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Sam’s feet caused him to take a break from the expedition on Monday and so Cho and I are walking without him at present. He wrote the following before he left:
“Disappointing to say but I am having to self-evacuate, (not in the defecating sense), but from the jungle, Ed and Cho.
The last week of walking has been absolutely horrific for my feet, as with the previous crossing I am covered with hundreds of bites cuts and bruises. As the new member of the team, this seems to be my job considering that no one else has a single mark on their person, however my feet are a different thing entirely. Over the past week six of my toe nails have become infected and after oozing pus and blood are now falling off, I also seem to have a mild case of immersion foot (feet), meaning that all the skin on my feet rubs away like wet paper in the evening leaving them raw and bleeding. The best part of which is that I have to iodine (disinfect) all the injuries, which is excruciatingly painful.
The up shot of it all is that I will take a boat up the Amazon 40 miles to go to the hospital and get them sorted or at least get some stronger painkillers. Ibuprofen is just not doing it! I am hoping to return in 4 days with or without toenails or skin on my feet, the rest from the wet environment should give them enough time to recover so I can then return.” Sam, Monday 8th.
Ed: It’s bizarre to see someone so degraded by the conditions when Cho and I have been fine. The Amazon has been described by many as “The Green Hell” and most people do find the conditions rather unpleasant. Cho’s and my feet are clearly used to the pounding, but we’ve got no bites to show off either, nor scratches like Sam. His ankles looked like my granny’s used to, all swollen and inflamed.
Each 7 hour day we have been burning about 6,000 calories whilst walking. Add that to the 2,000 that we’d need to live the rest of the day and we need to eat 8,000 calories to maintain our weight. We actually eat perhaps 3,000 calories a day comprising of fish, farine and rice mainly. A deficit of 5,000 calories when walking…
Cho and I left Vendeval on Tuesday with Enrique and Paulo. They had an intelligent sparkle in their eyes that relaxed me from the outset and they’ve been great guides. Like so many of our transient team they know the jungle because they are hunters and they walk deep into the forest with their shotguns looking for tapirs, agouti, or kinkajou.
We expect to RV with Sam in Santa Rita, a downstream fishing port, on Friday or Saturday. If all goes to plan.
Ed
when i sit here in my comfy leather reclining chair along way from the horrors that you are all enduring, it makes me think of all the pioneers that have done amazing things before you and all i can say when this mamouth journey eventually ends you will return as heros and great story tellers .
i say three cheers to you .
ma lord nottingham uk
That’s gross. Don’t quit!
I hope Sam makes a full recovery and is back with you soon.
I have been following the situation in Peru at home, and have become angry and frustrated at how little coverage there has been in the news, you really have to dig for information. Most people seem totally unaware, I told a friend what was going on and she was almost in tears, she genuinely didn’t believe that things like this were still happening. Your journey is raising awareness of so many issues, and it is desperately important that we know about them. Thank you!
Gill
Ed - thanks for posting the link on your website to the Peru Support Group’s (PSG) statement on the violence in the Peruvian Amazon. Good Luck! Gaby (Coordinator of the PSG)
Keep it up buddy,
If there anyway you can just take your shoes off and take a leaf from the indiginous people/.? i.e forget modern shoes and stuff and just go for it bare foot doctor stylee..
Dont give up and keep going. your doing excellent u pioneer you!
Ned - it sounds as if you have had a gross week whilst I have been away. I went to Chartwell, home of Winston Churchill and saw there his words spoken in 1941 - something like “Never give in - in nothing great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense”. Thought they might encourage you.He earned the undying admiration of the country and you’ll probably do the same - thought walking the Amazon isn’t quite like winning a war!
Tell Cho - who, everyone, is a committed Christian - that I said a prayer for him in Canturbury Cathedral. He might like that. Tell Sam - whose feet are far worse than Granny’s ever were,that to want to come back after all he was putting up with, earns my immense admiration. ALM x
Dear Ned, keep going. Hope Sam’s feet recover - remember, Granny’s feet really did look terrible and blotchy and swollen, but her worst feature were her knees - she couldn’t even get out her chair half the time. You boys seem like you’re determined to push on and you’re getting out of your hammocks and moving on every day, despite the unimaginable difficulties. We’re all rooting for you here in Greece and thinking of you.
Take care, F xx
Ed, read the article about your journey in MJ, fascinating…wishing you well and look forward to following your progress and best of all, the celebration of your finish. be safe
Ed and Cho-
I recently read an article about your expedition in Men’s Journal. I wish you the best of luck and plan on following your adventure the rest of the way. I have the utmost respect for your drive, focus and determination. Good luck! -Scott Ewing
If you were trying to get a few more hits by looking for the foot fetish vote I think you could be going about it the wrong way.
To add my two pence to the debate; blistering at the end of the toes when running can be because the shoes are to big, not to small, and the toes jar into the end of the shoe. An insole would tell you whether this is right or wrong. Do you have a Clarks nearby? Good luck kids. Best foot forward and all…..
Ned, looking at the photo i can see what you mean about Sam’s ankles looking like Granny’s although i’m sure Sam’s are a lot worse than that… Hope he recovers soon! Keep strong… thinking of you, Steph xx
Just read article Men’s Journal.
Did your wrist watch survive? What make and model is it?
Contact manufacturer on your return for endorsement yielding funds for your charities.
Ed,
Just read the MJ article as well and am now officially glued to your progress!
Incredible undertaking you have chosen, best of luck!
Ed, Sam, and Cho,
Just started following you today as well after reading the Men’s Journal article. Tracking you all now and praying for your safety. I’m traveling to Brazil in a few weeks but chose the plane route. Good luck!