To look at pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57599610@N02/page01/

GPS FOLLOWING SYSTEM LINK:

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0IEeg9h5Rjq6FOqAezXhXycZYzde0ce32

Team King Tuks Chariot is from Virginia USA. Brother Team is "To Tuk or Not to Tuk", for MORE FUN PIC"S and video's : http://www.totuktuk.com/

Elephant Training Compound

The other morning Scott and I visited a local elephant training compound where elephants are trained to help with forestry projects.  We also visited a small zoo that they have on site.  The elephants are given a bath every moring in the river and are scrubbed with halved coconut shells.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz5xa82ZM64

Wrap Party Fire Dancers

fire dancers : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t3ClAu4GdE

Wrap Party - Knife fight

wrap up party knife fight -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG71IqzU7g0

a video from the road.........

video from the road:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zKYGbVT6Nw

Waiting for the Plane Back

It's all behind us now.  We will be putting together the video's we have shot and all the pictures we have taken, probably more than 1800, so we can present a clear concise view of what we saw and learned.  For me it has been a contradiction in view's.  I came to India with a view of how the country worked through the eyes of the middle class and then spent three weeks seeing India throgh the eyes of the lowest level of society. Much to think about. We'll keep you posted on our video work.  Should be interesting when we finish.  And so it is this, the end of an incredible journey.  What's next? 

Returning the riks.....

  We are finally finished, no more rickshaws for us every morning or so we thought! This morning was another amazing event as we returned our rides. We had one last heart pounding morning, as I drove to the check in, in true race car fashion.  We had to drive through the city of Kochin (30 minutes) and reached the hotel we thought was the return site. But as usual in India, things are not always what they seem.  We were at the wrong place.  After a ferry boat ride and one more hour we reached the end. Out of 63 we finished in places 8 and 9.  With some time to kill, Scott & I went on a quick rickshaw ride around Fort Kochin.  We saw some local markets, Chinese Fish nets, and local shops.  The experience of India from North to South, the back roads, the people, the villages, and the towns have all been an eye opening & inspirational event.  For myself, this is my first time out of America, and I would not trade this experience for anything in the world.  We toured India in the way not many others have the opportunity to.  Our view was that of the backroads primarily. We met some of the most wonderful people in the world willing to share anything they had with you.  I will forever remember my time here and the experiences  I have had. 

We Made It To Cochin

We made it to Cochin. Will leave off the riks tomorrow noon. Were in a different hotel. to tuk or not to tuk is with us. Oh man what a trip.

Road to Panji........Safety 1st

Panji is a magical city in the state of Goa.  Its a mountainous coastal Rainforest zone, w/ monkeys and all kinds other animals.  This is a clip of TD and I coming down the twist and turns of the mounatins to get to Panji.  For today's motto we chose to use my middle name which is Skip "Safety First" Carleton, so this and everyday it's Safety First for us.....enjoy.

Country Road Take Me Home

Well here we are in Goa India and some say it is THE place to be.  They are right.  I could stay here for a week. On the ocean at the Marriott and it's going to be hard to get back into the Chariot in two days.  We are taking a day off.  As the weeks run together we become more warn out.  The first few days we were really ready to go. Starting the day was the best part of it. Now that we are days into the run and the little Tuk takes it's physical toll on us, the end of the day is the most charished. I guess that is how it goes on this trip.  Last night we had no hot water and didn't find out unitl morning.  The hotel prided itself in it's wifi but that was only in the lobby of checkin.  No matter, it's what we have come to expect. When we do get wifi, it's like heaven. The cocktail loung is open to the ocean and a beautiful breeze is always blowing through.  We asked many people how the roads were from Kohlipur to Goa and the response was "as good as it gets".  Well that was for the first 3 hours. Then it turned into hell. Massive potholes the likes no one in the U.S. have ever seen.  We ran into a line of no less than 100 dump trucks working on some road we had to pass.  You have to see the video we did to belive it.  Scott in To Tuk or not to Tuk brought a Go Pro camera.  Get one for your trip if you are in subsequent Rickshaw Runs.  It is taking unbelieveable footabe of things you have never seen unless you travel the back roads by rickshaw in India.  Very stressful day driving but every day is, so what's new.  Our battery was jarred loose by the pot holes and fell onto the engine and began to melt.  Not a good thing. Skip, our McIver saved the day and replaced it after running down to the parts shop in this little small village.  Another thing to carry is a Mcivor bag. He has one that weights no less than 80 lbs and is filled with things we have used like an electric air pump for tires, electrical wire equipment, tools, and anything else you an figure out.  80 lbs worth. We're going to put a list of items to carry for future rickshaw runners.  While Skip was fixing the battery a truck driver who had stopped at this particular gas station, offered us lunch from his truck.  This is how all the Indian people are here.  I have had a lot of conversations with business men along the way that have helped me formulate an opinion of where India is going in the next 50 years.  Seeing India on the back roads gives one a very different perspective than one might get only visiting the business side of the equation.  Starting March I'll be doing that so this was a good start to our business we are now part owners of www.stockezy.com. And so it is, another day on the back roads.  I surmise when we get to Cochin in 5 days we will be ready for a good rest. 'We'll be singing "Country Road Take Me Home"

The Night Train

Well here we are in Pune India at the Le Meridian. Not too bad since we have been basically sleeping on boards, each night for the last week.  This hotel is fantastic as I knew it would be.  Great place to take a day off. Again we drove the alighty Tuk at night, which is a harrowing experience in india.  I'm dangerous driving at night so Skip takes the Night Tain Shift.  Young eyes and good reflexes make for a safe trip.  Well as safe as it can get in a three wheeled Auto Rickshaw made for local streets.  We had mechanical dificulties in the morning yesterday, and took the Tuk to the dealership.  There we found, as usual the most friendly people.  They took our Tuks in immidiately and began work.  While we waited they brought us Indian Tea "Chai" and later some lunch and brought the local TV station and newspaper to do a story on us.  In  a matter of two hours the Tuks were in great working shape and the cost was about $120 u.s. dollars.  We Tuked on so to speak.  My driving was the day shift. Today it was pretty much routine, only 10 near death experiences. Where ever we stop for a break a crowd forms.  No one can believe what we are doing. Everyone waves, except the truckers. They are on a mission to get from point A to point B with no interferrence, like a little tuck in it's way.  Horns blare all day long. Horns are the tool to let another vehicle know you are either behind and want to pass, or are passing, or just need to let steam off.  No one takes offense. It's what you do in India.  You finally get use to hearing all types of interesting horns designed to tell you they are coming.   All trucks have a sign on the back saying HORNS PLEASE OK.  They want you to warn them.  It works well in India,  but in the U.S. it would cause road rage.  We stopped for the routine carborator check and in a matter of seconds the crowd grew to probably 50 easily.  Many of them children.  At one point a kid wanted to see what a U.S. dollar looked like and I gave him one.  Now I see why my friend Jim Roges suggested I bring U.S. dollars to hand out. They have never seen one.  Remember we are on the back roads where most people only speak Hindi. This is not a 5 star tour.  In our caravan of 2, the To Tuck or Not To Tuck Auto Rickshaw with Scott and Jay do pretty much all of the navigation.  They have a Tuk filled with technology and know how to use it.  Jay elegantly guided us through the streets of Pune at 11 last night.  Amazing to say the least.  Their Tuk has held up surprisingly well.  Ours has been a rattle trap.  We are over half way there.  Tomorrow we drove about 250Km, next day another 250Km and we are within a couple days of the finsh line in Cochin.  Along the way we have seen a number of other Tuks in the Run, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, England etc.; all with the proverbal carborator cleaning needed.  The Tuk has a simple but reliable engine,  Almost exactly like the old Sears Moped I use to have and love.  The people here are amazing.  Where in the world can you be stopped by the cops and offered tea.  I have traveled the world andI can now say India is really another planet.  This country is so thought provoking from every aspect, like welfare, social security, healthcare, free trade, infrastructure, religion, politics, and a number of other subjects. At the end of each day I ask myself, "what did you just see"? . 

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