Running after Routledge: The Pursuit of an English Expedition' is a collaborative and multidimensional expedition with a mission to link the communities of Darlington Rapa Nui (Easter Island) by retracing sections of the 1914 Mana Expedition to Easter Island. Travelling without flying (for as long as I can), I will run, bike and 'boat' my way from England to Chile, and out to Rapa Nui - seemingly taking the 'slow' route, but one that is more inherently natural to humans - by being active, moving, and doing.
The route is basically: Darlington to Southampton on foot, running - 330miles - aiming for a marathon per day for 12-14 days (will include some rest days!). Southampton/ Le Havre to Buenos Aires by cargo ship. 21 days at sea. Buenos Aires to Santiago/ Valparaiso by bike. 1500km. Valparaiso to Rapa Nui by boat. 2200 miles into the Pacific. As I travel I will be making comparisons with the book, The Mystery of Easter Island written by Katherine Routledge about the 1914 Mana Expedition. Katherine Routledge and I share a birthplace in Darlington, Co. Durham - a further reason why this expedition is personally significant.
To continue in the same vein and follow the work ethic of Katherine Routledge and the 1914 expeditionI will be raising funds to purchase a 'BioMax' sewage digester unit for the island, working in partnership with the NGO Pacific Aid Australia. The freshwater aquifer of Rapa Nui is under serious pressure as population numbers starts to creep up and digesters remove the need for using fresh water for watering plants cleaning, since it produces grey water that can do the same job. Departing from the UK in February 2014 I plan to arrive on Rapa Nui in time for the June 1st marathon. I'd love to hear from people who have cycled in South America before, anyone who has travelled on a container/ cargo ship - and people who have done long distance runs?!!
Thanks!
http://www.longrunergy.com/running/running-after-routledge