We're home!

We've made it back to our lovely home, lit the fire and eaten proper bacon - delicious!

What an amazing adventure. We have had the best time and thanks goes to The Adventurists team for all their hard work, to the other Rickshaw Runners who's company we really enjoyed and to all our sponsors who gave us the motivation to continue with one of the most ridiculous things we've ever done. We love you all xxx

Last set of random thoughts..

I'd forgotten how big the cockroaches are in India. The bloke selling maps of India in Shillong, really should have been in Jaisalmer. They don't like you to have a pen knife in your handbag at airport security. Every time you order western food, it has a masala tinge to it. Small children are responsible for themselves and have to walk everywhere  - none of this buggy business. Funny that it takes 2.5 days to fly, what it takes 6 days to drive in a tuc tuc. Anyone who is expecting a postcard - be warned, it will have a UK stamp on it. Post Offices have been slightly challenging... There is no such thing as personal space in India. How do people go missing in between check in and boarding at an airport?

Delhi fun

Went out for breakfast, overlooking the main bazaar. Watched a couple of tuc tuc drivers having an argument about something or another - perhaps they were debating whether their vehicles could actually get from one side of India to the other. Anyway, it was good to be back, in the high 39 degree heat, full of dust and with no chance of rain. Rob went for a shave and ended up having a massage, face peel and a bleaching process - much to the amusement of the locals: "you are white already!" It took the best part of 1.5 hours and cost £7 - amazing. He looks like he's got a new face! Lovely Delhi.

It's nearly over...

Our flight from Guwahati was great and we are now back at the Rak International hotel in Delhi. There were some other Runners on the plane and we all felt really sad that it was over, but all agreed that it had been epic.

Last night in Shillong...

We had to abandon the wait for our laundry last night, and just go out in the best clothes we had! We made our way over to Cafe Shillong to meet our waterfall friends and have some food. It was a great place and so we hung out for a while, also having the best coffee that India had to offer. We then made our way to the Pinewood Hotel to meet with the rest of the Runners and enjoy our last night with The Adventurists team. The Russians had finally made it to Shillong, so we heard all about their experiences  (including an accident with a truck), as well as chatting with some other latecomers. We enjoyed everyone's company, as well as some Indian whisky. We said our goodbyes and Matt ran us back to our hotel. Everyone has been brilliant and we can't thank them all enough. At about midnight, we received a text saying that our flight the next day was cancelled, and to call a number. There was a massive storm going on with amazing lightening, so nothing was surprising. However, no one on the end of the phone seemed to know what was going on and advised us to call back after a couple of hours. We knew there were other Runners on the same flight, so contacted them to see what they knew  - nothing! And all of us could still see the flight online. We went to bed and set the alarm. We got up about 2.30am to call again, and the storm had taken hold - affecting the electricity and therefore the Internet. Rob called four times, making different progress each time, establishing that the flight was definitely cancelled, but not able to make a confirmed purchase of two tickets from a different airport. Meanwhile, while the lights were on, Sam was online, and able to see two tickets to Delhi for Tuesday, from Guwahati instead of Shillong (double the price, but available). Somehow in the 20 minute window of Wifi, we were able to make that purchase and get confirmation. We let the other Runners know and went back to bed in the dark, about 4.30am, but at least we had a lie in to look forward to. Or not - the bloody laundry arrived at 8.30am... We got up, had breakfast and then got to Polo Towers Hotel to see if they would help print our tickets. They were great and did everything for free. Back at our hotel, we packed up and went to meet our car. The airport was a three hour drive - much of which we'd done in the tuc tuc - but the roads were really different with floods and landslides - somehow we'd been lucky enough not to have to drive through that. There had been some delays, but it looked like we were on time. We met with a couple of Runners  (they just get everywhere!), who were on the flight before ours, and just relaxed with snacks and a book before being called to the very wet gate.

Last day in Shillong

Had breakfast and then met a few Runners to go see Cherrapunjee - known for its beautiful waterfalls as well as being the 'wettest place on earth'. That name is completely justified as it poured with rain as soon as we got up in the hills, and the clouds hung over everything so we couldn't see a thing! Our taxi drivers did their best to get us a view, but it just wasn't happening. However we did then go and see some caves - which involved us scrambling around in water, but is good fun and interesting! We had lots of chai tea, but the weather didn't change, so we eventually came back down the mountain, to find bright sunshine... Back at the hotel, we showered and are currently waiting for our laundry to turn up before we can go out again - we are definitely nearing the end of our trip!

Rickshaw running...

Great day after a great night. The party was amazing, with the best rum, the best food and the best band. We danced, we drank, we ate, we laughed, we made friends, we enjoyed it all. This morning was fine (thanks to the hotel for a much needed delicious breakfast), and we just chilled before a walk into town. It's Sunday (we think) and so everyone was out,  meandering about, all dressed in their Sunday Best! We had a drink and a mooch, and eventually made our way back to the hotel. Rickshaw Run Matt put a plea out over the group message system for any helpers to move the stripped and checked rickshaws to safe storage, so off we went to have a last go in loads of rickshaws! It was fun, and we both drove another five rickshaws. I drove Helen, Jess and Brett's tuc tuc which had a terrible noise - like you were killing a puppy - how they managed that, is incredible! Other tuc tucs were better than ours, others were worse - they really have their own personality and you just don't know what is going to happen. We then met the organisers and other remaining teams for beer and snacks at Pinewood Hotel - lovely. We are great fans of our fellow Runners.

Shillong

We have had an amazing adventure and we are so pleased to have done this trip. We celebrated hard at the party last night with lots of drinking and dancing  (we've lost the bloody camera, so that's a bit annoying), but we had a good time. We said goodbye to Brian and Candy this morning which was really sad. It's been great fun travelling with them. We've made some friends for life.

More random thoughts...

Truck drivers are our friends! They have protected us from faster and meaner traffic. Bus drivers are not our friends - they are the faster and meaner traffic. Tuc tucs are brilliant. Darjeeling is truly beautiful. India is not for everyone - a couple of people are having really poor experiences, which is a shame, as they will never return. Question: Will my feet ever be clean again? Data roaming doesn't work, even when you pay the charges. The Internet is really not needed in remote India - what would a cow do with it? Eye sockets sweat - generally one at a time. No, I wasn't crying... We all have different GPS systems, but only one works at any one time. Earthquakes mess up communication. Kingfisher beer is marvellous at the end of a long day. India should be seen at a much slower pace (yes, slower than a tuc tuc). Smiling and waving at people gets you a long way.

We've only gone and done it...

WE'VE GOT TO SHILLONG!!!! We've had an amazing day, uphill, very uphill - so there are now no gears on the tuc (you have to hold it in second, it's just not happening), but we can do this. A couple of drink / see the view over the river stops and we were nearly there. We then made the moment drag out ages, eating roadside snacks, talking to people, but eventually we needed to make our way into Shillong. As usual, GPS failed us and so we went up a really steep hill by mistake. Rob had to get out as the tuc tuc wouldn't move, even in first gear! At the top, it was clear that we were in the wrong place, so a motorcyclist led us and B&C through the town to the finish line. Amazing! We've bloody done it! We had lots of hugs and rum from The Adventurists - which was perfect. Loads of photos, and incredibly, Jake and Rachel turned up. We left within five minutes of each other - never saw each other - and then arrive together. Fantastic! What an adventure, what an amazing time, and what amazing people. The best time.