The Amazon Swim

Martin arrives in Atalaya @ Atalaya, Peru

2007-01-28T15:00:00.000Z

A barrel-chested Martin Strel stepped off a 12 passenger jungle plane today amidst a throng of puzzled Peruvian faces. At 250 pounds he can be compared to a bear before hibernation. He will drop over 50 pounds in the coming months.

Atalaya is a jungle town. The only way to reach it is by boat or plane. Everything is alive with green as the jungle tries to retake the city. “I love the smell of the jungle,” a soaking wet Martin declared as he exited the plane with his new Peruvian guitar in his hand.

The true founder of Atalaya was Juan Santos Atahualpa. He was an Apu Inca who led 50,000 Ashaninkan Indians against the Spaniards in 1742. “There will be no slavery,” he declared, and they gave up their lives to ensure the future freedom of these same Incan descendants who gaze on Martin today. He is the first white man some of these warm people have ever seen and is twice as big as most of them.

THE DEADLY JUNGLE

Martin is very happy with the new machete he purchased from a native last evening and likes to carry it around the village with him. Today he is preparing for a scouting mission on a small boat that will take him deeper into the jungle. He visited this area two years ago to exchange gifts with some tribal chiefs and shamans in order to be granted permission to pass through certain remote areas of the river.

Some of the natives have expressed great concern over the dangers in this part of the river. The Candiru is a small fish that is attracted to the smell of urine and releases razor sharp spines into the orifice it has crawled into. An experienced riverman suggested Martin carry lemon juice as a natural remedy for this problem. Crocodiles are also very common here and Martin will be in great jeopardy each time he swims in dark, still waters away from the fast current. This will make getting into and out of the river extremely dangerous. Anacondas and piranha are also attracted to the slower moving water. The team is taking malaria pills, but nothing is 100% effective. Atalayans tell us that some of us may go home with, “just a little malaria.” We’ve heard a few reports of banditos who do some smuggling downstream from here, but natives tell us not to worry as those reports are exaggerated.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Dancing with Ashaninkas @ Atalaya, Peru

2007-01-30T23:00:00.000Z

Martin was invited to attend a special ceremony among Ashaninkan chieftains. They have agreed to give him their blessing to swim through the Provincia of Ucayali.

The climax of the meeting occurred when an indigenous woman with a painted face offered a spirited song to pray to her God’s to offer Martin protection. At the end of the song she surprised all in attendance by taking Martin’s hand and having him join her in a ritual dance.

Training in the Amazon has given Martin a painful sunburn as he acclimates to the climate. Our support boat carrying supplies from Pucallpa was expected to arrive today, but we are having trouble making radio contact. Our last report indicated they were approximately 100 km downstream and may be struggling with some unpredictable river conditions. If the supplies do not arrive by tomorrow we will be forced to send another boat downriver to locate them. Martin is still expecting to begin the expedition Thursday morning.

>>Matthew Mohlke

The Countdown Begins @ Atalaya, Peru

2007-01-31T16:00:00.000Z

It was a nerve-racking day for the team as last minute details were finalized to prepare for tomorrow’s start. Martin, Borut, and Jamie hired a guide with the fastest boat available to take them on a scouting mission.

The speedy craft weaved through a maze of islands and floating debris to record observations for the first 100 km of the expedition. Martin will begin swimming at 8:00 tomorrow morning. Tonight he will attempt to sleep three or four hours as he mentally prepares himself for the longest and most dangerous swim in our planet’s history.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Martin is Swimming @ Rio Maranguara, Peru

2007-02-02T00:20:00.000Z

“The jungle is crying because you are leaving.” The words of one local summed up the mood in Atalaya as Martin prepared to begin his 70 day swim in a heavy downpour. Despite many whirlpools and floating debris, Martin muscled his way through 102 difficult km today.

While swimming near a sloppy bank shaded by huge Lupuna trees, Martin disturbed a six foot Lagarto Alligator which quickly broke its slumber and disappeared below the dark waters.

A stormy morning surrendered to a tranquil afternoon of light breezes and mysterious animal noises. The foothills of the Andes were shrouded in cotton balls as Borut, Jamie and I took turns paddling a small support boat with local guides Geraldo, Arturo, and Javier. A freshwater dolphin magically appeared at dusk to lead Martin downstream.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Martin is Healthy @ Manchari, Peru

2007-02-03T00:28:00.000Z

Drs. Latifi, and Stanonik, directors of the Amazon Virtual Medical Team, announced today that Martin is doing great physiologically and is in good spirits after administering his twice daily physical examinations.

Martin weathered an early morning cloudburst to capitalize on favorable conditions and reel in 121 kilometers in 12 hours of swimming. River navigators used their safety whistles to alarm Martin of several dangerous whirlpools and a never ending array of half submerged trees. The support boat was greeted by curious villagers at the small settlement of Bolognesi, the only location to acquire gasoline for 540 km between Atalaya and Pucallpa.

The team is currently anchored for the night along a muddy bank lined with banana trees. Martin has gone to bed early to prepare for his 5:00 A.M. alarm. Borut is outside dancing and swatting at mosquitoes as he sets up a bug net to upload this website via satellite from our jungle location, hundreds of miles from the nearest modern civilization. It’s frustrating for all of us on the support team to be cut off from our loved ones, and Borut’s nightly transmission is our only link to planet earth.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Fog, Debris, and Whirlpools @ Las Tres Grandes Islas de Iparia, Peru

2007-02-04T00:00:00.000Z

Erosion from high water has sliced huge chunks of land away from the bank. One small village lost four houses to the Amazon, and we’ve witnessed dozens of huge trees crashing into the water.

A blanket of early morning fog made for navigational hell as Martin swam through this minefield. At times, we would see only a few branches sticking up from a giant tree that was hung up in the mud waiting to impale him.

As the main boat anchored near land for the night, a few of the team members decided to go ashore and investigate an abandoned settlement. A gun-toting man and his three machete waving female companions quickly convinced them to return to the boat.

Martin swam 114 km today and is ahead of schedule. Tomorrow afternoon he will swim through the deadly confluence of the Pachitea and Ucayali Rivers. A small boat will go ahead to scout the area and choose the best route.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Support Boat Sends out SOS @ Rio Pachitea, Peru

2007-02-04T19:40:00.000Z

Martin and his band of adventurers have had a rough few days. The mighty Amazon has claimed both motors and wrecked the steering column on the large boat carrying the team.

At last report, it was bouncing from bank to bank out of control with glass breaking and the crew being heaved from side to side. Eventually, it found a shallow spot and was stuck in the mud for almost 24 hours. While the big boat was sending out an SOS, Martin was swimming out of radio contact with the smaller escort boat.
He arrived at the edge of Pucallpa after a startling 127 km, swimming the final two hours after sunset. As darkness set in, we saw two boats approaching each other. Our Peruvian guides warned us to kill all the lights and be very quiet. The final 10 km were done without illumination as the crew paddled blind and listened for rough water ahead and Martin swam cautiously nearby. Martin reached solid ground in a seedy part of town with nothing except his wetsuit. The four of us did not have any money, and were dreading the idea of squeezing together in a 14 foot flat bottom boat to sleep in a questionable area. Martin and Gerardo guarded the dinghy while Jarvez and I walked to town to find Lady Henderson and her father Carlos who’ve helped us much throughout the trip.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Reunited @ Pucallpa, Peru

2007-02-06T03:40:00.000Z

Today was essentially lost as Martin was forced to wait for the rest of the team to be rescued and the boat repaired.

He was only able to put in 19 km of swimming, mostly for the purpose of staying stretched. We were treated to dinner by the Presidente of the Regional De Ucayali, Dr. Jorge Velasquez Portocarrero. Since Martin had no clothing, he dined in the fancy restaurant barefoot, with a borrowed San Juan Cerveza T-shirt and a pair of Bermuda shorts. The evening was capped off by a happy reunion with the rest of the team. Martin is well rested and intends to swim to Iquitos as quickly as possible.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Hungry and Alone in the Jungle @ Nuevo Saposoa, Peru

2007-02-07T00:35:00.000Z

A robust and well rested Martin Strel awoke early to stroke his way out of the bustling city of Pucallpa and back into the outer fringes of civilization. Unfortunately, last second repairs on the support boat became an all day affair, and by noon Martin’s small escort boat had again lost radio contact.

By afternoon, we were out of food and water and looking for a safe place to wait for the rest of the team and discover something to eat. Suddenly, a jubilant Martin came out of a heap of floating sticks with a beautiful papaya he’d found floating in the Amazonian debris. We had a little papaya cutting ceremony on the hull of the boat, and although we offered to give Martin a portion of our share, he insisted that we needed to eat something as well.

A Peruvian Coast Guard boat from Pucallpa came to inform us of some problems with pirates between here and Contamana, and to request we don’t continue without the safety of the large support boat. The team was fortunate to find refuge in the tranquil little village of Tacshitea, a smiling little Venetian community consisting of a roughly 60 people and 30 canoes. This is the third consecutive day that Martin has been frustrated by boat problems. How can Martin Strel make it down the Amazon while our boats can’t even seem to survive?

>>Matthew Mohlke

Gringo Demons @ Santa Ana, Peru

2007-02-07T23:30:00.000Z

A single-minded Martin Strel swam 119 km today. The exhausted swimmer touched the shoreline at the small village of Santa Ana at dusk.

As the sunburned 250 pounder walked up the bank in his wetsuit, a wave of fear crept across the curious ensemble who’d gathered to watch. Women and children frantically ran for their huts, and a group of men gathered to confer. The village chief politely asked our Peruvian captain to find a different place to anchor. An old shaman had prophesized that demons would come on a boat from the mountains. We were later told by one of the crew that during the rubber boom the ‘gringos’ were especially rough on this town.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Soldiers on the Boat @ Inahuaya, Peru

2007-02-09T01:00:00.000Z

Martin is swimming through an area with a recent history of pirate activity and a reputation as a narco-trafficking hub

Peruvian president Garcia has ordered a military boat to escort the swimmer through this danger zone. The arrangement was a coordinated diplomatic effort on behalf of the countries of Peru and Slovenia.

Martin cranked out another tiresome 117 km as higher than anticipated water levels have helped him stay ahead of schedule. He stopped long enough at Contamena to wolf down a huge lunch while the crew loaded the boat with crate after crate of beer, wine, and food. Tonight, hundreds of curious children waited patiently outside our docked boat, hoping to catch a glimpse of the swimmer at the charming little village of Inahuaya.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Master of the bush @ Grau, Peru

2007-02-09T22:10:00.000Z

What is Martin’s biggest fear? The Piranha? The Candiru? It is a snake, but not the Anaconda. The creature that Martin must be most cautious of is the Bushmaster snake.

“One touch from the Bushmaster and you’ll be dead in twenty minutes,” Martin warned the team as we docked for the evening along a grassy bank at the sporty little village of Puerto Grau. He has forbidden us from walking in the jungle at night. “If you leave the boat after dark you may never come back.” This nocturnal predator is known for its long fangs and can reach lengths up to 14 feet long. The Latin translation for the Bushmaster is, “Brings Silent Death.” Entering the river in the early morning and exiting at dusk will be the most dangerous time for Martin. Snakes also occasionally hitch rides on floating debris. Although the Bushmaster is not prevalent near here, it will be a constant concern as we move farther downstream into its natural habitat.

Martin propelled himself another 113 km today. The entire village was absorbed in various pastimes. We watched a group of adolescent boys play soccer while their female classmates participated in a game of volleyball in which the ball never touched the ground. A group of ten year old boys demonstrated their back flipping skills off a nearby fallen tree.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Martin Swims with the Dolphins @ Saman, Peru

2007-02-10T23:00:00.000Z

Three pink dolphins accompanied Martin for the first 10 km this morning. Their vocalizations convinced us that at least one was considering him as a potential mate.

The sun was relentless as he was baked for the sixth consecutive day without rain. This is the wet season in the rainforest, and we were told to expect some heavy downpours at least once a day. It showered every day back in Atalaya. The whole crew is hoping for some precipitation to ease Martin’s pain.

In addition to his growing sunburn, Martin’s weight loss is beginning to concern us. He has dropped 15 pounds in 10 days, way ahead of the pace from previous expeditions. The problem is that he sweats all day in the river, and sometimes even at night killing bugs in his stuffy cabin. “Three days of rain and I’ll be a new man,” he reassured us. On a bright note, Martin reached the 1000 kilometer mark yesterday after muscling his way to another 108 km and reaching the village of Saman. Today he tallied another 105 km as he finished by swimming up to a group of boys on shore in the small town of Victoria. Martin is very tired but is prepared for another big day tomorrow.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Telemedicine on board of Cielito Lindo

Today, technician Bojan Premelc and the team’s physician, Dr. Mateja de Leonni Stanonik, MD, PhD, set up the Telemedicine equipment necessary for examining and evaluating Martin’s health. The equipment includes the capabilities to perform ultrasound examinations and ECG monitoring. First Telemedicine consultation between the Dr. de Leonni Stanonik and the Amazon Virtual Medical Team members was also performed today.

Brazilian Boat leaves Manaus to meet Martin @ Puerto Triunfo, Peru

2007-02-11T23:10:00.000Z

The expedition boat Cassiquiari and swimmer boat Amazon Swim 1 left Manaus late Sunday afternoon on their way to meet with Martin and the expedition team on February 23 in Tabatinga border.

The boats are equipped with special stabilized cameras platform, mobile VSAT units, and sophisticated Internet video streaming system. "Amazonswim.Com will go live on the Internet on February 23", said Yoram Yaeli, Managing Director of IIN Group (the leading technical sponsor of the expedition). "We had three teams of technicians working around the clock (on the boats) for nearly six weeks.

Our mission is to give millions of people around the world the opportunity to share the thrill of this extraordinary swim while it happens".

Ultrasound shows Martin in good condition @ San Carlos, Peru

2007-02-12T22:30:00.000Z

Dr. de Leonni Stanonik performed a complete physical examination on Martin on February 12, 2007, as well as various clinical tests in the course of monitoring Martin’s physiological functions.

Martin underwent a cardiac ultrasound, an ultrasound of his liver, spleen, bladder, and kidneys. He had his O2 saturation measured in his blood, his blood glucose measured, an ECG taken, and his ears examined and cleaned of mud and debris.

Martin’s blood pressure is in high normal range with his hart rate in the range of 60-90 bpm.

In addition, Martin wears a heart rate monitor while he swims which allows for monitoring and analysis of changes in his heart rate during the ultra endurance performance.

The results of clinical tests are being sent to the Arizona Telemedicine Program for further evaluation and analysis.

Martin gave his shoulders a bit of a break today by swimming easier and sometimes using the backstroke and covering 92 km. His goal is to reach Iquitos by Saturday.

>>Matthew Mohlke

The Malaria Zone @ Requena, Peru

2007-02-14T00:30:00.000Z

Martin has reminded the team to take their Malaria pills regularly as we are now entering an area with more active carriers of the epidemic.

Malaria is just one insect problem the team needs to consider. Small flies can impregnate our skin with microscopic eggs that might not hatch for months. Stomach parasites find a permanent home inside virtually all those who live here, and some of us may be unaware of other exotic souvenirs for years.

Martin was accompanied today by pink dolphins for a while. They treated him as a big friend and did not bother him at all. We will publish some cool video and photo material in next days. Another long sunny day was finished just before the town of Requena. Martin covered 110 km in 11 hours and half.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Martin’s Super Slim Swim Plan @ Rio Paraporoto, Peru

2007-02-14T23:00:00.000Z

For all of you who’d like to lose weight fast, we have the perfect club for you to join. All you have to do is swim the Amazon River.

We guarantee you’ll lose 20 pounds in the first two weeks or die trying. The bear himself has visibly slimmed, losing 22 pounds in the first 13 days, dropping from 253 to 231 pounds. This is a much bigger drop than previous expeditions, but never has Martin been forced to endure such heat and direct sun for so many continuous days. Amazingly, we’ve yet to see rain during the peak hours of sunlight, only a quick shower during the evenings and early mornings. The heat and humidity is causing our bodies and electronic equipment to shut down, but we always find a way to get the latest news to you from our remote jungle location.

Martin fought his way through another 109 km, crawling onto shore near a muddy cut bank at the small settlement of Capitan Clavero. Erosion has recently caused the school to collapse into the river. The townspeople are discussing moving the entire village five kilometers upstream as the Amazon will eat the rest of the community soon.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Martin Reaches the Official Start of the Amazon @ Omaguas, Peru

2007-02-15T23:30:00.000Z

Today was a major milestone as Martin negotiated dangerous whirlpools at the confluence of the Ucayali and Maranon rivers, considered by most as the start of the Amazon River proper.

The Ucayali drains the Peruvian Andes, while the Ecaudorian Amazon flows through the Maranon. Further upstream, the Amazon is known by different names as we’ve spent the last fifteen days on the Rio Tambo, Rio Ucayali, and Puinahua canal. We only have two months and approximately 4000 km to go. Yippee.

The crew lunched on wild alligator today. Late last night a four foot Lugarto found its way on deck and was quickly disposed of by Jamie, Jarvez, and a large stick. Martin swam another 101 km, and will reach Iquitos tomorrow afternoon (Friday, February 16th).

>>Matthew Mohlke

Iquitos @ Iquitos, Peru

2007-02-16T21:15:00.000Z

Martin has arrived in the biggest city in the world that isn’t connected to anywhere by road: the famous jungle capital of Iquitos.

Iquitos was famous as a prosperous hub during the rubber boom, but later suffered as the seeds were smuggled out of the area and rubber farms were set up overseas. Martin covered 64 km on Friday, stopping early to attend a ceremony in his honor by the Peruvian Navy.

Today, he got a late start from Iquitos as the Cielito Lindo needed to be serviced and resupplied. The river has nearly tripled in size since Atalaya, resulting in difficult navigation through mazes of islands. Wind and waves provide a new obstacle to swimming on the bigger water. Martin swam out of the port of Iquitos with two foot waves breaking into his face, finishing the day 63 km downstream.

>>Matthew Mohlke

The Man in the White Mask @ Rio Maniti, Peru

2007-02-18T00:00:00.000Z

Martin has developed 2nd degree burns on his face and forehead. If he doesn’t find ways to avoid the sun, they will progress into 3rd degree burns, the skin will fall off and the area will become infected.

The team has devised many ways to help Martin combat the sun.

Today, we strapped a white pillow case around his head with holes for eyes, nose, and mouth. He complements this scary looking mask with an oversized ladies floppy hat. This afternoon, a big group of people paddled by in a canoe loaded with bananas. When they saw the swimming phantom, a little girl onboard began to cry and they quickly paddled away.

Swimming with the mask is frustrating for Martin. It’s hard for him to breathe and very hot. By the end of the day, the area around his mouth is brown with dirt that accumulates from the waves breaking on his face. His lips are blistered and constantly bleeding, and scabs are forming on his nose and upper cheeks. In addition, his eyes are very sore and swollen, probably from suntan lotion getting inside his goggles. Martin pushed forward another 108 km to the town of Pevas.

Swiss photojournalist Corrado Filipponi joined the team today. We are looking forward to meeting up with the famous boat, The Cassiquiari, at the Brazilian border town of Tabatinga on Friday, February 23rd, at which time Live Video Streaming will launch.

>>Matthew Mohlke

The Yagua Tribe @ Rio Ampiyacu, Peru

2007-02-19T01:00:00.000Z

Martin attended a sunrise ceremonial dance with indigenous natives from the Yagua tribe. This peaceful group wears shredded palms leaves over their privates and red paint on their face.

The tribe, originally in the thousands, has seen their population diminish into the hundreds. Not coincidentally, they are one of few indigenous Amazonian tribes to use birth control. The Yagua tribe, native to the Iquitos area, has a custom in which the women are the primary breadwinners while the men spend their life pursuing leisure.

Late last night, Martin paid a visit to La Casa Del Arte, the home and gallery of famous Peruvian artist Francisco Grippa near Pevas. The two carried on like long lost brothers, sharing beers and cheese, exchanging gifts and even swapping shirts.

A sunny afternoon was interrupted by a wall of dark clouds. Strong winds kicked up out of the Northwest, bringing fierce lightning and sheets of rain. We pulled Martin out of the water, just as the wind ripped the sun cover off the top of our small boat and knocked the antenna from the top of the Cielito Lindo. The team sought shelter at the small pueblo of Santa Rita. Martin stopped swimming early, after covering only 87 km on the day.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Entering Columbia @ Chimbote, Peru

2007-02-20T23:45:00.000Z

Martin will be entering Columbian waters tomorrow morning. The team is slightly apprehensive about the reputation of the area as a haven for smuggling operations.

Coco paste is made deep in the jungles of Peru and brought by boat to the Columbian border to be processed into cocaine. We’re not sure how much of the area’s dangerous reputation is factual, but plan on being cautious nonetheless. After two days in Columbia, the team will arrive in Tabatinga, Brazil on Thursday, February 22nd, sometime in the late afternoon.

Late last night, someone severed the anchor line on the Cielito Lindo, sending the slumbering crew drifting downriver in the predawn hours. We’re not sure if the act was a foiled robbery attempt or the act of a drunken prankster from the village of Santa Rita.

Martin finished strong, totaling 98 km on the day. The river has tripled in width and the current has slowed considerably since we left Atalaya. It looks like those days above 100 km are a thing of the past. Martin has averaged 84 km per day in the last week.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Goodbye Peru, Hello Brazil @ Isla Tigre, Peru

2007-02-22T00:00:00.000Z

Martin swam into Columbia late this morning. There were no signs or customs offices, and we wouldn’t have known it if not for the GPS and maps.

A few days of wearing the mask have helped heal Martin’s sunburned face considerably. After swimming 97 km, Martin stopped for the day across the river from Hacienda Villa Claudia, Columbia. Martin intends to swim into Tabatinga, Brazil tomorrow, Thursday, February 22nd.

Watch out for live stream!

>>Matthew Mohlke

Tabatinga, Brazil @ Tabatinga, Brazil

2007-02-22T15:20:00.000Z

Martin swam the final 29 km of the Peruvian Amazon and made a triumphant entrance into Brazil today.

The team received a rock star welcome at De Tabatinga Complexo Turistico by a mob of Martin Strel fans that’d been following the trip since day one. The mayor brought out his entourage of salsa dancers and presented Martin with the key to the city. We said goodbye to the Peruvians aboard the Cielito Lindo and moved onto the M.S. Cassiquari. Martin will continue swimming tomorrow morning after clearing customs. Brazil has already instilled a refreshing new energy to Martin’s weary team.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Leaving Tabatinga @ Capacete, Brazil

2007-02-24T00:40:00.000Z

After the wonderful reception in Brazil, we are continuing our journey.

Martin got a late start out of Tabatinga after clearing customs and dealing with some dehydration issues. Four bowls of soup broth and several energy drinks later, he waved goodbye and jumped into the water. The process of immigration, refueling and buying food took the rest of the team entire morning.

The Brazilian small boat "Amazonswim 1" with its beautiful navigator took the leading the way for Martin. The mayor of Tabatinga Joel Santos de Lima accompanied us in his boat for many kilometers.

The team is faced with the task of training the Brazilian crewmembers aboard the Cassiquari in the challenges of escorting a marathon swimmer. None of us possess fluent Portuguese skills and the going can expected to be a little slower for the first few days as everyone adjusts. Martin was a little frustrated to cover only 37 km today, but expects a better day tomorrow.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Snakes on the boat !!! @ Bananal, Brazil

2007-02-24T23:10:00.000Z

Unexpected visitors abord... it´s becoming quite usual now

The expedition started the morning with a routine search for snakes. Two venomous snakes were found yesterday morning on the small boat "Amazonswim 1".

Using a long stick, the crew managed to push one of the snakes to water were he rapidly swam away. The other snake was more aggressive, and was eventually killed with a machete. The snake was identified by the locals as the Surucucu that its venom can kill a person within 24 hours.

The people of the small community of Terezinha 4 (were we stopped at night) showed us a photo of one of their babies given a bath to a bigger snake...

Federal Police, Bugs and Night Storm @ Nuevo Esperanza, Brazil

2007-02-25T22:30:00.000Z

For the people who believe they’ve seen all kind of bugs, they should come and join our friend

It was a cloudy day which was great for Martin who suffers from severe sunburns in previous days. He swam nearly 90 km.

We stopped in a remote Federal Police station in the middle of nowhere. It is the last check point in the coming 1,500 km. Martin´s passport was checked while he was still in the water. Aldo took for us some pictures with the policemen who asked us to email them when we can.

At night Borut resumed his daily battle with the bugs that are practically everywhere. Recently he started to pay more attention to their ways. If you can´t bit them – join them...

The big camouflaged butterfly on the door was a good example that some bugs are more beautiful than others.

A sudden rainstorm cut off all our satellite communication with the outer world and sent us to our beds. Tomorrow is another day.

YY

Pioneers of the Amazon @ Niterol, Brazil

2007-02-26T22:25:00.000Z

The team is having a hard time adjusting to the mosquitoes and cramped quarters aboard the Cassiquiari. After living in the Cielito Lindo for a month, we now have more people, more equipment and less space.

Tempers occasionally flare. Our knowledgeable guide, Miguel Rocha de Silva is famous for guiding Jacques Cousteau on his Amazon expedition twenty years ago to study everything from the coco industry to deforestation to global warming. More recently he was the guide for the late Peter Blake during the Amazon portion of his 2001 environmental expedition. Sir Peter was murdered by river pirates near the mouth of the Amazon on the eve of his departure from the region. This fact has given the team a collective lump in the throat.

Martin is now fully recovered from his bout with dehydration, swimming 93 and 89 km over the last two days. He stopped early this morning for a warm reception at Sao Paulo de Olivenca. Earlier, he cut his left hand on the jagged edge of a stick and had to leave the water until the wound stopped bleeding so as not to attract predators. Yesterday morning we had a brief rendezvous with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s “Amazon Revisited Tour.” They were studying the environmental changes that have occurred in the two decades since his father’s expedition. Live web streaming is now available.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Fire Ant Infestation @ Santo Antonio de Ica, Brazil

2007-02-27T22:45:00.000Z

Anchoring for lunch along some thick vegetation proved to be a big mistake today. The team returned from the mess hall to find the ground floor of the Cassiquari teeming with swarms of red ants.

All of the rooms along the bottom left floor of the boat, including Martin’s had to be emptied and fumigated, but there are still stragglers making their way around the boat and some of our equipment bags are infested. Most of us have little welts all over our ankles from the tiny little ferocious biters which are more aggressive than their North American cousins and inject a more troublesome poison.

Martin swam another 87 km today, finishing amongst a mob of fans at Santo Antonio de Ica as darkness settled in. Martin slurped his way barefoot through knee deep mud to greet the cheering throng on shore. He was cut off from his boat team amidst the darkness and confusion as a crazed mass led him up a giant hill and into the town square in a scene that resembled the running of the bulls.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Open Sores @ Canavial, Brazil

2007-02-28T21:15:00.000Z

Martin suffered through another 85 km, ending the day a little early due to some open wounds on the backs of his legs.

The constant rubbing of his wetsuit on skin has eaten away at the flesh behind his knees. There is really no effective remedy for this problem; it will get progressively worse as the swim continues, eventually spreading to every crease on his body.

One team member made the mistake of asking the tired swimmer as he exited the water, “Martin, how do you feel today?”

“I’ve been swimming 12 hours a day every day for the last month. How do you think I feel?” We’ve learned to give Martin a little space after he comes out of the water at the end of each day as he’s exhausted and usually not in a very sociable mood.

Martin is still being followed by pink dolphins, and some sort of freshwater stingray or jellyfish looking creature surfaced near the swimmer late in the day.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Martin Hits the Halfway Point @ Retiro, Brazil

2007-03-01T22:45:00.000Z

After fighting his way through half of the world’s most dangerous river, Martin is sunburned, tired, and sore, but overall is in much better shape than expected.

Actually, he’s two days ahead of schedule. Aided by the highest water levels to flow through Peru in many years, it took Martin only 29 days to swim 2654 km. The hard part, however, is yet to come as he still expects another 41 days or so to cover a similar distance to the river’s mouth at Belem, Brazil. The closer Martin gets to the Atlantic Ocean, the more difficult the swim will become as he deals with wind and waves on the bigger water, slower current, and eventually ocean tides.

The sores on the backs of Martin’s legs are a nuisance, but the swimmer summed it up today as he told us, “If it was easy, someone would have already done it. I’ll just have to ignore the pain and continue swimming.” Martin toughed it out for another 95 km today, his highest total since entering Brazil a week ago.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Drop Everything and Hurry Down to the River @ Fonte Boa, Brazil

2007-03-04T00:00:00.000Z

Martin Strel mania continues to sweep across Brazil as the swimmer works his way deeper into the heart of Amazonas. Every small village sends out a convoy of dugout canoes packed to the gills with awestruck villagers.

The rest of the townspeople stand on shore on their tippytoes, frantically trying to catch a glimpse of Martin before he quickly swims off into the horizon. Some jump into the river and try to keep up, but none are able to last more than thirty seconds or so before falling back. Internet access is not common in these jungle towns, but apparently good news travels fast on the river. Martin swam a few km out of his way to cross the clear, black waters of the Rio Jutai and attend a quick but raucous welcome at Foz Do Jutai, where dozens of children dove into the river to join him. Martin swam until sundown, chalking another tough 91 km off his list.

Today was a historical day for Telemedicine, as Martin’s daily physical was broadcasted live over the internet with ongoing interaction occurring between doctors on board the boat and in Manaus.

>>Matthew Mohlke, photo: Corrado Filipponi

Gigantic Crocodile @ Ilha Envira Preta, Brazil

2007-03-05T00:20:00.000Z

Martin was swimming late in the afternoon when he noticed a foul smell. The rotting carcass of a huge crocodile was floating nearby, with three vultures hitch hiking a ride.

We judged it at about fifteen feet long, although it had been dead for awhile and the head and tail had both been ripped off, possibly by poachers. We didn’t stick around long, as the rancid odor was making us all feel ill.

Martin had his best day of swimming since entering Brazil. After a strong morning, he declared to us all at lunch, “I will swim 100 km today.” Sporadic afternoon showers kept him sheltered from the sun, enabling him to do more freestyle swimming. He kept up the fast pace until a few minutes after sunset, finishing the day at 101 km. The current is slower here than it was in Peru, and we were afraid those days of over 100 km were behind us, but Martin proved us wrong. Martin swam 91 km yesterday, ending the day at Fante Boa.

>>Matthew Mohlke

The Call of the Jaguar @ Near Ilha Caiambe, Brazil

2007-03-07T00:00:00.000Z

Martin was swimming on his back near some heavy vegetation when he suddenly stopped and motioned for Armundo and me to be silent on the escort boat. We all heard a low pitched growling noise: “EEEEEEEEEEEEEROWWWWAAAAHHHH.”

“Jaguar.” Our Brazilian guide warned us putting one finger to his lips in a hushing motion. ´´EEEEEEE ROOOWWWWAAAAHHHHHH.´´ It called out again from the nearby foliage, this time a little louder, and a little angrier.

The jaguar is solitary hunter, preying on fish, frogs, and small alligators near the riverbank. Closer to villages the jaguar will occasionally sneak into town at night to feast on dogs or livestock. Deforestation, ranchers protecting their stock, and poaching of the valuable hides have caused the future of this stealthy predator to be in jeopardy. Recently added to the endangered species list, the most vocal of all large cats still thrives in the Amazon region.

After pushing forward another 95 km today and 92 km yesterday, Martin entertained us all at the dinner table with his low, throaty, growling, jaguar imitation. He can also imitate a howler monkey quite well. The team stopped for supplies and medicine in Tefe, and is currently anchored for the night outside the small village of Porto de Sao Francisco.

>>Matthew Mohlke, photo: Corrado Filipponi

Wicked Storm @ Barro Alto, Brazil

2007-03-08T00:05:00.000Z

The glasslike water was a perfect mirror to the sky as Martin reentered the river after lunch on a cloudless, windless afternoon. Two hours later, a wall of black clouds appeared on the horizon, the wind kicked up out of the East, and a sheet of rain swallowed up the swimmer.

The team radioed the escort boat to return to the boat for safety, but Martin refused. It was too early to quit for the day, and he’d set a goal to make Coari by tomorrow. The visibility became so bad that at one point Martin became disoriented and began swimming upstream.

Afternoon storms have been the norm since Martin has entered Brazil, but today was the most severe we’ve seen. Storms come out of nowhere on the Amazon. Luckily, this one blew over quickly, and Martin was able to cover 87 km on the day.

>>Matthew Mohlke, photo: Corrado Filipponi

Floating Infirmary @ Coari, Brazil

2007-03-08T21:40:00.000Z

When one person gets sick on a boat, everyone usually gets sick. A portion of the team has been quarantined to the confinement of their rooms as a wave of illness has plagued the group ranging in severity from the common cold to early stages of pneumonia.

The goal of this precaution is to keep those infected away from Martin so as to ensure his health.

The doctor has been busy going from room to room to treat the sick and offer medicine and moral support. Martin is still healthy as an ox, and swam 92 km today, ending near sunset at the bustling port of Coari. Currently we are anchored near a floating barge of cattle. It takes three men to push them off into the river one at a time to where they are dragged by canoe to the butcher on the next floating raft.

>>Matthew Mohlke, photos: Corrado Filipponi

Pirate Attack @ Anori, Brazil

2007-03-10T23:00:00.000Z

The Anori Police boarded the Cassiquari at approximately 4:00 pm Manaus time after receiving an SOS call from a large boat that had been attacked by a band of river pirates.

The Cassiquari was drifting near Martin and the escort boat, and had no idea what the police were talking about; they were even hesitant to allow the police onboard until their identities were confirmed. A similar boat in the immediate vicinity had sent out the SOS after coming under assault in broad daylight. Martin and the escort boat recalled seeing the other boat drifting along the opposite bank a few kilometers earlier, but did not see anyone aboard.

River pirates on the Amazon River are professionals. They have faster boats, better guns, and more modern equipment than the police, and sometimes pose as the police in order to surprise their victims. We pulled Martin out of the river an hour earlier than usual after hearing of the incident. He covered 97 km yesterday, and 84 today. We are currently anchored in a safe location near the city of Anori. Martin expects to arrive in Manacaporu on Monday afternoon.

>>Matthew Mohlke, photo: Corrado Filipponi

O Homem Peixe @ Casa do Rodrigues, Brazil

2007-03-11T22:00:00.000Z

Martin has achieved superhero status in Brazil. Everywhere he goes he’s mobbed by excited fans who chant, “O Homem Peixe,” or in broken English, “Feeesh Mawn.” The fish is a sacred part of people’s lives here along the banks of the Amazon as it makes up the bulk of their diet, and their sustenance depends on it.

The nickname started back in Peru where they called him, “El Hombre Paiche.” The official name of the Paiche is Arapaima Gigas. At 4.5 meters long, it’s considered the largest freshwater fish in the world.

After struggling through the wind and waves to distance himself another 93 km from the site of yesterday’s pirate attack, Martin and the team looked for the safest place possible to anchor for the evening. We chose a religious commune of seventeen families of vegetable farmers just downstream of the small village of Nazare. Some of the team attended an intense evening ceremony. Martin is still having problems with skin abrasions from rubbing on the wetsuit, but is in better shape than expected after 39 days of swimming.

>>Matthew Mohlke, photo: Corrado Filipponi

Manacaporu, Brazil @ Manacaporu, Brazil

2007-03-12T18:15:00.000Z

Thinking he’d found an opportunity to rest his aching muscles after stopping a few hours early, Martin was dragged onto the stage to join a hoard of Brazilian dancers at a large reception in his honor in Manacaporu.

With a little free time near dusk, some of the team went on an excursion up into some dark backwater swamps off the main river and saw many large crocodiles.

Currently, Pibi and Corrado have joined Miguel to represent the team in planting an endangered tree at Novo Airao to demonstrate our support for his environmental organization. Fundacao Almerinda Malquias serves to teach the youth of the jungle to live in harmony with their environment as their ancestors once did. After swimming 57 km today, Martin will resume his regular routine tomorrow and expects to reach Manaus on Wednesday afternoon.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Violent Storms and Stomach Amoebas @ Lago Redondo, Brazil

2007-03-13T22:30:00.000Z

Last night the team was faced with the sad reality of leaving a team member behind in a hospital in Manacapuru. He’d been complaining of stomach problems and had acquired feverous chills.

The doctors found he’d become inflicted with amoebas in his stomach, and recommended he be hospitalized for up to two weeks for treatment of amoebic dysentery and other complications.

We’d like to apologize for not having any live streaming the last few days. Strong storms have decimated our satellite capabilities, but we’re working on the problems. The weather here is highly volatile, often wreaking havoc on our technology. Please be patient when live streaming goes down and understand that when nature battles computers, nature always prevails. We have a full staff of computer geeks onboard and they always figure it out eventually and get the system back up and running... at least until the next storm hits.

Tomorrow is a big day as Martin will reach the famous confluence of the Rio Negro and Amazon River and attend a huge reception at the city of Manaus.

>>Matthew Mohlke, photo: Corrado Filipponi

Rio Negro Confluence at Manaus @ Ponta Negra, Brazil

2007-03-15T00:00:00.000Z

Martin swam through the largest confluence of two rivers in the world today. The clear black waters of the Rio Negro join the muddy waters of the Amazon at Manaus, and the two rivers run side by side for nearly 200 km before mixing completely.

As he approached the confluence, Martin’s escort boat was bombarded by other media boats, and some of his navigators had to get a little aggressive in order to protect the swimmer from all of the other vessels crisscrossing in front of him, trying to get the perfect shot of the swimmer.

Adding to the pandemonium were seven Brazilian champions who decided to race Martin for the last five km of the day. They were all competitive swimmers who’d proven themselves victorious in everything from the Pan American Games to Iron Man Triathlons. Hardly fair considering they were all fresh and Martin was just finishing his 39th kilometer of the day. The swimmers were strong, but swimming in an Olympic pool is much different than swimming the Amazon River. Martin was the first to touch a huge media barge that was waiting with journalists from all over the world to receive the swimmer.

The mayor of Manaus, Serafim Corrêa, gave Martin a warm welcome and congratulated him.

.>>Matthew Mohlke, photo: Corrado Filipponi

Martin is Stranded @ Ilha da Eva, Brazil

2007-03-16T04:00:00.000Z

As of 10:00 pm, the Cassiquiari was heading downstream from Manaus at full speed, not having had any radio contact with Martin for the last eight hours.

While the team boat was being refueled and getting a few last second repairs, government officials delayed the boat to leave town due to paperwork clearance issues. Martin had left town in the morning, expecting the rest of the team to catch up to him by early afternoon for lunch. We’re not sure where exactly Martin has found shelter for the night and what he’s found for food, we just hope that some villagers in the remote area he was swimming were kind to him, and offered some sort of assistance. We project him to be approximately 85 km from Manaus, and we’re currently slowly heading downstream, scanning the shoreline with a spotlight and desperately trying to make radio contact with him, hoping the batteries on their radio haven’t gone dead yet from trying unsuccessfully to find us all day.

>>Matthew Mohlke, photo: Corrado Filipponi

Martin is Safe @ Ilha da Eva, Brazil

2007-03-16T09:00:00.000Z

After frantically searching the pitch black shoreline with a spotlight, unsuccessfully trying to radio Martin, and getting stuck in the mud for over an hour, the team finally found the swimmer at 3:00 this morning.

He and Valter were tucked away on shore, attempting to stave off the mosquitoes while taking turns sleeping in shifts on the small escort boat as the other watched for signs of the larger support boat.

Luckily, the broken GPS coordinates we’d received at the last radio contact were nearly accurate, and the two savvy expeditionaries were able to recognize the hum of the Cassiquiari’s engines and set off a flare to reveal their exact location.

Not much was said about the incident, as Martin merely went straight to his room and awoke a few hours later at the normal starting time.

>>Matthew Mohlke; photos: Dr. de Leonni Stanonik

The Team Gets a Another Scare @ Itacoatiara, Brazil

2007-03-17T01:00:00.000Z

Martin didn’t let being cut off from the team’s escort boat slow him down. He capitalized on strong currents to swim another 181 km in the two days since leaving Manaus, ending the day with a warm reception at Itacoatira. After dinner, the team got one member back from the hospital after his bout with stomach amoebas, but had to put another one in an ambulance. Dr. Leonni Stanonik went into anaphylactic shock after an allergic reaction. By the time the team got her to the hospital she was in the beginning stages of respiratory arrest and was delirious. She’s out of eminent danger now, but will have to remain in the surgical intensive care unit overnight for monitoring.

>>Matthew Mohlke, photo: Corrado Filipponi, Dr. de Leonni Stanonik

New Record @ Ilha Pirica, Brazil

2007-03-18T00:50:00.000Z

Martin started a little early today, and swam a few minutes later than normal; he had a goal in mind. He began the day 82 km shy of 4000 on the expedition, and 85 km short of his Guinness World Record total of 4003 km on the Yangtze River in 2004.

The currents were a tad slower than normal, but Martin struggled on, ending the day at sunset just a few kilometers upstream from Urucurituba after swimming 92 km. The team toasted the exhausted swimmer at dinner for his accomplishment, and he marked the moment by playing us all some of his favorite country-western songs on his Peruvian guitar. The party ended early, as he warned us not to start celebrating too much yet. “I still have almost a month of swimming, and from here to Belem things will become more difficult and much more dangerous.”

>>Matthew Mohlke, photo: Corrado Filipponi

Whirlpools and a Call for Help @ Lago do Comprido, Brazil

2007-03-18T23:00:00.000Z

With every grueling kilometer extending his new world record by one, Martin entrenched himself another 82 km into the history books today. We had a hairy moment while passing some red rock cliffs as the swimmer was caught in giant whirlpool and spun around helplessly for some thirty seconds.

Even the escort boat lost control for a moment, and was turned around in circles. By the time we could reach Martin and throw him the rescue chord his adrenaline had kicked into overdrive and he’d used his powerful arms and legs to thrust himself out of the whirling tornado threatening to suck him under the water. Nearly any other swimmer would have lost his life.

Meanwhile, the team onboard the support boat was experiencing a completely different crisis. A frantically tearful father raced toward the Cassiquiari at full speed in a small boat, screaming in Portuguese and pleading for help for his dying daughter. The thirteen year old girl had fallen from high up in a tree and had been impaled with a sharp limb from near the ground. The large stick had entered her vagina and split her open in the middle. Dr. Leonni Stanonik performed an emergency surgery, saving the girl’s life.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Martin’s friend joins the Expedition @ Juruti, Brazil

2007-03-20T23:00:00.000Z

Martin´s friend, Igor Ogorevc from Planet of Health has joined the team. Igor uses a blue topaz on a pendulum to project energy from his mind as he scans Martin and other team members’ brain and physical body.

“The mind is the strongest energy in the universe,” he tells us. “Anything is possible with the mind.” After arriving at a diagnosis, he uses natural oils, extracts, and specially prepared waters to bypass the symptoms and directly treat the source of whatever ailments he’s divined. Igor has declared Martin to be in excellent health besides a slightly low sodium level, and calls him one of strongest human specimens he’s ever examined. Martin cranked out another 86 km today and the team is currently anchored at the town of Juriti

Martin Enters the State of Para

After spending the last 25 days swimming through the Brazilian state of Amazonas, Martin has entered the state of Para. Martin swam 83 km yesterday, finishing at Parintins, a town reputed by many Brazilians to have a Festival that will give Rio De Janeiro a run for her money. The illness that plagued the team a few weeks ago has finally run its course and we’re a fairly healthy bunch again. Martin hopes to reach Santarem on Saturday where a large reception is planned.

>>Matthew Mohlke

50 Days of Swimming @ Obidos, Brazil

2007-03-22T23:00:00.000Z

Today is Martin’s 50th day on the Amazon River. After swimming 79 km yesterday, the team anchored along a lush green hillside at the beautiful little town of Obidos, home to the deepest place on the Amazon River at approximately 100 meters.

Today, Martin struggled through a fierce headwind with huge waves breaking across his face most of the afternoon to add another 76 km to his total. Progress is becoming a little slower as the river widens each day, sometimes to more than ten kilometers across. Sailboats greeted Martin as the wind finally died down near dusk, and some of the team had the opportunity to give it a try.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Rough Water and an Exhausted Swimmer @ Rio Tapajos, Brazil

2007-03-24T01:00:00.000Z

Rough water limited Martin to just 38 km today. The support boat was being tossed around like a toy, dangerously taking on a lot of water, while Martin was getting pummeled relentlessly by huge waves when he finally said, “Enough is enough, tomorrow is another day.”

The aches and pains are starting to add up after 51 days of swimming, and Martin decided to use the afternoon to rest his weary body. The timing was perfect as Martin is still ahead of schedule, and plans to attend a large reception in Santarem tomorrow after another partial day of swimming, giving him more of an opportunity to reenergize.

Near sunset, a few team members took a side trip to visit Rio Tapajos, one of the clearest tributaries of the Amazon. We’re hoping the rest will allow Martin to recuperate a little for the last three weeks of swimming, which will be by far the most difficult.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Santarem @ Santarem, Brazil

2007-03-24T17:00:00.000Z

Today was a day of rest for Martin as he only swam 9 km before attending a ceremony in Santarem. The boat is currently anchored at the port, and curious fans are trying to catch a glimpse of the swimmer while he’s resting in his room.

Meanwhile, young boys are fishing in the moonlight near the Cassiquiari, catching piranha one after another on cut bait. Martin will resume swimming at sunrise tomorrow, hoping the rest will allow him to catch his second wind. Earlier today, the Mayor of Santarem, Maria Do Carmo Lima Martins, and the Vice Governor of the State of Para, Odair Correa, gave a large reception to honor the swimmer, including fireworks, an orchestra, and an extravagant dinner for the team.

Martin is projected to reach Belem on April 7th.

>>Matthew Mohlke

A Dire Warning @ Monte Alegro, Brazil

2007-03-26T22:00:00.000Z

Many boats have been raided by bandits in the remote areas between Santarem and Belem. City officials of Santarem approached Martin, insisting we put armed men on the boat to protect us, warning the team of several ambush points on the river.

Banditos come in silently by the cover of night in multiple canoes, throw big hooks up to catch the boat, and storm onboard, overpowering the occupants. Our problem is that the Cassiquiari is already at full capacity, and we have no room for them. After a lengthy discussion, and at Miguel’s insistence, it was agreed that the city of Santarem would provide Martin with three armed paratroopers, and we squeezed in a few more hammocks in the mess hall of the boat to accommodate them. From here on, we’ll have a man on both the front and back of the boat with flashlights to deter any would be robbers.

Martin battled through another tough 62 km of wind and waves yesterday. Today, conditions were more ideal, and Martin was able to swim 73 more kilometers, ending the day just downstream from Monte Allegre. While anchored at lunch, the team spotted a giant iguana in a nearby tree.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Piranha Infested Waters @ Prainha, Brazil

2007-03-28T00:00:00.000Z

A two year old girl was sitting quietly near the shore while her mother did the family’s laundry in the river a few feet away. Looking up from her scrubbing board after hearing a commotion, the mother had her worst dreams come true. By the time she got into the knee deep dark water and grabbed her child by the wrist, it was already too late.

This story was relayed to us by the father of the baby who was killed. He pulled up in a dugout canoe to sell us fish after watching the team anchor in the slack-water near his family hut. Appalled to see a man swimming in the area, he warned us the area was loaded with flesh eating piranhas, and pleaded with Martin to only swim in the swiftest part of the river. Later, to test his story, I threw out a chunk of meat on a fishing line. My 25 pound test Spiderwire was instantly shredded. A feeding frenzy ensued every time the meat hit the water.

Martin took another pounding in the whitecaps most of the day, while the crew on the boat battled seasickness. The wind finally abated for the last two hours before sunset. Although the wind is continuing to be a major obstacle, the current is still quite strong, and Martin was able to fight his way another 71 km toward Belem. The team is currently anchored on a small inlet downstream from Prainha.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Almeirim, Brazil @ Almeirim, Brazil

2007-03-29T01:00:00.000Z

Martin bullied his way through rain and large waves to swim another 74 km today. The river is up to 15 wide, but even with such vastness, the escort boat had a close shave. Rain was limiting visibility to only a few km when suddenly a huge ocean tanker appeared through the haze, bearing down on us at full speed. It didn’t respond to our radio call, and only veered off after seeing us at the last moment.

The currents here are still strong, but are reputed to slow down considerably as the Atlantic Ocean begins to influence the Amazon River. Martin is currently resting in his room, mentally preparing himself for the last ten days of his swim. He’ll have to push forward through a wide, windy, desolate section of river in which ocean tanker traffic will continue to increase as we approach Belem.

Martin refreshed himself at the end of the day with Igor’s Spring of Life, one of his products from Planet of Health. The team is currently anchored at Almeirim.

>>Matthew Mohlke

30,000 Strokes @ Ilha Cujuba, Brazil

2007-03-29T22:00:00.000Z

Martin uses 30,000 strokes in an average day of swimming; believe me, I’ve counted. Actually, they’re more like punches. His opponent, the mighty Amazon, towers over him and surrounds him, but after 57 days of taking a pounding, he’s still fighting.

Today was by far the calmest of the last eight days, and Martin capitalized on the favorable conditions to log 76 km, his highest total in that span. Tomorrow, he’ll come to the famous fork of the Amazon, the Northern route going to Macapá and the Southern to Belém as the river begins to fragment into branches at the mouth before emptying into the sea.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Guns for Hire @ Gurupa, Brazil

2007-03-30T22:00:00.000Z

After swimming into Gurupa and being cheered by a large mob of fans, Martin was stopped by city officials as the team prepared to move on after lunch. They warned him that a large boat was ambushed a few weeks ago in a long narrow channel between two islands, resulting in the deaths of two of the passengers.

The attack occurred approximately twenty km downstream from Gurupa, in the vicinity where the team was planning on sleeping for the night. The area between here and Belem is infamous for pirate attacks, and the Cassiquiari is an obvious target, so the team decided to hire four more armed guards who will join the expedition tomorrow, giving us a total of seven hired guns on the boat. As a further safety precaution, Martin and the team returned upriver to Gurupa after swimming another 63 km on the day. The current has slowed noticeably as we get closer to the ocean.

The satellites on the roof that control live web streaming have been damaged again by another storm, but we’re still working on getting it going again soon.

>>Matthew Mohlke

No Man’s Land @ Curumu, Brazil

2007-04-01T01:00:00.000Z

Martin has entered the delta region of the Amazon, and the team will be navigating him through a dangerous maze of narrow canals for the next few days until rejoining the big water near Breves. The team is anchored at a missionary post along the Ituquara Canal, in an area known by locals as the Straights of Breves.

As the Cassiquiari was securing her anchor rope in front of a settlement of small huts, their was a commotion on shore as the men of the village hurriedly went door to door, corralling up all the young women between the ages of 14 and 40, and shipped them off to an undisclosed location in a small boat. “This is the most dangerous channel on the entire Amazon,” Martin tells us.

We currently have men with machine guns posted on the front and back decks of the boat, scanning the surrounding water with spotlights. Martin marveled at our military presence at the end of the day as he tried to clean the mud out of his ears after swimming 68 km, “Hah, pirates can join us,” he invited, pointing at a husky man with an automatic weapon standing guard. Much of the crew, however, is currently in their rooms with the doors locked.

>>Matthew Mohlke

One Stroke Over the Line @ Furo Aturia, Brazil

2007-04-02T00:00:00.000Z

When the sun set at the end of the day, Martin refused to stop until he’d hit his 65th kilometer, and then had to be helped onto the boat by two members of his support team.

He’s surviving purely on adrenaline at this point, and although the team has been pleading with him to conserve his energy, he’s pushing forward toward the ocean at an insane rate. At this point, he’s not only concerned with swimming the Amazon, but has become fixated at how many days it takes him. He barely touched his food or said a word at dinner, then quickly retired to his room. Every muscle in his body is cramping at night, especially his legs, probably from chronic dehydration, and he’s only been sleeping two to three hours per night.
I’ve been with Martin for three expeditions, and I’ve seen him tired, but probably never this exhausted.

Martin expects to reach Breves tomorrow, after which he’ll leave the Straights of Breves and reenter the main river, which will be as many as 20 km wide with huge waves and Oceanic tidal influences. He’s still projected to reach Belem on Saturday, April 7th.

Martin Refuses Hospitalization @ Corcovado, Brazil

2007-04-02T22:00:00.000Z

Martin was only able to cover 44 km today due to a combination of exhaustion, delirium, and tidal influences. He intended to anchor at Breves for lunch, but ended the day six km short of the town. By 4:00 in the afternoon the tidal influence peaked, and Martin was actually moving backward.

He was already completely spent from swimming all day, but relentless in his goal, he continued to swim against the tide, obsessed with making it to the town. The team spent over an hour trying to convince him to call it a day and conserve his energy for tomorrow, and it wasn’t until he stopped swimming, looked at the shoreline, and actually saw himself floating upstream toward Peru did he throw up his hands in frustration and quit for the day. Martin didn’t expect to experience ocean tides until he exited the Straights of Breves. The team has acquired tidal charts and is currently trying to convince Martin only to swim during the six hour window in which the tide is going out.

Martin was in even worse shape today than he was yesterday, physically exhausted, and mentally frustrated from the tides. He’s not hydrating himself properly, unable to sleep, and acting irrationally. We were so concerned about him after dinner that Borut and I tried to check him into a hospital, even getting as far as the lobby of the emergency room, but Martin refused to be treated, and is still planning on swimming tomorrow.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Swimming at Night on the Amazon? @ Bagre, Brazil

2007-04-03T21:00:00.000Z

"I can’t sleep anyway, I might as well just swim at night," Martin told us at dinner tonight after another frustrating day of swimming in which he struggled forward only another 46 km. Although much of the team tried to dissuade him because of the obvious dangers involved, Martin had a good point.

We only have two six hour windows of optimal tide per day, one at approximately 8:00 in the morning, and the other at about 8:00 at night. After a rough last night, Martin got back into the water at 7:00 this morning as the tides were swelling to their highest level and just about to start receding again. The doctor came with us on the escort boat, administering psychotherapy to him as he swam on his back. The current was strong up until about 2:00, at which time the tide turned and progress slowed considerably. By 4:30, he was only making 1.5 km per hour and finally called it quits for the day when he started moving backwards an hour later.

His level of mental clarity seemed better today after the psychotherapy sessions, but he’s still been suffering from cramps, dangerously high blood pressure, chronic insomnia, and a coetaneous larvae infection, most of which he’d stoically kept hidden from us until last night. The team is currently meeting to discuss the logistics of night swimming, as Martin intends to swim tonight.

>>Matthew Mohlke

120 KM from the Finish Line @ Ilha de Samanajos, Brazil

2007-04-04T20:00:00.000Z

Martin was only able to swim 39 km today until the waves and tides beat him into submission before he’d reached the daily goal of Curralinho. He’s determined to finish the swim on Saturday, and the only way to do so is to utilize both tidal windows each day.

This means swimming at night. Martin attempted to swim last night, but a strong storm with heavy winds prevented it. He’ll give it another shot tonight when the tides become optimal at 8:00 PM, and we’ll begin updating twice daily from here until the end of the swim.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Night Swimming @ Curralinho, Brazil

2007-04-05T03:00:00.000Z

Martin capitalized on the outgoing tides to swim 12 km through a light mist this evening. Although we began with a spotlight, he was afraid the beam would attract large predators such as bull sharks, or draw other unwanted attention...

So we tied a glowing red neon stick to the back of his wetsuit, waited until our eyes adjusted to the darkness, and used the speckles of light coming from the moon as our reference point. We had a few large boats temporarily blind us with their spotlights, but we were able to make radio contact and ask in broken Portuguese for their cooperation. The night was a success until the tired swimmer slipped and fell off a plank getting back onto the Cassiquari. Luckily he only suffered a few small cuts and abrasions.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Martin Avoids the Deadly Pororoca @ Cocal, Brazil

2007-04-05T18:00:00.000Z

So far on his journey down the most dangerous river in the world, the Amazon has been very accepting of Martin, keeping him safe from dangerous predators, pirates, and tropical diseases. One of his biggest fears for this final stage of the trip was of the Pororoca, a huge tidal bore that occurs where incoming tides meet the outflow of the Amazon.

They’ve been recorded to reach heights of 30 feet high, speeds of 40 km per hour, and reach as far inland as 100 km, destroying everything in their path, including large boats. The Pororoca has become legendary amongst the top surfers of the world, and many have lost their lives attempting to ride it. The phenomenon is possible whenever lunar and solar tides synchronize, but according to meteorological experts, no Pororocas have been forecast from now until Sunday... although you never know.

Martin battled the waves and tides to move another 37 km toward his goal today, and expects to brave the moonlit waters of the Amazon again the next two evenings in order to make it to the finish line in time. He’s only 71 km from the end now, but moving along at a snail’s pace. We’re examining the possibilities of taking a slightly longer route along a side channel to Belem in order avoid the big water.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Crawling Home @ Ilha Joroca, Brazil

2007-04-07T04:00:00.000Z

Martin’s health took a turn for the worse last evening as he struggled with dizziness, vertigo, blood pressure jumping off the charts, diarrhea, nausea, and delirium. Despite having difficulty standing and being ordered by the doctor not to swim, Martin is obsessed with making it to Belem, and insisted on night swimming.

The winds were light and the almost full moon would come in and out of shrouds of clouds, filtering purplish light out over the rippling waters. We did the majority of the swim without the aid of any artificial light. Although the night was perfect, the swimming went terribly. We watched as Martin’s glowing red neon marker zigzagged back and forth constantly. He couldn’t hold a straight line nor stay with the escort boat, sometimes disregarding our navigational signals to swim off in his own direction. After only 11 km, he finally took our advice and quit for the night. “I’ve had enough. I just want to finish and go home,” he told us. Borut and I had to pull him back onto the boat and assist him into the Cassiquiari and to his room, where he immediately passed out in his wet shorts.

We’ve decided to postpone our arrival into Belem until Sunday.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Almost Finished @ Ilha do Capim, Brazil

2007-04-07T13:00:00.000Z

Martin staggered forward another 31 km during the day yesterday, and six more km at night. At this point he swims for 6 hours, tries to rest for 6 hours, then repeats the cycle. Martin is currently swimming near Belem. The river is over 30 km wide, and the island to our left, Marajo, is bigger than Slovenia.

Martin’s nausea and diarrhea have subsided but he’s still very dizzy and needs someone to help him with walking when he gets out of the water. Strangely, he tells us he doesn’t experience the vertigo when swimming, only on land. We expect him to cross the finish line later today.

Some of the team found a frightened three-toed sloth tied to a pool table at a seedy portside bar. We bought the tormented animal for five dollars and released it into its natural jungle habitat.

>>Matthew Mohlke

A New World Record!!!!!! @ Canal Carnapijo, Brazil

2007-04-07T18:00:00.000Z

After six hours of swimming/suffering in which he poured out every last ounce of his energy, Martin has crossed the finish line after a seemingly endless final 27 km through huge waves and heavy rain. The unofficial Guinness totals are 5268 KM (3,274 Miles) swam over the course of 66 days.

Tomorrow he’ll take a side chute off the Amazon and swim with the incoming tides up the Rio Capim to reach the legendary city of Belem, the first center of Portuguese colonization along the Amazon. Martin plans to arrive at Estacao Das Docas at 11:00 AM.

>>Matthew Mohlke

Finally in Belem: April 08, 2007 @ Belem, Brazil

2007-04-08T19:00:00.000Z

Martin officially finishes historic Amazon swim alive but in critical condition.

With blood pressure at near heart attack levels, paramedics struggled to stabilize Martin after swimming the final extra 6 miles of his super feat to the city of Belem.

Thanks for following us.

AmazonSwim team

Martin is Recovering @ Belem, Brazil

2007-04-09T13:00:00.000Z

After being whisked away by ambulance in the pandemonium of his triumphant arrival to Belem, Martin insisted he have his own personal doctors to take care of him.

Martin is currently safe in a hotel room, being attended to by Professor Rifat Latifi, MD, FACS, and Dr. Mateja de Leonni Stanonik, MD, PhD, codirectors of the Amazon Virtual Medical Team. They tell us his condition is stable but he will still need a few days of recovery and rest. Way to go Martin, we are all proud of you!!!!!

>>Matthew Mohlke

Martin is back on his feet again @ Belem, Brazil

2007-04-12T15:00:00.000Z

After spending the last few days resting, Martin is feeling much better. He was examined by his personal doctors last night who declared him to be in great health for a man who’d spent the last ten weeks swimming in the Amazon.

Although he lost a total of 34 pounds during the swim, his heart rate is back to normal, and although still on the high side, his blood pressure is getting better.

Martin and the team are all now entering that tough stage of mental exhaustion that stems from the transition between expedition life and returning to reality.

On Trail

An expedition is 95% misery and 5% ecstasy. After nearly three months of constant motion in a land far away from home, something strange occurs in the soul of a man. He gets broken. The first symptom is a tired or sick feeling, maybe even some fear and a little helplessness. Loneliness. Then something slowly changes within. The old attachments start to fade and he becomes completely present. He forgets about all the crap that keeps him up at night back home. None of it matters anymore. He’s arrived at the moment when he must make a choice: He can crumble like salt or embrace this new life and harden into steel.

After going home and dealing with all the meaningless details of electricity bills, mowing the grass, mortgage payments, and an unfulfilling job, a period of depression inevitably occurs. Those people back home that can’t understand why he’d leave his cozy existence behind again for three more months to jump at the next opportunity to subject himself to such misery and danger, but they just don’t get it man.

>>Matthew Mohlke