This winter's Rickshaw Run looms just behind the palm tree filled horizon as our three-wheeled vehicular steeds stand pimped and ready to carry this January's intrepid Adventurers across 4000 kilometres of some of India's most challenging regions and terrain. Amidst carols and Christmas cake our brave Runners will be either champing at the bit to gallop off to India or nervously laughing at the thought of the ridiculous mission they have vowed to undertake.
The teams have been given their first meeting point - they must find their way to the southern end of Goubert Salai in Pondicherry where they will be transported to the pre-launch New Year's Eve festivities venue, a party haven tucked away in the backwaters of Tamil Nadu, surrounded by exotic plants and jungly vegetation. Our three-wheeler fans will be entertained throughout the evening and into the night by traditional Southern Indian music and dancing and the delicious tastes of Southern Indian and Continental cuisine – their parting meal before two weeks of furious adventuring with possibly only chicken legs to chew on.
So polish those pith helmets chaps, and knock back an extra mince pie and brandy or three in celebration of your brave fellow Adventurists because it's going to be a good'un!
Happy Christmas if you're doing the Christmas thing and a very Merry New Year!