Wow....the Indian Bike Challenge is complete! The time has gone so quickly. but the participants are due back today. We can't wait to hear their news...
Frank Oak has said it has been difficult to get internet connection so his updates have been few and far between, but we are sure we will get all the lowdown when they are back to normality.
Frank did send us this so we know they are all okay....
This is only going to be a short message, I have not been able to update on route due to the remoteness of the places we have stayed and constrictions placed on us by the length of our days motorbiking. Also I am using the hotels business computer to be able to send this message. We all survived the trip in extraordinarily good shape with one or two hairy moments for several of us, but all in all we definitely bite the bullet and won! There will be a lot more to come. I arrive home on Monday afternoon and then all will be revealed.
Monday 8 November 2010
Tuesday 2 November 2010
Indian Bike Challenge- Frank Oak
Today we have ridden 230km or more over roads varying from z grade farm track to clean smooth tarmac. Also it was filled with every type of vehicle, many travelling on the wrong side to the road, even on dual carriage ways . Travelling in the slow lane you can be confronted by tuk-tuk, a bike or even a tractor going the wrong way!
Collectively we had several close calls but no real dramas. The final part of the journey took us through a river bed because the bridge was washed away 5 years ago and they are still building the new one, (probably only working when there are 5 thursdays in a month and then only on thursdays!) That is india!
Tonight we are in a beautiful hotel near the home of the Dali Lama, high up on a mountain reached by a winding steep loose stone road. Everytime you put power to the back wheels stones shoot out and the wheel does a little wiggle, absolutely fantastic. We have been winding down since about 4.30 pm, a fantastic meal yet again, every meal has been fantastic. Tonight a lady asked what my personal "Merlin Bites The Bullet" was far. I ended up giving short introduction to the Merlin Project and my involvement. I ended up giving out abaout 15 just giving cards and came away with 50 pounds in donations, very emotional for me.
Some relaxation now and a well earned rest, once I get my head back on the ground!
Collectively we had several close calls but no real dramas. The final part of the journey took us through a river bed because the bridge was washed away 5 years ago and they are still building the new one, (probably only working when there are 5 thursdays in a month and then only on thursdays!) That is india!
Tonight we are in a beautiful hotel near the home of the Dali Lama, high up on a mountain reached by a winding steep loose stone road. Everytime you put power to the back wheels stones shoot out and the wheel does a little wiggle, absolutely fantastic. We have been winding down since about 4.30 pm, a fantastic meal yet again, every meal has been fantastic. Tonight a lady asked what my personal "Merlin Bites The Bullet" was far. I ended up giving short introduction to the Merlin Project and my involvement. I ended up giving out abaout 15 just giving cards and came away with 50 pounds in donations, very emotional for me.
Some relaxation now and a well earned rest, once I get my head back on the ground!
Monday 1 November 2010
India Motorbike Challenge- Frank Oak
OH MY GOD!!! Just where do I start? India is bigger, noisier, dustier and busier than I had ever imagined.
After our flight from Heathrow which was shorter than I thought we were collected by our Indian guide and a minibus. I was not allowed to carry my pack anymore. It was either share carried or a porter was employed leaving me to photograph. The "express" took 6.30 hours to do 280 miles which was not bad, Wide coaches 5 seats wide with a good passageway and they kept feeding us! Called "Meals on Wheels" It started with afternoon tea, sandwich (carrot) and cakes, then later a three course dinner of vegetable curries and more sweet cake.
Today in Amritsa we all went to the Golden Temple, the most revered Sikk temple. It was absolutely mind blowing. Bare feet, thousands of people all wanting to have their children photographed with westerners when the parents had cameras, or just photoed by westerners. Strangers kept pushing their children into the poses as and when possible.The temple feeds everyone and I mean everyone that wants feeding and it is free, done by volunteers. The food preparation was a massive production line with 8 foot vats thousands of stainless trays, constantly on the move. Given, filled, eaten, returned and washed and piled again ready for re-use. The noise is like a metal workshop, never stopping. I was invited to go right through the massive kitchen, photographing what I wanted..
After leaving the temple, very reluctantly on my part, I could happily stay there for much much longer, we tried out the enfields. Like a duck to water. 10 minutes and we were veterans, but the "modern" bikers had a little more problems adapting than old grandad. Been there done that and now doing it again. Cren was a little apprehensive but after training in a open yard area helped ride the bikes back to the hotel through the traffic with great aplomb.
After lunch, again purely local Indian food, very varied and tasty, we are of to the India Pakistan border for the ceremomials which are fiercely competitive.
After our flight from Heathrow which was shorter than I thought we were collected by our Indian guide and a minibus. I was not allowed to carry my pack anymore. It was either share carried or a porter was employed leaving me to photograph. The "express" took 6.30 hours to do 280 miles which was not bad, Wide coaches 5 seats wide with a good passageway and they kept feeding us! Called "Meals on Wheels" It started with afternoon tea, sandwich (carrot) and cakes, then later a three course dinner of vegetable curries and more sweet cake.
Today in Amritsa we all went to the Golden Temple, the most revered Sikk temple. It was absolutely mind blowing. Bare feet, thousands of people all wanting to have their children photographed with westerners when the parents had cameras, or just photoed by westerners. Strangers kept pushing their children into the poses as and when possible.The temple feeds everyone and I mean everyone that wants feeding and it is free, done by volunteers. The food preparation was a massive production line with 8 foot vats thousands of stainless trays, constantly on the move. Given, filled, eaten, returned and washed and piled again ready for re-use. The noise is like a metal workshop, never stopping. I was invited to go right through the massive kitchen, photographing what I wanted..
After leaving the temple, very reluctantly on my part, I could happily stay there for much much longer, we tried out the enfields. Like a duck to water. 10 minutes and we were veterans, but the "modern" bikers had a little more problems adapting than old grandad. Been there done that and now doing it again. Cren was a little apprehensive but after training in a open yard area helped ride the bikes back to the hotel through the traffic with great aplomb.
After lunch, again purely local Indian food, very varied and tasty, we are of to the India Pakistan border for the ceremomials which are fiercely competitive.
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