5.30pm
Our last full day in Gangtok and we decided to have a relaxing morning the day before we leave. We leave at around 9.30am tomorrow morning from the main Mall in the heart of the city, where the locals will no doubt laugh and be astonished at the task us crazy Rickshaw Runners are about to undertake.
We had a magnificent Tibetan lunch at the aptly names Tibetan Hotel, and then made our way to the Gangtok Football stadium to watch the Rickshaw Runners (RR) take on the Sikkim Bar Association (SBA). This was an official event with local dignitaries in attendance such as the Chief Justice and the Tourism Minister. The final score RR 5 to SBA 0. The RR team were dominant but the SBA team put up a great fight.
Now we are about to head to the launch party and have some fun with our fellow Runners before we set off tomorrow morning.
Our updates from here on may not be daily, at least until we pass through Nepal and are back into India. The next few days see us travel across the the plains of Nepal at the base of the Himalayas. However we will be posting SMS updates on the Rickshaw Run website daily – please go to the Rickshaw Run website where you can view all teams location and progress.
Post Script
10.45pm
Well the launch party was excellent and we met many other teams, including the team from Kenya, teams from England, Australia, NZ and America. We left the party, which was in full swing, around 30 minutes ago. There is an anticipation for tomorrow morning and we feel much more confident knowing every other team faces the same challenge ahead. Banter amongst teams was based around where are you from, what’s your team name, why are you doing this, what route are you taking, and how prepared are you for this endeavour? Needless to say we could not answer any of these questions without including the word ‘adventure’.
Cheerio, Tally Ho, & Toodle Pip,
Team Lassi Come Home
Cheers to you and Paul, now the hard work and thrills ???? begin. We will be looking forward to your SMS updates etc.
Hopefully when you are reading this you’ll be somewhere up the leaders board. The altitude training has been worth it. But now you’ve got to come down the mountain like the mighty clappers (er safely that is) and I think you know the song that applies in this situation “It’s a long way to the bottom if you want to rik and roll”. Go son go!!!!
Best of British luck, Paul and Andrew, and Aussie luck too. I’m following your progress daily, sort of like vicarious travelling for me.
Oh to be young again and more easily able to set off on spirited adventures. Go with the wind, a sense of humour and determination-you are having a fabulous time already, and so much more fun to come.
… a final good luck before the off … have fun and keep the photos coming …
All the best…the fun begins now…do update on the proposed route
Have a great run – Andrew & Paul – will be keenly following updates of your tour (that sounds too plush!!)
Take care & God bless..
Ravi,
Gangtok
Hope you are both surviving. Keep well.