I lie on the asphalt hot looking for a minimum of shadow in the lee of Royal Enfield: this is the Ladakh and here begins my story.
I begin to tell the journey lived with Marco Polo Team in Ladakh, on the steps vehicular highest in the world with a Royal Enfield. On the October issue of Cafè Racer Italia – on newsstands mid-month – there will be a lengthy report, from which I have extracted some parts. This is the first:
I lie on the asphalt hot looking for a minimum of shadow in the lee of Royal Enfield.
The sun beats down on 4.000 metri di quota e mi sento un po’ disidratato dopo tutta la polvere e la sabbia ingoiata oggi. Persino la sciarpa bianca che ho al collo oramai ha il colore del deserto. Le labbra, instead, suffer the blows of wind and temperature extremes, consequently are all chapped, cheeks blanched. I smile, happy and contented despite the appearance might indicate the opposite, and I put myself comfortable on this language asphalt that goes up and down like a curtain moved by the hands of a giant occult ceremonies.
I am where I wanted to be a mishap such as a puncture and I do not mind even a bit '. If I think I would be annoyed as had happened on one of our state… Which, instead, there is harmony and the unexpected part of the journey. Luckily we noticed it started as soon as the asphalt, but, with all the dirt and rocks we have ground today, who knows when it happened.
I take off my boots as well so that Aldo, one of my traveling companions, will take a little 'to change the flat tire of his Bullet. Davanti a noi si apre, finally, the spectacle of Ladakh, the most northern region of India, a triangle of land burned by the summer sun and the ice for 8 Thanks and Guest, squeezed between big-name chains: Himalayas and Karakorum.
“Siamo sull'Himalaya, fuck!!"I keep telling myself.
We arrived from the south, partendo the Manali, a small - pass me the comparison - Cortina Indian, a town frequented during the summer by many trekkers who here have bread for their teeth, but above all for their lungs and hearts. Manali is located in 2.000 meters above sea level and from here you climb on top of the world.
photo credit: Motoreetto.
