From the very start, our long-haul adventure from Bhilwara to Jodhpur had everyone a little nervous. How the heck were we supposed to add 100 additional kilometers to our day and still make it before midnight? If you’ve been following along, you know that hesitation was strong for our team as we had yet to beat the sun to our hotel even once.

After some discussion, we decided to start early, opting for a 7AM departure instead of our usual 9AM + whatever time it took us to actually leave the hotel. Better to be tired than flying through the dark.

Today’s challenges included:

• Photo of a funny sign
• Give someone a ride and take a selfie
• Picture in front of a pink temple
• Best bargain of the day
• Worst “getting lost” experience
• Funniest photo of the day

With our marching orders in hand, we rolled out of the hotel and into the unknown.

Almost immediately, we saw Team 12, Jai JoMa, broken down on the side of the road. Because teamwork makes the dream work, our philosophy is simple: if one vehicle is stopped, we stop too. Make a note of this, it becomes a theme.

The funniest part of these breakdowns is how there are never fewer than five heads buried in a tuk tuk engine at any given time, as if any of us really know what we are looking for. And, at any given time, at least one local joins the mix. After a few minutes, Jai JoMa was back up and running, and so were we.

Our first destination: Badnore Fort.

If I wasn’t already awake, the potholes that had me levitating off my seat in the back of the tuk tuk would have done the trick as we navigated through Asind. After, surprise, a wrong turn, a friendly local guided us through winding streets right to the fort’s front entrance.

And then came our first taste of Holi.

Here in India, celebrations span March 3rd and 4th, and the kids were out in full force, ready to douse us in color. I wasn’t exactly expecting a mouthful of chalk for breakfast, but I definitely didn’t see the handful of orange powder coming my way. One small child, with impeccable aim, launched it directly into my face as I was mid-“hiiiiii,” in what felt like a slow-motion action scene.

I felt like my challenge experience just went to new heights and I was actually thrilled to have the orange colors smeared across my face.

Let the games begin.

We were lucky enough to get a private tour of the fort, learn about its history, and explore the nooks and crannies of the architecture which is something I truly life for during my personal travels. I was enjoying myself so much that I had to be reined in after wandering into a few off-limits areas. Thankfully, our guide was forgiving and my teammates kept me in check.

As we were leaving, the other half of our group arrived just in time for a photo in front of this stunning piece of history. After wishing each other luck, we headed toward the gate where children lined the exit, powder in hand. It felt a little like marching into battle.

But it was all in the name of celebration. And seeing everyone’s photos covered in color, laughing with the kids, fully embracing the culture we’re immersed in was truly a highlight of the trip. (I know I keep saying that. But you would too if you were here!)

We pointed our compass toward Jodhpur, neck and neck with Team Bearly Made It, who challenged us to play songs that reminded us of our families. Our playlist ranged from “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” to “Highway to Hell.” I’ll let you guess who picked what.

From there, it was smooth sailing.

Wrong.

I woke up with a feeling in my soul that today would be the day our tuk tuks fought back. We’d had it too easy - no breakdowns, no empty tanks, no (major) accidents. We were due for some fun.

As we pulled into our trusted petrol station, we noticed a sizable oil leak. My first thought: “It’s fine. Totally fine, right?” Followed quickly by: “That can’t be good.” A local spotted a missing bolt and rigged a temporary fix, but after calling our mechanics, we decided to wait it out.

Remember how I said petrol stations have been some of my favorite moments? This one takes the cake.

We had about 30-40 minutes to spare as the mechanics headed our way when Matt whipped out a soccer ball (“football”) he’d been carrying around and started playing a little game with the crowd that we had amassed at the station. It was such a fun, unique, and beautiful moment.

And, despite not a single one of us being able to speak the same language, we laughed, shared Holi colors, danced, and played with each other. Men, women, and children all came out to spend time together…in a parking lot…and it was amazing.

This experience has been a special reminder that at the end of the day, we are all human, and no matter what our backgrounds are, there is always common ground to find.

Our mechanics arrived, fixed us up, and sent us on our way. Next stop: a lunch spot Maria found.

But not before checking off another challenge: picking up a stranger and giving him a lift. He hopped in, we shared smiles and photos, and dropped him at the next major turn. Some teams even let their temporary passengers take the wheel.

While we’re technically competing, there’s nothing better than running into other teams along the route. The restaurant became a crossover point, and we caught up over lunch. Plus, Molly and I got to meet resident doggies: Judith, the unbothered English Lab, and her dachshund sister.

Cue mechanical issue #2.

This time: a fuel leak. The 700 rupees we’d just spent on petrol would last about 20 minutes. In my defense, I did dump out our entire tool bag looking for the right “thingy” to tighten the bolt. Unfortunately, the wrenches were slightly too small.

While I would rate myself a 5/10 on the handy spectrum, watching these guys work has been so impressive. They even used an old water bottle as a funnel to re-fill out gas tank… I’ll have to remember that one. We were keeping them busy today, between us and the other 5+ teams who sent SOS calls into the group chat, I think they might have questioned their decision to join us on our trip!

Between us and the five-plus teams sending SOS messages into the group chat, I imagine they questioned joining this adventure.
We were finally back on the road with about 30–40 minutes left when we found Team McRig Combo broken down just 20 minutes from the hotel.

Another stop. Another adventure.

For me, it meant more color, more photos with locals, and a sweet dessert handed to us from a man’s truck as he stopped to help. I know they teach you not to take candy from a stranger, but when in India… My mom would be so proud.

At long last, we all rolled into the hotel, drenched in color, exhausted from the long day, but absolutely high on life.

Tomorrow, we’re staying put in Jodhpur to celebrate Holi, something that’s been on my bucket list for years.

Check out tomorrow’s Day 4 blog for more on our experince during the Holi Festival.