“I am not an adventurer by choice but by fate.”
— Vincent van Gogh
It was the summer after graduation and I was two months into living at home and waitressing at a local restaurant. One night, a customer asked what I was doing now that I’d finished university.
“I’m moving to London in August with two friends. Going to get travel out of my system,” I said, a tray of empty drink glasses balanced on my hip.
“You never know,” he replied with uncanny intuition, “It might just get in your blood.”
Little did I know how right he would prove to be — and now much the same could be said for the kind of crazy journeys schemed up by the Adventurists. My only expectation for the Rickshaw Run was a not-so-pretty ending — be it careening off a cliff or colliding with a holy cow. I certainly didn’t expect how much fun it would be to drive a tuk tuk, get soaked in Varanasi and epicly lost in Jodphur [yes, that is an adverb], and have no idea where we would end up each night.
I also surprised myself by loving the camaraderie of the run. My travel style normally involves going it alone, so it was hard to adjust at first to the idea that there were 71 other teams besides us — and that we would all be having the same adventure. But as soon as we hit the road out of Shillong, that all disappeared. I suddenly looked forward to bumping into other teams — hopefully not literally — and to the many convoys, roadside catch-ups and impromptu multi-team dinners that took place.
So what do you do when one adventure comes to an end? You start planning the next one, of course — and at this point, it seems a 10,000 mile trek to Mongolia might just be in order. And with more than three times the number of teams on the Mongol Rally than on our Rickshaw Run, that can only mean it’s three times the fun, too–right?
Tempted? Sign-ups for the 2012 Mongol Rally with the Adventurists are here!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VwacRktz2c
How funny – I was JUST looking up information on homestays in Mongolia when I read this!! I’m thinking of going next year as part of the Trans-Siberian, as it’s been a huuuuuuuuge dream of mine. Some friends of mine did the Mongol Rally a few years ago, and it definitely sounds like the ultimate adventure…..something I’ve thought about doing as well, but admittedly I’m afraid I wouldn’t be very good at all the fundraising!!
Hey Naomi! Great to hear from you. That’s awesome you’re thinking of a homestay in Mongolia…and I am nothing but jealous about your Trans-Siberian plans, haha. That is perhaps my number one travel dream…that and the Mongol Rally, of course 🙂 You’ll have to keep me posted on how your plans go for the rail journey/homestay–I’d love to hear more about it! And don’t worry–the fundraising is a huge challenge for me as well. I really wished we’d raised more for the Rickshaw Run, so I would love to do the rally just to have a chance to make a serious effort this time!
Hmmmm… it does sound tempting.
Do they have air con and wifi???
Mongol rally lasts sooo… long though.
Need to get Nambi and Duncan to ask me wife and make sure i’m out of firing range when they do..
Hope your still having fun.
Take care
Hmm…wifi and A/C. I’m sure the ‘Stans would definitely be able to help you out with those…and don’t forget the beer, right? 🙂 Thanks for saying hi, though! How’s everything up in Port Rush? Staying warm? All is well in India–just getting ready for Sri Lanka on Friday. Take care, Mark!
LET’S DO IT!! 🙂 Are you doing it in 2012 or waiting for me?
OF COURSE!! you + me + mongol rally + 2013 = winning combination. not sure i could handle it next year, haha. but i’ve already got other travel blogging friends thinking about it for 2013, so we’re looking at an epic time for sure!