Walk on…

10 Mar 2:57 pm by Mark Kalch Category: Miscellaneous, The Expedition, Thoughts

It is more than 2 weeks since Nathe and I finished our epic adventure. As I write this Nathe is venturing back up the Amazon aboard a passenger boat. At every opportunity he is locating an internet cafe to check and reply to personal and expedition related emails.

Back in Australia I have been doing much the same, however my internet access is a little more reliable. The media interest we have managed to generate through simple hard work and determination seems to be paying off. Daily we receive emails from magazines and newspapers eager to run something. We have a potential feature article in mainstream magazine Thats Life with a readership of over a million people! Awesome!

Wild Magazine, one of Australia’s leading outdoor magazines has also expressed keen interest in us writing an article for their next edition. After reading our post titled San Francisco (no flowers in our hair) it seems they were impressed enough to think we had an article in us worthy of publication. This is exciting news for Nathe and I.

As well there have been numerous articles in newspapers, TV and websites over the past week. We are stoked to get all this coverage, but it has certainly not come easily. To draw attention to our efforts has taken a lot of work. All the same we will keep pushing for coverage. Not, of course to get our mugs on TV or in the papers but to allow future endeavours to hopefully be looked upon by potential sponsors etc in high regard based upon this success.

Please keep checking back for more posts as we begin editing our footage and photos, as well as for more news regarding the team’s future plans.

13 Comments »

Fantastic!!!

Comment by Matt Kalch — March 10, 2008 @ 6:59 pm
G’Day Mark, Pleased to hear your Expedition has attracted such interest. To me this is not surprising
as adventures of this quality, which show courage and stamina aligned with forward thinking and ability are
few and far between. A story of this nature makesw excellent reading and would grab the interest of people of all nations.
I said to Grandma Pyke the other night,if these lads
were to record all of this expedition up into a book
with selected photos,it would be as good an adventure
story as ever been printed.
This story would have to start where Nathan asked you
are you IN, and finish at the Light Beacon, leaving
nothing out.
Well this is my opinion anyway.

Cheers mate, catch ya later.

Love Grandma, Margy & Grumblebum

Comment by Grumblebum — March 10, 2008 @ 10:32 pm
Great news Mark, it was a fantastic night last week catching up when you arrived in Brisbane. We could have stayed all night listening to the stories, the questions kept flying. You really are a story teller!!! One would never have known that you had been doing it tough for the last six months.
We wish every success for the future.
Young Nathan is doing fine on his little trip back up the river catching up with people. Love Toni & Bill xxxxxxxxxxxx

Comment by Toni-Maree — March 11, 2008 @ 8:07 pm
Farewell to Mark,
At 11.05am 15th of March 2008 (rather dramatic) we bid farewell to Mark as he flew off to the UK on his next adventure. Into the next chapter of his life. We bid you well and we know that you are fully prepared for what life will throw your way next. Thanks for sharing some time with us although brief, we enjoyed every moment of your time. The thrill and enjoyment you put onto the faces you have touched this trip will be remembered forever, especially your Grandmother Del Whitson in the retirement village in Mackay and sharing with her, her 92nd birthday….PRICELESS!!! The pride in the eyes of your mother Donna, as complete strangers come up to her and ask her ‘are you the mother of that bloke who has just returned from the Amazon’. PRICELESS!!!
All the best Mark we now know that you are ready to face everything and everybody.
Well Done
Barry

Comment by Barry & Donna — March 15, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
Hi Nathan,
How is it going over there enjoying yourself no doubt, we would love to her what you are doing if this is possible, stay in contact we check back daily on this web site.
Barry & Donna

Comment by Barry & Donna — March 15, 2008 @ 8:16 pm
Nath,

ahoy - whats happening my friend - sending wellness and happytimes to you.

I read some of Justin Heralds 2nd book today - (the attitude clothing man)

a quick extract. He says that even when we have reached a goal in life - whether large or small - its in that same moment we will again need to change in order to move toward another. Change is not a moment - it is ones life - he basically says that we can either make the most of change or deny it and live life dictated by our fear. He says that there is always something that needs to be changed in ourselves or the environment around us and why waiste time thinking about it when we can just get on with it.

He is spot on - we can either live in our achievements or non-achievements or we can have each achievement set a platform for the next great move. With this comes the constant defeating of fear which is the true enemy to needed change - where we are able to recognise fear in ourselves then we have just identified an opportunity to implement change.

I look over this and it is true - I look at myself and where I am right now and if I want to get to where I want to be in 1 - 2 - 5 years time than I need to seek and implement change because what I have done in the past just won’t cut it - Dreams come by firstly finding them from within ourselves and then adapting the changes necessary in order to move us toward them. I find change confronting; but I would have to say that the greatest reward has only come as a direct result of actually making a change somewhere prior to realising the reward.

I believe that everyone can change as I do believe that all things are possible as St Mark does says. But to just think it is possible is not enough - for one to change we first must except that we need to do so and then second seek it out. If we are conscious about the need for change than we will ultimately see it and implement it; as hard as change may be at times - it is the only thing that brings us just that little closer to realising our dreams.

There is a saying that “goog things come to those who wait” - I would rather think that great things happen for those who seek, those who are willing to take action. Patience is a good attribute but it is not a game of sitting - it is more the understanding of wisdom.

Buff - safe travels

Nath - I said hello to the great John Burley from our US Bootcamp last night - funny looking back and knowing where we are now - I ponder where we will be in another 5 years. May we all seek out our life’s passion and fulfill our purpose to overflowing

God Bless,

Mick

Comment by MIck — March 15, 2008 @ 9:53 pm
Hola a a a a a a a a a a - echoing into eternity.

When I look on this site I now experience feelings of being a little empty as there is now no new posts to look forward to - or any suspence in wondering where exactly you are or what you are doing.

If I look at the past from 6 months from your view it must be great to now look back and remember what you felt as you started off on your little walk through the villages, desert, jungle to get to the recorded source of the great Amazon. to look down at it and know that some who have gone before you actually never made it back, to know that the greatest white water God can throw at man lies before you and no matter how good the maps are you studied you are about to jump inot the absolute of rafting. Man what a mix of adrenaline and anxiety.

To look at the first 5=6 weeks over the white water and what you had to overcome just to achieve this. Then all the little battles and the emotions to now look through these and actually see the outcome from above - what a great view.

AS you continue to walk on and seek new adventure in life make sure that you keep looking from above my friends. If this life was not to be enjoyed, to truly be at peace within than what are we here for? It is not find ourselves in our work, our home, our sport, but I think it is to find ourselves in others that truly brings peace to ones life. To actually stop a help another fulfill something in their day or life.

I truly believe that ones fulfillment can only be achieved once they help another with theirs. It is almost to say that to have fulfillment their is a need to fulfill. In order to be self fulfilled we are co-dependantg on each other and all people are linked. I think that this is the hard bits of life because for the most of us we don’t live fulfilled, our lives are taken up with material, work, desire, self worship - which is often mistaken for enjoyment but is only temporary. I search for a joy that can’t be taken, a peace that is not thought, I search for exactly what Paul said when HE spoke of Jesus in respect to Him having the peace that surpases all understanding - this is what life is about - having that peace that surpasses all understanding - to know the author of peace.

Be safe and travel well,

God Bless

Comment by Mick — March 18, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
Hey
SO good to see the site still up and going….i have been MISSIN you all big time

I got given the most amazing book for my b-day called THREE RIVERS by Tim Biggs - Mick i have no doubt you would enjoy it…but Nath, Phil and Buff if you can get hold of it…..grab it with both hands…another man who went into the Earth’s lungs…

sending out lots of love and pray that this Easter Weekend will be one in which new peace, joy and freedom unfolds in a new way!

Love Lexy x

Comment by Lexy — March 20, 2008 @ 8:18 pm
Heres to all our supporters, wishing you all a Happy & safe Easter, prayers for you all.

Grumblebum has gone off for a boys weekend over the Easter break, so who knows what he will get up to.

The last we heard from Nathan he was enjoying going back up the river catching up with the villages along the way. I am sure we will hear from him soon.

HAPPY EASTER HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lOVE Toni xx

Comment by Toni-Maree — March 21, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
Happy Easter Nath and Ang

Happy Easter friends of Expedition Amazonas!

Mattxx

Comment by MAtthew Kalch — March 22, 2008 @ 10:09 am
Have a Happy and a safe Easter period Marko, Holly, Nathan and Ange

From Donna and Barry xxxx

Comment by Donna — March 22, 2008 @ 6:25 pm
Lexy ! Lexy!
What are you doing ? I thought we agreed no more adventure books.
I will hold you personally responsable for my hair turning grey before its time .He! He!
Cheers Bill

Comment by Bill Welch — March 23, 2008 @ 10:57 am
Bill, this man paddled 3 of the rivers, your adventurer has already logged!
He did it in the early 80’s as the shape of the boats, as well as the hair testifies too!!!!
Check it out!!
In the meantime i have a fabulous hairdresser if the grey gets too much….means you will need to come and play in Africa tho!

Hope things going swimmingly both in South Am and Down under!!!
Lexy x

Comment by Lexy — March 27, 2008 @ 12:09 am