BILL,BASH AND MOJO
THE RICKSHAW MEN
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Carronshore Falkirk, and friends John Henderson, 54 and Bill Cook, 55 or 'Squintsteps' - are one of 46 teams who have just completed the adventure of a lifetime - travelling across India … in a rickshaw! With no back up, teams from all around the world signed up to the 'Rickshaw Run' - an extremely dangerous yet exciting adventure - which involved driving an auto rickshaw 4,500km across India, from Shillong in the Northeast to the Western state of Goa in just 10 days.
With absolutely no back-up, it was up to each team to decide the route they wanted to take, source all their accommodation and food and undertake any repair work needed.
All the money raised will go towards SOS Children as well as the Frank Water Project.
One of the oldest teams taking part, George and his friends are no strangers to undertaking challenges for charity. Over the past 30 years, they have walked along the Great Wall of China, swam with sharks, and climbed Kilimanjaro, raising in excess of £75,000 for charity. And through the ‘Rickshaw Run’ Squintsteps have raised an amazing £4,500 for SOS Children.
George says: “There were a few challenges along the way: becoming used to the crazy driving and trying to find accommodation at night - always difficult when arriving in a small village! We were lucky we managed to find a hotel room each night but some teams had to sleep in their rickshaw when they could not find any accommodation. Directions were also an issue as the road signs are not that great - but the locals were always very helpful - some would even jump in the rickshaw and take you to junction you were looking for then walk back to were you picked them up. Or follow you in their vehicle and make sure you took the correct road.”
Along the way, many teams managed to visit the SOS Children’s Village in Shillong and were cheered on their way by our mothers and children. Funds raised will go towards the Children's Village in Shillong as well as the Khajuri Kalan Children's Village, which is specifically for children with disabilities and special needs. Money will help buy 14 wheelchairs, physiotherapy equipment and the establishment of a Music Therapy centre
Driving a rickshaw might not be the fastest thing you'll ever do, but by golly gosh it brings a smile to the face. With a foot brake and a twist grip accelerator and gear change it's not like driving a car or a motorbike. They are a touch loud and you would be hard pushed to say they protect you from the elements (because they don't) it is basically the ultimate driving machine for short trips in a small town. Which of course makes it the perfect choice for a 4500 km dash through some of the highest and hardest terrain on earth.
BASH DASH ACROSS INDIA
MESSAGE FROM THE RICKSHAW TEAM
hi dougie, chillin out in goa at a place called colva beach , cheap booze great grub just the place after the ordeal that was the rickshaw run it was scary stuff mate being constantly forced of the road by trucks and buses and cops wanting money to let us pass , will forward some pics. when i get home as my camera packed up due the bumpy roads and constant battering the tuk tuk had to take, but got a few days here to unwind , still about half the teams to arrive yet and we know some have been in accidents with people being flown home and some in hospital this aint a gig for the fainthearted in fact its downwright insane.
anyway of for a swim n, a beer ,
catch you soon ,bash
There finished! Check out what they got up to below.
Day 12 Wednesday, 22 April 2009
 | |   Culva Beach - Goa, India well made it to goa 4 team in poor tuc tuc exhaust started to fail with 20km to go so we nursed her home book ok hotel on the beach with a pool so time to chill out and be ready for the party on saturday night @ |
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 | at 14:22 Squintsteps said |  |  |
Day 11 Tuesday, 21 April 2009
| | | Bijipur well we r on the final approach about 350km to go hope to make Goa tomorrow night done 400km today the tuc tuc is struggling in the heat but she is a little fighter she will carry us over the line and we love her town tonight all bars r closed due to elections police woke us 3.30 this morning then we were stopped 3 times and had to pay 10r 20r then 100r to the nice police the 10r gave us a reciept @ |
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| at 14:17 Squintsteps said | | |
Day 10 Monday, 20 April 2009
| | | Hydrabad - Andhra Pradesh, India good day today saw a few monkeys asked them the way to Hydradad the cheeky monkey gave us the wrong direction of for a few beers now early bed tonight 4am start tomorrow going to try and make Pune tomorrow 500km then we are on the home run |
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| at 10:39 Squintsteps said | | |
Day 9 Sunday, 19 April 2009
| | | short day getting ready for run west to goa found it hard to find accomidation today same as yesterday when they see how dirty we are they turn us away Rajamandry think that is how youspell it |
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| at 09:47 Squintsteps said | | |
Day 7 Friday, 17 April 2009
| | | we are in gopalpur on sea orissa just like st andrews only joking but nice place going for a beer on the sea front realy windy long day 400km of further south tomorrow 2000km covered so far |
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| at 13:01 Squintsteps said | | |
Day 3 Monday, 13 April 2009
| | | Cooch Behar - West Bengal, India hi all we have made it to cooch behar today 11 hour drive meet up 4 other teams |
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| at 13:56 Squintsteps said | | |
3 days before launch Wednesday, 8 April 2009
| |  Cooch Behar - West Bengal, India We have arrived in Shillong April lost all our baggage ... Read more ... |
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| at 11:59 Squintsteps said | | |
| | | Cooch Behar - West Bengal, India Well we arrived yesterday the 7th April but our baggage nmade it is still in Dubai not sure if we will recieve it before we leave to start the run. Shillong is some place we are staying in the Polo hotel not great but a place to sleep until we leave. Visited the SOS Childrens village just outside Shillong today they do a really great job the children. Can not wait to gon the road and get started. ... Read more ... |
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| at 11:57 Squintsteps said | | |
48 days before launch Sunday, 22 February 2009
| | | Cooch Behar - West Bengal, India Charity dance night was a great event 150 people turned up and donated loads of cash all ready now can not wait to get out to India ... Read more ... |
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| at 17:50 Squintsteps said | | |
Rickshaw getting ready for the Rickshaw run