Manja to Guwahati after repairs

DAY 28 - DIMAPUR TO MANJA TO GUWAHATI FRIDAY 4th NOVEMBER 2016

Today I set out for Shillong, could not start earlier hence I was on the road by 6:30am. The town of Dimapur was slightly chilly but not as much as Dirang, Kohima or Imphal. It was waking up groggily when I set out. So getting out of the city with its narrow lanes was not a difficulty and I was breezing through open meadows in no time. At one point in the city while navigating a bad patch I saw a spurt of white fluid under my front wheel. It felt as if I had squashed an aerated can that must be lying on the road. I kept speaking to the wind not giving it a thought. Suddenly a red light the radiator indicator flashed on. I had never encountered such a thing before so I kept going. Actually I was crossing a jungle when this occurred and it was not a place to check for problems. I had selected the road that traversed from the south side of Kaziranga National park. I had already covered the 60 odd kilometres on the north-side while travelling to Sivasagar from Tezpur. This way I would have made a whole circle of the park along its circumference of approx 430 square kilometres. After about 30kms from my start point the engine light blinked on and thats when I knew I am in trouble. I stopped in the middle of the forest where I saw some tribal village guy with kids in school uniform standing on the road waiting for a ride to school. Upon asking him I found out that a small town existed outside the forest area which was 5 kilometres away. I started the bike and thankfully the engine spurted to life but it was sounding different and now I was sure I had a big problem. I managed to navigate through the bad roads (eternal problem of forest roads due to water flooding) and reached the check point of the forest. The guard waved me on as stopping there was not allowed hence I kept riding and suddenly I saw an Indian Oil petrol pump ahead. As I turned into the compound my bike stalled, in minutes I had a hoard of gawkers around me.

I prayed in relief that I reached till the pump, now I could handle my problem with ease as I had network on my mobile with 3G connection. It was 7:30am and calling engineers in Bombay was really pushing it which is what I eventually I did. I called Zubin Ponnappa my engineer of superbikes and Atul of Shaman Triumph. (I must remind myself when back in Bombay to cancel my Triumph roadside assistance as its totally useless). Zubin was quick to identify the problem and he said it has to do with the radiator and the engine is heating up due to it. He advised me to wait for the engine to cool down and only then he would say how we could move ahead. While talking to him I saw the bottom part of the radiator having some liquid on it. On closer inspection I found a hole in the radiator pipe. It had burst maybe due to wear and tear. Zubin then said to find a local Mechanic and ask him to remove it and replace it with a Maruti car hose by cutting it to the required size. Atul said It could be fixed but he advised that to get it done properly I need to take it to the nearest Triumph garage. The closest garage was 1300 kms away in Calcutta. I was crestfallen that I will have to curtail my ride in a city called Manja and end my saga here. That is when I took Zubin's advice and found a local mechanic and asked him to remove the pipe. I anyways had paid a bomb for the bike, I am investing a bomb in this India tour of mine and the last thing I am going to do is give up without trying. I am an Indian Naval Dockyard Apprentice (batch 45, number 4755 - I am flaunting my pedigree) and giving up was not part of my syllabus.

Dipankar had never before seen a bike over 550cc forget repairing one. He is a Maruti car mechanic with no formal training, learnt everything by working hands down. His first bike experience had to be with me on a 2300cc monster. He was excited, cautious and very enthusiastic. I too pitched in, about time I had grease on my hands. To remove the pipe that had burst I had to first remove the air pipe that was in the foreground. Without getting too technical let me just say that we removed it, then got the Maruti radiator pipe and fixed it back too. Post that we had to fill the radiator with coolant and the specific coolant recommended was not available. Thus put in a autocool coolant which has till now worked wonderfully. Atul was kind enough to show me how to remove the air from the radiator a very important part of the whole quick-fix process. Atul of Shaman was the lifeline who was constantly taking my calls and helping me with all my queries. He has already ordered the spares and the moment am home it will be replaced. He even had a plan B on how to transport my bike from Manja if my engg trials did not workout.

Finally at 11:30am my bike left the town, by then every male in the town had come to see the bike. They took photographs of the bike asked me about mileage and cost post that left reluctantly as the pump owner was shooing them away. I had lost 4 hours on repairing. My total ride time from Dimapur to Shillong was of approximately 7 hours and now to reach Shillong in the day time looked bleak. I was still 6 hours away from my desired destination. The hotel I was seeking in Shillong was sold out and I had no alternative ideas for my stay. I missed my turn to Shillong at Jorabat which I realised after 15kms thus I kept riding on towards Guwahati. It was much closer than Shillong. I checked in in Taj Vivanta Guwahati.

I had late breakfast in a roadside eatery around 11:00am in Manja after my bike was repaired. It consisted of a watery chana dal with the oiliest Parathas on earth accompanied by folded omelette. I did not get time to break for lunch as it would mean wasting valuable daytime since darkness descends by 4:45pm. I did have two quick tea breaks to keep me going and that was enough to keep me sated. The one thing that was working my way was the state of roads, it was fantastic from Manja right up till Guwahati. The GM of Taj Guwahati Krishnakath went out of the way to check me in and see that I am comfortable after a harrowing day.

I plan to retain my room in Taj tomorrow and head towards Shillong for lunch. I will see the Meghalaya countryside at peace. Have given my gear to the laundry as its very dusty and dirty. Thus my bike is in great shape, my clothes and my gear are clean as new & I am feeling rejuvenated tonight.

Total distance covered today 267 kms Total Distance from Bombay 6898 kms