8th June. Gaurikund to Badrinath

This was a memorable part of the journey. Memorable for all the wrong reasons!  Our bus was scheduled to start at 5.30am. So we all got up at 4.30 and were at the bus stand at 5.15am. On reaching we were told that our bus was cancelled. We had a shock and really started thinking what to do? We inquired what has happened and he said the bus has developed a snag. But we waited and in an hour’s time he told us that the bus was coming. Finally the bus arrived and we were on our way to Badrinath at 7am. Just before Rudraprayag, a tanker had stopped in the middle of the road and was cold. Lot of things were tried to start it bus it would not budge. Almost 2 hours we were stuck in traffic jam. Finally the army came in and towed the tanker and the traffic started. On reaching Rudtraprayag, our bus stopped so that we can have our lunch. But the bus would not start again. Lot of things was tried and finally the cleaner and the passengers were pushing the bus so that it starts. But while doing so a car overran on the cleaner’s foot and vanished. The cleaner was unconscious. After bringing him back to consciousness the driver took the cleaner to a nearby police station and lodged a complaint. Almost 2 hours were lost in all this things. After that finally the bus started but we reached Badrinath at 11.30pm. It was late at night and there was no one around. We were perplexed and did not know what to do. We searched for the accommodation but there was nobody to even talk. So we finally slept in the passageway (corridor) of Bharat Seva Sangh Ashram, after consuming some biscuits and dry fruits. It was a bit warm here and fortunately we were carrying warm clothing. The night passed and we were in for a wonderful next day.