Yes yes, we know we have a campervan to use, but we also like backpacking! The last few years have stopped that for obvious reasons – we were supposed to be in Taiwan in February/March 2020….
Also life gets in the way and one of our motos is to “to things when you can” – as you never know what tomorrow brings. Thats close to home for us as Mels still got a undiagnosed foot issue (they are trying!!!) – but means walking and backpacking in the normal way is impossible.
We like adventure and exploring, and going on “organised” tours isn’t ideal for us 🙁
So…….. We’ve come up with this!
Basically, its an “organised” Rickshaw Challenge rally by the Travel Scientists https://www.rickshawchallenge.com/trips/ – and its been going for many years.
We’re going to do a 10 day 1000km drive (!) in these things which will be interesting to say the least! They organise the rickshaw, baggage, support, breakdown, hotels and the like – and there may be 15-20 “teams” doing the same thing – so could be a sociable time
Seems to have the right balance of excitement and challenge and support.
It also means we can drive ourselves and have our usual backpacking freedom to explore as we see fit without worrying about walking.
Once complete, we’ll have a few weeks to get to Mumbai to get home – and we can either take simple train/internal flight via Goa for some beach tine then on to Mumbai, but if we can do more we can push a bit and go a bit more wild.
Who knows!
Time will tell….
All the very best on your trip. I have followed your blog with interest since 2009 and it was a great resource for our first big European van trip.
India is a fantastic country to explore. Be prepared for the huge gulf between rich and poor, a country where women queue up at the labour exchange for day work digging roads and be prepared to be assaulted by a vast array of sounds, colours, smells and experiences like no other.
Be very careful about driving on Indian Roads especially in cities. Little things like red traffic lights and priorities tend to be ignored and it is not unknown for drivers to take a short cut by driving the wrong way down a motorway/dual carriageway. I expect the trip organisers will brief you well and travelling in a group may be a lifesaver.
In the UK we are used to slowing down for horses. In India it may well be an elephant (even on main roads).
Hope Mel’s foot is not too much of a bother and that ultimately it will improve.
Incidentally we have a small camper-van, an East Neuk Fifer M (see my MMM article on the East Neuk website).
Laurence Tough
Hi
Sorry, this comment was spammed. I need to tweak the spam setting!
India will be a challenge, but speeds slower – should be OK. I’ve ridden a bike in SE Asia and got used to ignoring signs lol – and also bribinh police…. Hmmm. In Italy at the moment on a long van trip and I think its a good basis for India! (blog will be updated when we retun)
Mel doing “ok” on ebike and kick scooter, but no improvements. Can’t drive or walk far, so its a different type of trip than normal. We have appointments with various people when we get back so live in hope!
Could be worse.
(Sad to admit, we also appeared in MMM in our first van! 🙂