Biking in and around the Ridges of Kathmandu: August 2013

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

3 Temples & Single Track Trail

Three Temples & Single Track Trail

28 August 2013, Krishna Janmastami

After missing two Saturday’s biking (I was visiting India) with MudTrailers, I had inquired if there was any biking in Krishnastami holiday. I gathered that a few of the MudTrailers were doing there morning ride but not those half days biking which I was expecting. Hence, as usual, I decided to go solo, the Lone Ranger way.

I took the earlier biked route, Santaneshwar Mahadev, Bajra Barahi & Tika Bhairav temples and returning via the single track trail to Chapagaon. There are two mild climbs on the way one while reaching Santaneshwar Mahadev and another after Tika Bhairav. After about half a kilometer from Tika Bhairav, the single track is on the right of the main road and it starts after crossing the suspension bridge. In my opinion the single track trail there should be called half or quarter of single track. It traverses alongside a raj kulo (village Canal). At places the canal is protected by 9 inch brick wall, (see photo) where the bikers will have to go on top of it. There is always chance of falling from that single (half, quarter) track. To be true to all of you, I did fall from that track.

Normally in group biking it is always spotted, your fall and rescue if need be and the laughter afterwards, but today I was alone not to be spotted and no laughter. Luckily the place where I fell was only 5-6 feet down from the track, hence no rescue was required. There is a photo. Since I was alone, after I recovered and came back to the track I have taken the photo of the bike in its position on the side of the canal.

I started around 7:50 am and was back home by 10:30, ride time showing 2hrs 19 minutes. The extra time were spent on taking photos. No Tea/Coffee, No Rara/WaiWai, No Sel, No Tarkari.

This time I had used STRAVA to record my biking. If interested to see the details, here is the link to the website: http://www.strava.com/activities/78102182

PS: Out of the 12 photos, only few could be uploaded due to the slow internet connection from my house. I will upload the remaining whenever I get the opportunity.

Santaneshwar Mahadev on the hill top

Kathmandu Valley

Bajra Barahi

Tika Bhairav

Single Track Trail

Tika Bhairav

Suspension Bridge

Half/quarter track trail

Fallen Bike (minus blogger)

Suspension Bridge from distance

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Budhanilkantha-Nangki Gumba-Helipad-Jagadol-Kapan

August 10, 2013

Budhanilkantha-Nangki Gumba-Helipad-Jagadol-Kapan

Last Saturday’s (3 Aug) ride was cancelled due to incessant rain and also due to our skipper’s leave that day. The rain god compensated and today’s ride was in a very cordial atmosphere. No rain, no scorching sun, the clouds gave a cool and serene environment.

NOTICE on FACEBOOK Page

10th August 2013 Saturday Ride: Destination : Budhanilkantha-Nangki Gumba-Helipad-Jagadol-Kapan | Meet point: Narayan Gopal Chowak | Meet Time: 6:15AM | Departure: 6:30AM

Today’s trail has been done previously also. All the Mud Trailers knew that the climb from Budhanilkantha to entrance of Shivapuri National Park is steep and demanding. No wonder after seeing the notification of the ride there were more NO than YES. Only five of us participated in the ride. We waited for some time in meet point (Narayan Gopal Chowk) for one of the YES voter but left soon when the voter did not respond to our call. There were other groups on the same route, bigger and pros than us who were doing the similar circuit. We started from the meet point, stopped for tickets at the entryance of the park, continued the uphill trail till Taare Bhir and then started downhill for a km or so and then stopped for our breakfast. (plain RARA jhol haleko, missed Robinson for he would ensure eggs, biscuits etc on our plate.) After breakfast continued downhill to helipad from where single track trail started till it joined a bigger track near Gokarna. Again we diverted from main road, took a single track, which brought us to Kapan Gumba. After having hot lemon in one of the eateries in Kapan, we all headed back.

By the time I reached home it was only 11:30 and the home folks were kind of surprised as why so early!! It was mainly due to the fact that we did not stop idling and only stopped for breakfast and hot lemon.

I had used EveryTrail to capture my ride, but this also comes with some handicaps. At one point the map marker shows a straight line, which signifies it did not get GPS signal. The result - it tabulated the total distance as 33 kms. The web page is given below.

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2258810