DAY ONE - 23nd February 2004 - Depart UK For Bombay Via Delhi and Calicut Via Trivandrum
 

DAY TWO - 24rd February - Arrive India
 

DAYS THREE & FOUR - 25th / 26th February - Kozhikode

This period is important as it offers us the chance to meet the medics, mechanics, and team leaders. It also gives you a much-needed intro to the Indian roads and the trusty Royal Enfield Bullet.  Although informal and relaxed, we will have several talks to listen to from the team and much information to take in. Make use of this time to recharge your batteries, get used to the heat and sharing rooms!
 

(1) DAY FIVE - 27th of February – Rally starts: Calicut-Masinagudi

This day sees the first of many early starts so need go easy on the booze the night before, there’s a serious ride ahead.
5am wake up call.
5.30am breakfast.
6am brief chat with team
6.30am flag off ceremony
7am depart Calicut for our first nights stop at the Jungle Hut, Masinagudi, nr Mudumallai Wildlife Sanctuary

(2) DAY SIX - 28th February: Masinagudi-Palghat

After a wonderful evening around the campfire it’s will be really worth getting up to see the amazing dawn in this incredibly beautiful region, the sun strikes out from behind the Nilgiri hills and illuminates the camp as we tuck into another beautiful breakfast. Eat well as today sees the start of the serious riding. Expect to be in the saddle til late afternoon on this challenging day, concentration is always a must on bikes, especially in India. Head towards our next nights rest at the Hotel Tripenta, Palghat.
 

(3) DAY SEVEN - 29th February: Palghat-Kodai Kanal

After a wonderful evening meal, a very humid and tightly packed sleep we awake for another big days ride. Today we experience South Indias’ finest riding on the amazing ascent up the Western Ghat mountain range towards one of the highest points of the rally; Kodai Kanal. The roads demand safe riding and constant awareness as you can ride for half an hour without seeing another vehicle, which can give a false sense of security on the tight bends. Trucks and coaches like to use the entire road so it pays to anticipate that every bend has something coming the other way. The vistas in this region are simply stunning and there are many stop points up the mountain to take it all in.
 

(4) DAY EIGHT -  1st March: Kodai Kanal-Munnar

We rise to a chilly morning due to the high altitude; we have a slightly easier ride today, although in distance it’s still nearly as long as the previous. We will descend the mountain towards the temple town of Palani which we past through briefly yesterday. After some necessary town work we leave the bustle and head into an awe inspiring ride of wildlife reserve, sanctuary and National Parks all the way to the tea country of Munnar. This area has good roads and breathtaking scenery.  All in all an outrageous days ride
 

(5) DAY NINE - 2nd March: Munnar-Thekkady

Today is a ‘half’ day. Compared to the previous 3 it’s a walk in the park. Due to the ride becoming more demanding from the 3rd onwards we feel it makes sense to have the chance to rest a little. The day starts with a beautiful descent through the clouds. Leaving the tea behind us we move through the cardamom and coconut groves into the spice country of Thekkady. Once we arrive there is the chance to visit Periyar tiger reserve (the biggest tiger reserve in the South), take a trip to the spice plantations, enjoy a full body massage or simply sit by the pool with a Kingfisher (beer not bird) in hand. Well we’ve earned it haven’t we?
 

(6) DAY TEN -  3rd of March: Thekkady-Angamali

Today is a mixed bag, we will experience the beautiful Idukki wildlife reserve, where you have the chance to see India's 2nd biggest dam. we will also have our first real experience of busy towns and main roads on your way to the Hotel Surya in the airport city of Angamali. It’s a harsh contrast from the beauty we have experienced but it’s all part of the Indian experience.
 

(7) DAY ELEVEN - 4th of March: Angamali-Calicut

The NH47 and NH17 are two of the most demanding and adrenalin packed roads you are likely to experience anywhere on Earth. If we thought yesterday demanded full attention, today (although fairly short) will leave us exhausted physically and mentally. It is a mind bending ride through some serious traffic and although not ‘beautiful’ it is one hell of a rush to ride. Any biker that has completed this stage joins a special club. No one will understand the experience unless they too have ridden it. We leave early to avoid the really heavy traffic so easy on the booze the night before. The road is easy to navigate and leads us to the city of Calicut and the finish line. 7 Kilometres outside Calicut we all meet up for refreshments at the Toyota Garage before riding down the coast road to a warm welcome at the Taj Hotel. This stage is extremely moving as the entire group rides in slowly together, very few people will have ever experienced a feeling better than this on 2 wheels. But don’t just take my word for it…
 

(1) DAY TWELVE - 4th of March: Taj Hotel evening

Time for us to rest, swim and celebrate. Anyone that wishes to can join us in the Hotel garden to witness an amazing Indian martial arts and dance show, there is also a great buffet meal.
 

(1) DAY  THIRTEEN - 5th March: Calicut

The bikes are handed over to the charities and it’s an emotional goodbye to our machines that have served us so well for the last 10 days or so. You are free to please yourself today, tonight you can hear from the charities representatives in India before a local band entertains us with a dinner dance.
 

DAY FOURTEEN - 6th March: Calicut/Depart for Bombay

We have the morning to pack our bags and the rest of the day to chill by the pool or catch up on some shopping in the town, the coaches leave for Calicut airport at 3pm.
 

DAY FIFTEEN - 7th March - Arrive UK