North East adventurers prepate for India trip

Sep 22 2009 by Alastair Gilmour, The Journal

A GROUP of North East adventurers is in strict training for a charity event that could be their most mentally and physically demanding to date.

More used to trekking the likes of The West Highland Way, the trio are preparing for Enduro India 2010, which consists of 14 dawn-to-dusk days riding classic Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles across the ancient spice-trading routes of South India.

Café and delicatessen owner Mark Stewart will be accompanied on the expedition in the early new year by Rob Cameron, managing director of leisure group Tokyo Industries, and Journal photographer Simon Greener to raise funds for Unicef, The Rainbow Trust and The World Wildlife Conservation Society.

Mark is more at home driving a refrigerated delivery van around the region rather than negotiating the unsophisticated road surfaces that wind via forest hill stations, tea plantations and remote villages among some of the world’s most inspiring scenery in Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. He said: “We really wanted to call the trip from Deli to Delhi but we’re not going anywhere near there. It’ll be severely uncomfortable – Rob has never even seen a Royal Enfield Bullet, let alone ride one, and Simon is just going through his test – but it’s a chance to raise a healthy chunk of cash for charity.

“It’ll also give me the opportunity to experience ranges of foodstuffs that could make their way into our shops.”

The classically-styled Royal Enfield Bullet, first sent to India in kit form in 1949, is now manufactured on the sub-continent, although refinements to the style and mechanics were made recently by Cramlington-based Xenophya Design.

Simon said: “It’s a real test of endurance. We are travelling through jungles and through the desert – it’s going to be absolutely bonkers.

“It’s over 11 days and we will be travelling more than 160 miles every day. I can’t wait but I’m a bit apprehensive about it. It’s for a good charity though.”

To help them roar off into the South India sunset the three amigos have organised a fundraising Indian Summer Garden Party at Meldon Park, near Morpeth, on Saturday with free canapés and champagne on arrival, a gourmet barbecue, cocktail bar, live music, charity auction and giant board games – and there’s even a free pick-up service from Newcastle at 3pm.

Tickets are £20 each from Stewart & Co, Jesmond, and Newcastle night-spots Tokyo, Tup Tup, Stereo and Digital. For details tel: (0191) 281-4838.