Hampi man kickstarts global trip on Himalayan bike

Of human connections

Three years after a fascinating 18,000-km bike ride across Asia and Europe, mechanical engineer Kedarnath G M is at it again. But this time, the man from Hampi has raised the bar, revved up his Royal Enfield Himalayan bike for an unprecedented three lakh-km global ride, a mission destined to last well over four years.

Packed with essentials, riding gears and maps, Kedarnath had kicked off the journey from Chennai on Tuesday.

DH caught up with him in Bengaluru, as the 34-year-old prepared for that pulsating multi-national, inter-continental ride of a lifetime. Adventure beckoned him, so did his mission: An earnest yearning for global peace, an unbridled passion to connect with people across geographies.

In two days, Kedarnath will head out to Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Delhi and Kolkata before flying to Bangkok. “My plan is to ride through Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore, and then cross over to Australia by ferry,” informs the biker.

His plans only get grander on the trip’s American leg. “I intend to go along the East and West coasts of the United States and Canada before turning South. Mexico, Argentina and Chile are also in the list.” Europe and Africa will come next before the return trip to India, through Turkey and Iran.

Even on a shoestring budget, Kedarnath knows this tour will cost him nothing less than Rs 50 lakh. “I had to quit my job to raise part of the money, through PF and gratuity. At least now, I have the money for fuel. I need to figure out how it goes, from country to country,” he says.

Kedarnath calls himself the “No Country Man,” the title of his next book of experiences culled out from the bike journeys. An avid believer in a world without borders and man-made conflicts, he would connect with youngsters everywhere to send that message across.

“I want to interact with as many young people as possible. They are our future world leaders.”Nuts and bolts

Being a mechanical engineer, Kedarnath knows the nuts and bolts of his bike, the Himalayan. He has already packed the necessary spares, spark plugs, cables and indicators bulbs. But what about night halts? “I do a bit of online research to find hosts to stay. If not, I have my tent and sleeping bag,” says Kedarnath, now a veteran of many rides.

His first trip, a 39-day, 8,300-km expedition from Hampi to Leh had shown that the effort was totally worth it. “I had met a lot of people, who had showered me with their love and affection. Even when they were struggling, they would find ways to share a meal with me. That human connection is what inspires me,” says the man in a hurry to ride the world.