SMS Update

We made it! Actually got here on Saturday around 2. Up and down the steepest roads weve ever seen! Full update on our adventures when we get home.

SMS Update

In Darjeeling. Cloudy so can't see mountains :-( clear tonight so may get up early to see sunrise hit Everest. G&Ts very good. Gangtok 2moro!

SMS Update

Now in Malda.Had Doris welded today as floor started coming away! Handles better now. Onto Siliguri 2moro and then Darjeeling on Fri. Good times

Day 6

DAY 6 (02/04) - Rickshaw Run   Earliest start yet we were on the road by 06:45, ran out of fuel within 10km, lol!  Not a lot to report really after 10 hours of driving except its still very hot!  Went over a few long bridges along the way, ended up in Rajahmundry.  Hopefully heading for a beach tomorrow and will try and get Doris serviced at some point.   Team Lock Stock & One Smoking Tuk Tuk

Day 5

DAY 5 (01/04) - Rickshaw Run

Early start on the road for 07:45   Managed to get ourselves out of Tirupati which wasn't the nicest place we've visited so far to be honest!?   Hit the East coast after 2hrs and got onto the main road heading North to Calcutta (only 1500km away!!).  After travelling on the road for a while we spotted to other teams :) first since day 2 so it made us quite happy!  One of them had been having problems with a blocked carb limiting their travelling speed a little.  We continued on, talking to random locals (whilst in transit!) everyone is very keen to ask us questions about what we are doing, they all seem to think we are American's too?  They normally smile a lot when they find out we are English though!  Towards the end of the day we saw another different team parked up at the roadside so we stopped to chat.  Apparently yesterday they had to have a piston replaced due burning a hole in it :(  They said that they were considering replacing the whole engine in order to try and reach the finish line, ouch!?   At about 16:30 we arrived at Ongole, we decided this would be a good place to stop and managed to find a lodge for tonight :)  Hopefully no cockroaches in this room!?   Planning on a early start tomorrow as it gets very, very hot by midday and early afternoon.  The hottest we have experienced so far!  Lots of water required.

Day 4

DAY 4 (31/03) - Rickshaw Run   Up at 06:45 as we actually had some breakfast for a change.  On the road for 8.15, managed to negotiate the Bangalore traffic fairly successfully in order to head East towards Tirupati.  Not a massive amount to report, the roads were generally very good.  Drove through our first bit of serious rain and survived (fair amount of thunder and lightening too) and reached our destination in good time.  Tonights room is the cheapest yet (approx 2.50Pd each or 175Rp), off to try and grab something to eat know.

Day 3

DAY 3 (30/03) - Rickshaw Run   On the road at 8.30 again took us a while to workout how to get out of the city, ended up on a different road (smaller but finished so made good time), 25km on we pulled over to check the 'repaired' fuel cap and found the air box and filter hanging off, only one bolt remaining!  More tie wraps seemed to fix it.  Drove through some smaller towns and one terrible road.    Hours later we finally made it to the out skirts of Bangalore.  The road we planned to use to get to the Airport didn't allow Rickshaws so had to head straight into town.  After another hour of driving around Bangalore trying to navigate (lots of closed roads!) we pulled over almost ready to give up when a local, Mr.White Helmet Man (WHM) informed us that we were actually on the correct road (God knows how?!) and within 3km of the factory and that he was going to the same area!  He said 'you follow me, eh?' we said 'ok!'  What ensued was like a car chase for a very low budget movie involving our Tuk Tuk at top speed and WHM on his nippy scooter darting through the Bangalore traffic, lots of horn blowing!!  Once we were within a km he left us, so we pulled over again.  This time Mr.Helpful Rickshaw Man tried to give us directions to Goshala Rd, in the end we again followed this guy (a bit more slowly) to said Rd.  After 3 or 4 zigags (left, right, left, etc) to our amazement we drove staight past the factory!  We actually made it, spent around 2 hours there with Vrata, had some coffee and talked about Microlights.  The factory gave us a custom made funnel (to aid refueling) and some stickers.   Finally it was starting to get late. Vrata recommended some places at which we could stop.  Following his instructions we made it to the first, but is was FULL!  So back to the road on which we had spotted a Premier Inn (apparently the first and only one in the whole of India!?) and that is were we stayed as it was starting to get dark and we had had enough of the traffic.  We managed to negotiate discount due to our charitable cause in return for putting some posters on the Rickshaw! :)  Had a great evening the staff were incredibly nice and extremely helpful.  

Day 2

DAY 2 (29/03) - Rickshaw Run   Left the hotel at Coimbatore at around 9.15, eventually managed to find the road to Bangalore.  Enroute we had our first mountain climb, to about 1200m (so higher than anything back home!) 27 harpin turns and a few interesting occurences with larger vehicles going the other way!?  There were monkeys on the mountain funnily they were giving us strange looks to like the locals!  Saw our first Elephant sign, shortly followed by our first Elephant.  Ran out of fuel for the first time, refill was fine.  We got stopped at the top by an official, quick chat and we were off again.    The road then got rough and slowed us down alot so changes plan and went towards Mysore rather than Bangalore.  On the diversion we ran out of fuel for the second time, quick refill was OK except our fuel cap got ran over by a truck :(  Managed a bodge to get us to Mysore (only 20km).  First hotel in Mysore was very expensive but the manager actually physically directed us to a nice cheap one instead :)

SMS Update

Got to Bangalore finally this afternoon. Air filter fell off. Still need new fuel cap, But now attached with tie wrap. Hope to make Tirupati 2moro.

SMS Update

Change of plan. A mountain larger than Ben Nevis, Shocking roads and monkeys slowed us down. Detoured to Mysore. And we destroyed feul cap. D'oh!