Rickshaw Run

Day 15 - Sprint to the finish line! 

After a very late night and pressure for an early start, we had a little bit of breakfast and a sleep in and hit the road. A fairly breezy day down the highways with a relatively small distance to cover. We made a beeline for the ferry which took us across the channel from Kochi and into Fort Kochi, and a very quick drive and we made it to a huge furore of sound and sights, and finally, the finish line. 

Such an incredible adventure with highs and lows as expected. We were left feeling incredibly pleased to be alive and safe (record number of crashes this year; 8 rickshaws) and a sense of perspective and energy money can't buy. 

It's amazing how adaptable the human condition is. As Rickshaw drivers, we adapted in time to cows on the road, early starts, life-threateningly close calls on a motorway, driving with no brakes, potholes and questionable sanitary conditions. The people we saw adapted to their environment in incredible ways too. Driving through rural villages and slums it never ceased to amaze us how resilient people are; shacks in the middle of highways, contraptions with cows and mills to fetch water, using a tarp in 100+ ways. 

A trip of a life time and I think it will have shaped us in many ways that perhaps we don't realise yet. An incredible perspective and a privilege to be able to completely forget about our  It was such a surreal moment to part ways with the rickshaws at the end, it really became a lifestyle for us and almost a routine. Get up, quick bite, fuel up and hit the road to see what we might see. We checked into a luxury hotel, had some well deserved beers and sat by the pool. The end.. until next time. 

Day 14: Cheruthuruthi to the FINISH LINE (Cochin)

Following a welcomed relaxed wake-up and a spot of breakfast, the 3 Wheely Cool Guys set off for the last ever time on the road. 

After navigating expertly through endless traffic (from motorcycle-drawn wheelbarrows to the gargantuan 16-wheeler trucks) of various towns we arrived at the Finish Line! 

To celebrate we joined the game of football against a local team in the sweltering midday sun and then checked in to the hotel to enjoy the last few days of India. 

We would like to thank all those who had sponsored us for this trip (which apparently awarded us with a wooden elephant for the most fundraising for the Cool Earth charity), it has been an amazing adventure which clocked up a total distance of 2931km. Not bad for a lawnmower on wheels... 

Over and out.