WE MADE IT!!!

Well who'd have thought it...we've arrived!! After many hours of slogging up mountain roads in second gear yesterday, Mildred safely delivered us into the beautiful mountain Kingdom of Sikkim. Well was Kingdom until recently but it sounds much more exciting.

Gantok is beautiful little town perched on the edge of a mountain, feels more like Nepal than India. We actually arrived 24 hrs ago, but probably celebrated a bit too hard last night!

Our trip has been amazing. Incredibly tough going, hot, dusty, exhausting ect ect but every minute was great. Hearing some of the stories from other teams last night we realise we've had it very lucky. Tales from the road include:

Rickshaws falling off bridges, hitting elephants, deaths threats from police, travelling through civil war zone (think we may be included in that one), being captured by armed communist rebels, being put in secure compound for own safety during riot/massacre, brakes failing going down mountains...could go on forever.

Our only bad part was: 2 wheeled driving round a mountain hairpin and nearly rolling off the mountain, and Ria not being here for it.

Best bits: Everything.

Between the two teams for our two week trip we estimate we've been through:

180 curries

3,543km of road (not all of these were completely necessary)

7 States

0.2km of toilet paper

350 litres of drinking water

196 litres of petrol

1 Civil war zone

7 Indian states

 

Felt a bit weird waking up this morning and us not having to drive for ten hours! We now have nothing to do for a few days except chill and explore Gantok. There's talk of helicopter flights or white water rafting.

Hope everyone is well, Speak soon,

 Jamie & Johnnie

 

 

 

SMS Update

ps the other day apparently was 46oc....nice!

SMS Update

Two words have been on our minds for past few days - not road safety, not drinking water, or toilet paper but...REST DAY! Staying at a lovely beach, got hut with sea view...all good. Had lie in. No driving. Rickshaws had oil change and spot of welding. Also had tv interview while having a massage today. So so funny. Check out TV 9 on the internet. All refreshed and ready (ish) for next leg! Apparently there are riots in Hydarabad...we are nowhere near so don't worry. Cheers!

SMS Update

Tough day yesterday, think we felt effects of a few days of pushing hard. 5:30 starts and 7 pm finishes will do it, particularly when surrounded by petrol fumes all day, blistering heat and getting bounced around the most ridiculous pot holes ever seen! Had the most amazing reception in both the villages we stopped off in though. Whenever we stop somewhere, its all stares and seriousness, then within 5 minutes its getting mobbed with handshakes and smiles! So, we all suffered last night, one way or another. Passed 1,000 km yesterday, rickshaws running well so far. Sure a major breakdown is in the post though! @

SMS Update

Been in the back of beyond today. Think we have passed through villages not yet discovered! Like running the gauntlet at a couple of places! Johnny got mobbed by five year old kids in the ghetto. Refused to show them his passport so they graffiti'd the rickshaw. With chalk. So so tired, not had much time for sleep. We drove for 12 hrs today. Few mishaps but they're to be told when we return. Big shouts out to - monkeys and crazy lorry drivers out there.

SMS Update

First day done. 4 curries, 1 local tv interview, 6 bottles of water, 1 puncture going down a hill. 1 very near miss! Only got 130 km done, torrential rain stopped all progress as making our way through some serious countryside. Staying by a beautiful river....think its a team swim first thing. All in all very very good first day.

SMS Update

Test driving complete...no injuries as yet! Have deduced so far that: A - road markings mean nothing. B - use your horn at all times, even if you're not sure why (worryingly out horn is broken) C - everyone has right of way. Gravity of the task ahead has truly sunk in.... @

Chocs away!!

So, it's time to head off. Someone at work today commented that our trip looks like a giant p*$s up... I would like to take this opportunity to assure everyone that this is serious stuff we've undertaken! If we manage to find time to discuss the growing Indian economy, or the fall of the taj over a cheeky gin or two, I'm sure people wouldn't begrudge us that... The fact that I'm on my third magners at heathrow, under strict instructions from the Chickens in Disguise to 'bring booze' and getting geared up for our start line beach party tomorrow night....well that's irrelevant ; ) Stay safe people, Love Jamie X

Tomorrow!!!!!.......

Well....the day of setting off has (nearly) arrived!! Chickens in disguise, our sister team arrives tomorrow, we arrive in dribbles (pardon the pun) over friday and saturday. Sadly, very very very sadly we'll be one member down. 

Ria will be desperately missed...maybe this is an excuse for us to do the Mongol Rally next year eh?

 

Whenever i explain to someone what we're up to, the closer it gets to departure, the more ridiculous it sounds....Cant wait though, going to be so much fun. People have been asking me how we're preparing for this challenge, and im afraid to say the only thing ive been doing to prepare is trying to spend long periods of time squatting. May come in useful!!!

 Anyway, better go and pack....will post more soon,