Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB

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Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/)

- Ride Tales (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/ride-tales/)

- - Nepal 2014 (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/ride-tales/nepal-2014-a-80052)

crisidsto

13 Jan 2015 15:03

Nepal 2014

2014 was a good year: for various reasons, we had the opportunity to exaggerate, so after Nicaragua in February and Mongolia in the summer, in November we were able to take even a trip to Nepal

22/11/2014

We arrive in Kathmandu, the city is chaotic but fascinating, so we spend the day walking around

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e...2014.11.45.jpg

23/11/2014

It's the day we have to pick up the bike and start our journey, but the morning starts with a bad surprise: the guy from bikemandu, from which I had booked the bike months before, a Royal Enfield Classic 350, sends me an email saying that the bike I had booked is not available, because of unspecified problems, but he has an alternative, albeit without luggage racks. I'm not discouraged, and I reply that I'm going to his place: we are in Asia, and a solution is usually easy to find, I think.
When we arrive there is no alternative.
The only bike he has is already booked by another customer, and it doesn't seem to be in good conditions.
The guy asks me if I want to see the "alternative" bike and of course the answer is yes: the bike is not there and we need to wait.
Ok no problem.
After two hours two guys arrive, riding a pair of Bullet pissing oil everywhere.
Obviously it is not the solution I was hoping for, but I ask for the price, imagining that it is lower than the one agreeded for the bike now absent.
No: the price is the same, the guy says it's a low price for the market, he isn't collaborative and we have already lost a morning.
After his wife intervenes to support their reasons, I send them lovingly to hell and I go away.
The day before I saw bike rental shops in Thamel, the tourist district, and I suppose to be able to find an alternative: in the worst case we will tour Nepal on a Bajaj Pulsar.

So our plan, as often happens in Asia, is thrown in the trash the first day.
No problem: the guys from the rental shops are much more friendly and everyone tells me to come back in the evening when I will have the opportunity to see more bikes and choose the one i like.
We are sure that the next day we will have a bike for us, so we spend the rest of the day to go sightseeing

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crisidsto

13 Jan 2015 15:06

crisidsto

13 Jan 2015 17:24

At evening we return at the most friendly and professional looking rental shop.
They offer us to choose between a few bikes and we select a Bajaj Pulsar 220 with some scraps but only 2000 km and a Royal Enfield Classic 350 with 8000 km, both coming with soft side bags.
Having tried both, I succumb to the allure of the Enfield.
The price at the end of negotiations, it's the same I had from bikemandu - so it was not a low price.
I ask them to give me, the next morning, at least a spare tube.

24/11/2014

The bike comes as promised, plus even some cable and spark plug replacement.
Loaded it, we let what is left out of our bags at the hotel and we are ready to go.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V...2006.16.40.jpg

You need to drive on the left, as in England, but it's not particularly problematic to me, the traffic is ... oh well

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i...2/DSCN1785.JPG

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https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-p...2/DSCN1789.JPG

On the way I try to be very careful and cautious: seeing a truck overtaking and in the wrong lane sticking out from behind a blind curve is pretty much the normality.
The meaning of a flashing is something like this "I know very well that I am in your lane, but I'm not going to move, so I'm flashing to tell you that if you want to avoid a front crash you must slow down and throw you to the side because I do not give up"
with a smile, of course.

But is not all that bad ...

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C...2/DSCN1801.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W...2/DSCN1802.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2...2/DSCN1814.JPG

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Sometimes it is even worse

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z...2/DSCN1824.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-G...2/DSCN1825.JPG

After at least a 5 hour ride, we reach Pokhara.

kawazoki

13 Jan 2015 21:34

And price for rental was ??:D

crisidsto

13 Jan 2015 22:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by kawazoki (Post 491971)

And price for rental was ??:D

22/23 USD per day for the Enfield 350, 13/15 USD for the Bajaj Pulsar...

crisidsto

14 Jan 2015 11:57

25/11/2014

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U...2/DSC_0247.JPG

We have to decide: do we go high in the mountains or not?
The ascent and descent to/from Muktinath would require at least 5 days from what they tell us, the season would be the right one, but doing it two up would require some effort.
The bike so far has been good: it just needs a little welding.
Usually, in these situations, I'm not the one who is able to say "no", but this time is different: we're enjoying Nepal and the time we have is not the longest one.
Any problem on the way to Muktinath could cause us to lose days and keep us from seeing much of the rest of the country.
We decide to abandon the idea, this time we'll visit the part of Nepal more easily accessible.
We intend to return for a second trip, so Sabrina will satisfy her desire for trekking, while I will enjoy the dirt without a passenger, perhaps with some other friends.

So today we stay in Pokhara, taking it easy

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In the afternoon we visit the village of Tibetan refugees of Tashi Palkel

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-F...2/DSC_0293.JPG

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And then up to Sarangkot to take a look at the mountains

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z...2/DSCF4603.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R...2/DSCF4605.JPG

After sunset we return to town for a beer at Bullett Base Camp.
The restaurant is currently closed, but some of the regulars are still there in front for a chat and a few bottles recovered from the shops nearby ...

crisidsto

15 Jan 2015 10:19

crisidsto

15 Jan 2015 13:45

crisidsto

16 Jan 2015 15:57

crisidsto

18 Jan 2015 12:03

crisidsto

18 Jan 2015 12:05

crisidsto

19 Jan 2015 14:13

mossproof

19 Jan 2015 20:29

Lovely photos. Great report. I worked in Nepal as a tour guide on the late '90s and you've made me "homesick" for the place!
I think the bike hire is pretty reasonable - compare it with European prices! Apart from welding, how is the bike holding up, and would you recommend the company you used?
Thanks for sharing your story,
Ride safe,
Simon.

crisidsto

19 Jan 2015 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by mossproof (Post 492635)

Bike was ok: just a small welding needed on one of the exhaust supports.

I was also happy with the guy who I rented it from. Here's his card

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-E...2018.57.39.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a...2018.57.01.jpg

crisidsto

20 Jan 2015 14:03

All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:04.

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