Race day 2

Day 2.  The day I will call the day from hell.

Woke up at six bright as a button. This never happens normally but hey I was all full of optimism that we could make it through the day fine and dandy. Starting out at dawn we made sterling progress through a few bits of countryside on our way to Salem.  Our plan was to hit Salem for lunch then trot on through to Vellore.  Well....we broke down early doors.  we weren't sure what was wrong other than kicking to check the tyres and looking at each other asking when did we last put petrol in. A few other runners stopped to see if they could help but ...like us...we useless! then a superman arrived.  I say superman but he drove a civic and was Indian.  plus had a very nifty looking vest on under his shirt.  He changed the spark plug and we though everyting would go our way.  We put in a few good miles with another runner - dark side of the naan.  This stint ended when our power dropped off again we were on our own, broken down in countryside. Between me, vinny the girls and two particularly helpful shopkeeps we manged to work out it was a fault with the wire leading to the sparkplug.  Boom - one bodge job later we were on the move to a town on the way to Vellore to pick up a spare and then...we realised it was getting late.  You won't truely understand the phrase "holy shit" properly until you are in a tuk-tuk at night, driving down a highway for near on 80km.  Vinny did an amazing job doing the night shift and getting us to Vellore - with only a few close calls!

The scenary so far has been create.  Ive got photos but these have gonbe the same way as the video and I have no idea how to upload them right now.  There is a cracking one a bus driving next to us (about a foot away) and it's been in a crash that has ripped off half it front...still on the motorway though.  How the resourceful bugger go the wheel moving I have no idea!

I'm sure I've missed loads but thought I'd give you a little insighht into what happened so far.  Will get an update tomorrow to show what delights we've had.  Planning on going to Nellore but "rick" will have to up his game and not breakdown on us again!

p.s. I will never take the mick out of Paz buying too much sunscreen/insect bite stuff again.  I am sat here sunburnt to buggery and have the itchiest ankles in the world....

1st couple of days! (Moores' bash at a blog)

Ahoy everyone!!

First things first - this is mental.  but bloody fun! secondly - sorry for not updating you sooner.  been jam packed so far!

We took a set of huge flights and 25 hours later we arrived via our first experience of an indian tuk-tuk.  oh how we had secind thoughts.  These passed as we arrived in cochin - ace place.  We went off to the beach which seemed to go on forever and some very curious locals.  The evening was a pretty quiet one as we we're all so tired.Quiet until the biggest thunderstorm of my entire life.  At 4 in the morning. Peachy. I managed to get outside to catch a big of it on video and once I've worked out how to get it on here will do!  Unbeknown to me and Paz, the two big dawgs Vinny and Zoe were being leaked on.  They can now chuckle about it but not sure they were too happy to have to move the beds in the middle of the night.

the second full day we had was started off with tuk-tuk training and a bit of loafing.  And by the way our tuk-tuk is looking awesome!!!! Parry and Zoe manged to get a few minutes by the pool where a bird swooped down and managed to steal one of their bags.  crazy little thing! Me and Vinny playing managed to get in a game of cricket with a few beers.  and very nice it was to.  We got battered by the other team - who were all about 12 but clearly were all in line to be in the next India team.  After this the adventurists had organised a party in Bogatta palace (if I spell any of this blog wrong I'm going to blame the keyboard...) Swish place and somwhere I'd visit again.  Unfortunately the girls had caught a bug so slunk off to bed at a reasonable hour to prepare for the big day.....

After getting up late and having a massive rush to get everything strapped to the tuk-tuk, we left cochin to a huge amount of cheering and clapping.  Had a speech from a dignitary but his name (and most of what he said) was lost in translation.  Getting out of Cochin was a massive effort iun itself and boy am I glad I wasn't having the foirst shift.  Vinny played everything brilliantly and had us on the road to Sikkim asap, and soon enough we were actually overtaking ppl. It was a slow first day but we made good progress.  Slow and steady we made it to Coimbature on the first day.  Was a huge effort to make it to the hostel but good to get some sleep after all the excitment.  Everyone was out like a light.  Zoe was feeling ill but made it through a tough day in the back and it was all fun and games.

Next blog....the day the from hell...