It’s on the Meter indeed!

Inspiration is an important and rare thing, which is exactly why I went to Paris: to meet with the crew of “It’s on the Meter” project. These guys have set the new Guinness record for the longest taxi ride by traveling around the world in an old English cab over the course of 15 months. Back before they started, I saw a short article about it and was really impressed at their bravery and determination. Knowing about their project was one of the many pieces of the puzzle that eventually had shaped itself to be the MAD DAWN Challenge.

I wished to congratulate them on their success in person and re-charge my own inspiration batteries at this slightly difficult time of my own, full of unexpected set-backs. But any difficulties are temporary and can be overcome. After all, back then over a year ago at the inception of “It’s on the Meter”, many of their friends and family didn’t believe their plan was going to happen. Yet, on May 9, 2012 – the Victory day when we met– they could well celebrate the victory of their own, as this was their last day abroad after the long, successful journey before returning back to London. So whoever thinks the MAD DAWN Challenge is doomed – you’re only partially right: it’s doomed… to HAPPEN! No matter how long it takes to launch it off or how difficult it may be in the beginning.

I finally met Hannah and Johno at noon at Chatou-Croissy, as city center traffic was too much trouble. Johno was the kind soul who was answering my e-mails all this time when this intersection was being planned. He also spared 2 hours of a busy day for the meeting, and I’m infinitely grateful.

Hannah is the elderly English cab with about 600 000km behind it from its service days and about 70 000km from the journey. According to Johno, except for the side windows and the engine, every other spare part of the car had broken at some point of the way and needed fixing.

We took a short ride around the neighborhood in the company of countless little trinkets collected from back home and from the road – like this Napoleon Dynamite icon, who says random movie lines at a push of a button.

I couldn’t resist the temptation of taking a snap shot behind the legendary wheel. I do have a fresh and crispy license now, but I doubt I could even start Hanna’s engine properly – left-hand gear stick and all .

Black passenger?

Several people stopped to examine Hannah while we sat there talking – it is, indeed, a remarkable car, after all. It is actually bigger than I for some reason thought it would be, too . I told some young girls about it in French, a few other people knew enough English to hear the summary from Johno.

Finally, it was time to go – the crew had to prepare for their arrival and all the press, to take a rest before the very last driving segment of their great adventure.

It was great to talk a bit with Johno. We discussed the difficulties of such projects – some that could be foreseen, others that came as a surprise – the ways to overcome them, and we agreed that it’s very important to never give up the dream and the plan and to make it happen. If only to prove everyone who says “it won’t work” wrong . I happen to agree that this is a pretty good form of therapy – sometimes when all other self-motivating resources seem to fail, the good old “prove the nay-sayers wrong” helps to push over any bumps better than anything else. Because, obviously, it is all worth it. The worst thing that one can do is have a dream, then give it up without trying and live with regret. I can’t do this to myself – the MAD DAWN Challenge is everything I want to do in life, so I’ll either make it happen, or at least die trying really hard. There is no going back.

I need to focus on passing the state exam in the beginning of June, but in the meantime plan B is being set in motion: re-shooting the intro video (long story), planning out the first episode and making it happen. One thing at a time. Once everything is set in motion – it will be much easier to carry through, so get ready – one of those days, the MAD DAWN Challenge may be in your neighborhood!

Share the MADness!!!