Archive for the ‘ Miscellaneous ’ Category
Ready, set…go!
16 Sep 1:25 am by Mark Kalch Category: Miscellaneous, The Expedition, Thoughts
Well its here…the beginning of our journey source 
to sea. I cannot truthfully call it the beginning of the expedition because how can you define that? Was it when we landed in Lima? We have been through so much over the last 2 weeks that it could easily be the start. Was it when we started really putting in the endless days of route planning, sponsorship proposals, web design? Why not? I can say that in 2 days we will have heavy packs on our backs and we will be trekking towards the summit of Nevado Mismi and the ultimate source of the Amazon River!
We arrived in Arequipa yesterday after a 14 hour bus ride from Lima. The day before we spent the entire day from 10am to 10pm attempting to extract our long delayed gear from Peruvian customs. Nathan and Petronio did all the hard work, talking and being frustrated as expected. In the end we had our gear and in a relatively speedy fashion. Again, Petronio came to the fore!
What a Week!
12 Sep 12:28 pm by Nathan Welch Category: Miscellaneous, The Expedition
Phew, what a week. W
ell here we are, still in Lima at Lion Backpackers, just over a week since arriving. There has been major delays with our equipment arriving here. It seems that half of our gear is still in the US somewhere waiting for a connecting flight into Peru. We are all a little flat at the moment & just want to get the show on the road…Frustrating times.
The positive side to all this is that we have had the time & opportunity to really refine our logistical arrangements with Petronio & Mario (who are our lynchpins to the complex logistics that kick in as we complete the hike & begin a hectic 4 weeks on the whitewater). We have had a number of long meetings with the both of them – discussing different ideas, routes & drops off points….& lots of laughs along the way! They are both characters & great to work with.
Chile? What happened to Peru?
02 Sep 3:50 am by Mark Kalch Category: Miscellaneous, The Expedition
Hola! Greetings from Santiago, Chile. What? Nathan and I are currently awaiting a connecting flight to Lima in the LAN Chile VIP lounge. We have a 7 hour wait, so we figured US$25 for wi-fi, open bar, lounge and showers might be a sound investment.
It has been an absolutely hectic last couple of weeks. Working flat out till a couple of hours before take-off. I even got a Hep B jab an hour before going to the airport! Talk about cutting it fine.
There are so many people to thank for getting the expedition to this point. When you are reaching for your dreams it is amazing how your friends come to the fore. So many offers of help in all sorts of ways. The whole team values the friendship and support shown by all our friends and family more than can be expressed in words. So I have written a poem…well no…I haven’t.
Lima tonight, with Philip arriving the next day. We will be in Lima for a week, awaiting our 350kg of gear we sent over with Jetta Express. A few loose ends to tidy up and then we are off!
Peru earthquake
17 Aug 4:56 am by Mark Kalch Category: Miscellaneous, The Expedition, Thoughts
A powerful earthquake has struck Peru’s southern coast, killing hundreds and injuring thousands. The government has declared a state of emergency for the region.
The towns which took the full force of the earthquake in Peru include Ica, Pisco and Chincha. These towns lie about 500km NW from where the team is due to begin their trek in under a month.
It’s times like these, with so much sadness and devastation that put into perspective our little jaunt.
If you are so inclined please help out by donating to the NGO of your choosing. Oxfam do good work.
Expedition fundage
05 Aug 6:27 pm by Mark Kalch Category: Miscellaneous, The Expedition, Thoughts
I am currently making my way through, with great excitement, Wilfred Thesiger’s autobiography, The Life of My Choice. This book follows the life and explorations of Thesiger, the great British eccentric explorer, renowned for his travels through some of the most inaccessible places on earth. Suffice to say, he led a life to be remembered.
His first major expedition at the age of twenty-three was to Northern Ethiopia’s Danakil region. Even now a pretty sketchy place to go to (just ask my mate Pete!). Keep in mind this was 1933! (more…)
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