Woooot, Cochin!

Today just before 3pm we rolled into the finish line, the 23rd team to arrive, followed by Dream team supreme shortly thereafter in 24th! The last few hours were a bit bumpy, sputtery, and full of traffic, but overall pretty smooth sailing. It feels good to have completed the journey, but we're all incredibly sad that we can't take Bessie (the rickshaw) home with us. For those of you still making your way to Cochin, we're staying at Tom's Old Mansion, I think there might still be a few rooms open and it's not horribly expensive. Also RE: comments, I've been unable to respond to any comments via my phone (which has again ceased working properly, but I suspect the next few days will be less eventful since we no longer have our rickshaw to run around in), but I am reading them, thanks! Hopefully I'll get some photos up in a bit, but I suspect there will just be a mass upload of photos once I return to the US. The plan for the next few days: tomorrow watching or playing in the cricket match against the locals, make our way to an elephant preserve or something of that nature, maybe take a back-water tour... and of course some shopping and a party (or two or so), the area we are in is very nice to explore on foot and relatively easy to navigate. I may or may not get the chance to update again before returning to the US, but I'll try to think of a few good tales to share!

 -Jen

Just a location update

Just wanted to update our location on the map since we're just over half-way through now, but it still feels like we're not quite half-way there. Lost count on the break-down tally, or the push-start or simply pushing the rickshaw up hills tally. On the plus side, the underpants gnomes haven't visited recently, several team members have lost underwear at various locations enroute, really they're not lost so much as missing, possibly from the first stay in Jaisalmer where Beth noticed that her dirty pair that was on the bed was no longer. On that note, onward to breakfast, the mechanic, and hopefully towards Goa.

-Jen 

City driving = bad news bears

In the process of uploading several photos. Tonight we're staying at a very nice hotel to make up for last night's 1$/person hotel and the previous night's roadside camp-out. So much to say... city driving was a complete mess (but thankfully I wasn't the one driving through it), we decided today to have boys in one rickshaw and girls in the one following them, got separated somewhere in the city then played tag trying to catch up which finally happened around Anand. Lots of chai tea breaks and breaks for directions today. We've run into about 3-4 other teams, so it's nice to know we're not at the complete bottom of the pack... I think. It's hard for me to tell, everything is starting to blur together a bit. Scenery is changing quickly, I'm sure we've left the desert, but I'm not quite sure what to call the terrain that we're in now. People here have been mostly more than friendly, several invitations for tea or dinner or visiting people's houses; then again there are those that just stare, and those that want to take pictures of us. Pretty sure I've got some strange sun-burn patterns now, but on the plus side I just had an awesome shower to break my streak of no-shower access, I would feel clean but there is still paint stained to my hands from pimping the rickshaws. We've also slowly been adding things to our rickshaws, yesterday's additions included some tassels, a seat cover, and an awesome bird. Tomorrow's goal is to get near or past Bombay, after finding someone to fix the roof racks on both rickshaws since they both partially bit the dust thanks to today's bumpy roads. On a side note, anyone passing through our area (Valdodora), if you want to find our hotel shoot me a call or email, it really is the nicest hotel I've been in so far (about 30$ per person tonight, figured we needed the splurge).

 -Jen 

At the end of the pack?

Technology has failed me, or at least Verizon has since my phone has ceased working... or at least hasn't worked since somewhere between Barmer and Jaisalmer. Right now no calls or texts or anything, so I'm using Amit's computer to update again. I see now that he neglected to mention in his last posting that we turned around to go find him after finally being able to get a call through before reaching Barmer our first day. Second day was filled with slow-going and multiple various problems with our now-named shaw Bessie. Before having issues we invaded a small hut-community (not really even village sized, just a few huts) to meet some locals, who I'm sure we overwhelmed as we were soon joined by a few other teams. Today has been a much quicker pace, aside from the messiness of pot-holes (about 10-times worst than any US city I can think of) and city driving, it's been pretty easy going. No major breakdowns or anything today, and lots of chai tea, let's hope we get a few more days like that. Multiple pictures and various animal or "what is that?" sightings from today, figured out that although the state we are in is dry (boo), they appear to grow an awful lot of weed. If all goes to plan, tomorrow we should make our way through Ahmedabad (very big city, at least in comparison to the more rural ones that we've been through thus far), although I'm not sure what our end goal is... eh, we'll figure it out in the morning. For now, slumming it up in a room that cost us 1.25$ per person, sleeping on our tarp and under the mosquito net... this was Dan and Amit's choice hotel. On that note, we thought yesterday that we were at the end of the pack (as we were passed by a team that started an entire day late), but now we appear to be closing the gap as others seem to have run into similar issues as us. Onward ho!

Jaisalmer Breakfast

After the marathon of travel we arrived yesterday afternoon in Jaisalmer! There was a bit of confusion getting the "jeep" from our hotel (aka the 4-door sedan and rickshaw), but this was quickly followed by some awesome food and a few Brits who led us to the palace to check into the events and find our rickshaws. Of course there are other notes from the night, the test-driving (and "helpers") and the new years party.... oh and the "bugs" in the room this morning which has gone quite well with the moldy-bread breakfast! At least starting off the day with some screams and more laughs is a good way today. On today's agenda- launch and hopefully arrival to a town (whose name I've forgotten already, something with a B) which is about 150km south of here. So we're off!

-Jen 

India in Milwaukee

[](http://www.tripolishrine.com/) [](http://www.tripolishrine.com/)For starters, good news first, pending posting a few checks to the websites, both we and Dream Team Supreme have met our minimum charity goals, together **2,000+** pounds! Of course now working on exceeding the goal (because the only thing better than meeting a goal is exceeding it). Also, we are back to three members, welcome (back) Gopi!

Now it is time for a fury of packing, but first I thought I'd share a few photos of the "India" in Milwaukee. To the left is the Taj Mahal, which is about 1km from my apartment. Although sadly the group that owns it refused to answer any of my emails/calls, would have been a great fundraising venue.

Next this statue of Mother Teresa was recently erected on my college's campus... I think this year (but I'm not sure and a little too lazy to look it up). It's just around the corner from the building I spend the majority of my time. It's also "life-sized" ...statues like this always seem weird to me because until seeing them, I never really considered the height of the person and I always find myself being somewhat surprised at how short they really are. Kind of like the other "life-sized" statue in Milwaukee of the Fonz (which is maybe 5 feet tall... maybe):

 

 *Aaayy, guess it really is life-sized.* 

 

 

That's all for now! Good luck to those of you already in India, we're looking forward to joining you soon!

-Jen

"Monster blizzard"

As I am sitting inside after spending an afternoon in the cold and rain which is now apparently turning into a "monster blizzard" (ala [ CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/11/winter.weather/index.html?hpt=T1)): I would just like to say how much I am looking forward to being in the deserts of India in 18ish days!

Also a quick shout out to Ryan and Lauren (of [Race Day Rickshaw](index.php?mode=teamwebsites&name=race-day-rickshaw&page=blog)), it was great to finally meet you both! I hope your travels go smoothly- see you in India!!

-Jen

Edit: Wow, that was a bit of a dud, just a few inches of snow on my car. Hopefully it's not holding out for next weekend.

Taking finals and making final preparations

In 1 week I take a final exam and finish off this semester. 20 days from now we'll be in India (and away from all this silly 0-degree (F) wind chill and snow). Even though we've had all year to prepare, I could still use a few more weeks! 

Excite!

-Jen