Day 12-Sankoo-Kargil-Lamayuru

3rd Day-23th Sep 2014

We had reached at Sankoo JK Guest house around 8 pm in the pitch dark after conquering Umba La pass.This GH has two general rooms one VIP room and one dingy dormitory in the basement.General rooms were occupied by two tourist family from MH and caretaker refused to let out VIP room for us.So it was dorm,where we would spend our night.No problem.But there is another issue,no food in the GH.Shops are also closed in Sankoo market but we were somehow able to fetch some biscuits packets  and Maggie form an open shop.Our day had been very long and tiring so sleep was badly needed.My bed in the dorm was making a creaking sound but i was able to have a good sleep.

Day 13-Lamayuru to Leh

Day 3 Lamayuru-Nimmu-Leh 24th Sep 2014

Home stay at Lamayuru was a memorable stay.It had a lovely garden in the middle courtyard with lots of flowers and apple tree.No restriction on apple plucking and trees were laden with small size apple variety.We had already settled our bill previous night after dinner so that we could move out early without bothering our host family.Within minutes of moving ahead,famous Moonland forced us to stop and do some random photography.

Day 14-Lah-Khardung La-Agam-Shyok-Tangaste

Leh-Ktop-Khardung-Agam-Shyok-Khalsar-Tangaste

Day 4 was the most eventful day.We started early in the morning from our Guest House at Changspa road.Idea was to cross Khardung la pass early and reach Agam-Shyokas early possible.As soon as we lef Leh city, Doc Victor’s bike developed some pick up issue and refused to go uphill.We try to fix the issue but in vain.Doc saab asked us to proceed further without him as he did not want to abort our ride because of his bike.Unwillingly,reluctantly we resumed our ride towards Ktop while Doc returned to Leh to fix the bike.Road to Ktop was as usual mixed type.Intitail condition was good and worsen as we neared the pass.Few kilometers before pass,weather god got angry and snowfall started and temperature dropped resulting reduced visibility and numbness in fingers…I just hate this snowfall…It makes life so painful and unbearable for a rider.Last year too,same snowfall made my life pathetic.
We arrived on Ktop and thin layer of white snow sheet welcomed us.Winds were also fast and it was blizzard like situation on the K top.But Jassi was ecsatatic.After all he was at his dream place.He wanted to click many photos,wanted to buy some stuff from army shop.I advised him to complete his shopping ASAP.He parked his bike and gave his bike keys and went inside the shop.I waited him outside for few minutes and in cold and blizzard but he did not came out.I knew that a prolonged stay on this eighteen thousanders can make us AMS sick.I went inside again to remind him and found him talking to fauji.I asked him to finish his shopping and start the bike and came outside.Again,he did not come out so to save myself from AMS,i started my scooter and rode down towards Nubra.Again road was complete pathetic and bumpy ride made my neck,butt and spine painful.

Day 15 to 20----Tangaste-Pangong-Tangaste-Pang-Jispa-Manali-Delhi

On 25 th Sep,we had crash landed in a Tangaste guest house after very adventurous Agam-Shyok section.Lady owner of Guest house was courteous and had a very comfortable arrangement.Today on 26th Sep,Pangong was just 40 kms and we were armed with Marsimik La permit.We Reached Lukung around 11 am and instead of going to Pangong I turned towards Phobrang village to reach ITBP check post to go to M-La.We went to the post and presented our permit to Jawans posted and they allowed us to go further without our camera.That camera ban was a shocker for me and after requesting them for some time I returned from the post after abandoning my ambitious Marsimik La ride plan.We came back to Pangong lake and found a very bright sunny crisp weather and water of Pangong was shining like a crystal lake and each hue of blue was there.It was an amazing sight to see Pangong in such colourful avatar,first time for me.We spent few hours at Lake.While we were spending time at lake,we bumped into the Gypsy guys again.They had just returned from Marsimik La and after listening our failed Marsimik story they told us that they had carried many cameras hidden inside their Gypsy and had we climbed up towards Marsimik La we would have bumped into each other at M-La.
Anyhow,we chatted for some time and gypsy guys went towards Chushul.We also returned back to Tangaste for night stay.