Archive for category brett

Many have asked what is next, well I have much to finish here in Canada. You can expect a complete ‘100 Days on the Yukon’ after the snow melts (oh yeah it already has because of global warming). I am now writing the expedition stories of the Deh Cho (Mackenzie River), Yukon and Mississippi Rivers into one book. I plan to formally launch my public speaking career once the ‘100 Days…’ and the book is complete – focusing on the university/college and corporate speaking circuit. Plus, the ‘Old Man River’ story will be told through a production a little farther down the road. There will also be a website home-base for me that will connect past adventures with future ones including a blog.

As for the next river, here is a sneak peak.

Across India and Bangladesh on a 900 mile odyssey… Setting out on a carefully crafted vessel from the foothills of the Himalayas, across a vast fertile plain into the forbidden mangrove forests of the Sundarbans… a raw yet beautiful adventure to rediscover the sacred story of the River Ganges…

The River Ganges has an unusual ability to retain dissolved oxygen – decomposing organic matter 15 to 25 times faster than similar rivers, unbeknown to modern science. Not only does this prevent large-scale epidemics, it also helps break down the over 30 thousand half cremated bodies dumped into the river every year. Add the nearly 1 billion litres of untreated raw sewage that enters the river every day with the constant threat of disease, monsoons, extreme poverty, freshwater sharks and the last strong hold of man-eating tigers and the River Ganges has no shortage of dangers to be encountered.

Beyond the obvious dangers, the River Ganges is a waterway rich in culture, understanding and reward. Worshiped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism, the River Ganges blends modern reality with age-old myth…

The premise of this journey will remain the same; build a vessel native to the surroundings and free from the confines of fossil fuels, travel with the aid of local knowledge and rediscover the hidden secrets of the river…

Coming in 2012…. Unless someone wants to donate me a $100,000 I could go much sooner.

See ya down river,
BR

I just had the great opportunity to handout the Old Man River Report to the folks at National Geographic in Washington D.C. (Thanks Darlene). The report is a PDF file and is attached to the main page of the blog on the right hand side. Please take the chance to read it over and see how we accomplished our goals and what opportunities lay ahead.

See ya down river,

BR

Tonight should be fun.

My Sister and Dad are having a welcome home party for the Old Man River team and myself. They had a going away party before we left and it was the perfect way to kick off the expedition. Now, many months later, this is the perfect way to close an exciting chapter of the Old Man River Project.�

Obviously this expedition could not have happened without the support of some important people. I just wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge my key supporters.

Darlene and Jeff Anderson. They believed in my dream to build a York boat and go down the Mississippi River. Without their generous donation this project would have never happened.

Gordon Laco. Throughout this project Gord has been a vital asset who has given me confidence and provided me with expertise. From building the boat to understanding the keys of being a leader on expedition, whenever I had a question Gord had an answer.

John Ruskey. Perhaps no person was more vital in developing my understanding about the Mississippi River than John. For years I have been calling with questions and John always took the time to give me his insight.

Brent Thornton. My old University roommate, Brent has always been there to help me with the technicalities. If you loved the blog, love Brent as he is the guy who built and maintained the website.�

Lyndsey Loiacono. My girlfriend and talented graphic designer who have long made me look more professional than I am. From making the business cards to designing the ?Old Man River? image, she does it all.

Les Stroud. Les gave me five camera?s from his show Survivorman and provided me with key creative insight on how to shoot a guerilla style production. Without the camera gear, I could not have documented the journey.

Paul and Marylee Orr. These two were the ones who inspired me about the Mississippi River. During the expedition they were our beloved base camp providing support whenever we needed it. Now they are the owners of ANNIE.�

Donna Dixon Aykroyd. Donna has connected me with many powerful people over the years. She believed in me since day one and continues to make me believe in what is possible.

Family. Mom, Dad, Sister and Chief (my dog). You have always supported me and encouraged me to push on.

Crew. Without the team there would be no project. Cliff thanks for keeping ANNIE working. Riggy thanks for being willing and able to get that shot. Max thanks for your creative insight. Tank thanks for snapping pictures. Magnus thanks for trusting me and flying all the way from Australia. And Sarah thanks for always smiling and being you.�

And thank you for following the adventure. The expedition is over but there is much more great stuff to come. More blogs and more over the coming months so stay tuned!

See ya down river,

Brett

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Dear Fans of Old Man River Project,

I am please to tell you that the Old Man River Project has reached the Gulf of Mexixo. We are now driving ANNIE back to Baton Rouge.

110 days since departing Bemidiji State Park the expedition has ended. Wow.

I am proud of what we have accomplished. This expedition was not easy, however it was more than worth while. The Mississippi River has brought me closer to understanding my place in this complicated world. The widsom I have gained will take years to fully understand and so for now I will marvel in the wonder of this moment; knowing we as a team took on so much and over came even more.

There will be more blogs to come and the full story, captured in over 600 hours of video is on it’s way.

See you down river,

Brett

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Last night was insane. Wicked winds followed by thunder and lighting made for a short sleep. By far the greatest storm yet.

We all got soaked, we all were cold and we all did not sleep. Welcome to life on expedition. Sure you get nice sunsets and warm days but you also get your fair share of raw weather. I will never forget last night.

Sorry I am so tiried I can’t go into details.

Today was not much better. The winds were so hard, at times reachin 25 mph, that we held our breaths as we rolled over 6 foot waves. Every so often a massive wave would smash over the edge and hit my back as I oared; this helped keep me awake and ready.

The day was small in distance but we did row in some of the fiercest weather yet. In total only 11 miles were completed, far from the 40 I had hoped for. The good news is that tomorrow should be decent and I expect us to row 50 miles.

That is it, off to bed.

See ya down river,
Brett

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Another night on the river and a night too cherish for sure. We are 20 miles south of the French Quarter only 74 miles from the Head of Passes. These moments are running outn, the Gulf of Mexico is near.

Like an old solider on the battle field ready to make his last charge, our days are numbered. Our final push in well underway.

How many nights like this do we have left beside Old Man River? Maybe two or three. And so, although tomorrow will rain all day, I know wet cloths do not matter anymore because soon this will all be behind me. Amazing, sad, exciting and moving.

Anyways, time for bed, it is just after 8 pm and my alarm is set for 4:46 am. But first a little reading then some dreaming and before too long, back on the oars.

See ya down river,

Brett

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Some things are sometimes hard to explain. Take our current campsite, from the outside looking in, it appears tonight is no different than any other night, but that could not be farther from the truth.

We have a comfortable fire; my belly is full from dinner. The team is relaxing as we listen to John Ruskey playing some river blues on his guitar. Riverkeeper Paul Orr and his brother Micheal are here too. Life couldn’t be better.Yet something is different.

Throughout this expedition we have enjoyed some of the most overlooked natural beauty. Here is the catch. To appreciate beauty you must also see the beast.

We are only 129 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, just north of New Orleans. The stars have vanished, to replace them, the ever so familar glow of the urban sky lights the horizon.

Across the river a nuclear power plant produces energy we all have come to depend on, or should I say expect? To my left thousands of yellow lights hide behind the cover of made man clouds. Steam floats out of countless stacks, some are tall, others wide, there must be a hundred. That steam, coated with proven cancer causing chemicals, enters the same air and water you and I depend on with a gentle ease it almost looks natural.

In front of me are four giant ocean liners that have anchored for the night; their size so enourmous, they stand like skyscrappers. One is from Singapore the other Panama, the other two, well I have never even heard of such places before (they must be an island tax haven or something?). I do wonder what they are doing here. Could they be importers or exporters, maybe both?

Behind me is the Bonnet Carre Spill Way. When Old Man River is running high, the spillway is opened to divert water into Lake Pontchartrain to avert an impending flood on New Orleans. Yet the consequence of this measure is uncomprehensible. When the flood comes, cold river water shocks a sensitie brakish ecosystem like a popicile can freeze your brain.

This my friends is our campsite. Gone are the trees, stars and sand. Here are the lights, odours and rumble. We have spent over a hundred nights with the beauty, now we sleep beside the beast.

See ya down river,

Brett

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