London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 74 – 9 November 2016
The Final Countdown Begins
Today seemed like the perfect opportunity to pause for a moment and reflect on just how far Team Kontiki had come.
When Dayal Patel (74), Ramesh Chauhan (62), and I, Raj Karadia (65), set off from Leicester on 28 August 2016 in our faithful 22-year-old Swift Kontiki 640 motorhome, we knew we were embarking on an adventure of a lifetime.
What we could not possibly have imagined was just how many experiences, challenges, friendships, and unforgettable memories awaited us along the way.
Over the past 74 days, we have travelled through France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Myanmar, and India, covering thousands upon thousands of miles across two continents.
We have crossed international borders, navigated deserts, mountains, forests, rivers, and some of the roughest roads imaginable.
We have camped in fuel stations, stayed in hostels, hotels, campsites, and even slept beside workshops while waiting for repairs.
We have shared meals with complete strangers who quickly became friends.
We have experienced cultures, languages, traditions, and landscapes that few travellers ever get to encounter on a single journey.
Along the way, we have faced our fair share of challenges.
There were gearbox problems in Germany that threatened to end the adventure before it had properly begun.
There were difficult border crossings, language barriers, and endless paperwork.
There were dangerous mountain roads in Myanmar and suspension-breaking potholes in India.
Yet through it all, our old motorhome kept moving forward.
So did we.
Sadly, our original three-man team became two when our good friend Dayal Patel decided to leave the expedition in Kolkata and fly to Mumbai.
After more than two months on the road, he was understandably missing home and family.
We respected his decision, although we certainly missed his company.
From Kolkata onwards, Ramesh and I continued the journey south to Visakhapatnam (Vizag), where we currently find ourselves waiting for repairs to be completed on our faithful old Kontiki.
Looking at the map and seeing the dark line tracing our route across Europe and Asia is quite remarkable.
What began as a dream and a conversation has become a reality.
A reality measured not only in miles travelled but in memories created.
Perhaps one of the most important lessons from this journey has been that age is not a barrier.
Between the three of us, our combined age at the start of the journey was over 200 years.
Many people questioned whether such a trip was possible.
Others thought we were slightly mad.
Maybe they were right!
But if there is one thing this adventure has proven, it is that dreams do not come with an expiry date.
If you have the determination, enthusiasm, and courage to try, age should never stop you from pursuing an adventure.
As we sit here in Vizag, watching Ganesh and his team rebuild Kontiki’s suspension after the severe punishment she suffered on the rough roads between Myanmar and India, we find ourselves entering the final phase of our expedition.
If all goes according to plan, the repairs should be completed tomorrow.
With a little luck, we will soon be back on the road.
And the finish line is now in sight.
We have approximately two weeks remaining before reaching our final destination of Mumbai, where this extraordinary London-to-Mumbai road journey will finally come to an end.
The adventure is not over yet.
There are still many miles to drive, new places to discover, and undoubtedly a few surprises waiting around the next bend.
So stay with us as we enter the final chapter of this incredible story.
The climax of our epic London-to-Mumbai road adventure is just beginning.
Journey Status: Day 74 of 90
Current Location: Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh, India
Countries Travelled Through: France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Myanmar, and India
Team: Raj Karadia and Ramesh Chauhan
Original Team Member: Dayal Patel (returned home from Kolkata)
Vehicle: 22-year-old Swift Kontiki 640 motorhome
Distance Remaining: Approximately two weeks to Mumbai
Vehicle Update: Major suspension repairs nearing completion
Reflection: Dreams have no age limit
Mood of the day: Proud, reflective, and excited for the final chapter ahead
“Twenty-two years old, thousands of miles travelled, countless memories created, and still going strong. Kontiki has become far more than a motorhome – she has become part of the adventure itself.”
Join us tomorrow as we hope to collect a fully repaired Kontiki and resume our journey towards Mumbai, with the finish line now finally within reach
