2200 kilometers to Pondicherry:

This was our first full day in India and we were very excited! Excited that we had finally arrived in a place where Rickshaw mechanics were never more than 6 headbobbles and 20 rupees away. I have to hand it to the Taj, not only did they care for our Rickshaws, when it started raining cats and dogs in the middle of the night, the MOVED them under the awning of the entrance so as to keep them dry. OE and I, minus a windshield for the past day and a half, were very grateful. As 8am came upon us, we wasted no time in assigning tasks. Flynn and I would seek out mechanical assistance for our tuk-tuks while OE and Nate "worked" for a few hours with the Dubai office. Yes, even on the Rickshaw Run some of us had responsibilities, and the work had to be done! Flynn and I were going to hire a driver to take us to the nearest mechanic. We had a list:

Re-install windshield on WWCD #1, fix wiring on WWCD #s 1 & 2 as the PA system, headlights, auxillary lights, and cd players were acting up in some sort of fashion. Fix or discard both roof racks, weld WWCD #1's frame back together, and engage the local police in a brief chase followed by friendly banter.

But first, BREAKFAST. Not having a real meal since leaving Kathmandu, we chowed hard. Not sure of some of the items on my plate, but it was a nice change of pace from beef jerkey, slim jims, trail mix, and prolyte. Afterwards, we found a Taj driver who passivley spoke english and understood what we needed accomplished. As we pulled out of the Taj in caravan form, we quickly pulled over and enlisted the service of an off duty rickshaw taxi driver. Not sure where he came...[Read More]