Umer Chaudhry, a youth from Lahore has been actively spreading the message of peace and harmony through cycling.
He launched an initiative ‘Umer Chaudhary – Hunter on Two Wheels’ in 2013 and ever since has been cycling around different cities of Pakistan for various causes.
He has journeyed across multiple cities on his bicycle to spread awareness for causes like ‘ending polio’, ‘tree plantation’ and ‘promotion of cycling and tourism’.
Even though he has journeyed across multiple cities of Pakistan, his biggest yet journey was from Lahore to Karachi on his cycle.
This is a story about his journey from Lahore to Karachi which took him around 12 days to complete.
Day 1 – Lahore TO Okara – 26th Dec 2016
I was staying at my best childhood friend Hozyfa‘s house on sunday night. He is a very good Boy Scout at GC university and has very good experiences of trekking and camping in Southern & Northern Punjab. We got up very early in morning and had a wonderful breakfast together. I finalised and checked everything once again and then i left Hozyfa’s home at 8:30 a.m.
Day 2 – Okara to Mian Channu – 27 Dec 2016
I got up at 7:00 a.m. I got myself ready within 10 minutes and checked the bike again. I had my favourite breakfast i.e Pratha, Half fried Egg and a cup of delicious Tea. As soon as i was done with my breakfast i moved toward N5 National Highway. It was such a beautiful morning with a little fog. I went towards Sahiwal City and reached there by 10:00 a.m. I bought some oranges and bananas and went straight towards Chichawatni.
Day 3/4 – Mian Channu to Multan – 28 Dec 2016
I got up at 7:30 a.m. Stretched my legs and back. Got myself ready and had my favourite breakfast. I was time to leave for Multan now. I loaded my luggage on the bike and made sure the bike is fine. I needed to buy extra batteries for the torch and a bottle of water. We went to a nearby departmental store and they bought me everything i needed and some addictive chocolates as a gift
😀 . Presenting me so many tasty gifts made me speechless and a bit emotional. I wanted to thank them but i couldn’t find a word. They took me to national highway and wished me best of luck for a safe journey. It was time to say Goodbye. I prayed to ALLAH ALMIGHTY and thanked Him for getting me to meet such beautiful soulful people.
Day 5 – Multan City To Bahawalpur – 30 Dec 2016
I got up at 6 a.m. sharp. It was very cold out there. When i went out to check i was moved. There was fog everywhere and visibility level was nearly ZERO. i went back to room and got everything ready. Gloves, Scarf, Jacket, changed the batteries of both front and rear lights and of my helmet light’s also. I had fog resistant goggles which could help me travel in for. I waited for it to vanish till 7:40 a.m. but nothing changed a bit. I already had waste one day and couldn’t bear the loss of one more. I made up my mind and set off to the highway. I just covered 6 kilometres when the for vanished like it never was there. I reached Basti Shorkot and had my Breakfast. Yeah yeah! My Favorite Breakfast. After that i went towards my next stop, Basti Malook. In 3 hours i was there and i had my lunch. It was the time of Jumma Prayer therefore i got ready for it. After offering Namaz-e-Jumma i thanked ALLAH ALMIGHTY for helping me all the way and prayed Him to help me achieve my goals.
Day 6 – Bahawalpur To Trinda Muhammad Panah – 31 Dec 2016
A new day and a new destination. I got up at 7:00 a.m and checked the weather conditions. It was 9 degree centigrade, a little fog and winds were too fast. I got my gadgets ready and checked my bike. Everything was perfect. We had breakfast together and then Fahad Bhai brought me some delicious chocolates. It was time to say Farewell. I said goodbye to Fahad bhai and then set off to Ahmedpur East.
Day 7 – Trinda Muhammad Panah To Sadiqabad – 1 Jan 2017
It was a very cold new year night and i couldn’t get good sleep. I woke up at 5 a.m. I went outside to check the level of Fog which was everywhere. I waited for sunrise and finalised my stops for lunch and Tea break. It was a lucky day because the fog was there no more and it was a sunny morning. Ahmed and his cousins brought me my Favourite breakfast. I did breakfast and got ready for another ride. We had a few memorable pictures together and then said farewell. I thanked Ahmed for his outstanding hospitality and then i set off to Sadiqabad.
Day 8 – Sadiqabad To Pano Aqil – 2 Jan 2017
I got up at 7 a.m and got fresh. I went out to check the weather condition. Fog Fog and Fog everywhere. I decided to wait until the visibility level gets better. I had my Favorite breakfast
Day 9 – Pano Aqil to Rani Pur – 3 Jan 2017
Around 1 a.m. i woke up due to the sharp and shrilling howls of jackals. They continued to howl for more than 2 hours. I didn’t know when i fell asleep and then i woke up at 8 a.m. i needed to sleep more but another destination was calling me. I got fresh and had my breakfast. I went to the reception to checkout but they offered me a cup of tea. I told them that i was getting late but they insisted and i had a cup of tea with them. They encouraged me and wished me luck for my journey.
Day 10 – RaniPur To Sabu Rahu – 4 Jan 2016
I got up at 5:30 a.m and checked the weather conditions. Everything was perfect ALHAMDULILLAH. They brought breakfast at 5:45 a.m and i ate as much as possible. I put some dates in my pockets and then they took me to the highway. I thanked them for their wonderful hospitality and said Goodbye.
Day 11 – Sabu Rahu to Hyderabad – 5 Jan 2017
I woke up at 8:00 a.m. I had a good sleep fortunately and all the tiredness in my body was gone. After getting fresh i ate my breakfast. It was time to leave for Hyderabad now. I checked everything and found out that one of the custom made pannier side stands was weakened. I tapped it nicely and it was ready to make it to Hyderabad. I decided to complete the journey to hyderabad in three intervals. Hala, Matiari and then Hyderabad. I left that V.I.P hotel at 9:00 a.m.
Day 12 Hyderabad To Karachi – 6 Jan 2017
I woke up at 6 a.m. I was so much excited. There was a strange kind of energy inside me. I was not believing that i was in Hyderabad LOL! I was lost in fantasy for about an hour. I went to washroom and got myself fresh. I could see a clear sparkle of determination in my eyes. I had never feel so good before.
Day 13 – Karachi – 7 Jan 2017
The next day we woke up at 7 a.m. We went to a very well known restaurant for a lunch with some other members of PAK BATS club. I met Asim Raza, Wasif Malik, Hassan Akhtar bhai. It was such a great feeling sitting in the company of great enthusiasts. After sharing our experiences we had our breakfast. Then everyone left for their offices and i went with Nadeem bhai to his home. After taking a shower i got ready for a lunch with Nadeem bhai and his friend who was going for a tour to Ranikot. We reached to that Restaurant and met Sheikh Al Ahmed bhai there. After the Lunch we went back to Nadeem bhai’s home. Then i took my bicycle and went to explore Karachi.
Day 14 – Karachi to Lahore – 8 Jan 2017
The next morning Saad bhai came to pick me and we went to the starting point. There i met my friends from Critical Mass Lahore, Zeeshan Bhai, Ma’am Zaira and Ma’am Aneeqa. They congratulated me for the successful adventure. Then i met Ismail Somoro bhai. He was the only man i met in Karachi who had similar interests like i have. After completing the ride Ismail bhai took me to one of his favourite Cafes, Vintage. I checked the menu and found the best thing in entire world, Nutella Overdose Wraps.
<3 It Truly was an Overdose of Nutella Chocolate that i couldn’t finish it completely. Ismail bhai is a very very good architect and his ideas were truly amazing. A wonderful meeting with a wonderful personality. Unforgettable day it was.
Day 15 – Back to Lahore – 8 Jan 2017
On his last day, Umer Chaudhry met some very important people to discuss his mission. After that, he packed up his bicycle and luggage and took a train back to Lahore.
We congratulate Umer on his amazing journey and wish him best of luck for his next adventure. You can follow his facebook page to keep up with his other adventures at https://www.facebook.com/NightRider.Umer/