Muru...where???

No complaining today! We had, had a day of rest so we were bright eyed and ready for the adventure that was ahead of us. As usual we were off to the local petrol station to refuel. I never get tired of the employees faces when they see a pink rickshaw roll into the pump as the lads laugh and nudge eachother in the ribs. With 'Missy' refueled and Ben10 bubble machine replenished, we were off rolling through the roads of Goa showering the region with Little Miss Mania and bubbles galore.

Todays challege was to produce 5 calendar photos at different locations. Being that we were travelling through Goa we were hoping to get some gorgeous beach photos... ahhh but what were we thinking during the monsoon season. More like off-white sand and choppy seas. Anyhow, onward we continued and it was when we ran out of petrol, we thought it would be a perfect spot for a photo shoot, on the side of the road... or was that when we stopped and asked for directions for the many times already that morning.

Even though we had over 200 kilometres to cover today, the majority of the teams decided to make a short detour to a little beach town called Gokama. Perhaps this could be the spot for our prize winning photo. As we arrived in the town, it felt as though we were driving through streets we shouldn't be driving through as they became narrower and narrower. Luckily no one kicked up a fuss with a little pink rickshaw rattling down the main thoroughfare. As we arrived at the beach we were greeted by Teams 2, 4,3 and 5 along with a crowded beach filled with people and never far away a cow or 2.  After a quick inspection of the beach we all agreed it wasn't the tropical oasis look we were aiming for so instead Pia jumped into the rickshaw and posed for the photo she had been wanting to do all along. Check out Miss October in the pics below :)

After a quick detour via the shops we headed back into town to see if Gokama Beach was looking any prettier. Off we went weaving through the back streets trying not to have much social interaction with the numerous packs of dogs found in Goa. For your information, dogs of Goa are a tad crazy... maybe the area has a high number of rabie infested dogs, either way we weren't hanging around long enough to find out. 

As we made our way to Gokama Beach, it involved alot of weaving though side streets which weren't getting us any closer to our final destination. As we reached an impressive lookout point we made an excessive decision. Below we could see the beach.... which looked...ummm like a monsoonal affected beach and with some serious grey clouds rolling in. At this point we thought it may be better to take a quick photo and make our way to Murudeshwar (A tiny town not listed on our map) 'Missy' had endured some minor injuries which meant we had no rain or wind protection from the right-hand side and our side mirror on the same side was pretty dysfunctional since it mainly pointed to the ground, which isn't very helpful when your checking to see if a bus is coming up fast, ready to ram you off the road. So being as gracious as I am and always up for a laugh I agreed to what has to be our 'silliest' calender photo yet and from there we headed to our final destination: Flag down @ Murudeshwar... approx 70 kilometres away.

With just 3 hours left to get there and find this teeny tiny town it was time to see how fast our little tuk tuk could go. As we zipped along the coastal road we encountered more wild dogs and waved to many interesting characters. The closer we got to the town we kept our eyes peeled for signs to the RHS Regency Hotel. There were lots of places starting with RHS and still we don't know what it means, but unfortuantely we weren't our astute selves and managed to miss the turning off to Murudeshwar. This involved back tracking a good15 kilometres. Ruth expertly executed a smooth U-turn on the main highway and asking at least 5 people for directions to our final location and by sheer luck we took the right fork in the road which lead us down the ever familiar Indian potholed road. As the sun began to set on the horizon we managed to enter a small fishing town all hyped and ready for the evening festivities. In the distance was our hotel.... well pretty much one of the the only hotels in town, next to a huge statue of Shiva.

For the first time we were amazed to see Team 6 had managed to make it to the hotel before any other teams. With huge grins from ear to ear Ric and Keith greeted us and made it known that this was just the start of their comeback... 6 days of checking in late from running out of fuel and numerous breakdowns was a thing of the past. Hmmmm! Let's see. ;)

In all our exploring today, we had managed to forget to eat lunch. So quickly Missy was parked alongside the champs of the day, Team 6 and we headed into town to consume our fair share of Dosa Masala. Over dinner we watched the fisherman finish up work, methodically pulling in their prized assets, their fishing boats. A relaxing way to end the day.

Chilaxing...

Day eight meant relaxing day - no need to be up early ready to rickshaw our way across the country side. After a leisurely breakfast we decided to chilax - Ruth and I headed out to the town of Panaji to go exploring while Pia headed out with the boys from Team 3 to find a beach and go exploring Old Goa. They certainly had an eventful day bringing all the locals out to the beach to admire three white bodies wading in the surf. In the meantime Ruth and I managed to head a good couple of kilometers into town along the coast. On our way back we thought walking through town would be the way to go! Hmmm, all our sense of direction was lost as we winded our way through the neighbourhood streets of Panaiji. We knew we'd taken a wrong turn when we ended outside a massive temple and all we could see in the distance was rice fields. In the end we made it back 3 hours later and with no sports equipment we had intended to buy for the boys orphanage.... Eeks!

By late afternoon the majority of the teams met in the hotel lobby to visit the boys orphanage. We all piled into luxurious air conditioned cars where we arrived 15 minutes later at our destination. Much quicker then what it would have taken in our rickshaws.

We were greeted by at least 25 happy faces playing soccer outside. As we drove in they looked at us with hesitation, but as soon as you gave them a smile and a wave they waved back with beaming smiles. Instantly, Team 6 who were dressed as Elmo and the Cookie Monster were attacked by the boys. Jumping, pulling, lifting and hugging were all part of the deal. Gradually the boys approached us and introduced themselves and shook our hands. One of the older boys stopped to talk to Pia and I. He was fascinated about what we were driving and the places we were visiting. Around our necks we were wearing our lanyards, which included our itinerary, plus name and passport photo. Unfortunately if I'd known the passport photo I'd given would be around my neck as I travelled India I would have sent them a new one. The reason why is summed up in this young boys response. 'Is that you? ... You look like a criminal.' ... as Pia and Ruth reply - 'Hahaha, we agree kid. We've been telling her the whole time!' Ahhh, priceless moments.

While we were at the orphanage the boys showed us where they lived and shared with us what they do. They even managed to sing a song, but that was quickly replaced with their awesome dance moves as a couple of the boys put on some dance tunes. It was such a great time spending the afternoon with the boys - they were so appreciative of where they lived, compared to the dangers of the streets. There was a strong sense of community and support for one another in the home. A reassuring sight indeed.

The evening was spent enjoying a team dinner compliments of the rickshaw challenge. The prospect of karaoke got everyone excited, but the dj didn't have any of the songs we requested... What! No Celine Dion, crazy!! Princely certainly let his hair down on the dance floor. Watch out,

Going to Goa

After brekkyfast we sped pass the hotel gates along the coastal road to Goa. The rain set in for awhile, but it wasn't enough to dampen our spirits as we bopped along with the music. Once again we were playing cat n mouse with team 5. In the end we relented and let them lead the way ;) It had nothing to do with us having 3 peeps in the rickshaw compared to there 2! At Rajapur we carelessly didn't trust our gut instinct and followed team 5 into the city, when we could have driven round the outskirts. This put our sense of direction off and it didn't help when a local pointed us in the opposite direction. About 10km later I saw a sign for Panvel, which was where we had been 2 days ago. So we flagged down a motorcycle to double check that we needed to u-turn. In return the young guy asked for a photo and as accommodating as we are we agreed.. if only we knew! In preparation of the photo shoot he firstly took his jacket off and fixed his hair then jumped on the drivers seat next to Ruth, a little too close for her liking. Then he asked for a photo in the backseat which was a typical request however I didn't anticipate him reaching over and cupping my chest. Immediately I pried his hands off and as in shooed him away, he then had the cheek to ask for a kiss! Excuse me!!! You may leave the rickshaw now. As he left he did at least apologies but that didn't stop him from asking Pia and Ruth for a kiss - persistent fella. Quickly Pia jumped into the drivers seat and sped off back to Rajapor. However our new little friend decided to accompany us on the 10km journey back to town and once we were back in town and heading in the correct direction to Panaji he continued to follow. At this point we ran out of petrol and excitedly Ruth and I jumped out to use the jerry can we had bought on day one. Rummaging through my bag I found my Swiss army knife and a plastic water bottle and from there I headed to the back of the rickshaw to make a funnel. At this point whilst Ruth was getting the fuel can ready and I was hacking into the plastic bottle with a knife, our new friend rides pass asking if we needed any help. The look on Ruth's face and the knife in my hand said it all.... 'No, we're fine!' Thankfully he got the hint and 20km later he returned back to town, leaving us to continue our journey to Goa.

Approximately 40km from Panaji we caught up with Team 3 who had been pulled over by the first unfriendliest police officer we'd come across. Obediently we retrieved the paperwork from the flooded glovebox and slowly peeled apart each piece of paper for the officer. After he had a close inspection we were given the thumbs up and off we went. The closer we got to town the more road kill we seemed to encounter. Stray dogs seemed to be the usual casualties, but cows and even a rat had made an appearance on the roads.

Once we arrived in Panaji we freshened up and all the teams congregated downstairs to enjoy an Indian feast at a local restaurant. Butter chicken seemed to be the favourite on the menu that night. The evening went well into the night sharing stories and trying the local liqueurs.

Mountain ranges to the coast

At the crack of dawn we made our way out from Mahabahweshar in the miserable weather. Pia was a brilliant driver getting us down the mountain with limited visibility. Definitely the more cautious driver out of the 3 of us. The upside of the monsoonal rain was the many cascading waterfalls spotted along the road, which didn't make Ruth and I feel so bad in our stylish red and yellow ponchos. Once we got to the other side of the mountain the rain began to subside which was a much welcome relief. This provided the perfect opportunity to complete out challenge of the day - photo with police officers. Along the highway the police had road checks put in place - mainly due to the recent bombings in Pune. A group of officers at a road block kindly posed in some photos for us. One gentleman even got in our rickshaw and pretended to drive it. Of course they had to have photos taken with their phones, so after a mini photo shoot we jumped back into our rickshaw and made our way Ratnagiri.

The only other eventful incident was when I drove us through a small village and in the middle of the road was a tiny puppy. I pulled along side it for the girls to see but instead in ran under the rickshaw, sheltering itself from the rainy weather. Pia was volunteered to retrieve it from the back wheel where it was huddled in a small ball. When we look back it should have been Ruth, since she is the only one vaccinated against rabie infested animals. During the drive we caught up with Team 5, Soren and Eva who had a seriously speedy rickshaw. For a while they were in our sights, but as the roads fluctuated between uphill and downhill slopes we were no match. By around 4pm we arrived at our hotel, located on a beach view cliff. After a quick snack we made our way down the path to the beach below. Unfortunately the snack didn't sit too well with my digestive system and an emergency pit stop was needed. Oh, how I love you, Delhi belly!! The beach certainly had character, red brown sand and scattered along the shore was a shoe shops worth of sandals. No need to go shopping now.

Visiting the kids!!

Today the Round Table peeps met us at the hotel to direct us to the school they sponsor. At 8:30am a convoy of unique rickshaws made their way through the morning traffic of Pune. We certainly turned heads in our bee/ladybird costumes and the hundreds of bubbles exiting our tuk tuk. About 14km later we arrived at the school, just before Pia nearly hit a cyclist in the middle of an intersection. Close call!

At the school the children were patiently waiting in the courtyard and as soon as we drove in the drummers began to beat their drums signaling the group of children to start marching. Thirteen girls, dressed in beautiful saris greeted us in the traditional way with incense and flowers. Before we knew it we were whisked into different rooms in the school. I ended up with Team 4 in a classroom of parents - dejavu! While Pia and Ruth checked out the little cuties in KG. The classrooms were so sparse compared to ours at home and packed with twice as many kids.

Downstairs they put on an assembly, where a group of the cutest 3 year olds in bare, muddy feet sang a song. Speeches were made, food was eaten and tea was drank. Then before we knew it we were back on the road making our way south to Mahabaleshwar.

As we left the school we followed Team 3 whilst behind us was Team 6. As we battled it out on the road against vans, trucks and cars we realized we were heading the wrong way on the national highway. As we merged onto the highway all of the teams were in a panic since everyone was really low on fuel and typically all the petrol stations we saw were on the otherside of the highway... The way we should be going. As we drove further in the opposite direction, team 3 headed down a muddy gravel road whilst we took the advice of a local fellow and headed further north, until we found a huge blue
building which meant turn of the highway and below there was a lake sized puddle blocking the one car wide underpass. With some momentum behind us from coming down the hill, we accelerated through the underpass hoping no major large vehicle were around the bend coming straight for us. Hooray!! All clear, which meant we were now on the right side of the highway and only about 2km away from a petrol station. As we descended down the hill on the other side of the highway we could see Team 6 parked on the side. Our attempts to inform Keith of the U turn up ahead was drowned out by the numerous vehicles passing by. In arrival at the petrol station we miraculously saw Team 3 had made it and so had half of Team 6 (Once again they were out of petrol)

With petrol tanks full Team 3 and I ventured onto the national highway, bound for Mahabaleshwar. On the road we came across Team 4 who were struggling uphill. As we overtook them we gave them an encouraging smile and wave. Just before the toll booth the boys pulled aside to have their photo taken, as we waited for them we also we included in then photo. Typically we made our way through the toll booth, hoping to take the side road since rickshaws don't have to pay, but they made us wait with the cars. Once we made it to the booth a group of lads were having a joke about how much we needed to pay, but laughingly they released the toll bar allowing team 3 ahead and signaled for me to go... But little did I know the toll bar would come down in front of me as the front window smashed the bar out of its place... Oops! I quickly braked the car as Ruth and Pia screamed behind me. Thankfully all the lads were laughing and smiling at me. As I shrugged my shoulders and gave a look of apology, they head bobbled me and directed me to keep going... No complaints from me, I was out of there!!

As we headed further south the highway began snaking its way through the mountains. The higher we climbed the cooler the weather became. Before we knew it we were surrounded by clouds and torrential rain. As waterfalls cascaded down the cliffs our little rickshaw pushed on through the steep inclines at a rapid speed of 25km per hour!

Approximately 10km from base camp Ruth didn't know her own strength as she broke the handle of our manual windscreen wiper. As we drove on, soaked to the bone, Pia kindly would stick half her body out of the rickshaw to wipe the window for Ruth. Team effort!

Once we arrived at the hotel we could barely see 2 metres in front of us due to the fog and rain. Unfortunately the hotel wasn't as 5 star as we hoped and the damp ridden bedroom would have to do! The night was spent battling it out over the ping pong table and teaching the guys and gals some new card games.

Let the monsoon rains begin

Ever since we discovered the rickshaw challenge was a 'competition' and the winners would get an entry into another challenge in 2013, us girls had got a thought! Maybe we could win this... So in the spirit of earning points, we were up bright and early cleaning our Rickshaw - proudly named Missy! If only we knew how pointless it was just an hour down the track.

By 8:30am we were out on the country road, enjoying the mild monsoonal breeze blowing through our hair. The Ben10 bubble blowing gun made its appearance today - I got a little too trigger happy and too enthusiastic covering the neighbouring motorcyclists and pedestrians in bubbles. Ruth was in her prime driving down the main road, while Pia and I made running commentary to our surroundings and added the necessary 'oooo' and 'ahhhhs' to Ruth's gear changes!

Today we were required to complete some challenges along the way. First on the list was to head to the small town of Khopali and find a black temple next to a reservoir and have our photo taken. Tick!
Then the helpful security guard at the temple helped photograph our bonus photo which had to include the reservoir. Ruth kindly offered to risk her life by leaning precariously over the edge in a diving position... top shoot!!

From the small little town it was pretty much a steep climb uphill in now torrential rain. Accidentally we ended up on the express way, surrounded by cars and trucks, back spraying our little rickshaw. At the top of the road a group of policemen were waiting, checking vehicles. Of course we got stopped, but more from curiosity and to have our photo taken but we weren't stopped once or twice but thrice!!

We powered on through the rain although at this point I realized it'd b wet, but not so chilly. Oops I guess we should have brought our jumpers after all.

Gradually our rickshaw came to a halt with a group of other vehicles on the national highway. Up ahead a semi trailer had severely crashed into the back of another semi trailer earlier in the day and the aftermath was still on the road. So another truck carrying a very wide load thought it could pass but instead got wedged inbetween the left over car crash and the highway fencing. As I went down to inspect, a group of boys who were towing their car suggested we U turn and head down the other side of the freeway with the other cars. Kindly they pushed 'Missy' around and we followed the vans into oncoming traffic, not the most pleasant experience but this is India!! As soon as we could make it back over to the correct side of the road we were there!

Onward we ploughed through the rain. As we got closer to Pune a young man on his motorbike kindly showed us the direction to Pune Airport, since our hotel was located in this area. As we drove to our final destination we got a bit concerned when we saw signs for presenting identification since we were entering a military zone. Thankfully no police stopped us, instead when we got to the airport and asked for directions from the local tuk tuk drivers we were stopped by the crowds of people curious about this strange pink rickshaw. 'where you going?' ' what are you doing?' 'Are you on TV?'
After the 20 questions we headed in the direction given however when we came to a major intersections on an 8 lane highway, we weren't 100% sure if it was the right way, so Ruth smartly called the hotel driver to come and show us the way from the airport. Unfortunately this meant returning to the airport and admitting to the tuk tuk drivers we didn't really understand their instructions!

By the time JP ( the head mechanic & liaison dude) arrived we were surrounded by at least 20 people. JP cleared them out of the way and jumped on board 'Missy'as we followed the hotel driver. The remainder of the evening was spent drying off and swapping road stories over the dinner table.

Race Day!

At 8:30am we all congregated around the Sun'n'Sand car park. We all un-tarped our rickshaws and added any last decorations for our first day driving. With our last group pep talk still rattling around in our brains, we jumped into our rickshaws and zipped pass the starting flag ready to endure Mumbai morning traffic. I was behind the wheel all decked out in my red mohawk wig with Ruth and Pia at the back rocking it out in their fluro coloured wigs acting as my side mirrors. It didn't take long to find heavy morning traffic. The cacophony of car horns had a reassuring affect when you knew the logic behind it. Beep if you are passing by- very helpful especially if you are a bright, pink rickshaw looking noticeably out of place.

Ruth naturally took the role of head navigator poking her head out, yelling at tuk tuk drivers as they drove by. We learnt quickly not to ask traffic police for directions as they requested to see my license - at least it justified buying my international licenses. Now heading in what we believed was the right direction we dodged and weaved the array of vehicles on the pot-hole filled road.
Spontaneously, we took a side street which we discovered lead to the national highway. This was after we'd stopped once again for directions, however, this time a group of at least 15 men wanted to see what was going on... Not to give advice but to take photos... As you do!

Once we finally got out of Mumbai, four hours later we pretty much had a straight run to Alibag. Of course we still had to stop to ask for directions and wave at all the locals. It wouldn't be an ordinary day on the road if we didn't see roaming cows, wild monkeys, hairless dogs or pantless children pooping in the streets. From the manic roads of the city we finished the day whizzing pass the luscious green countryside at a speedy pace of 45km/h. Aiming for 50 in the next coming days!