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Its bound to be on the telly over the next few days in the UK and the title is quite relevant to Cho’s and my current predicament.
The Amazon is not a normal river like the Thames - it is the focal point of a huge sheet of water that surges through the forest when the waters are high. This deluge of water can be 300 km wide in places and is not where two rather small, insignificant and helpless ramblers want to get caught. Overnight flash floods can sweep away complete camps killing everybody and leaving no trace. Seriously.
And the rains have started. Cho and I haven’t lit a fire with dry wood in days - luckily we can start one with wet wood now - we’ve had rather a lot of practice after all. We eat our food naked after having washed - there is no point putting on our dry clothes (they would just get wet) - and we’re past the embarrassment stage by now.
But we’re too close to the main channel to be safe from the flooded forests if the floods come for real. We are in annually flooded forest now - and muddy floor is getting soggier and harder to walk on by the day.
So its an escape from the varzea (flooded forest) and a search for high ground and we’ll be one step closer to victory. That would be the best Christmas present Cho and I could wish for - seeing as we can’t watch any good films on the box.
Thanks to everyone who’s been donating to the expedition recently - the response has been great. I can’t see this expedition failing now if people continue being so kind. A special thanks to the United States - the amount of personal donations we get from the States is incredible.
Happy Christmas to everyone (Happy Holidays to the Americans ;-)). Cho and I wish you all the best and are rather envious of the snow.
Ed
Happy Christmas, Feliz Natal y Feliz Navidad from Ed and Cho from Walking the Amazon Videos on Vimeo.
Ned, Many thanks for your good wishes, heartily reciprocated, and also every good wish for your birthday which comes up very soon. You are both doing a fantastic job, I am very impressed and hope you make all the correct publications when its over. You have only got another 8 months to go.. !!
Love and the very best wishes to you both, Uncle Rog. (-: (-:
“It’s not a question of will we give up - that never enters Cho’s or my head. Melodramatic or not: we would both die before coming home as failures.”
You are the greatest men alive. I came across your site two days ago, and felt so ashamed: how could I miss the beginning of this stunning adventure? I should have found your name much much earlier. Anyway, I immediately started reading all your previous blogs in order to catch up. And I can see that you have fans from all over the world. I’m writing from Macedonia…maybe you haven’t even heard of it:)…it’s a small piece of land in the Balkans. I’ve always wanted to see the Amazon, to listen to its song for just one night, put my hand in the water, see a piranha or anaconda. I’ve read many of the comments on the website…you’re such an inspiration. So many people every day can’t wait to read your updates.
I’d like to know what Cho plans to do after jumping into the Atlantic.
And one more thing. I’m sure many people would like to have this story in their libraries. Not just the blogs, but also the special things, tales that weren’t meant to be post. So…have you considered the idea of writing a book? Please say ‘yes’.
I’d be very happy if you read this (and maybe say something:)), so that I can become a part of this epic journey. Unfortunatelly, I’m a poor student, I wish I earned some more money so that I could send you or donate something.
Best wishes to you both.
Esta noche e noche buena y manana (sp?) Navidad - or something like that. It’s the only Spanish I know, so needs to be said today.
I refuse to worry about the floods - if I let myself I will not sleep at all. The twitters will enable us to know you are safe.
Gillie raised £1000 for you at her party last Friday. It was a great night and she, a really good and generous friend, has many goods & generous friends. She got £2000 to be split between you and a Leukemia charity.
Happy birthday for Sunday.
ALM x
Ed and Cho…. A BIG happy Christmas to you both… thinking of you.
Ed i will have a beer for you in the Nevil… I tried to get back for mums party for you but got delayed on the flight back from China so i arrived just at the end… REALLY annoying but it sounded like a big sucess….
Hi Ed
Well we had a good party for you on Friday… lots of love and money flying about especially for you
Sam unfortunatey got delayed due to snow and BA. and arrived as everyone had gone.. but itwas great
to see him.
All home now and it christmas eve with mulled wine
we will definitely be raising our glasses to you and cho over the next few days, and missing you,especially on Boxing Day.. love to you and hopefully speak over the holidays..xx
Hi Darling Ed
Heard about mums shepherds pies ? they got you some dollar ! xx lol. Hope things are not too tough babe. Everyone at home for the christmas time, we will have a glass of bubbles for you tomorrow morning and naturally be thinking of you hoping you are okay. xx
stay safe
big squeeze and love always
Beccs
xxxx
oh and HB for BD
wow .. bet age dont mean nothing out there hey ?
Big kisses
Thanks Gillie, Bec and everyone. I’m SOOO short on batteries and there is a tropical thunderstorm looming so sorry t be short - but thanks so much and see you all in just a few months now….
Love from Ed and Cho. xxxxx
Happy Christmas and Happy Birthday Ed!
Will miss you again this year, will have a beer in the Bewick, Fox, Sun and Nevill for you.. will be shooting on boxing day as well so will miss you being there in your puffa!
Take care and loads of love.
George!
Happy Christmas and Happy Birthday for Boxing Day. Folly House is a little quiet without you but it will be fantastic next year with you and the little man!
The village is still white so hope it stays for tomorrow. Let’s hope the floods down rise too much.
Farine for lunch in your honour!!
Love to you both from us all. So proud of you!
AML
Squeak xx
Happy Christmas and Happy Birthday!
Happy X-Mas to you guys and a good 2010. Take care.
Cornell
I doubt you will be eating turkey but all the same, all good wishes for Christmas and especially for a successful New Year. Keep on trucking!
Merry Christmas Ed and Cho, I just learned of your adventure a few weeks ago and I really can’t comprehend the magnitude of your endeavor. I guess the scale has to be broken down to a day-to-day level to really be tackled
I’m really glad to see that some sponsporship has been coming through, and perplexed to see the lack of ‘big’ sponsors like TNF or MH. Guess their gear is only good for a certain amount of adventure, and wouldn’t hold up to what you guys are doing! Naked dinners, who needs gear anyways?
A very merry Christmas to you and Cho. May the upcoming new year bring about success, prosperity and continuing good health as your journey progresses. Thank you again for all of the updates that you take the time to post. They serve as entertainment and inspiration to many of us.
Salud! Julie
Eduardo,
Glad to see that you and Cho are managing to keep the Christmas Cheer alive in the middle of the Jungle. Also thought I would drop you a quick line to wish you a Happy Birthday. Maybe next year will feel slightly more normal, maybe becuase you have spent so much time in the jungle you will miss it. Anyway mate, Happy Birthday, Happy Christmas and Happy new Year. Hope to catch up with you soon. Take care mate, me x
Happy birthday Ed,hope the rain holds off for your birthday. from sharon and family. (Pete’s sister)
Hi Ed,
We saw your video wishing us all Merry Christmas in 3 languages.
Very nice! I am so glad Cho is with you every step of the way. You two are quite a team!
Today is your Birthday and your fan (or posse) here at P.A.N.D.O.R.A. wishes you a wonderful Birthday and a Happy New Year. Stay Strong!
Marla Silverman
And to Cho a
Hi Ed,
We saw your video wishing us all Merry Christmas in 3 languages.
Very nice! I am so glad Cho is with you every step of the way. You two are quite a team!
Today is your Birthday and your fan (or posse) here at P.A.N.D.O.R.A. wishes you a wonderful Birthday and a Happy New Year. Stay Strong!
Marla Silverman
And to Cho un Feliz Cumpleanos tambien!
Merry Christmas, Ed and Cho!
I just learned about your project to walk the Amazon River this morning, having stumbled upon it on Wikipedia. You both are incredible, and so brave! I hope you had a good Christmas, and please take care.
Warmest wishes,
Kee
Happy Birthday Ed - missed you at the shoot which was small but good fun - not the same without you though. George said no soup - ended up in trouble because it was expected - sloe gin went down well though. We have had a fantastic Christmas which has lasted for a week - T,C and T came for 4 days. Will keep everything crossed and hope that the rains are kind to and you can you keep away from flooded river. Good luck to you and Cho in the New Year and keep going - you will both be very famous!! Love your “third Mum”.xoxox
Ed: What you are doing is comparable to the first summit of Mt Everest / first flight across the Atlantic / first to circumnavigate the globe, etc. Finish your task, raise awareness for rain forest preservation, and when you finish in August or so you’ll have Red Carpet treatment in the United States on all the talk shows (Good Morning America, Oprah, David Letterman, etc). You don’t need any fiscal motivation as your purpose and motivations are clear, but you’re about to catapult yourself into an incredible book deal too. Happy Belated Birthday (Boxing Day too!), Keep your head on a swivel, and Stay Strong. Semper Fidelis, John Stanton, Colorado Springs, Colorado USA.
Hi Ed and Cho,
I expect your Christmas was full of wine and pudding and turkey and chocolates. I hadn’t realised it was your birthday on Boxing day so am so sorry I missed it. I hadn’t opened my computer from 23rd until yesterday as I had so many people to cater for. Keep going you wonderful inspiring chaps….can’t wait to see you back again and it’s getting closer and closer. I will be thinking of you as the rain starts but I know you’ll manage..you just will. Much love darlings. Tina
xxxx