HeatherWhat is the Rickshaw Run?
In a word: Ridiculous.
In more words: The Rickshaw Run is a 2 week long adventure across India in a 3 wheeled vehicle designed for everything other than what we are going to do to them. Our goal: to finish. You may notice we aren’t aiming for first… just to finish.
No set plan, no set route, no support.
Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it?
We will arrive in North Eastern India on April 4, wherein we will have two days to learn everything we can about our trusty steed (does it prefer oats over barley?). Apparently there will be some test driving, some mechanical wisdom passed on, a cricket game and a very large party.
On April 6 we will drive under the starting line in Shillong, Northern India and hopefully by April 20 arrive at the finish line: Fort Kochi in Southern India. With any luck our Rickshaw will still have three wheels and most of the parts it left with.
If you look at the map below you can see that the starting line is really far away from the finish line. We have been told to expect to drive about 3,500 kilometers, but we know it will likely be longer as we are bound to get lost or make a wrong turn.
Once we pass the start line, we are 100% completely on our own. We are the masters of our own adventure or demise. When the Rickshaw breaks down – that’s our problem, when we get lost – that’s our problem, where to spend the night – again our problem. But all of these are also our opportunities!
Did I mention the top speed of a Rickshaw is about 55 km/hour? The Rickshaw, while a cute vehicle, is also the lowest vehicle in the pecking order of Indian roads. Cows rate higher.
Ridiculous.
When you factor in slow speeds, navigational challenges, and avoiding busy roads it really doesn’t seem logical that we will get to point B in time for finish line beers. BUT we are going to give it the old college try…
What could possibly go wrong!?
(Here is a more in depth overview of what a Rickshaw actually is. It clearly demonstrates how useless these machines are, and highlights some of the things that could possibly go wrong).
Why are you doing the Rickshaw Run?
I haven’t painted a very flattering picture of this event, and yet both of us are VERY excited to participate in it. Don’t worry, we will have travel insurance, and yes Mom, we will make smart decisions.
The thing is, Matt and I LOVE this kind of chaotic adventure. If you have met us, you know that we regularly sit on a bicycle for thousands of kilometers, we sometimes fling ourselves off perfectly good bridges (and by we I mean Matt), sometimes we sign up for trail races at the last minute and get covered in mud. Extended backcountry hiking, caving, eating street food – we do it all… so why not add driving a rickshaw to this list?!
The Rickshaw Run is simply another adventure where we will be called crazy. It’s the ultimate Mash Up (do we still use this phrase?) of the things we love:
- Travel
- Uncertainty
- Camaraderie
- Off the beaten path-ness
- Self Sufficiency
- Ridiculousness
The other reason we wanted to participate in the Rickshaw Run is to help raise money for two good causes that we are passionate about: Protecting the Rainforests and Empowering Youth.
Raising Money for Charity
Cool Earth
The Adventurists are the company behind this ridiculous event. Everyone who participates in one of their hairbrained adventures has a requirement to fundraise for Cool Earth.org
So far, past adventurers have raised in excess of 1.76 million pounds (2.8 Million Canadian, 2.1 USD) for this organization.
What is Cool Earth you ask? Here is what their website says:
“We champion the relationship between people, rainforest and climate. Cool Earth exists to give cash directly to rainforest communities, to fund projects that create choice, tackle the root causes of deforestation and protect vital carbon sinks.This is our mission. To back people, to protect the rainforest and fight the climate crisis.”
(https://www.coolearth.org/why-we-exist/)
Matt and I have been fortunate to play in the rainforests around the world. It is one of our favorite ecosystems to spend time in. Most recently in Borneo, we saw the impact of deforestation on local communities, and on the creatures that call the forests home. It was for this reason we were thrilled to learn we would be supporting an organization that works to protect these spaces – for the benefit of all of us.
Our goal is simple: Raise $1000 CAD on behalf of Cool Earth. Simple math tells me that if 200 people give $5.00 CAD we will achieve this goal. That’s only $3.75 USD. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
Two Wheel View
We also want to have an even bigger impact and we wanted that impact to be local to our home in Calgary. Enter: Two Wheel View.
Two Wheel View is a small not for profit and registered charity that operates in Calgary. I had the good fortune to work with them years ago professionally and I saw first hand the impact of their work. In a nutshell Two Wheel View operates “programs [that] use the bicycle as a vehicle for change for youth.” (https://www.twowheelview.org/)
Both Matt and I worked extensively with youth – helping them to see their own potential. This is a cause we are still passionate about and support any organization that believes in this as well. We also really like riding our bikes. No brainer really!
Our goal for Two Wheel View is a little larger: $3,000 CAD. Here’s the math:
- 600 people times $5.00 = goal reached
- 300 people times $10.00 = goal reached (yes, I used a calculator – math is hard for me)
How Can I Help?
It’s easy to donate to either or both organizations right now. Simply click on the button of your choice and you will be taken to the appropriate website.
If you aren’t comfortable donating electronically, drop us note here and we will sort something out. Both organizations are registered charities and the platforms we are using send the money directly to that charity.
If you are unable to donate, no hard feelings at all. There are some simple ways you can still support us:
- Help us to get the word out there. Send this blog post to anyone you think might be interested. Comment, and react to our social media posts.
- Drop a comment below wishing us well. It is always nice to know we aren’t operating in a vacuum.
- Send your safe and best wishes our ways in early April. That could take the form of an interpretive dance, sending thoughts and prayers, or crossing your fingers really tight and wishing for the best!
Rickshaw Run FAQ
Got questions? Please drop any further questions you have in the comments below and we will do our best to answer them.
Q: How many other people will be participating?
A: Each Rickshaw can hold up to 3 people. Right now it is just the two of us, but we may have a friend (Max) we met while cycling on the Great Divide Trail join us – we really hope he does – and it’s not JUST because he’s a mechanic.
We anticipate about 70 other teams of up to three people will also be driving like crazy across India at the same time as us.
Q: Do you have a team name and why did you choose it?
A: Yes! We are the Vintage Vagabonds. We are slowly ‘maturing’ but we still like to get out and play. These 2 factors play large in our daily living, as we travel and play around the world on a full time basis. So… the ‘vintage’ recognises our ages, but like a good wine it also evokes ideas of quality and good taste. ‘Vagabonds’ is a great word to explain that we are world wanderers. We also figured old farts was already taken.
Q: Are there checkpoints or milestones along the route?
A:Nope! No support until the finish line, but we do expect they will have beer for us when we arrive.
Q: Can you customize your rickshaw for the journey?
A: YES! In fact it’s encouraged. We will send a design to someone with a paintbrush who then decorates our Rickshaw. I will also be shopping for dingle balls when I arrive in India.
Q. Where will you sleep, eat, etc.
A. We are the masters of our own food poisoning and bed bug bites – Or not. We will likely have the tent and sleeping bags, but I anticipate we will find suitably divey hotels to stay in. As for food – we will do our best to eat our body weight in Curry… and Naan… mmm.
Q: How did you prepare for the Rickshaw Run?
A:We did the important things first: Select a team name. We spent a bunch of time at Christmas drinking beer to prepare for the pre and post parties. A google search told us that Indian Visas are available online we can get them online with about a week’s notice (no point doing anything now!!). We drove in the snow in Canada so we have experience with slippery surfaces, and road bumps that we are bound to encounter. We still need to come up with a design for our ‘shaw… but we got time.
Q: How can I support your journey?
A: Follow us on the blog, facebook, or Instagram; Donate by clicking onto either (or both) of the donate buttons
Conclusion
Thanks for reading this far. We are both really excited about doing the Rickshaw Run and can’t wait to share it with you all. Don’t forget to add any more questions you have about the event in the comments below.
Thanks in advance for your donation and/or help with promoting the fundraising portion of this adventure.
Until our paths cross – tailwinds, and many adventures to you all!
