A short ride to Indira Dam

Date of Trip: 29th July 2006
Total Distance Covered: 80 kms approx.
Riders: Abhinai, Aditya, Mandhir and Ex-member Shailendra

4 bikers and one nice overcast day was a perfect recipe for a ride on 29th July. N.O.W. riders Abhinai, Aditya, Mandhir and Shailendra (new member) went to an uncertain route to Indira dam. We heard of this place from our fellow member Nilesh and Akshat, as they have been there quite number of times. And our decision regarding a short trip to that dam proved fruitful when we reached there and met with untouched beauty of the nature.
Nothing was pre-planned as such. We all 4 met in noon around 12 PM and went to Hindustan Times office to meet a journalist regarding an article to be published about N.O.W. group in the newspaper. Till we came out, it was time for lunch and we headed to near by Sahara Ganj Mall to fill our empty stomach. But how could we go back home so soon. Our rebellious mind starting thinking where to head now??? After few discussions, all agreed to a ride to Indira dam. With out wasting a second, we started our bikes, refueled them and headed towards Chinhat road. The initial start was a little slow because of modest showers. Riding in 2 x 2 formations, was unique and impressive on road to watch, for others. After crossing B.B.D. Engineering College, we had to ask a local road side panwala to guide us to the route of Indira dam. The narrow, hardly constructed road to dam was full of stones and pebbles, adjacent to which was a wide canal with gusting flowing water in it. Riding bike in that road was a real new experience. With Canal in one side and fields on the other, we were in a doubt that is it really our same crowdie and noisy Lucknow???
We had a small halt on an unmanned railway crossing, were we found a bridge as our first photo shoot point. After clicking some shots, it was time to continue. The road ahead became even worst because of the recent rains. It was more like a dirt track now and we did some off-roading on it. Standing on our bike’s foot pegs and using our legs as shock absorber, we raced our bike to 80 kmph on those bumpy roads. Aditya took over me several times at dangerously 95 kmph. Mind you, riding on those roads full of pebbles, stones and water filled holes, where it hard to figure out their depth until you ride over them is really challenging and daring for some. I couldn’t go beyond 75-80 kmph and so as Mandhir and Shailendra. The overall length of that narrow road was around 15 kms. But all together, it was one awe-inspiring off-roading experience.

Finally after reaching Indira dam, we were so excited to see the architecture of the bridge. It is constructed to carry the flowing canal water in between the 2 lanes of road. How could I miss to capture such a splendid construction in my cam. Time for photo shoot session no.2

After having a nice site watch and clicking some beautiful sunsets, we just wanted more. It couldn’t end here. Asked some local resident and they told that the current road will meet a highway, continuing to Lucknow cantonment. The next 25 kms fast ride was about to begin. After leaving that same old slow narrow road, we got a chance to race our bikes on that smooth 2 lane highway. What a speed run it was. 4 Bikers zapping pass by, one by one, several 100 CCs, cyclist and pedestrians. The expression on their face was as if they saw 4 flying saucers coming from no where and heading towards infinity. Finally the city’s cantonment arrived. A place called “zig-zag” in cantt. was our next stop. As name indicates, it contains zigzag pattern roads and riding on them is pure fun. Spent some good 30 minutes there and finally we all headed back for our homes with smile on our faces, dirt on our bikes and satisfaction in our minds.