Day 10 - Rickshaw Rally - Kanyakumari - Trivandrum

Our last day of the Rally – and our instructions are to get to Trivandrum by 12.30 and find the old theatre!

Day 10 - Final Briefing

The route is well signposted and a drive of about 90km should be straight forward but the road is in a bad state – it’s busy and it is pocked with deep pot holes, so deep that once in you might never get out again.

Lucy checks the route with Kim (Spam Fritters)

John drove the first part passing through all sorts of little towns with everyone heading off to work and school.   The main highway is a boneshaking hard slog which requires sharp reactions as we dodge the holes and the other vehicles also dodging the holes. 

At on point there are five rickshaws in convoy with Monocorn leading the way.  We approach a long queue of traffic waiting to turn left – it must be more than half a mile long – no problem, Monocorn darts out and proceeds up the outside followed by its convoy with us bringing up the rear.  At the front, a massive truck is waiting at the lights to go left, the lights change and it cheerily waves us all on ahead – I dread to think of the reception such a manoeuvre would have got back home.

The whole journey is through towns and built up areas so traffic is in abundance and we have a few hairy moments.  At one stage I come out to overtake a bus just as a lorry pulls out in front of me and I end up as the salami in a bus and lorry sandwich.  I thrash the hell out of the engine to get by and the noise is alarming but we get by – come to think of it the noise was probably John screaming in the back.

Bus Sandwick - take one bus (any bus will do)

There's still time in hand for a chai stop

We reach the designated rendezvous place by doing a u-turn across 4 lanes of traffic.  A closed gate blocks our route and an intransigent guard who is clearly not expecting 12 rickshaws to turn up with strangely dressed people aboard.  No amount of discussion can arrange access so we assemble on the main road forming a cavalcade to meet the press at our final stop.

Princely arrives and we are soon on the move to the finishing flag at the club next door.  After press photos we head inside for our final debrief.

Journey's End - Rally Completed

It’s been an emotional time for everyone - 10 days of constant travel has taken it out of all of us and as we hand back our toolboxes, first aid kits, mobile phones and rickshaw keys there was an air of sadness that the Rally was over.

With our trusty mechanics

All competitors received a medal and there are three further awards.  The Bonkers Award goes to team Monocorn who have driven in silver spandex suits and unicorn masks every day – as the organisers say, ‘you can’t describe bonkers but you know it when you see it’

The overall champions of the Rally are the Inglorious Bemble Boys – it’s an extremely popular choice as the two Germans, Uwe and Carsthen have been brilliant and have always been ready to stop and lend a hand with repairs and route planning.

And finally the Charity Award which goes …………to Team 6, Adventure Before Dementia.  Both John and I are so shocked we sort of blub a thank you.  We had no idea that we were in the running.  When the organisers announce that for every completed feedback sheet they receive, they will donate a further 15 Euros to our charity we are reduced to tears.  So humbling and very grateful

1268km on the clock - the gloves were an absolute godsend stopping the blisters

We say goodbye to our rickshaws for the last time – our rickshaw has completed 1268 km and apart from that mishap on day two, has not let us down.  

We all climb aboard a bus to take us on to our hotel.  It takes about an hour and with the addition of a couple of bottles of whisky and some red wine the journey was hilarious with everyone letting off steam singing and sending balloons out of the windows. 

We have to get a boat to the hotel and on arrival, we all change and jump into the pool.  I do feel sorry for the other guests having their romantic afternoon shattered by our hollering and excitement.

This Rally has been full of highs and lows, bruises and blisters, bad language and stress but it has been worth every minute.  I wouldn’t have missed it for the world although at this stage I’m not sure I’d do another one.

Finally, the money raised for the MS Society has been a bonus. We could not have imagined when we set of on this adventure that our friends and colleagues would be so generous and we are extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed.  Even as I’m drafting this money is still coming in.

Our home in Goa for retired Rickshaw Rally drivers

We also plan a final blog on the rally once the dust has settled and we’ve had a chance to sort through the photos so please continue to follow us.  Next stop the Taj Mahal.

Thanks