By Abhishek Saini
The Setback!
Before I talk about my travel journey let me tell you a few things about my past. Since my school life, I was passionate about the motorbike and always wanted to buy a Bullet. During my 12th class board examination my dad told if you scored good marks and got an admission in North Campus then will buy a bike for you. As no one from our family went to North campus so it was a big challenge for a government school student but then I got admission in Kirori Mal College and when I asked my dad where is my bike, he said you know that we don’t have money to buy the bike now. I said it’s okay then again he gave me the same incentive while I was preparing for my Master exam and again I cleared my entrance test asked him the same thing and reply was the same.
The Beginning Of My Dream Ride!
After my Masters, I got a campus placement with a high paying salary and then I asked can we buy a bike now and he said yes. Finally, after waiting for so long I bought my Royal Enfield. I still remember the date 29th January 2015. Then for the first time, I went to Patiala with my cousin and this was like a first road trip for me. After that, I realised this is the thing I want to do in my life travel on my bike as before that I haven’t traveled so much so everything was new for me and I always like meeting new people. So from here, the travel journey started, then we planned another trip to Himachal and every time the feeling to follow this passion was getting stronger and stronger.
First Long Trip!
Then in December 2016, two of my cousins and I decided to plan a long bike trip suddenly from some hundred km we were planning some thousand km ride. We decided to do a bike ride from Delhi to Goa and back to Delhi. I can’t express that feeling; how excited I was and worried at the same time as this was for the first time we were doing such a long ride. But there was a twist in this ride on the second day my elder brother told me about his health condition that doctor had told him that his one of the heart valve is 90% damaged and one is missing by birth so only one valve is working properly. I was in shock and he said let’s ride and you don’t have to worry. I remember each and every km of bike and people whom we met during our ride. Then after a few months, he went for an open heart surgery and before that he promised me that will ride again together. I was confused as generally if you see cases of open heart patient it takes years to recover. But exactly after 8 months, we both decided to do the longest ride from Delhi to Kanyakumari. Yes, Delhi to Kanyakumari and back to Delhi exactly 6677 KM and for me, it was challenge and target was to complete this ride. We did it in exactly 13 days on one bike. Recently, we both went to Nepal.
The Challenges We Faced And How We Overcame Them
When you come from middle class background convincing your parents that you want to do a road trip is so difficult and when they have only heard on TV that people do such things. For them it’s not for a middle class family it’s for rich people. It took a very long time to convince them and we also understand their concerns as roads are not safe so many accidents. Over time I have explained how much I enjoy bike riding and it helps me grow my strengths. Then another challenge was the road so whenever you are traveling you have to follow some rules which helps you to reach to your targets we made few rules like driving speed no driving at night and other basic rules.
The Inspiration To Keep Going
I love meeting new people and learning from them which is the only reason I travel on the bike and I always keep my travel diary with me. But my travel diary is different from others I never write in my travel diary and I always ask people to share their dreams in my diary. Now it’s a collection of dreams from different parts of the world and my dream is to help them in their dream because I believe we all are part of this big puzzle and one way or another way we are connected to each other. Another reason why I travel is there is so much of love and compassion, while we are on road many people came to us offering money just a way say thank or token of appreciation for our courage and there are people who offered free services to us saying enjoy your ride.
A Message For Young Travelers
I always say one thing -“Sapne pure karne chahyie nahi toh wo sapne hi reh jate hai”. Fulfil all your dream as there is nothing like impossible in this world and if you want to go far always make some rules for yourself. Like for us whenever we are on road we follow some rules – max speed limit 80 KM, no riding at night and take a proper rest. These rules are self-made depending on your strength.
Keep traveling and keep exploring this beautiful world!
