Mick Johal
Golden Temple Challenge
Fundraising for Sightsavers
Story
IF YOU HAVE NOT SPONSORED US YET THEN PLEASE DO SO.
DELHI: After arriving in Delhi on the 7th at 11pm, we spent the night in the south. On friday we managed to buy a nice HERO bike, 5-speed. This one should take us all 700 kilometers to Amritsar in 7 days. We would like to mention the Delhi chaos and the 35 degrees celsius. In a few days we hope to write some more about our adventure.
Day 1 was a struggle but we managed to reach Panipat which is over 140kms. The minute we stopped we attracted large crowds of people examining the workings of our bike.
Day 2 We cycled 100kms up to Shahabad we had some funny experiences, like causing accidents because people could not stop looking at us, particularly willem. We had some breakdowns along the way and the locals were sometimes over eager to help us and allways had us back on the road in minutes plus offering us tea and something to eat.
Day 3 Our backsides were beginning to hurt now. We however managed to ride well over 110kms and well into the night to reach Munji Sahib Sikh temple where we were welcomed and offered a place to sleep and food very nice people, we spent the night looking around the temple.
Day 4 - 5 The weather was starting to get hotter it was well into the 30s. We took off early and were to reach Mick's Ancestral village by early afternoon. This was probably the toughest day as we had to negotiate Ludhiana traffic. We arrived at 3pm we were welcomed with beer and food. We stayed the following day to rest.
Day 6 This was going to be the toughest leg of the trip as we were going to do over 150kms today. On the way we met an elephant and two people on it. Willem also got to ride the elephant. We finally reached Amritsar late in the afternoon when it was starting to get dark. The golden temple was very beautiful and we were elated. Thank you all for your support without you we would never have made such a lot of money for charity. On the 7th of October 2004 Mickenjeet and Willem will be travelling to India for the Golden Temple challenge: a cycle ride of 700 kilometers over some of world's most dangerous roads including the famous Grand Trunk Road. The journey starts in Delhi and will take them through the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and the Punjab on route to their final destination "The Golden Temple" in Amritsar. The Golden Temple is the most sacred temple for Sikhs and is both a beautiful goal and symbol for their fundraising cycle ride. With this cycle ride Mickenjeet and Willem would like to draw attention to Sight Savers international. Sight Savers International is an Charity organization which does fantastic work throughout the developing world, restoring sight to people who are needlessly blind. For just 15 pounds/ 21 euro a glaucoma or cataract-blinded person can be given back the gift of sight. For more information goto: http://www.sightsavers.org So far over £2600 UK has been raised which is an enormous amount already and shows the great generosity of some people. Mickenjeet and Willem would like to thank everyone who has taken time to sponsor them. Please help them reach their ambitious goal of £5000 UK pounds and sponsor them online. All money raised will go to Sight Savers International and Mickenjeet and Willem are funding the trip themselves. If you would like to make a donation, please sponsor us online. Alternatively contact Mickenjeet within the UK on 07966 278 746 (If you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you ). Within the Netherlands please contact Willem on 024-3234272 or willem.klaassen@organon.com or donate on bank account nr 171567056 WJ Klaassen in Nijmegen referring to "Sight Savers". Many thanks for your support. Mickenjeet Johal & Willem Klaassen
DELHI: After arriving in Delhi on the 7th at 11pm, we spent the night in the south. On friday we managed to buy a nice HERO bike, 5-speed. This one should take us all 700 kilometers to Amritsar in 7 days. We would like to mention the Delhi chaos and the 35 degrees celsius. In a few days we hope to write some more about our adventure.
Day 1 was a struggle but we managed to reach Panipat which is over 140kms. The minute we stopped we attracted large crowds of people examining the workings of our bike.
Day 2 We cycled 100kms up to Shahabad we had some funny experiences, like causing accidents because people could not stop looking at us, particularly willem. We had some breakdowns along the way and the locals were sometimes over eager to help us and allways had us back on the road in minutes plus offering us tea and something to eat.
Day 3 Our backsides were beginning to hurt now. We however managed to ride well over 110kms and well into the night to reach Munji Sahib Sikh temple where we were welcomed and offered a place to sleep and food very nice people, we spent the night looking around the temple.
Day 4 - 5 The weather was starting to get hotter it was well into the 30s. We took off early and were to reach Mick's Ancestral village by early afternoon. This was probably the toughest day as we had to negotiate Ludhiana traffic. We arrived at 3pm we were welcomed with beer and food. We stayed the following day to rest.
Day 6 This was going to be the toughest leg of the trip as we were going to do over 150kms today. On the way we met an elephant and two people on it. Willem also got to ride the elephant. We finally reached Amritsar late in the afternoon when it was starting to get dark. The golden temple was very beautiful and we were elated. Thank you all for your support without you we would never have made such a lot of money for charity. On the 7th of October 2004 Mickenjeet and Willem will be travelling to India for the Golden Temple challenge: a cycle ride of 700 kilometers over some of world's most dangerous roads including the famous Grand Trunk Road. The journey starts in Delhi and will take them through the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and the Punjab on route to their final destination "The Golden Temple" in Amritsar. The Golden Temple is the most sacred temple for Sikhs and is both a beautiful goal and symbol for their fundraising cycle ride. With this cycle ride Mickenjeet and Willem would like to draw attention to Sight Savers international. Sight Savers International is an Charity organization which does fantastic work throughout the developing world, restoring sight to people who are needlessly blind. For just 15 pounds/ 21 euro a glaucoma or cataract-blinded person can be given back the gift of sight. For more information goto: http://www.sightsavers.org So far over £2600 UK has been raised which is an enormous amount already and shows the great generosity of some people. Mickenjeet and Willem would like to thank everyone who has taken time to sponsor them. Please help them reach their ambitious goal of £5000 UK pounds and sponsor them online. All money raised will go to Sight Savers International and Mickenjeet and Willem are funding the trip themselves. If you would like to make a donation, please sponsor us online. Alternatively contact Mickenjeet within the UK on 07966 278 746 (If you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you ). Within the Netherlands please contact Willem on 024-3234272 or willem.klaassen@organon.com or donate on bank account nr 171567056 WJ Klaassen in Nijmegen referring to "Sight Savers". Many thanks for your support. Mickenjeet Johal & Willem Klaassen