While technology increasingly aims the world smaller and tamer, there are plenty of people who go out of their way in search of the arduous and wild. People going on unique and amazing adventures, some of which you can read about at Explorersweb, were hardly in short supply in 2008.
After reading accounts of adventures on Explorersweb and elsewhere, I’d like to nominate Erden Eruc’s solo row across the Pacific Ocean as the Human-Powered Adventure of the Year in 2008.
After departing from Bodega Bay, California on July 10, 2007, Eruc rowed for 312 days during which he traveled well more than the 5514 mile straight-line distance between there and Papua, New Guinea, where he finally got out of his boat in May of last year.
Eruc’s 312 days at sea set a new world record for the longest duration ocean row. Eruc also became only the 4th person to row the Pacific from east to west.
For the sake of contrast, I’ll mention that more than 4.000 individuals have climbed Mount Everest. The number of ocean rowers to successfully cross an ocean is about 350.
While on his trip, Eruk conducted teleconferences with 20 different schools around the world, sent out 130 news dispatches, typed 2400 emails, produced 30 cassettes of high def video, raised $12,000 raised for charity, hosted a growing menagie of winged stowaways, and somehow maintained good spirits and a sense of humor.
Maintaining his boat and gear without relying on outside help and supplies presented major challenges. At one point, the sliding seat he depended on for each oar-stroke broke and become inoperable. After a lot of thought, ingenuity, and rummaging, he was able to repair it.
One frightening moment came when a rogue wave hit the boat on a winter night, capsizing it and throwing Eruk to the ceiling. The 23-foot boat was designed to be self-righting — and true to form it righted itself soon afterward.
Adverse winds and an oncoming storm season forced Eruc to suspend his trip before reaching Australia, but he plans to resume the trip, starting in Papua, New Guinea, this spring.
For Eruc, the Pacific row is just the first leg of a muscle-powered solo round the world journey. His website lists the remaining legs as follows:
* resume his circumnavigation by returning to the Papua New Guinea waters, to eventually reach Australia, (Stage 2)
* approach Mt. Kosciuszko by bicycle and climb it,
* bicycle to Fremantle on Australia’s west coast,
* row from Fremantle to India, bicycle to Nepal, climb Everest (highest point),
* bicycle to Elbrus in Russia at its border with Georgia and climb it,
* bicycle through Georgia, Turkey, Syria to Jordan to touch the Dead Sea (lowest point),
* continue on to Tanzania by bicycle and climb Kilimanjaro,
* bicycle to Namibia, then row to Brazil,
* bicycle to Argentina to climb Aconcagua,
* return to Bodega Bay near San Francisco to conclude the human powered circumnavigation, then continue on by bicycle to Seattle.
Kinda puts that daily subzero-weather trip out t0 the the mailbox in into a little different perspective.
To read more about Erden Eruc and his ocean row see:
–Around-n-over
–Best of ExplorersWeb 2008 Awards: The longest row, Erden Eruc
–One Man’s Goal: To Travel Around the World on His Own Power