Alexander Saxon (AJ), left and Kevan Pulfrey with the Tuk Tuk in Mayenne, France
AJ and Kevan chose Mayenne in Pays de la Loire for the Tuk Tuk’s shakedown trials as their parents are based near Lassay-les-Chateaux in the Mayenne department. This week they’ve been showing off the Tuk Tuk in Lassay-les-Chateaux, Mayenne town centre and across the regional border at Bagnoles-sur-Orne and La Ferté-Macé in Normandy.
The Tuk Tuk alongside the river Mayenne in Mayenne France with the Chateau de Mayenne in the background.
I caught up with the adventurers during their stop next to the river in Mayenne this week to experience the Tuk Tuk first hand.
For the uninitiated, a Tuk Tuk is a three-wheeled vehicle, exposed to the elements on three sides, so-called because of the ‘tuk-tuk’ noise from its 650 c.c. engine. Flat out, it can travel at up to 70 mph (about 112 kph). Tuk tuks are a common sight in the Far East where they are used as taxis, mini buses, delivery trucks and even waste disposal vehicles.
It was in the Far East that the idea for the trip of a lifetime germinated in AJ’s mind. AJ has tackled long road trips all over the world in the past taking in North America, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Brazil. Tuk the High Road can trace its roots back to a chance conversation in a bar in Cambodia.
“I jokingly asked a Cambodian tuk tuk driver how much it would cost to drive back to the UK. The driver said it was impossible. Not being one to back down from a challenge the seed was planted!”
After returning to the UK, and floating the idea past brother Kevan, the pair decided Cambodia “wasn’t enough of a challenge”. And so it came about that Tuk the High Road was born, a round the world trip, but in reality more like an overland Kon Tiki expedition.
Many hours were then spent scouring Ebay looking for a Tuk Tuk and eventually one was sourced in Manchester, UK. A Tuk Tuk was chosen as AJ and Kevan felt that anyone could tackle a trip like this in a 4 x 4 or off-roader. By choosing a Tuk Tuk for their epic voyage, it ensures the trip will be unique. Not only is a Tuk Tuk more environmentally friendly than a car, it costs less to buy and run. That apart, if all goes to plan, AJ and Kevan can expect to feature in the Guinness Book of Records, so unusual is the concept.
On a trip such as this, there’s no road crew and no following entourage of support vehicles. Kevan Pulfrey is the grease monkey part of the team and has also travelled widely. Apart from being able to take engines to bits and re-assemble them, Kevan is also a Michelin accredited chef in the UK. Fortunately, Kevan has a very understanding employer who has not only agreed to a ‘sabbatical’ that could last for anything up to a year but has also agreed to chip in £1000 to get AJ and Kevan’s fund-raising for their two chosen charities off to a flying start.
The Charities
AJ and Kevan have selected two UK based charities to benefit from their exploits, Alzheimer’s Society and Stars Syncope Trust. There are personal reasons for their selection. Both their grandmothers suffered from Alzheimer’s whilst Kevan has battled with Syncope, a chronic condition which causes involuntary fainting with a number of associated symptoms such as nausea and temporary blindness.
Once preparations for AJ and Kevan’s trip are further advanced, The Tuk the High Road website will be accepting public donations, with 100% of donations automatically split between the two nominated charities. The brothers are also actively seeking corporate sponsors. Tuk the High Road already have pledges of support from the likes of P & O Ferries for assistance with some of the ferry crossings, Talking Heads who are providing translation services into a multitude of languages and Salomon who have already donated many items of extreme weather clothing and kit.
The Route
The idea is to take in wonders of the world, both ancient and modern.
What AJ or Kevan will see as they drive. Mission Control inside the open sided cab of the Tuk Tuk. A bit more basic than the average Range Rover!
The Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, the Angkor Wat in Cambodia (quite a lengthy diversion) and Chichen Itza in Mexico all feature. The Eiffel Tower is also on the planned route but AJ and Kevan are keen to listen to ‘audience requests’ for sights to visit and new experiences en route. They can’t promise to go everywhere but they see this unique form of audience participation as a way of generating greater coverage and thus more donations for their selected charities.
3 Wheeled Cheese 