Right – first thanks for the interest you have taken and those who have donated money many thanks I feel very embarrassed and humbled by your contributions.
As you have probably gathered Simon has written the Blogg on nearly daily basis and my contribution to it has been zero. I’m not sure if that’s ‘cos Simon doesn’t trust me or just thinks I’m incapable. So the following are my thoughts on the trip.
Ok – What was it like? It was dirty, filthy and it really does smell. Not surprising as there is open sewers in most of the towns we visited. Our digs were not the same type of places you stay in Goa when you are on holiday. For example on our first night six of us stayed on the upstairs landing in a chocolate factory, the mattress were made of hardboard and we each had a flee bitten blanket (we were in the mountains so it was cold) to keep us warm. OK so all you have to do is find the nearest boozer feed up and a few good sized drinks – snoring? Well that’s what I thought too, however this is India and apart from the tourist areas and expensive hotels India is to all purposes dry!
Plan B – eat as much as you can and lie shivering until morning comes – purchase more clothes.
For the sake of brevity I’m going to split the rally up into four parts –
Before New Years Eve- these were eye opening days, fast learning curves, being run off the road, finding holes in the roads as big as creators and drinking dancing at the New Years Eve party. The photos on the blogg with the trucks pushing us off the road happened on the first morning 6 times while I was driving – we lost count at 26, just couldn’t be bothered any more – I was interview straight after the experience and babbled making incoherent mumblings which most of my friends will know. However this was stoned cold sober and in a likely state of shock. I’m sure everybody (apart from myself) will be suitably amused when the film comes out.
Part of the trip which does not make the headlines is the petrol stops. Our rickshaw would do approximately 100km per tank full we therefore had to fill up every two hours. This little exercise took 30 mins every time we stopped. On top of that the petrol attendants were not used to 2 stroke engines, and kept forgetting to put the engine oil into the tank before they filled it up. To combat this Simon and I would fill our tank up from a 10 litre containers and then refill the container. Of course this entailed either myself or Simon getting covered in petrol. The dirt was beginning to be ingrained.
By New Years Eve and the rickshaws needed their first service and of course two of the convoy required new front ends. After a morning of repairs a meeting was held and we decided to remain where we were and dance the night way. I pulled – he seemed very nice but all together a bit too forward for my liking?
From New Year (Simon drove on New Years day) Days followed into each other as we headed north. 6am engine start, 7am comfort stop, 8am comfort stop, etc. etc. The Rickshaws started braking down and things started falling off at regular intervals and the accidents were becoming more regular. Each evening we’d find a mechanic to reattach or fix the machines and each day the roads or accidents would break them again.
The dirt started to become ingrained in our skin as each evening the dribble of cold water started to be less appealing, each team member started reusing the clothes day after day as each decided they would have to be thrown away in Darjeeling.
The convoy came to an end on day 10 as we decided to make a direct run for Darjeeling while the others would take a route through Nepal. Our first day on our own we took the back roads through tiny villages on dirt tracks – we were lost. The rickshaw broke down so many times Simon decided he was going to change me extra for the amount of petrol I was drinking.
Day 11 and West Bengal had a general strike – nothing moved on the roads – except our rickshaw. The strikers on the back roads allowed us through with a shake of our hands and a Happy New Year. However that evening back on the main roads strikers were stopping all traffic, we managed to pass one mob by driving down a slip road, they leapt after us, striking at the rickshaw with clubs in their attempt to stop it. We carried on deep into the night to distance ourselves from the rabble.
Party Time Our final day, we drove up into the Himalayas, leaving the heat, dirt and dust behind us. The clean fresh mountain air was most welcoming. Arriving in Darjeeling and it was straight to the best hotel in town. We were the 8th (ISH) team to arrive, gin and tonics all round and a piping hot bath, luxury. Stepping out of the bath smile on my face large G&T inside me, I pulled the pug out of the bath and the bath water emptied over the bathroom floor – well this is India.
Ok so general details –
I lost a stone in weight
It took one bath and three showers to get the dirt off.
Simon and I did not come to blows
We partied for two nights and then I went to bed. (Simon kept going)
I was interviewed by BBC radio Kent in Tunbridge last week – not sure if they will invite me back, I don’t think my comment on Simon and my new business venture http://www.suckmyrickshaw.com/ was viewed as family entertainment. I have written an article for a travel mag – and TV channel South East want to talk to us regarding a daily interview on our next trip.
Will there be a next trip? I did look at the Rickshaw Run site. The next trip is in the summer across the Himalayas and for those with a touch more time the second leg of the worlds second Rickshaw Run will thunder on through Pakistan , Iran and yes all the way back to the red busses and gridlock of London .
On the day I got back the answer was NO. Not a chance, you have to be kidding!
However, as they say watch this space?
As you have probably gathered Simon has written the Blogg on nearly daily basis and my contribution to it has been zero. I’m not sure if that’s ‘cos Simon doesn’t trust me or just thinks I’m incapable. So the following are my thoughts on the trip.
Ok – What was it like? It was dirty, filthy and it really does smell. Not surprising as there is open sewers in most of the towns we visited. Our digs were not the same type of places you stay in Goa when you are on holiday. For example on our first night six of us stayed on the upstairs landing in a chocolate factory, the mattress were made of hardboard and we each had a flee bitten blanket (we were in the mountains so it was cold) to keep us warm. OK so all you have to do is find the nearest boozer feed up and a few good sized drinks – snoring? Well that’s what I thought too, however this is India and apart from the tourist areas and expensive hotels India is to all purposes dry!
Plan B – eat as much as you can and lie shivering until morning comes – purchase more clothes.
For the sake of brevity I’m going to split the rally up into four parts –
Before New Years Eve- these were eye opening days, fast learning curves, being run off the road, finding holes in the roads as big as creators and drinking dancing at the New Years Eve party. The photos on the blogg with the trucks pushing us off the road happened on the first morning 6 times while I was driving – we lost count at 26, just couldn’t be bothered any more – I was interview straight after the experience and babbled making incoherent mumblings which most of my friends will know. However this was stoned cold sober and in a likely state of shock. I’m sure everybody (apart from myself) will be suitably amused when the film comes out.
Part of the trip which does not make the headlines is the petrol stops. Our rickshaw would do approximately 100km per tank full we therefore had to fill up every two hours. This little exercise took 30 mins every time we stopped. On top of that the petrol attendants were not used to 2 stroke engines, and kept forgetting to put the engine oil into the tank before they filled it up. To combat this Simon and I would fill our tank up from a 10 litre containers and then refill the container. Of course this entailed either myself or Simon getting covered in petrol. The dirt was beginning to be ingrained.
By New Years Eve and the rickshaws needed their first service and of course two of the convoy required new front ends. After a morning of repairs a meeting was held and we decided to remain where we were and dance the night way. I pulled – he seemed very nice but all together a bit too forward for my liking?
From New Year (Simon drove on New Years day) Days followed into each other as we headed north. 6am engine start, 7am comfort stop, 8am comfort stop, etc. etc. The Rickshaws started braking down and things started falling off at regular intervals and the accidents were becoming more regular. Each evening we’d find a mechanic to reattach or fix the machines and each day the roads or accidents would break them again.
The dirt started to become ingrained in our skin as each evening the dribble of cold water started to be less appealing, each team member started reusing the clothes day after day as each decided they would have to be thrown away in Darjeeling.
The convoy came to an end on day 10 as we decided to make a direct run for Darjeeling while the others would take a route through Nepal. Our first day on our own we took the back roads through tiny villages on dirt tracks – we were lost. The rickshaw broke down so many times Simon decided he was going to change me extra for the amount of petrol I was drinking.
Day 11 and West Bengal had a general strike – nothing moved on the roads – except our rickshaw. The strikers on the back roads allowed us through with a shake of our hands and a Happy New Year. However that evening back on the main roads strikers were stopping all traffic, we managed to pass one mob by driving down a slip road, they leapt after us, striking at the rickshaw with clubs in their attempt to stop it. We carried on deep into the night to distance ourselves from the rabble.
Party Time Our final day, we drove up into the Himalayas, leaving the heat, dirt and dust behind us. The clean fresh mountain air was most welcoming. Arriving in Darjeeling and it was straight to the best hotel in town. We were the 8th (ISH) team to arrive, gin and tonics all round and a piping hot bath, luxury. Stepping out of the bath smile on my face large G&T inside me, I pulled the pug out of the bath and the bath water emptied over the bathroom floor – well this is India.
Ok so general details –
I lost a stone in weight
It took one bath and three showers to get the dirt off.
Simon and I did not come to blows
We partied for two nights and then I went to bed. (Simon kept going)
I was interviewed by BBC radio Kent in Tunbridge last week – not sure if they will invite me back, I don’t think my comment on Simon and my new business venture http://www.suckmyrickshaw.com/ was viewed as family entertainment. I have written an article for a travel mag – and TV channel South East want to talk to us regarding a daily interview on our next trip.
Will there be a next trip? I did look at the Rickshaw Run site. The next trip is in the summer across the Himalayas and for those with a touch more time the second leg of the worlds second Rickshaw Run will thunder on through Pakistan , Iran and yes all the way back to the red busses and gridlock of London .
On the day I got back the answer was NO. Not a chance, you have to be kidding!
However, as they say watch this space?
Paul
