The Finish Line!

It's all done!!  We managed to get in last night to Kochi on the 13th, a day early as planned and the team are no looking forward to being tourists for a few days.  Apologies to you all out there abouit the last few days as our Indian Sim decided to give up the ghost and not allow us to text or anything at all. 

The Last few days have been great, hitting up some big miles, enjoying the amazing coastline scenery, the pretty good food (no prawns the size of babies as I'd previously been told before!) and the epic beaches.

We did find our faces inside the India Express, check out our Facebooks if you want to see it and to finish the blog post fletch posted yesterday, the journalist did a good job interpreting our trip and what we thoguth of the country.

Onto Kochi, yesterday was a day of big numbers, approx 300kms by the end of the day, a 3pm dip[ on a TOTALLY deserted beach down a random sand track finished up by a liottle night driving on the way into K\ochi.  I DEFINITELY think Kochi was chosen due to how confusing it is to get into.  After some very random detours we arrived at our hotel, again got found by the Rickshaw Rajas team and it was off to the bar to share our stories.  Finding Rickshaw Run HQ just down the road from us we ran into the 15 or so other teams which have alos finished, the official finishing party tonight it going to be a BIG one!

Onto today, the boys and myself have made friends (by giving him he stuff from the Rickshaw we didnt want for free!) with a local tuk tuk driver and he's going to take is to his tailor today to get some stuff made.  Then we're going to spend the day enjoying being proper tourists: do some shopping for friends and family and enjoy being Rickshaw passengers rather than driver, navigator or sleeping person!

Tomorrow, Hussey flies out and Fletch and I will be getting onto a houseboat to tour the Backwaters around this area of the state for 2 days then we both fly out also, Fletch on the evening of the 16th and me on the morning of the 17th.

What an absolutely incredible Adventure, I know for one I'm already starting to think about the Mongol Rally in 2013.....I'm sure there'll be full updates from us all when we get back but until then, I'm off to chill out and enjoy what Cochin has to offer!

Karnataka, India

Day 12 and its off to mangalore in search of our fame and fortune moment as we search out the indian express to see what exposure we have been given. Its not as easy as first imagined as its an english written paper but after some advice we manage to locate 2 copies, its good, its better than we imagined, its black and white but its page 2 and in a prime position. The journalist has done an excellent job interpreting our th ** some text is missing **

Karnataka, India

Day 11 and back on the road early again-fairly uneventful driving day with Hussey and ash playing waving games in the back and fletch sleeping whilst not driving. Decided to check out the krishna temple in udupi before going to our beach accomodations in malpe-temple was pretty cool-turns out we're missing a huge festival on the 17th :(However after the temple we were approached by a journalist from the india express and fully interviewed for todays edition-will keep you all updated when we manage to find a copy! This was then followed by driving around malpe trying to find th ** some text is missing **

, Palolem Beach, Goa

Day 10 started somewhat dusty as the ramifications of consuming our own body weight in alcohol were being felt. Wally packed and bills settled we decided to only drive a short way making our destination a smaller beach resort called Palolem. We arrived mid afternoon with team mario kart in tow and got booked into one of the beach huts which dot the incredible coastline. It was by no means luxury but considering it cost less than a bondi burger (at this stage minds are fixed on western foods) and the location was second to none there were no complaints. The afternoon was spent with chatting and laughter feeling like minor celebrities as PT snapped away capturing the moment. An unemployed nomad artist came by and sketched us in the evening while we devoured a sea food platter around a raging fire. An unpredictably cold sleep ensued.

Maharashtra, India

Day 8 12.41pm just gave Wally and ourselves a rest and some lunch-it is hot hot hot. Finished up lunch with a picture at the local shop where we are now celebrities! 180km down-185 to go!!

Maharashtra, India

Day 8 7.21am-early start today-just stopped for fuel and now we're ready to put up some big numbers to try and hit goa tonight for a well deserved day off and a rest for Wally! Spirits high and all are well rested. Hwy17 all the way to panaji/anuja beach.

Maharashtra, India

Day 7 had an up when en route to murud we passed the best beach so far. Being that it was already lunch time (refer previous blog) we decided a dip was in order to refresh spirits. The water was incredibly warm and clear and while mark played the british tourist trying to avoid the waves ash and i were straight in. A fresh coconut water later and we were back on the road to pass the rajas (to our suprise) who had also been delayed. We pushed on to try and get back to highway 17 when the gps let us down and took us to the middle of nowhere. We managed to find a truck headed to roha so we followed them through some seriously mountainous terrain which richard hammond in a land cruiser would struggle. Wally was in and out of consciousness throughout mainly due to the incline making it difficult for fuel to get to his engine. At 3pm we hit the freeway and managed 2 get 150km in the bag reaching khed by 7. A day of incredible landscapes, hope the photos do justice

Maharashtra, India

Day 7 is off to an awful start, we were up and out the hotel fed and watered by 8 but our organisation was quickly scuppered by a wrong turn causing us to get lost in the back roads of alibag. This however was the least of our problems when Wally decided enough was enough, some spark plug scrubbing seemed to fix him at only temporarily as he continued to splutter and stall. We were very lucky to always break down within proximity of someone willing to lend a hand. After the delicate touch of a rickshaw mechanic Wally seemed to be smiling again when he gave up the plight once more. This time a crowd of locals gave their advice only to discover that embarrassingly Wally was just thirsty. En route to murud fingers are crossed. ** some text is missing **

Maharashtra, India

Day 6 was a great day-now that ash and Huss are healthy an early start with high hopes was in order. Avoiding the highway after yesterday's grime-fest resulted in some amazing sunny hill side driving, awesome winding roads and huge smiling faces and waves to greet us as always. After a great fresh roadside lunch with ice cream for dessert it was time to push on and try to successfully circum-navigate mumbai. Traffic around mumbai was predictably mental and we had a little night driving to do to get to alibag but we made it safe and sound for some fresh seafood dishes and beers with the rickshaw rajas. Roll on goa for the full moon party and a full day off!!

Daman and Diu, India

Day 5 and the quiet times didn't last long. Some great scenery close to our destination and the first beach-side accommodation. Our first encounter with the highway and after 2 hours we were pleased we'd avoided it thus far. Dusty, busy and generally incredibly boring. It was on the highway that we did start to smell someone burning plastic. After checking the rear view to make sure it wasn't Wally we settled on a fire in the distance. After passing the fire and the smell remaining we again began to look closer to home. Ash immediately shouted for the stop as it had become evident Hussey's small bag was alight. The ghetto radio installed in Jaisalmer had turned into a portable cooking device. Adam enjoyed watching Hussey toss his belongings across the roadside and then proceed to stamp on them though... Luckily no major damage done (and that the fire didn't reach the tissues, toilet paper or matches)