Into the North East - Guwahati

Departure at 0500 odometer at 32170

Drove out of the resort straight into traffic . All the tourists doing what I refused to do - go up to Tiger Hill viewpoint and watch sunrise play its colours on the Himalayas. The line of vehicles crept on for the next kilometer.

My turnoff was at the same place as the torn off to the view point. Had done this stretch of the road twice already, once when I did the run to Kalimpong. And, then again, yesterday courtesy the two kids.

Nonetheless, totally enjoyed the sensation on an absolutely empty road, with it's curves and gradient. And, the delightful scenery, when the eyes could be taken off the road.

 

As you can see, did stop for some pictures. The gradient is so steep that the handbrake is just not enough. So, had to find sensible gradient spots where the road was also wide enough to allow traffic ( if it came by ).

Made it down to the Teesta and turned towards Siliguri. The road deteriorated in direct proportion to the increase in heavy vehicle traffic. This lasted only for a short while, till I turned off towards Guwahati at Sevoke.

The road was brilliant thereafter. Flat top, low traffic intensity.

All the way to about 70 kilometers to Guwahati. The rumblers started. Every few of kilometers guys had put in rumblers. Irritation, especially because the local drivers slowed down to an absolute crawl even when the rumble was only in their minds. Hustled a few of them along the way.

Go into Guwahati by 1245 and traffic.

People here cause traffic jams. They drive slowly and carefully in the middle of the road. If there are two such cars parallel, you have a jam. Took me an hour to do the last 25 kilometers.

Got to my destination for some home cooked food. Rice Dal Greens Potatoes. 

Will leave you with this. 

There is somewhere I need to be this evening, which is not really conducive to writing.

More later.