Pair prepare for monsoon rickshaw race
One rickshaw, two weeks and 3500 kilometres.
It’s a lot longer than the postie route but, for two childhood mates, it’s the adventure of a lifetime.
Wainui postie Lex Edmonds and Orewa wannabe postie Bryn Donald first heard about the Cool Earth Rickshaw Run from a friend.
Keen on the challenge, they signed up their team ‘She’ll Be Right’ that night. This August, the pair will fly to India, and race a three wheel rickshaw 3500km from Cochin in southern India to Jaisalmer in the north over three weeks.
‘‘It’s called the un-route. There is just the start and finish line and you have two weeks to get from A to B and you can go whatever way you want,’’ Donald says.
Although it sounds like a logistical nightmare, the pair won’t plan too much in advance. With the rickshaws renowned for breaking down - a lot - making concrete plans is tempting fate, Donald says.
‘‘It becomes a bit ridiculous to
‘‘It becomes a bit ridiculous to plan everything beforehand.’’
plan everything beforehand you’re just going to have to be able to find accommodation along the way.’’
Bryn admits the team’s mechanical know how is lacking, but says he is banking on Lex’s genes to see their ‘‘glorified lawnmower’’ through any tight spots.
‘‘Lex’s dad is an engineering genius, so I’m hoping in a pressure situation, Lex is going to blossom into what he was meant to be all these years,’’ he says.
Being monsoon season, wet weather gear is at the top of the packing list. In some regions of India, it can rain every day of the three month season.
Covering travel expenses themselves, the pair is using the race as an opportunity to raise money for two charities; Cool Earth and KidsCan.
With all participants contributing to race organiser Cool Earth, Donald and Edmonds wanted to give to a cause that is closer to home too.
‘‘Any money raised goes directly into their campaigns which is something we are really impressed by,’’ Donald says.
‘‘You can’t wait for others to feed these kids, you have to take the initiative and do something on your own.’’
Donald and Edmonds will keep a blog throughout their rickshaw race. Visit givealittle.co.nz/ cause/coolearthbrynandlex for updates or to help.