John's Enduro India 2010 Blog

The Start of EuroIndia 2010

2010-01-26T10:47:00.000-08:00

After a long flight setting off from Heathrow on Sunday night we arrived in India - Mumbai! A short internal flight to our base in Goa where we will be picking up the bikes and getting used to our surroundings and how to ride a bike with the controls on the opposite side! Chill out for the rest of the day, meet the team in the evening - day one!
We are told we will be out at 6.30am tomorrow to get acclimatised to the bike! Need to get some sleep but we are all buzzing and too excited!

Goodbye snow - hello India!!

2010-01-14T12:18:00.000-08:00

The departure month has arrived at last!
Now is the last chance for us to make sure everything is planned and accounted for - we leave for India the weekend of the 23rd!
So...the last chance for you to donate before we go and for you to show your support!
We are really looking forward to the challenge which is finally here.
Wish us luck........... and better still - donate!

Twinkle, twinkle, little bat! How I wonder what you're at.

2009-09-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

Curiouser and curiouser!
It was last Sunday in the garden theatre of Burattas at The Royal Oak - indoors and out! Despite the overcast weather the cast of Shiplake College’s MAD DOGS THEATRE COMPANY gave a sparkling performance of ALICE. The Red Queen threatened to cut off a number of heads but we all had a marvellous unbirthday and lots of tea and cake.
Much money was royally raised by the guests - a magnificent £630!
"Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop."
This could well be John's mantra for January in India!
We are all mad here!
Who are you?

Take a Fantastic Cottage Holiday in Aid of Enduro India!

2009-08-13T04:16:00.000-07:00

Bleach Mill Cottage,Eamont Bridge, Penrith, Cumbria.

A semi detached cottage on the North East edge of the Lake District National Park with 100m of river frontage with fishing rights! It is owned by Brian & Katie Baker and is being offered for rent from Sep-Dec 09 at a reduced price in aid of the three charities of Euro India 2010. Walking, fell climbing, sightseeing, fishing or just relaxing in beautiful scenery for up to five people in accommodation comprising of double, twin and single bedrooms, kitchen, living room, dining area, large garden, summerhouse and bbq area! Special rates : 3 nights (Fri to Mon) - £150 ; 7 nights (Fri to Fri) - £250 : charity donation of the full amount to Euro India. For full details and booking please call Brian or Katie on 01768 867024 or 07899 790612.

Shiplake College's Mad Dogs Theatre Company presents 'ALICE'

2009-08-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

Sunday 13th September 3:30pm
Buratta’s at The Royal Oak
£5 adults, £2 children (under 10)
3-course Sunday Lunch Package with performance at £20 per head
**Bookings: (0118) 934 5190**

In aid of Head Chef’s John Sinnerton’s Enduro India Challenge

Shiplake College’s MAD DOGS THEATRE COMPANY is rapidly gaining a national reputation for its ingenious and imaginative performances. Recognised as a “Centre of Excellence” for their AS and A2 performance work by the AQA Examination Board, the Company’s work consists of quirky performances in unusual spaces. Many members of the company have gone on to work with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and to obtain places at Drama School. Some of these performers will be performing in Alice.
The director of the Company, Catherine Saker, is a recognised playwright and has worked with a variety of companies including the Royal National Theatre. Enjoying a challenge, MAD DOGS THEATRE COMPANY was commissioned this summer to create 'ALICE' by Phillip Pullman (His Dark Materials) and The Story Museum in Oxford for Alice’s Day, a celebration throughout the City of Oxford of the life and work of Lewis Carroll. 'ALICE' takes its influences from Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, and Alice’s Adventures Underground and takes the audience on a breakneck speed journey through the extraordinary characters that peopled Lewis Carroll’s imagination.
Performed in front of 1,900 people in the Botanical Gardens in July, the company is delighted to be bringing 'ALICE' to Buratta’s for one afternoon only to support John Sinnerton and his Enduro India Challenge.
Bookings: (0118) 934 5190 - call now to ensure your seat at this magical event!!

Summer Fundraising Party Success

2009-08-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

A brilliant night was had by all at Buratta's on Saturday night!

A massive £2,000+ was raised from the combined generosity of all those who attended the India themed buffet, entered the raffle and bid selflessly for the auction items!

A big, big thank you to all - with special appreciation for the efforts of Stef & Jenny, Nick (aka Preston), Steve & my long suffering wife. The 'top' auction item was brilliantly bid by Mr Nick Barnes - I will try to live up to the expectation!
Once again many many thanks to all!
See you at the next event - keep reading!

Food, auction, books, pillion and a trial!

2009-07-24T01:22:00.001-07:00

So far so good! We have raised £1332.47 to date and there are a number of things happening in the next week or so.
Go to www.burattas.co.uk to see details of our Mid-Summer Party on Saturday August 1st - a fun night for all with auction items growing. If you can donate anything for auction please contact me!
The recipe book is coming on and will contain 20 plus favourites from my thirty years chefing around the country.
You may think I am mad doing this bike ride but - even madder - I have now got a pillion passenger! Katie is an old friend from early catering days who is yet to pass her bike test (!), loves India and is raising her own £5000!!
Just recently we were lucky enough to attend Royal Enfield's open day (www.royal-enfield.com/openweekend.html) near Moreton-in-the-Marsh. The rain stayed off and we found how good the bikes were for handling. The Indian terrain will be a lot harder going but this was a great intro and many thanks to all at Royal Enfield.
Keep donating and I'll keep you posted!

2009-06-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

My first sit astride a Royal Enfield! The bike is from Bulldog Triumph Garage Twyford . Steve the manager loaned the Royal Enfield Electra 500 for the photos outside Burattas on Monday 15th June. Lovely hot day but not as hot as it will be in India in January! Visit www.bulldogtriumph.com - the bike and many more classics are all for sale.

I am planning a recipe book to sell on Burattas bar in aid of the charities - more news when it is done!
Thanks to everyone who has donated so far with money, time or support!

2009-05-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

Friends and customers have been extremely generous. I have now opened a special fund raising bank account so if any one would prefer to send a cheque I can let them know who to make it payable to.Thank you to everyone who has supported me.

In the beginning......

2009-05-07T02:15:00.000-07:00

I am near the big FiveO, worked hard for 30 years in "service" and always looking for new challenges to fill my waking hours. I love classic cars and bikes and seeing the ad in the Sunday Times with the Royal Enfield really struck a chord. "I'm doing that" I immediately said to my long suffering wife Carole. Well used to my crazy schemes by now over the years she knew I meant it. We had loved our trip to Cambodia to see our volunteering daughter Gemma - the people, the scenery, the experience. I saw Enduro India as a chance to combine raising money for good causes, seeing India and riding a classic bike for two whole weeks!

The challenge - Enduro India 2010 - is to ride “Dusk-to-Dawn” on 1950's style Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles across some of the most demanding terrain in Southern India - finishing in Cochin two weeks and 2,000 miles later.

Charity fundraising is the fundemental part of Enduro India 2010 and I have only six months to raise a minimum of £4750! That is why I need your help!

Please support me now - email me at johnsinnerton@btinternet.com and I will tell you how to do it! Many thanks in advance for your contribution!

So far Enduro India have helped raise £½m for UNICEF, Rainbow Tust Childrens Charity and The Wildlife Conservation Society and in total have raised more than £2m for various causes.