Team The Charioteers

Kerala, India

Day 13 we made it, well kind of... We pulled into the Taj Kochin which is a 5 star resort in the tuk. You should of seen their faces when we pulled up they were like "i don't think so" you must have the wrong place but after a couple of minutes and a delicious drink waiting for us we were welcomed to a beautiful place. We just need to go drop off our tuk, which well probably do later or maybe tomorrow since the pool is calling my name. Just near 3000km in total which is 1860 miles. Which is like driving from Seattle to Chicago at 40mph with crazy Indian drivers trying to kill you, and that's no joke. It went by fast but gosh parts were hard. We had some great times and built some great memories. Rupert now wants to do the ice run which is a motorcycle and side car across Siberia in the winter. I said he was crazy, but ask me in 5 years lol!....

Karnataka, India

Day 7. It's half over I can't believe it. We had a great night last night played some cricket with some locals and set off early to bed, because we left at 630 am this morning. 10 min after we set off we got a flat tire luckily we had a spare we were lighting quick and changed it within 10 minutes. We then found a tire repair guy and got a new tire for $6. We set off again but then heard our muffler rattling so we stopped again and noticed the nut on the bolt holding the muffler fill off, so we set off to find a nut which we did, not long after. The repair man also gave us an in where we could get the transmission fluid changed so we then set off to find a mechanic after a while we found some very nice guys who helped us find a mechanic, get a lube and brake job and set off for $3. Its pretty funny here because of my height everyone wants a picture next to the tall white guy. Im thinking of starting to charge for photos. Lol We'll be walking along all the sudden people will start recording us with their phones. Its pretty funny. O well..... Landscapes change so quickly here from dry desert to lush forest to palm trees and sugar cane..... We hope to swim in the Arabian sea tomorrow and find some drinks with umbrellas. We're 3/4 of the way and have done 3000km, we now have 7 days to take it easy on some great beaches. More later

Maharashtra, India

Day 6 we had a day off hell driving yesterday so today wanted to take it easy and have a day of rest. We left panvel got on the expressway and just about immediately got pulled over by the cops who told us 2 and 3 wheeled vehicles are not allowed on the motorway. We had to either wait or pay a fine, he tried to get us for $40 but I offered him $20 he took it and said welcome to India. O well got us back on the road. We then started up this steep mountain and our tuk started to make an awful noise we decided to turn around to a mechanic we had just passed. After some pointing and sign language we got our muffler tightened and our frame welded.we were off again we only did about a 100 km but we wanted to see some Buddhist caves carved in the side of the mountain and just relax we found this decent place in Karla and got a room and went up to the caves which were pretty cool caves carved in the side of a mountain 100bc. One of which was huge with really cool statues carved in the rock, we then had a excellent lunch and are just relaxing getting ready for a long 350+ drive tomorrow.@

Maharashtra, India

Day 5 had an interesting night last night, which was totally random. we went down to the bar at our hotel for some food. we were the only ones in the entire place except for aprox 6-7 staff which were very interested in us. We sat at the bar and ordered some beers the waiter recommended a fish dish which was not on the menu we agreed. There were two bartenders just standing waiting for us to order. It was quite strange since the place was dead. It had just opened apparently. Our waiter told us that these were the best bartenders and if we wanted flaming shots, we said u mean on fire, he said yea, we first waved it off but he kept on Asking so we finally agreed next thing I know the bartender makes two shots sets them on fire and apparently is going to poor it down my throat. However I did not know this cause of the language barrier. Next thing I know he poors it down my shirt half in my mouth which is super hot and sets my shirt on fire. No one was hurt but it was quite hilarious, Rupert did his to follow but understood better and only ended up with 2nd degree burns on his lips. Two make up for it we did have an excellent meal. White fish with green chili sauce, it was great!!

Maharashtra, India

Day 5 woke up at 7am tried to leave but someone had stole our funnel so we couldn't fill up. After a couple min one of the hotel workers made us a new funnel, which works better than our original so that was a plus. We decided to try and get as far towards Pune as we could and we were making great time, Rupert was driving like a local and then we hit Mumbai traffic, It is absolute chaos. People going every direction there is no set method everybody just goes and if u hesitate youll get stuck not moving. So Rupert was weaving in and out then we hit a traffic jam he tried to fit between two dump trucks but that didn't work out so well, he got stuck up on the truck we then had to wait for the truck to move, we backed up and tried to get around the other side of the truck but then we hit the other side of the truck and got hung up again, it was really stressfull, then rupert gunned it and made some side ventilation in our top, no biggy that's what duct tape is for. We tried to make it to a resort near Pune but darkness set in and we've been there and have done that. So we found a decent hotel and stopped. Fresh showers and cold beer!

Gujarat, India

Day 4 Got an early start out of Udaipur. And set off on a nice highway. We decided to try and take a more direct route to Vododara instead of going through Amadabad. We saw a nice looking market in a small town and we were hungry so we stopped. We take turns wandering around so one can stay with the tuk. When I came back I found Rupert being mobbed by 30-40 men and boys taking his picture like he was a movie star, before I knew it we were invited to some guys house for lunch which was great, but it's pretty funny when ur eating and half the city is peeking in doors and windows to see the foreigners. It was totally random but an excellent experience. We are now in Vododara and we be heading towards Mumbai in the morning!

Day 4

We left Udaipur early, 7.30ish - not used to these early starts but didnt want to be in rush hour traffic - still coming to terms with city traffic and lack of mirrors on the Tuk. We headed down south toward Vadodara, we were hoping to go beyond but we were side tracked half way down. The roads were good initially before we headed off on teh state highway - great scenery, small towns but some of hte worst roads ever. The mammoth potholes had gone, but the roads and tarmac had been totally ripped up and compacted by the trucks that it was impossible to go above 10km/h for about 30kms. The tuck was shaking and rattling, the top right of our frame has come loose as well - well the weld has snapped so the frame constantly rattles now which is nice. Half way through the day we stopped off in a small town in the middle of nowhere and went walking around the market, this caused chaos as clearly foreingers are not often seen. Whilst Tanner wondered off i guarded the Tuk and began to attract a crowd - at one point 30-40 people were all crowded around the tuk reaching in, trying to have a look, taking numerous photos and i seem to have made 5 new facebook friends without trying. One guy was telling me how he had a son studying in London and that we should go back to his house - i did consider leaving without Tanner but luckily he arrived back from his walk and we all jumped in the Tuk and i drive us to his house with crowd following. We met the family and had the most amazing lunch which his wife cooked from scratch there, still with various neighbours popping their heads in to see uis and say hi. 2 hours alter though we had to say our good byes as we still had another 200 odd kms to go.

 Short story - didnt make our original destination but defintiely worth it and now need to plan where we go tomorrow! Early starts and early beds - 9.30 and time to hit the sack... #rr

Rupert Shaw

Fearless leader of the charioteers. I promise to ensure that we shall finish, raise oodles for charity and get lost.

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Tanner Vick

Always up for Adventure especially when it comes to travel

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<p>So what's this all about then? What's a rickshaw, why would you want one and what are we doing? All good questions, deserving off answers so let's begin.</p><p>&nbsp;Tanner and i have decided to take our life into our hands (that's why he's involved - also handy to have a doc on board) and drive around 2500km from north India to the South. It's a bit like driving from John O'Groats to Lands end if you started in Newcastle and Not JoG. For cousins across the pond, that is like driving from Sacremento to Tijauna. Or not, but it is a long way. Oh and we have 7.5 horsepower at our disposal. And 3 wheels. And one of us doesn't have a license yet.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;Rickshaw's then. Silly vehicles really but potentially lots of fun. We hope.</p><p><img src="images/gallery09/6301/63974/400x400.jpeg" />&nbsp;</p><p>This is a standard Rickshaw. &nbsp;Remarkable beasts of burden also:</p><p><img src="images/gallery09/6301/63975/400x400.jpeg" />&nbsp;</p><p>For more rickshaw goodness please go to the gallery and gorge yourself silly.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>We're going to be raising money for&nbsp;<a href="http://www.frankwater.com/about-frank-water/" title="Frank Water" target="_blank">FRANK Water</a>&nbsp;which funds sustainable clean water projects in developing countries across the world. Currently&nbsp;more than 4,000 children die EVERY DAY from a lack of clean drinking water, so this is a small way to help change that terrible fact.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Which leads onto this:</p><p><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/thecharioteers" target="_blank"><img height="50" src="http://www.justgiving.com/App_Themes/JustGiving/images/badges/badge10.gif" width="270" /></a>&nbsp;</p><a name="Gallery" title="Gallery"></a>