch at the Momagolo in Khan Market for a pleasant lunch with good company.

I thought the last visit to India was busy but this was a different dimension with the number of diverse things we did. So what is next? I have been promised a bike trip to Megalaya another one of the “Seven Sisters” and once again up into the hills like Arunachal Pradesh. I’m told it will not be muddy or rainy. Something to look forward to.

March 25 Part 3 Finale 1

 

March 2025

Part 3 The Finale 1

What more had this holiday installed for us. So far an Indian wedding in two locations a one thousand kilometre bike ride and now we are heading off on our return journey to Delhi via some interesting places. First stop is the largest island in the Bramaphutra river. Mejuli. Feels remote. Isolated with sporadic villages and roadside stalls selling petrol in water bottles and where people gather. 

Cattle are frequent but mostly stay in the fields. Roads are mostly straight and are on causeways above the fields and clear of the flood plain. People on bicycles going where they need to go. Nothing much for distractions but the only ones obeying rules are cows. Everyone else it is a free for all meaning driving requires full concentration at all times and necessary low speeds making journeys no quick jaunt. The remoteness is a must for prayer and Mejuli has more than its’ fair share of temples and shrines.

 It is also a place for industry among the places visited were a handmade pottery  and a theatrical mask company. The masks are made big, people size or small, monkey head depending on the character represented and what is required or the performance or parade. All made from traditional materials. Clay and cow dung. It doesn’t smell. They look real even more so when parts move like the monkey head with a moving jaw.

We stayed overnight in a Government run hotel then escaped the island on an over-packed ferry. One where the cars drove on from the side and were parked as they arrived on deck. It was the most direct route to our next destination and a couple of nights in Kazeranga National Wildlife Park.

 In Kazeranga are the rhinos Assam’s emblem a must to see. We took a safari drive to see the rhinos in an open jeep. We spent much of the time queuing to get through security to get in. 

Why am I such a security risk? There was an artistic performance at the Orchid sanctuary and not far away a Motorcycle Museum. 

The only one I knew of was just outside Guwahati that I visited in 2019 reported in Something for the museum my first blog. This one was called Treasured Wheels and new for this area. I had to visit. While Gita went shopping in the Orchid Sanctuary I went to the museum. It turns out to, be run by Pikoloo Deka and is the same museum relocated. It is being rebuilt with help from Kazeranga administration to promote tourism. He is doing a very good job at building new facilities for visitors to enjoy. I have the honour of being the first foreign visitor, the first entry in the visitors book, the first to buy an entry ticket and receive a commemorative trophy. He has still to complete the restoration of his Subeam S7 any help with distributor, alternator, and drive shaft will be much appreciated. It was a first to a transport museum for our driver Ghana who had been driving our support vehicle to and from Mechoukha and now continuing being our guide and driver.

At lunch time I had to extract Gita from the array of shops to head for Guwahati and take up residence in the India Club. We still did not see any orchids.

March 2025 Part 2 The Bike Ride Part2

 

March 2025

Part 2 The Bike Ride Part 2

 

After arriving the temperature at the Homestay bedroom was dropping with approach of darkness. Another day getting wet. Cold again and no heating the kind people running the Homestay let us have an electric blanket. It was just what we needed and after a warming shower we headed for the communal room where the stove had just been lit and I was hugging it waiting for beer to arrive. I had been on a remarkable journey and survived. I had no idea that I would have to do it in reverse. All I wanted was to sleep. Over the next two days Gita and I did little other than clean our bike gear. The mud was so fine it got everywhere. The best way to remove it was waiting for it to dry and brushing it off but it still managed to impregnate fabrics and leather. My bike boot zips seized with it and it took days to get them working properly again. On the first rest day we had a trip to a monastery restaurant and then to Dorjeeling to visit the heritage village. 

The second rest day was a bit of sitting in the sun and getting sunburnt then a trip around the valley by car. We were in a restricted area and were not permitted to get to the snow line and the crashed helicopter.

Day four was the return trip. The Homestay was good fun with the gang. Another early start at six am without breakfast. Once again there was notice of road closures. After a drizzly start the weather improved to glorious sunshine that stayed with us throughout the morning interspersed with breaks for boiled eggs and bananas. About eleven we were halted by the sound of a heavy blast. This turned into one and a half hours waiting as we watched to road being cleared.

 In the mean time the weather closed in and it was raining quite hard when we had to stop for two hours for road works. By two pm we were in a cafe for lunch and shelter from the rain. By four the road was open again. Three and a half hours of daylight lost and also my energy. There is no heating except a modest fire that only a few could get close to. We pressed on through heavy rain until my energy ran out and I had a “Holi” moment on a narrow track falling to the right this time and my leg hit a rock. Fortunately only bruised but it was a warning that I did not have the strength to hold the bike anymore. It was about five in the evening, Still raining and even thicker mud. I bailed out and took to the car before I could hurt myself. There were still three weeks in India to enjoy. The car was uncomfortable being rocked by potholes and I was wet. It did not bother me on the bike but unpleasant as you warmed up. In a couple of  hours we were at the Hotel West in Aalo. Glad to have got there but sad that I had to bail out, better to be with Gita in the car.

It was more of a leisurely start in the morning, time for breakfast with the sun shining. I could dry some of my gear and I was able to put on dry fresh clothes for the first time on a morning. What a change to ride in the sunshine climbing the hills out of Aalo. Sweeping bends  with reasonable roads and only a few road works to contend with. A real treat. I was still a bit tired so Gita was pillion for Chinmoy leading the way on his yellow Suzuki with me following close enough to use the communicators. Bikash followed me to pick up the pieces.

Lunch was at Pasishap at another noodle place at my request. The sunshine and warm at lower altitudes abled me to shed layers. Being dry and some confidence there would be grip it was a faster ride. Post lunch roads were better and we had long stretches of dual carriage way broken to rubble to keep the speeds down. I managed to get the Husky up to over 130kph according to Bikash as he could not get by me. The speedo on the Husky was fogged after being drowned the previous day. I could see nothing only the neutral indicator light, but it did wind up well. It seemed like no time at all before pulling in at the Bogiebil resort just across the big Bramaphutra bridge about four for afternoon tea and a snack. Fighting with unforgiving tea time traffic on the last leg as it was getting dark. We safely arrived back in Bamunbari at Chinmoy’s house about six. Making a nine hour journey some 273 km for the day. Most people went home to come back later for an evening of camaraderie. What an expedition covering some 1000km in six days recorded on Jungle Jatri web site in their videos. https://www.instagram.com/travelling_hipp0/reel/DHdYcpNBOyX/               and

https://www.instagram.com/jungle_jatri/reel/DHXN-jbyU8B/ if you have an Instagram acccount

March 2025 Part 2 The Bike Ride 1

 

March 2025

Part 2 The Bike Ride 1

 

Nazira to Bamunbari a welcome escape with Chinmoy, his family and friends to his home. We will be staying there a few days enjoying the delights of Rural Assam before setting off on an adventure. E had one glorious day of sunshine before the weather changed to persistent rain sometimes very heavy as the weather fronts moved through. It was the day to check out the bike, fill up with fuel and give Gita the chance to test the comfort of the Husky. When it did stop raining it was almost dark and no time to do a test ride. Chinmoy did all the preparations and fettling necessary for the trip.

We were up at six to have an eight am departure. Breakfast consumed, geared up, communicators working we set off in light rain with Gita on the back. We rode as a group to Arunachal picking up bikers on the way including some welcome breaks in the weather. There was a short delay at the border to check our permits to enter. It is close to the Chinese border and has a strong military presence. Shortly after the border we stopped for lunch at a hotel. Some spectacular views even though the clouds were low and around us and wet.

Some distance on we were on a very poor road that went from potholed tarmac to just potholes and rocks. It was hard work for me but very uncomfortable for Gita and I asked her to take the car which she was happy to do. I could manage the rough road without Gita on the back. We rolled in to Aalo at around 5:30 in drizzle. I did not know it at the time but we had covered 270km in about nine and a half hours. Google maps says a six hour journey time. I had arrived at the Reyi Homestay cold and wet. There was no heating only a hot shower and no way to dry my gear.

A very social evening around an open we retired early in preparation for a 5:30 am start. To do this we were was up at 4:45 into we gear packed and ready to go and did get away just before six. Gita was in the car again as it was raining. As we progressed to the mountains and into the clouds the rain became heavier with more standing water with mud lining the road. Through the clouds the rain eased and was on and off along the route. We had warnings of road closures at mid day for road works. The pressure was on to keep going. Short stops at small cafes on the way kept me going. The road seemed like a perpetual road work with miles of mud challenging my riding skills. Sometimes the mud won and I had a “Holi” moment. Holi is the festival of colour where it is distributed everywhere. Mine was mud on my jacket. I had problems with my wrist coping with holding the throttle and operating the front brake. I pressed on with frequent stops. In many place the road improvements had been completed and we had lots of miles on four lane roads but it was not continuous marred by Bailey bridges that had potholes and or mud to contend with before, after and on. I had had enough. We had lost touch with the car. It would not be coming back. I had to keep going. By this time we had been on the road for seven hours in the most difficult conditions I had ever encountered. We stopped at Tato for lunch where Chicken noodles sated my hunger. I had nothing much to eat other than fruit and nuts when the car was around. After eating our riders group was on the road again. Poor roads were a nightmare, potholes and mud seemed to be at every corner. My wrist problem persisted and more frequent stops. Finally we were dropping down into Mechoukha and pulled into GTL Homestay at about 4:30 pm. Ten and a Half hours on the road covering 184km. Google says it is a 6h 12min journey. It may be in dry conditions but not in mud.

 

March 2025

 Part 1 Wedding

I flew out of Heathrow on the 27^th February on our next expedition to India. Only four suitcases this time, two of which contained bike gear. We had enough clothes for five weeks away and included a wedding and a bike ride and returning on the 4^th April. This is the chronical of that trip. The cards were unreliable but the internet access by a virtual internet downloaded to my mobile worked extremely well for the duration of the trip. It is Nomad downloaded and set up before we left on a thirty day contract it ran out just before we returned to Delhi.It is a tiring flight, made more so when you arrive at your destination at midnight. Back in Noida to have the first few days with Gita’s mum and sister. We had problems with credit cards and bank cards on our last trip. Better prepared we had what we thought was enough cash but as a backup we had use of an Indian credit card used by Ankur, Bhonti’s son. AS we could not carry everything presents had to be bought for the next stage of our trip, the wedding in Assam. To get there was a flight to Guwahati and a two hour taxi ride to a town to the east Nagaon where the brides’ family live and the first part of the wedding takes place.

This is the first time we meet the bride and her family. It is the time the bride is “given away” receiving presents many are symbolic of preparing for a new future. Many of the customs are similar in all wedding ceremonies but this one does not include the groom. He is not allowed. Prior to this we have a family conference to sort the gifts out and make sure we have not forgotten anything. We are staying at a Hotel and the rest of the family are in a Guest House down the road. Gita and I are tired having travelled from Delhi at stupid-o-clock in the morning and arrive in Nagaon at seven in the evening, not having eaten and are pestered by the family for the things we have brought with us. It was not good for family harmony. The next day was the “giving away” ceremony during the afternoon. In the evening was the ritual “bathing” of the groom. Not as it sounds it is more anointing with traditional things. I am not sure what, but one looked like yoghurt. Other than the groom wishing he didn’t have to do it, it was a very social evening. Rishi, the groom, had more to endure the next day. There are three “bathing” ceremonies followed by the wedding in the evening.

We gathered at the hostel where were staying about seven in the evening. It was dark by then and parked ready was the decorated car which Rishi, best man and the “maids of honour” travel in. Lots of photos at this point before departure. Rishi’s friends were getting hyped. When the whole entourage departed it was with much noise and show o let everyone know they were coming. The boys took the opportunity to be hooligans leaning out of the car windows and making as much noise as possible.

 They took the scenic route through the town and arrived at the brides’ parents house for the ceremony. It was even noisier with music and firecrackers announcing the groom had arrived. There is a certain amount of pagan traditions that need to take place that I did not understand like the groom and best man have to stay in the car with nose and mouth covered to stop being infected by evil spirits. When released were showered with rice before being received by the matriarch who blessed him in four directions. He was facing a wall of relatives. Finally the matriarch allowed him to proceed. He was lead to the area set aside for the priests. The groom and best man were to their extreme right, space for the bride then the priests. It was not long before the bride arrived and the ceremony really began. 

So did the food so most people went for something to eat. They missed the important bit of sharing their vows and the actions that went along with them. It was not like anything I had seen before but it seemed so familiar. There were exchanges of rings and the presentation of a symbolic sword and after games of who could find the ring quickest of which best of three worked. The evening ended with lots of photos and meeting people. I went back to the hotel and Gita stayed to help clear up. She got back at three. We had to leave early to take a taxi to Guwahati airport. It was a mistake to take a plane. The logistics of where towns are located  it was three hours back to the airport and two hours from Dibrugahr where we flew to, to Nazira. The relatives who went directly from Nagaon got there before us. It only took them six hours. We, however, took Twelve most of which was airport driven. I’ll not do that again.

Chinmoy and Bikash collected us from Dibrugahr airport and took us to Nazira and the Oil India accommodation and met up with Gita’s brothers there. Another suitcase full of presents to be dished out. We had another family day before the wedding. Another lavish affair this time from Rishi’s family. Namely us. 

Wedding day was busy with a constant stream of people coming to wish the bride and groom well and have food as well. It felt like the whole town was there including the mayor. Chinmoy and Bikash came too talk to me about the forthcoming bike ride. Can I do 200km in a day? Ofcourse I can. I thought silly question I did not realise the implications at the time. It was an event to show off the bride with so many pictures taken.  I went back to the accommodation around ten and Gita stayed to help out and got back at one. Another experience to ponder.

 

February 2025

 

I am a bit behind with sorting things out post trip to India and the fun I had there riding a Husqvarna. When I got back the first venue was Wey Valley Observed Sunday. The weather forecast was frosty and knowing how treacherous the roads can be I set off in the C3 for warmth and safety.  It took ages to defrost the car and I arrived at Cobham village hall about a quarter to nine. I was told then that Observed Sunday was cancelled due to weather conditions. The committee has a mandate to ensure the safety of riders. Temperatures below five centigrade pose a risk and rides should be cancelled. This didn’t help me, the notification wet out by email at 08:13. I had left long before that and so did quite allot people as well. For a cancelled meeting it was quite busy and so was the shop. I did my usual round of photos to mark the occasion with long shadows and receding frost from the grass.

Although the weather was cold, damp and gray I checked the cars and bikes for battery charge and tyre pressures and put the Burton and El Cid on top up charges. To my surprise both batteries were in good condition and they fired up once the fuel had got to the carbs. Such  is the joy of not having fuel injection. I caught up with hospital appointments that were delayed until after our India visit and the damage caused by the first Covid vaccination in March 2021 causing stroke like symptoms. The damage is in the area of the pons and has caused all my symptoms. There is a long list causing referral to most of the specialists at the hospital. One of my old work colleagues did not fare so well and I went to his wake.

On a happier note Valentine’s day  came along with the London Motorcycle show. I had a mission to check out suitable luggage for the Kawasaki and sit on a few bikes that took my fancy and to see what surprises Sammy Miller had on his stand. At the end of the afternoon Henry Cole was hosting the interview with Sammy Miller along with Skid and Allan Millyard who happened to have brought Nemesis along and fired it up. Now that is a howling V8.

Shopping went quite well with Gita buying a leather waistcoat and a new helmet. The old one was ten years old and was no longer as comfortable as it used to be. I had a success with Shad luggage for the Kawasaki we found something that I could adapt. From an enquiry to buying soft luggage and the carrier on the day and even more of a surprise getting it delivered the next day. I installed the Cardo Spirit  system to Gita’s new helmet and got her phone paired as well.

The luggage arrived and my brain went into overdrive. In the next few days I bought extra long high tensile socket bolts, 20mm spacers and 25mm by 4mm mild steel strip. I needed the long bolts and spacers to move the mounting plates away from the grab rails. I drilled 10mm holes for the 8mm bolts to give me some wiggle room and 8mm stainless button head bolts to attach the plates to the carrier frame. 4mm steel is tough to bend so I used 15mm bar for a curve to make it easier. Two of the brackets had right angles and the other two were at an angle to match the frame. I had to do a couple of adjustments to the positioning of the frame to make the saddle bags clear the pillion feet and footrest. I need to do a test ride to make sure.

I had an email from the Citroen Car Club  to say there was a French Car Meeting at Blackbushe Airport early Saturday morning congregating at the cafe there. It was damp and miserable when I left home in the El Cid. I brightened as the morning went on. It was not good for pristine classic cars but enough people turned out to make it all worthwhile, including a super dark green Citroen cabriolet. There was a collection of Renaults  but it was best supported by local twoCVers even one from Bristol who came for breakfast. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday.