So they made it.
A total of 1,700km from Hanoi to Saigon and they did it. Ending up at Saigon Children's Charity this afternoon.
As ever nothing ran smoothly. They first went to the wrong school, their camera - containing several hours of film was snatched - only to be snatched back on their behalf - but they made it.
The staff and kids at the SCC did us proud. Garlands of flowers, a big banner and a hundred or so smiles. The guys had been joined on the last leg by assorted foreigners in a cyclo parade who were knocked out by the experience.
It was a very fitting end to an extroadinary journey. The guys did interviews with waiting press as if they were rockstars - looking cool in their garlands.
In the end the cyclo was donated to the SCC and as and we left there were a tonne of kids crawling all over it. One hour later, as I'm sat writing this up and Saigon is experiencing a huge storm. Even the weather held up just long enough.
As I mentioned before, there were people who thought that it could not be done. What I haven't mentioned before is that there were also people who said it shouldn't be done. People who said it was too dangerous. In many ways they were right. Highway One is a dangerous place but as tour group leaders Marty and Adam knew what they were getting themselves into. They faced it with both bravery and good humour.
And I should stop there before I embarass the guys. But this is a legendary feat. I have no doubt that people living up and down Highway One will tell people for many years about the two crazy tays on a cyclo that pedalled all the way from Hanoi to Saigon.
So this is the end of the trip, but not the end of the website. In time I will hand it over to Marty and Adam to run themselves. Maybe there will be another challenge next year, maybe in another country, for another charity.
In the meantime keep checking back for details of how much we raised and future fundraisers. If you've just come across this site for the first time then click on the archives on the left hand side and start from the beginning - read the full story of how two men rode a cyclo 1,700km from Hanoi to Saigon.
From KOTO, I just want to say a massive thank-you. The money raised will change lives. It will rescue young people from a life of otherwise certain poverty. Please, as I mentioned we will announce the amount of money raised to date soon - in the meantime you can still donate here.
If you're in Saigon tonight, they the boys will be at the Blue Ghecko Bar. Drinking free beer promised to them by someone who thought that would never be able to do it.
Enjoy it boys.
One day, you will show your grandkids what you did.
Mega guys. Mega.
Bravo.
Posted by: Brian | September 30, 2005 at 02:44 AM
Great effort boys and please enjoy this great achievements. For your next extreme charity, I think the vehicle of choice should be starting from Hanoi to Shanghai on a skateboard or a scooter. Marty, we will crack open a couple of Carlton Draughts for you right now.
Posted by: Dan | September 30, 2005 at 07:00 AM
Awesome!! Congratulations guys, this is an amazing achievement. Everyone is extremely proud of you.
Enjoy the beers!
Love Lisa
xxxx
Posted by: Lisa Hurley | September 30, 2005 at 09:29 AM
Inspiring! Really, let's see what we can come up with! You're great guys.
Posted by: Ben & Harry | October 01, 2005 at 06:08 AM
6.50amOct29Cali
8.50pm --- Saigon
An answer from one of my American
students who will be in Vietnam
after Tet to help the orphans there :
. . .
9. Adam va`Marty ddap.xe xich/lo^ o*) Vie^t.Nam
Adam and Marty rode a cyclo inVN. (That gives "rode" a whole new meaning! What an awesome journey!)
http://extremecharity.typepad.com/321cyclo
wonderful website...I really enjoyed reading all the letters and checking out the site.
Posted by: ngoc | October 29, 2005 at 08:50 PM