Kathleen's Rickshaw Challenge Experience: Embracing India and the Wacky Adventure

Always cheerful and smiling, our very own Rickshaw Challenge – Classic Run 2016 participant AND winner from Team Chickshaw, Kathleen Evans shared with us her thoughts on India and the Challenge.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you participated in the Rickshaw Challenge! Have you ever embarked on a similar adventure?
I live in Costa Rica as a USA expat. I work in advertising and have co-host a radio show. I love international travel and I find unusual trips to be the most rewarding and exciting. I had been to India many times before volunteering at orphanages around the country. One of my teammates told me we should to this. I have NEVER embarked on an adventure like the Rickshaw Challenge before. Wow, talk about adventure!!
What did India teach you?
India has a way of teaching you many things. It assaults your senses, all of them, punches you in the face and then embraces you like no place on earth can possibly do. India’s greatest lesson to me is that you can be very happy without all those material things that weigh you down. Oh and patience. Pack a big bag of patience!
What was your most “only in India” experience?
Getting blessed by a temple elephant. AND driving an auto-rickshaw across the country, of course!
Would you participate in a similar wacky challenge in the future?
I said “never” after my aching back and a trip to the hospital after a bad bacterial incident. However, I probably would participate again in something wacky. Perhaps for a shorter time. 5-7 days instead of 10.
What was the first thing that crossed your mind when you saw your Rickshaw?
OMG, 007 “Chickshaw” is soooo cute. Love the paint job and pink seats. Second thing? OMG, we are really doing this!

What was your craziest/best experience or moment during the Rickshaw Challenge?
Aren’t they all crazy experiences? Probably the best experience was winning the challenge. We were so surprised we actually won. Especially since we were an all girl team and older than most of the competition. Craziest? Ending 6 inches from the edge of a cliff after getting run off the road by a bus and almost plunging to our death.
Which city or town was your favourite and why?
I loved Madurai on New Year’s Eve. The hotel and party were amazing. I loved Puducherry for its French influence. I had not seen such a unique melding of Euro-India cultures before in India. I loved Tuticorin because we got to explore the dark underbelly of the city with Aravind and Princely….and spend time at the family farm. We really felt like “family” with them. It was a real treat.
How many breakdowns did you have (and how did you manage to solve the problem)?
We had a major break down early on….when the bottom fell out of the rickshaw. We were happy we purchased the deluxe package and had the Chennai Garage folks help us to find a nearby welder to fix it. It was a major job. We also had a flat tire in a very isolated village while lost, trying to find a temple on our daily challenges. The entire village came out to help us change it. They had us bless their babies and thanked the gods for the visit from the white angels. It was a most unique experience. We were thankful for the nightly check ups. And we never ran out of petrol!!

What was the food or drink that you never want to live without ever again?
Thali…Love the little meals (like tapas) all in one…on a banana leaf. We ate these in most cities in Tamil Nadu.
Do you have any tips/tricks for future participants?
Go into it all with an open mind. Embrace India and it will embrace you. And if you want to win? Participate in every challenge and don’t party as much as your competitors.