Mr. Matt found a spare minute at the discombobulatingly busy Autumn Rickshaw Run finish line to drop us an update, full of typically absurd stories from the road.

The mighty Rickshaw Run is in the middle of confusing, shocking and enthralling Jaisalmer as we speak. So far 23 (it was 12 when I started writing this - so much for a free minute!) teams have arrived into the fierce desert heat. The first team across the finishing line was "The Junglists" - completing the event in one week to the minute - not a bad effort considering one team member never even made it to India and one got stuck in Nepal (and is still M.I.A).

So far we've had some pretty gruelling tales from the pothole. One team witnessed a bandit attack first hand, another team rolled their vehicle in the middle of a roundabout - missing someones head by inches, one more team were involved in a midnight raid by a police special forces task squad - being held at gunpoint in their beds and a further team nearly got arrested 3 times in the same day for indecent exposure (I've yet to check the pictures).

Many teams witnessed some pretty horrific accidents first hand - a grim reality check as to the serious amount of adventure this event entails. Possibly the most shocking story of all however was some horrific amoebic dysentery tales shared by three male team members sharing a single bed - very messy indeed. Teams are now nestled away nicely in HH the Maharaja of Jaisalmer's Palace, most of them consuming beers at a slightly ridiculous rate, chilling out around the pool and easing those shaken limbs. Preparations are well under way for the finish line celebrations. There will be a parade of the city - complete with drumming camels and a cricket match against the Air Force Squad. This will all be topped off nicely with a party in the palace fit for a king.

More to come soon...

Mr. Matt Dickens - Rickshaw Run Chief

Sign up for next years Autumn Rickshaw Run 2012 will be on Monday 26th September at 2pm UK Time.