The Big Africa Cycle

I have undertaken 2 long distance solo bicycle adventures. Between 2005-2008 I cycled from Japan-UK through 30 countries, and between 2009-2012 I cycled from the UK-South Africa. In total, over 50,000 miles and 60+ countries. Next up: a book about the The Big Africa Cycle.

thebigafricacycle.com

Cancer Survivor treks through the jungle to open a trail for cancer research on the Amazon 5000 Expedition

The Amazon 5000 - For the Cure foundation, www.amazon5000.com, announced today that special forces veteran and cancer survivor, Mickey Grosman, is making history on the Amazon 5000 Expedition. He has already covered hundreds of miles on his mission to reignite the fight against cancer and to inspire children currently battling cancer. Mickey his team are currently on Leg 5 out of 12 on his year long, 5,000 mile expedition across the South American continent.

This leg is monumental as they will be making history by forging a route where Francisco De Orellanas famous 1541 El-Dorado voyage was forced to turn back due to the impassable terrain and harsh conditions. Mickey is leading a team of 6 through the virtually impenetrable terrain of the Eastern Andes through the Sumaco National Park in Ecuador, creating a path through the unexplored region never crossed by man before. This area is notorious for its unrelenting rain. By creating this path Mickey will be opening a opportunity for future researchers to study the plant life of this region. 70% of the plants with anti-cancer properties are native to tropical rainforests just like the Sumaco region.

It is Mickeys hope researchers will find in this never before seen vegetation, a cure to cancer. After opening this trail Mickey is descending the brutal Eastern Andes to the tropical rainforest and will continue on the Amazon 5000 expedition, making his way along the mighty Amazon River and through the dense jungles of Ecuador, Peru, Columbia and Brazil.

Follow this journey on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/Amazon5000

Explorer of the Month - Ants Bolingbroke-Kent

EXPLORER OF THE MONTH Ever wanted to know how to become an explorer or maybe how to find the perfect GT and mobile reception in the back of beyond?

Each month Explorers Connect interviews one of its members to find out everything you need to know - and there's never a pith helmet to be seen. This month, the wonderful, the inspiring: ANTS BOLINGBROKE-KENT. 

What are you working on right now?

At the moment I'm working on a hotch potch of projects. I've just come back from Georgia, where I was producing an episode of BBC2s Worlds Most Dangerous Roads. It was pretty epic what a totally brilliant country! Now I'm working on a new anti-poaching show for ITV and also.most excitingly working on a new book. I'm writing the book for Summersdale publishers and its going to be about a journey down the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Ill be doing this trip in Jan-Feb next year, on my own, on a Honda C90 moped. The book will be out in early 2014. Very exciting, but also a little scary.

How did you become an explorer?

I've always loved travel but sort of fell into the adventure game by accident. My best friend from school, Jo, had the ridiculous idea to drive a pink tuk tuk from Bangkok to Brighton. And it all went sideways from there. I wouldn't ever term myself an explorer though. More a part-time adventurer with a penchant for Very long Trips in Very Silly Vehicles.

Why do you do it?

Because its fun. Because it satisfies my perpetually itchy feet. And because I cant bear the thought of getting to the end of my life and regretting I didn't do more with it.

What scares you the most?

Sharks. Spiders. The dark. Ghosts. No seriously, there are quite a few things about my upcoming book that make me rather nervous. Parts of the Laos jungle I'm going through are extremely remote and allegedly full of all the above (excluding sharks of course). The Ho Chi Minh Trail is the most bombed place on the planet, and there are many tales of the jungle being haunted by all the soldiers and people who died there in the 580,000 bombing missions the USA flew over the area. Oh, and someone got eaten by a tiger there less than a decade ago.

What is your greatest moment so far?

Raising 50,000 for the mental health charity Mind, through our tuk tuk trip. My friend Jo had suffered severe mental health problems as a teenager, hence our decision to raise money for Mind. So many people were so inspired by Jo's story and her amazing recovery, it was really fantastic. What's the most dangerous situation you've ever been in? I hate to be disappointing but I've never been in a Shit I'm going to die situation. I'm just not hardcore enough for that! Probably the time I've felt closest to it was when three of us were testing a new adventure for The Adventurists in February 2011. In temperatures of -40, we attempted to drive an old Ural motorbike up the frozen River Ob to the Russian Arctic Circle. On one particularly cold night the bike kept breaking down, there wasn't a whiff of civilisation in sight, and things got a little spicy. I got to that point of extreme cold when I didn't really care what happened, and the other two were having to force me to move. If we hadn't come across a tiny town and a warm bed, I dread to think what would have happened.

What makes you smile?

Open roads, feeling free, new places, dancing, very loud electronic music, tea made over a camp fire, a Large GT at the end of a long day, the hum of a motorbike engine, (winning) Boggle, words, unexpected adventures, achieving something you didn't think you could do.

What are the biggest obstacles to expedition success?

Your own mind. Even if you don't have the best equipment and haven't spent months planning something, if you're determined enough, you can make it happen.

What's the worst injury you've ever had?

Nothing really (loads of broken bones as a child but they don't really count here!)

What's your nickname?

I have a few, they're all animal related make what you will of that! Ants, Ferret and Skunk are the main ones. Long stories.

How do you balance the adventurous life with your home life?

That's the hardest thing about what I do. I try and make sure I'm not away for more than 3 months of the year. Doing this sort of job is awesome and I feel very lucky, but home life is also incredibly important. As much as I adore travel and adventure, I also adore being at home in Somerset. People often say Wow your life sounds so exciting. But I also spend a lot of time at home talking to the dog and hanging up my boyfriends washing - its not all rock and roll!

What's the one thing you do better than anyone else you know?

I'm pretty good at drinking hard liquor in odd places. Whether its vodka up a Mongolian mountain, Siberian moonshine or chacha in Georgia. A dubious quality I know. I think I'm also pretty good at avoiding potholes in a tuk tuk.

What one thing couldn't you live without on expedition?

Wirral. My grubby little teddy bear dragon thing. He comes everywhere with me. Hell definitely be riding the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

What is the best advice you've been given in your career?

Someone said to me years ago The first rule of life is to turn up. He was a film producer who a friend of a friend had said I should go and meet, as he might be able to help me get my first job in TV. I remember thinking Whats the point, hows he going to help me? But that meeting got me a brilliant job at ITV and led to so many doors opening. As I left the producer said to me The first rule of life is to turn up. And I've never forgotten it. It applies to so many situations.

Is there anything left to explore?

Of course. Your mind. Your own back garden I really don't subscribe to all that rubbish about there being nothing left to explore. It depends who you are, what your past experiences are and how you look at things.

If you could only do one more expedition what would it be and why?

Something in Russia, but I'm not quite sure what. What's your life time ambition? To be the next Dervla Murphy.

How can readers learn more about you?

Check out my website www.theitinerant.co.uk and also follow me on Twitter @AntsBK.

Ants Bolingbroke-Kent was interviewed and edited by Frank Coles, a writer and broadcaster with a taste for adventure.

You can find out more about him on Explorers Connect or at www.frankcoles.com."

Global Adventure News 28 June 2012

American paddlers complete 52 mile 24 hour marathon SUP challenge. Watermen Bill Whiddon and Thaddeus Foote, have completed the first ever attempt to stand-up paddle (SUP) across the Gulf Stream, from Bimini, Bahamas to Miami, to raise awareness of the impacts of plastics in the ocean.

The Bimini-Miami Blue Water Challenge was a gruelling 24 hour adventure taking the paddle boarders 48 miles across the deep blue waters of the powerful Gulfstream current armed with only a board, a paddle, and their wits.

The intrepid paddle boarders endured one the earths most powerful oceanic currents, exposure to shifting weather conditions, extreme isolation, and all the risks of open ocean navigation in order to successfully reach their destination. The paddlers arrived at South Beach Miami on the 15th of June to be welcomed at a party thrown in their honour by The Surfrider Foundation. By completing this journey, Whiddon and Foote hope to raise awareness of the impacts that discarded plastics are having on the worlds marine environments. The Surfrider Foundation Miami Chapter is an official partner of the crossing and is fighting the proliferation of marine plastics through its Rise Above Plastics (R.A.P.) campaign. R.A.P. is aimed at increasing the rate of plastic recycling and reducing the release of waste into the oceans. To take action, visit http://florida.surfrider.org/campaigns/flrapRiver.

Gambia 2012 Expedition 1000km. Experienced West Africa travellers, husband and wife team Jason Florio, and, photography producer, Helen Jones-Florio will attempt to make the first recorded source to sea expedition of the entire length of the River Gambia: one of the last remaining, large, free-flowing rivers in Africa, there has been talk for a number of years of damming the river, so they want to document the communities and environment before this happens. Travelling by canoe and foot through the homelands of over seven different tribes, their journey will begin at the source of the river, where it trickles out of the Fouta Djallon highlands of Guinea, on into hippo-abundant Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal, and finally into The Republic of the Gambia following the same course as the early gold and slave traders had done centuries ago to the 10km wide mouth of the river, where it opens into the Atlantic Ocean after over a 1000km journey. Jason, Helen, and their team, will collect visual, written and audio stories documenting the lives and cultures of the indigenous people, who live and work along the course of the River Gambia. Using traditional protocol, relevant to each country, they will approach village chiefs to ask permission to stay in their villages. Staying with the local people will be an integral part of the journey, in order for them to understand and document the cultures and traditions of the numerous tribes they will encounter. They will travel with two local Gambian river men for the entire journey, along with hiring local guides in Guinea and Senegal thus making it a diverse and international team. http://rivergambiaexpedition2012.wordpress.com.

Louis Philippe Loncke completed his epic crossing of Poland. This human powered adventure on foot, packraft and kayak between the highest summit of Poland (Mount Rysy, 2499m) to the Baltic sea began in May 2012. The journey started with Louis climbing Mount Rysy, then hiking North-west across the Tatras mountains to Mt Barania Gra (1220m), find the source of the Vistula (the longest river of Poland) and follow it to the sea. During the 4-5 weeks of the expedition Louis also visited cultural places and famous cities along the way.The trip was completed successfully on the 3rd of June after 28 days and 1200 kilometers.By completing the trip Louis hopes to inspire preservation of the water bodies and wildlife of the country.http://www.polandtrek.com.

Ripley Davenport, FRGS, dedicated explorer adventurer writer for Explorers Connect is to attempt a 150 mile crossing of Death Valley.Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. Situated within the Mojave Desert, it features the lowest, driest, and hottest locations in North America. It has an area of about 3,000 square miles (7,800 sq km) and runs from the north to the south.The intention is to be completely self sufficient and entirely on foot throughout the arduous 150 mile route from North to South through the Valley itself by man-hauling a specially fabricated wheeled desert trailer, which will carry minimal water and provisions weighing approximately 200kg across sand dunes, jagged mountains, salt-pans, washes and canyons.The Valley itself is a narrow basin located 282 feet below sea level and bounded on all sides by mountains which generate the notorious blistering temperatures.It is intended to use, but not depend on, a recycling system that will purify urine.http://www.ripleydavenport.com/deathvalley.html

Legless man from Canada climbs Kilimanjaro on his hands - Spencer West, 31 from Toronto, Canada has succeeded in crawling on his hands to the 19,341ft high summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The amazing feat was completed on Tuesday the 19th of June. He trained for a year to scale the tallest peak in Africa without legs and set off on June 12 with best friends David Johnson and Alex Meers. The trek to the top took seven days, hiking through Tanzania's jungles, snowfields and deserts - and Mr West was forced to make 80 per cent of the journey on his hands, only hopping in a custom-made wheelchair when the terrain allowed. http://www.freethechildren.com/redefinepossible.

A team of five wounded American soldiers are attempting an ascent of Denali on June 10, 2012, a team of five wounded warriors began their challenge to summit Denali (Mt. McKinley) in Alaska, at 20,320 feet the highest mountain in North America and one of the coldest in the world. The team, calling themselves Warfighter Sports will test their limits, stamina and endurance while hoping to raise awareness of the abilities of Americas wounded servicemen and inspire others with disabilities.The Denali Challenge began on the 11th of June, they hope to complete their trip on Independence Day, July 4. Team Warfighter Sports includes two double leg amputees, two single above knee amputees and one with severe muscle damage in the legs. The team includes soldiers from two generations (the oldest is 64 and youngest is 29) and three wars, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.At present the team appear to be stranded at 14,000 feet due to severe weather however we are sure that their grit and determination will prevail and we will be following them at:http://www.crowdrise.com/wsdenalichallengeStories researched.