On a very fine Tuesday morning, I decided to escape Kathmandu with my best friend; my cycle. I had browsed awesome cycle trails near me that could provide me with untouched beauty and peace. Thanks to the incomplete description on many YouTube videos I had no idea this would be an excruciating trip. I made plan to cycle until Champadevi mandir which is the highest point in the trail. I started off quite well, I took the road from UN park to pulchowk and from there I was to reach Balkhu. From Balkhu to Chobar, Chobar to Bansbari, Bansbari to Vanjyang and from there the uphill trail to Champadevi began. Like it is with life, it is never as easy as it seems.
As soon as I exited UN park, the chain of my cycle fell of. My fingers were conquered with Mobil by the time I finished fixing it. I turned left from Balkhu chowk and accelerated towards Chobar. The further I cycled, the thinner were people's movements. I reached Chobar hill and thought a short ride from here would take me to the trail but boy, was I wrong. I enjoyed the downhill ride and headed to the road towards Dakshinkali temple. I kept looking for the narrow road towards trail but it was nowhere to be seen. The sun was onto me and my back wet with sweat. I started to walk my cycle as I kept going uphill. Slowly, I emerged into the narrow roads where TATA Sumo would rush speedily. It had been an hour and I still kept going. After a while a person emerged from the corner of the road. I felt thankful. I asked him the road and he replied with, "You have already walked a kilometer further, but there is another way around, keep going." Yeah, thanks.
After another fifteen minutes of uphill walking with my bike, I asked construction workers for the way. One of them replied, "There is a gate that has mentioned the direction in it, keep looking for it." Thanks. Moments of toil lead me to a gate that said "Way to Champadevi Picnic spot" Oh, thank god. I started walking my bike through the narrow uphill and moments later I see stairs. Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to take my bike through stairs? I rested my bike and walked the stairs. I stood in front of a village home and asked the resident, he replied, "This way is only for hikers. There is another way for cyclists through the forest." Thanks again.
So, I continued going like I had been. Keep in mind, I have not rode my bike, I have been walking it, my legs could take no more of the uphill. And because my bike has a body of steel it is quite heavy. Also keep in mind, it had been three hours since I left home and I had not arrived at my destination. So the fatigue was increasing. After a while, I saw an old lady who was smoking in front of her home.
I said, "Aama,"
and she very politely replied, "Hajur," how sweet. She gave me the directions and later asked, "Will you go alone?" I nodded and kept going.
Believe me when I say it, I found the trail to Champadevi and started cycling uphill. And yes, to my misery the trail was uphill. Minutes later, I rested and had apple with almonds. My hunger was out of my control. After lunch break, I started going again. Uphill, uphill, and more uphill. My muscles started to cramp at this point, isn't that great? I started limping, yet I kept going. After 45 minutes, I thought I was about to reach, I asked a passer and he said, "It will take two hours at least from here," Oh boy. I moved forward, reached Hattiban resort and decided that would be the highest point of my short adventure. I sat down, took the fresh air, appreciated the tranquility and decided to go back home. The downhill ride was crazy, at some point I was sure I was about to fall from the cliff. My bike would go out of control at some point but I made it out quite well and alive. I started cycling back home and my entire body was covered with dust.
When I was about to reach home, I had cycled for about 6 hours and all I had eaten was peanuts, apple, few almonds and water. My mind was losing clarity and my eyes about to shut down. I thought I would surely pass out. But I collected every ray of energy left in me and made home. I ate like I had never eaten before. So hungry and so tired. But I loved every single but of it. The pain, the fatigue, I find my true self in these. I cannot wait to do it all over again. Till next time.
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