Race Across The World Series 5 Thread 2

[TwentyKittens]

With only five posts left on the old thread, thought I'd start this so we can link between the two.

This thread carries on from the first:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/5314933-race-across-the-world?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

In previous series, they've been a bit more explicit about the budget eg how much spent on food, accommodation and sundries.

From previous thread:

@TreeLeaf11
A pp made a good point about how do they find these tiny bus station booking offices in big cities. With no maps it seems an impossible task. They can ask people but there must be loads of these offices. How do they find the right one? Also how do they find the off the beaten track farms?

@cakeorwine
There won't be many buses to get to their out of town remote "work" places, so do they pay to get a taxi to these places - or is it not part of the budget, just so the producers can get some good TV in?

For India - Official booking offices will be in or near bus and railway stations. Loads of tiny "travel agent" type places will also sell tickets (at least in the relatively touristy places they pass through). So it's more a case of finding any one, than finding a specific one. If one doesn't sell tickets for a particular route, they'll point you in the direction of someone who does - with moto rickshaws (tuk tuks) or motorbike taxis to take you there. It's cheaper to buy direct from the official place, of course - but I found a few extra rupees could obtain tickets when the official office was closed, crazy queues, or "sold out" (this was 10+ years ago, mind!)

In terms of getting to out of the way work places - if it's set up for tourists to work there, there will be a way. Bus to the nearest village - I don't think it's as bad as the UK for more remote places having little/no public transport. (Maybe buses that only leave when full rather than a timetable...). Then someone from the work place picks them up or motorbike taxi/rickshaw/taxi to the location (which locals will know as they will see a stream of tourists going there).

I wish they would show more of this, though. And of places they stay, and considering budget. In agreement with all the comments about backstories being too long!

Oh no, how awful. Sam and his mum were just the best contestants ever. Such a fabulous young man, and such a wonderful, loving mum. That's such devastating news.

That’s so sad. They were my favourites as well. If I recall correctly, they knew they were short of money so spent the remaining of it going horse riding. .

I agree. I liked them so much.
That's really tragic.

Although @CurbsideProphet horseriding isn’t a job for her, it’s a hobby and the BE80 that she won is very much a grassroots competition.

She competed in it and won in June(?) 2024 and would have already applied to be on Race Across the World the December before that.
So I see her as a person whose challenging herself, after years as a SAHM, to new adventures.

Im not a SAHM but I love the fact at 60 shes experiencing almost a new awakening.

@Holly485that's so very sad. I recognise them. Can you remind us of their story, if it's not inappropriate given his passing so recently.

@Growlling

you’ve got the wrong Caroline there. That’s Caroline Hunt.

I think mum Jo had cancer, and Sam had quite a difficult time for various reasons. Thet were so lovely though and I was so gutted they had to quit when they ran out of money. Someone else may be able to give more details.

Oh that’s so sad about Sam. He was adopted and had FAS including adhd difficulties. Their relationship was really touching, as a mother of a child with send it really got to me watching her with him. She had cancer and it returned during their travels hence they also stopped at a ranch to just enjoyed what they had left.

i think Jo and her husband had adopted Sam as a baby. I seem to recall there may have been something about him having FASD?

I apologise unreservedly if I've remembered that wrongly, or have the wrong couple.

Thanks, yes, it was such a touching story. I also remember Sam tucking into some food once they'd decided to quit and could eat better!
Such lovely people, this is really sad.

What a strange post! There is no evidence that she has "lied" - in fact it would be very foolish for her to make stuff up as any lies could so easily be disproved. She has no control over how the BBC edit and present her back story (and everything that she says on the show).

She seems to have spent a lot of her life concentrating on bringing up her children, combining it with eventing (at grassroots level), and maybe helping her husband to run a business. I think its pretty well accepted that lack of paid work outside the home can affect one's confidence, and this is what she has talked about.

Very sad; how devastating for the family.

Caroline Bridge is a seasoned horsemanship professional with extensive experience in both dressage and eventing. She has successfully trained horses to the Grand Prix level in dressage and has also been involved in the training and selection of top-level eventers. Notably, she helped source and train Sharon Hunt's 2008 Olympic ride, Tankers Town, according to Horse & Hound magazine. She also participated in the BBC's "Race Across the World" with her son, Tom, and won the 2024 British Eventing BE80 league, according to Horse & Hound.

This is really sad - they were one of my favourite couples on any of the series. You could just tell what lovely human beings they both were.

I've just read the news about Sam. They were my favourite ever contestants, she was so fabulous and patient with him and you could see how much they loved each other. I feel really upset about this, it's such dreadful news. My heart goes out to her and the rest of the family.

I agree with this. Such very sad news.

Ok
I stand corrected I thought you’d mixed her up with another Caroline whose more well known in this area

Apologies 💐

No worries.

very sad about Sam.

I just stumbled across Sioned's instagram and it looks like she, Fin, the two sisters and Thomas all went to the R1 Big Weekend together - it doesn't look like just a PR jolly either, they genuinely look like they all became good mates and are having fun together. Lovely photos.

That's nice, I like it when they all become friends!

I am so sad about the news of Sam. They were such a memorable pair - he had quite a few difficulties but she was endlessly patient with him. Of all the seasons they are the pairing that stood out most for me. I loved when they went to the salt flats and were doing funny photos. And when the Mum let him go walkabout in a city but was so worried about him...roots and wings.. RIP Sam.

Beautifully put, @Wildbird12 - I agree with you completely .
RIP, Sam , and condolences to Jo and her family .