Gressenhall man's rattlesnake road trip
Kathryn CrossHe's no stranger to dangerous situations but Norfolk explorer George Bullard was faced with more than a few hairy moments on his latest expedition.George, 21, who has previously trekked across the Antarctic and to the North Pole as well as leading a group of young people through the Amazon jungle, took part in the annual Rickshaw Run - a 4000km drive from one end of India to the other.Kathryn Cross
He's no stranger to dangerous situations but Norfolk explorer George Bullard was faced with more than a few hairy moments on his latest expedition.
George, 21, who has previously trekked across the Antarctic and to the North Pole as well as leading a group of young people through the Amazon jungle, took part in the annual Rickshaw Run - a 4000km drive from one end of India to the other.
The Edinburgh University undergraduate, who lives in Gressenhall, travelled with 15 other uni friends in five rickshaws and spent two weeks in the cramped vehicle for the race from the Indo-Nepal border to the southern coast.
The Rickshaw Run raises thousands of pounds for charity every year but participants are also warned it is also one of the most dangerous ways to raise money.
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The rickshaws' top speed is just under 30mph and the road conditions are less than perfect. Near misses with animals and lorries are a frequent event along with the even more treacherous rock falls and landslides and often violent reactions to their presence from the locals.
But he said the added dangers provided the adrenaline rush they needed to make up for the prospect of driving so many miles at such a slow pace.
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'Being threatened with guns, sticks and stones and told that 'you are not welcome here' were near daily occurrences, but ones that we soon got used to,' he said. 'No stopping in towns unless there was more than one vehicle was a basic rule and if you did stop, arm yourself.'
But somehow all five of their machines reached the finish line, covering 3,976km in 15 days six hours.
George is not content to rest on his laurels and said he is already planning his next adventure - this time not stopping at just one country or even continent but around the world on two wheels.
