Jaiselmer
Arrived here Saturday pm after nearly blowing up the engine in desert of Rajesthan. THis fortified city is an astonishing place situated as it is in the desert. Party last night and we got a prize for "old but cool" We got thunderous applause well it seemed it. Driving 2300 Km without a windscreen was a cause for much amusement and awe.
Now Monday waiting for taxi to station to get flight wed back to uk
Best wishes to all other Rickshaw Runners and safe journey home
Sorted - last day
Saturday and we are here in Jaisalmer although there were moments when we thought we would never arrive.
Last night we stayed in Pokeram Fort the hereditary home of Indian Royalty for thirteen generations. The present Duke was at home and welcomed us with open arms, he even delayed the opening of the fort until had had a long lie in and we had finished our breakfast!!.
Yesterday our tuc having been sorted by a passing mechanic(for a smile and a handshake) was going great, today it was rubbish, requiring a rest after every 5K, sometimes less. Thanks to Top Boys for the spark plug - it seemed to help for a bit- so 100K took over 5hrs.
However we have made it and after 2500K, probably a bit more (speedo broke in Nepal) we are going to have a look around the ancient city of Jaisalmer and perhaps have a few beers.
This is not the safest thing that we have ever done but OHM has protected us (OHM, a hindu symbo; for good luck tied to the front of Geordie Jogger).
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To all those following us  - we are both well and going sight seeing.
So we have had to treat ourselves
 20th September, - -Agra. After a night in a rather inaptly named resort near Kanpur we have arrived in Agra and along with a few others we have treated ourselves to some western style acomodation.
Staying in a superb hotel with all mod cons and a pretty good restaurant we are recovering from a night in the worst hotel of our trip so far.
Last night we were in Barah, it took an hour for the beers to arrive from somewhere down the road and another 2 for the food to appear. The "resort" is a mickey mouse affair and if anyone ever goes there they are surely going to be disappointed, does Mickey know they use his characters in their inducements?Â
Today we drove the easy 260K to Agra and there we had our brakes fixed, pity they were not fixed before we set off!!!!
En-route we shared the dual carriageway with Tata lorries which were driving the wrong way down, and cars, donkeys and pretty much anything else. A strike action closed the road for an hour and as a result we were drenched in a rainstorm(remember we have no windscreen), when we got to Agra we paddled through the lakesized puddlea axle deep and more in places The hotel is good though and the company great. Tomorrow is our rest day, we are going to see the Taj Mahal.Â
Tuesday Lalvandi - Ihadtoask
Road from Darj was very cut up and doing 12 KPH max then down a scary hill with lots of harpin bends. THen off to Nepal border when the windscreen came loose,shaken by a big sleeping policeman . Tried to fix it but the breeze with out it is so cooling and the visibilty beter. Crossed border and went 20 K to a town and were shown a hotel by a very nice old neapalese manwher we had another fine meal $60 dollarsb for room and meal and beeeeeeeers. Not saying how many but I kept tabs on brian
Set off for day three at 7 and have travelled 300K which is good progress. THe people are so polite and interestedin what we are doing they wave and shout as we pass. Its quite humbling. It ishot and sticky. so humid thattoilet paper turns to paper mache when you touch it but I wont persue that avenue of cvonversation further. We have chevked in to very modest "guest house" but has all facilities including TV. The owner very helpful and kind.
 Our Rickity shaw is safetly behind a cage and we are looking forward toafamily curry with our host.
Early start tomorow
our tune
                                                         The Rickshaw Races With apologies to all Geordies and Geordie Ridley especially We went to the Rickshaw Races
T'was late in the afternoon
On a sunny day in the Himalay
Thought there's no more monsoon
We took a bus from Baghdogra
an she was heavy laden
away we went along Gangtok Road
those two old men from Blaydon
 Oh me lads, you should have seen us gannin
Passing the folks along the road
And all of them were starin
All the lads and lasses there
They all had smilin faces
Gannin alang the Gangtok Road
To do the Rickshaw Races.
 We flew past the Darjiling line
And crossed to the Napali State
But gannin ower the bumpy road
We knew we were too late
The lasses lost their rucksacks
and the Tuks had broken braces
I got two black eyes and a broken rib
In doing the Rickshaw Races.
 Oh me lads-----------
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Gannin along the Kathmandu Road
To do the Rickshaw Races.
 Now when we got it all back on
Away we went again
Headed off for Lucknow town
to meet some fowke from hyem
Then we went to Agra
and sought the Taj Mahal
T'was when we knew that our rickshaw
was always our good pal.
 Oh me lads---------------
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Gannin along the Bikanar Road
In search of the Jaiselmer castle.
 The rain it poured down all the day
We thought the monsoon had ended
The tuk got stuck in thick brown clay
Our money it was spended
With a couple of pulls from two old mules
 the lads were up and moving
so that was when we saw the end
and then we started boozing.
 Oh me lad------------
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Gannin to find the train back home
To see them all in Blaydon