Introducing the Rickshaw Run, Rare Travels-style…and a call for help!

“Always do what you are afraid to do.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Contests have never been my thing.

Or, perhaps I should clarify, at least winning them hasn’t been. Senior year of high school proved to be a particularly traumatizing period—whether it was the race for student body president or the chance to be crowned Homecoming Queen, my family quickly learned to give exceptional hugs of condolence. My [un]winning streak continued through university and beyond: songwriting competitions, travel writing contests, calls for short stories, etc, etc…

And so at the end of March, as scores of travellers descended on Manchester for the inaugural conference of Travel Bloggers Unite, I made my way up to the city with my expectations set low, as usual. On Saturday night, there were to be drawings for three different trips bloggers could win. I dropped my card in all three bags—with the same nonchalance as when you drop a quarter into a wishing well or lucky fountain. It’s more out of tradition than any anticipation that something might happen.

The first prize was a two-night stay in any Mint hotel throughout the UK. The second was a month-long volunteering experience in Romania. The third had something to do with India…but with my mom due for a visit to London only weeks later, I had my eyes set on the hotel stay—leaving little room for details about trips I had no chance of winning.

And as these things usually go, the names of other bloggers were called for the first two prizes. But as the card for the India trip was drawn, I could see just enough of its design from my corner of the room to think, “It couldn’t be…..”

It was.

I have no doubt I flushed the shade of a cherry tomato when they called out my name—my “winning face” doesn’t get a lot of practice! As I made my way up front to claim the prize, I realized I had little idea of what exactly I’d won.

I soon met Dan Wedgwood, Communications Chief for a company called The Adventurists. He told me I’d won a place for myself and a friend on their infamous Rickshaw Run, a two-week [mis]adventure of driving across India in a three-wheeled, motorized rickshaw. Or as they describe it on their website:

“Imagine the fastest, safest, earth-munching all-terrain vehicle in the world. Then imagine the opposite. Three wheels, half a horse power and more fun than any other vehicle on planet earth the humble Rickshaw is undoubtedly the ultimate long distance, off road machine, despite being designed for short distances on road.”

The more I read about the trip that night, the more I wondered: What have I gotten myself into? And as friends and colleagues would later ask, “Are you sure you didn’t lose that contest?” There are a few things the Adventurists make quite clear about the run:

1. You’re on your own—there’s no support truck driving ten feet behind you, full of uniformed mechanics waiting to hop out and change all those blown tires for you.

2. You could die—the bright orange disclaimer at the bottom of their website—“Warning, warning, this is dangerous”—makes no apologies about potential injuries (or worse) participants may sustain.

My bungee jump in Queenstown also came with death warnings, but somehow this felt a little more real. And as I began to learn more and more about the Adventurists and the Rickshaw Run, I realized just how ready I am for such a trip.

After a year of traveling around New Zealand and taking part in nearly every “adventure” activity the country offers—from glacier hiking to dolphin swimming to volcano hiking—I’m ready for something that doesn’t come with a guide and a free cup of tea. I think I’m ready for a little more risk.

Thanks so much for this amazing opportunity, Adventurists!

And now—for the call for help from you!

The Adventurists make it quite clear on their “un-route” page that how we get from Point A—Shillong in the eastern Meghalayan hills—to Point B—Jaisalmer in the western Rajasthan desert—is completely up to us. Having never been to India before and having even less of a clue about all there is to see in between, I’d love any suggestions or ideas you might have from trips of your own…thanks!

Rickshaw photo courtesy of the Karachi Digest.