So, if you were wondering, “Where in the world is Darren Flach and what the hell is he doing?” … you’ve clicked the right link!

As the title of this post would suggest, I’ve just arrived in Srinagar, India, which I’m finding to be a rather lovely place.

What am I doing here?

I’m on another venture! Or at least another adventurous venture, which I guess makes it an adventure!

So I’m on this adventure…

I’m in Srinagar, and soon my cousin Allison will join me and shortly after that we are going to ride bicycles from here to Leh.

If that sounds like déjà vu, it’s probably because I did something very similar last year. When I told Allison how amazingly cool it was, she wanted to do it too!

Our original plan was to do it as a tour though that didn’t happen so it will be just the two of us.

So far the only big hurdle we are facing is not having any bikes! Something I hope to rectify tomorrow. Wish me luck!

My first Impressions of Srinagar have been quite good. There is an autumnal feel to the air here, at least in the mornings and the people are kind, and respectful in their curiosity of me. There are very few tourists because of the media hype about unrest. My guesthouse host rolls his eyes and shakes his head at this and says it’s never been safer and shakes his head further at the shortage of tourists. I’m super glad to not have bought into the media hype. Though the huge military presence here was quite shocking at first.

There was a strike today, a protest of the government banning people from eating beef and apparently some injuries from a bit of stone throwing on account of the strike, but for me it meant I had the streets almost to myself and I wandered around traffic, horn and hassle free! Only a few cows and sheep, and countless sleeping dogs to contend with!

I also lucked out with my guesthouse… The Lonely Guesthouse! No really, that’s it’s name! Run by a LOVELY multi-generational family. I’m in a spacious dorm and so far have had two amazing dinners. Not to mention several cups of the delectable cardamom-and-cinnamon-infused Kashmiri tea. Bed, dinner and breakfast all for under ten Canadian dollars per night. This is apparently the best deal in India!

There is something for me, intoxicating of being on my own somewhere foriegn.

I felt it today. Simply being at great contrast to a local culture. Senses buzzing as I take it all in.

Every breath feels alive with the newness of what I’m experiencing, with curiosity of the unknowns I will discover.  The nuances of this place already establishing themselves in my memory.

The two dimensional feel of the planning phase now bursting into life beyond the maps, photos and articles that brought me here.

Beyond the joy of simply being here, the challenge, and adventure of the cycle trip beckons. Putting it together was one thing -and a ton of time and effort has gone into that- doing it will be something else altogether! And I itch to begin it.

And that I’m doing this adventure with my intrepid cousin… What a treat!

Allison sees this crazy bike trip as her defining year 30 adventure… and I couldn’t be more honoured to be an integral part of that.

From the start, when we hatched this idea just under a year ago we both wanted to do it in conjunction with Two Wheel View, a worthy charity that both of us have a personal connection to. What we want to do is use the exposure of this adventure as a vehicle to raise money to send one or more kids on one of TWV’s life changing bicycle expeditions. We hope that by following us along on our Facebook page, folks will be inspired to donate money to sponsor a yet to be determined lucky kid on the bicycle ride of a lifetime.

Our Facebook page is Cycle The Himalayas For Two Wheel View

The Facebook page will be the main place we will be posting pictures and anecdotes… Though I will also be posting entries here as well.

So what’s next? The next few days I will spend acquiring a couple of good bicycles. I’ve googled the situation, and apparently good bikes can be had for a few dollars a day if rented for a month.

Once bikes have been procured, Allison and I will make our way to Leh, four hundred and thirty four kilometres, a few decent mountain passes, and who knows what weather and road conditions away. Fun!

I will keep you posted!