We leave Sydney in 10 days – Saturday 4th September – 1 night in Kolkata, then 3 nights in Darjeeling, before 3 nights in Gangtok before the Run starts. All becoming very real now.
Good news is we are over 25% of our target charity fund raising – hopefully many of the ‘I plan to donate’ promises come through.
More news tomorrow – daily updates from here I suspect!
OK, we both passed the MOST motorcycle test on Wednesday 18th so yay, we now have our category A International Drivers Licence.This is a pre requisite for riding the rickshaw but more importantly, ticks the box for travel insurance. Only thing left now is to pack the bags. Given we spent time on learners permits driving around Sydney on scooters, I think this may just slightly (2%) prepare us for the madness on Indian roads.
We have pimped our rickshaw – themed with bright orange and burgundy stripes (the intent is to be visable) and this is underway in India as we write.
Other than that, a new article in the Mosman Daily (yep we’re hitting the biggies of the Fourth Estate here).
Countdown to the 4th September
We now have a page called “The Honour Roll”. This is where we recognise those who have sponsored us or helped us out in some way. We don’t publish $ amounts – because the size of the donation is irrelevant. Remember just $1 can provide clean drinking water to a person in need for up to a year. To sponsor us, see our “Charities” page to make a direct donation to the Frank Water Project.
Yep folks, exactly 1 month to go. Nepal visa sorted, multitude of shots injected and currently getting India visa. Nearly there. Last thing is the motorbike licence this month and toodle pip – ready to go…….
We came across a few previous teams You Tube Video’s and thought they might be of interest so you get a better feel of what we are about to embark on! Here’s one:
Rickshaw Run Team – Autumn 2009
Well we have barely kicked off our marketing campaign to raise the money for our Charity, but received a great boost today. The Manly Daily heard about our venture and wanted to publish a story about us – see today’s newspaper on page 15 for the article – or click on “Manly Daily” below to see the scanned copy. The Manly Daily also plan to do a follow up story with us when we return. Thanks to the Manly Daily for giving us this exposure and recognising the good cause it supports.
Well in terms of donations/sponsorship we are off and running! We have £77 already thanks to Carl (Wagga Woody)- our first sponsor. And not bad given we have barely started marketing. Awesome effort Carl – cheers!
Carl was at one stage a team member – albeit for only 36-48 hours. He joined one night while in a bar in Melbourne – but dropped out not too long after getting back home to Wagga Wagga…due to some unforeseen logistical issues! But you are with us in spirit Carl – Thanks!
Our DONATE HERE page now has a link so that you can sponsor us. All sponsorship goes to a great cause and whether $1, $2, $10, $100 or more – the money will go a long way to helping someone less fortunate than yourself.
How does it work?
It has been a while but we are starting to get organised. We are now a team of two after Paul’s brother dropped out – something about a crook knee.
We are now booked on Singapore Airlines – we depart Saturday September 4th – Sydney to Kolkata via Singapore. We have one night in Kolkata before flying to Bagdogra on the 5th. We are staying at the Hyatt near the airport – we figure after the long flight from Australia a comfortable hotel close to the airport is needed.
Bagdogra has the closest airport to Gangtok in Sikkim. From Bagdogra we will get a bus/car to Darjeeling. We will have 3 nights in Darjeeling to acclimate ourselves with India and the higher altitudes. Still to confirm a hotel in Darjeeling. Then to Gangtok for 3 nights before the start of the Rickshaw Run.
This is where we plan to stay in Gangtok:
