The final stretch of the 2008 Winter Rickshaw Run took teams through the West Bengal province before crossing the border into Nepal and up into the Himalayas for the finish in Kathmandu. Teams were plagued with further mechanical problems, road blocks, terrible terrain and cold temperatures. Still, at least the views were good.
A few days away from the finish line Tantric Tuk Tuk reported having “Big exhaust problems. Stopped in Siliguri and a nice Indian fixed both tuktuks for a pound.” The Spanish Bullfighters complained of the upper structure of the rickshaw collapsing after nuts and bolts fell out from all manner of places while Rooster Rickshaw were also having nut related troubles... freezing our nuts off. After an hour on the road this morning we decided it best to stop and buy blankets, gloves and hats, which made the rest of the drive to Darjeeling at least tolerable!”
Team Propaganda begrudgingly informed us that “120km shy of the finish line, and with great timing the rickshaw has developed a severe aversion to hills.” Safety Third were “asked to pay 200 rupee 'tax' - told border guards to go to hell and drove thru! They didn't really seem to care...” Later they repoted that “Nepal is a breath of fresh air after stinky India. And, better still, we're not in jail.”
Team Holy Cow summed up the Rickshaw Run nicely. They clearly get what it is all about. “Holy cow sized pot holes. Buses driving full speed straight at us. Spine rearranging bumps. Total discomfort. Absolute quality.”
The majority of teams had made it to Kathmandu for the finishing party at Rum Doodle on January 16th. Exhausted, battered and well in need of a shower teams rolled in elated to have made it, ready to share some stories over a well earned Gin and Tonic. Take a look over the Arrivals Board to get a feel for who arrived and when.
“WE DID IT!” came the triumphant cry from team Tantric Tuktuks. “Stunningly pretty drive up the mountain road to get here, marvellous views of the Himalaya, what a fantastic way to end. Now in the swanky Hotel Shanker enjoying G&T by pool. Hooray for civilisation.”
Clacton on Sea Mystery Tours reported, “We made it, Despite a fuel leak and a few barricades set up demanding money (which we rammed through). Met others with tales to tell. One hit truck, one in hospital, one rolled, one hit person and in prison.”
The Finishing Party was awesome. With some fifty plus teams in town ready for the celebrations with a few more teams arriving the festivities, the Rum Doodle pub was transformed, ready and awaiting the masses. A legendary place in itself, where for decades explorers and adventurers who have scaled the Himalayas come to swap tales, we couldn't think of a better place for our intrepid teams to partake in some jolly back slapping, tale swapping and the consumption of a tasty beverage or two.
Welcome drinks of the local alcoholic rice wine, raksi, got things under way along with some local music followed up by speeches from Sabin Gurung of Maiti Nepal and David Evans of Mercy Corps. Next up were the mighty Rickshaw Run Winter 2008 Awards, as voted for by the teams.
The best pimped Rickshaw award went to Cicco and the Man for their incredible solo efforts. These boys did all the work themselves without enlisting help of the masses of cheap labour on offer. They fitted air horns, a pink sun visor, a hefty sounds system and painted the whole rickshaw by hand.
The Longest Road award went to Balti Beaumettes who covered a staggering 5100km in two weeks in what can only be described as one of the world's crappest motor vehicles.
The Most Worried Mum Award went to Laura of The Rickshawshank Redemption who's mother was waiting for her in Kathmandu, but Paula forgot to get in contact until the day she was due to fly out...
Right Honourably Unwashed award went to Buddy who not only went unwashed for the whole event, but didn't even change his white suit. Top stuff. Runners up were Team Tuk Tux who did the whole run in their Tuxedos.
Biggest Fool was awarded to the Stevie Wonder Driving School guys who lived up to their name sake by hitting a stationary lorry at 60kph. This text message came in shortly after the accident, “Our loyal rick is about a foot shorter now but is back on the road. At least the frame is aerodynamic now”.
Legends of Phaal won the Best Story award for their tale of being jailed for three days and fined 37,000 rupees for running over a drunken local in West Bengal.
Finally, The Saints award for most cash raised for charity went to Shake Rattle 'n' Roll who raised over £4500 for charity. They celebrated by getting even more drunk with one member passing out in the bar at about 10pm, only to be found under a table at 4am, while the other member slept in his rickshaw surrounded in his own vomit. Controversially, their celebrations might have been premature as they could well be stripped of the title as team Legends of the Phaal reportedly smashed this.
Celebrations went into the night with fine Nepali food and drink a plenty. A live band provided the music and it wasn't long before there was a whole mosh pit thing going on. One individual somehow found himself hurled into the ceiling fan. In short, it was complete carnage. A most apt finish to two weeks of much the same on the worst that the sub continent could offer.
With that, I will leave you with the sentiments expressed by team Bombaywatch...
“looking forward to never getting in a rickshaw again”
21st January 2008