Satellite Phone Store - Bringing The Wild To Your Desktop

Over the past few months the Amazon 5000 team has been spending a lot of time with our support team at the Satellite Phone Store. Their amazing support of the expedition goes beyond their sponsorship of the technology that will allow Mickey to do live video broadcasts from the jungle. Their crew is dedicated to the success and more so, the mission of our organization.

 The passion of the people at the Satellite Phone Store is unsurpassed. They have put in countless hours to organize the logistics and train our team with their technology. Not only do they believe in their product but they believe in the cause. Every visit we have made to their base in Sarasota, we have been greeted by a office full of associates sporting Amazon 5000 t-shirts.

 The Satellite Phone Store plays an integral role in the making of the Impossible, Possible Journey. We are excited to have their communication gear aboard this epic 5,000 mile journey through some of the most desolate terrain. Their satellite communication system will make it possible for Mickey to allow YOU to be a part of the adventure.

Even so, we need your help. The Amazon 5000 Expedition has been sponsored with enough Air Time to last them for half of the expedition. We need generous sponsors to help provide us with more air time to reach out to Mickey’s followers back home. To sponsor airtime visit our page HERE or contact Eric Talman to coordinate details at etalman@satellitephonestore.com.

We would like to extend a very special Thank YOU to Gregory and Eric from the Satellite Phone Store of Sarasota, FL who made AMAZON 5000 LIVE streaming from the AMAZON possible!

Mickey's Fox News Interview

Amazon 5000: MyFoxORLANDO.com

Fox News featured Mickey Grosman, Amazon 5000 Expedition Team Leader AGAIN prior to his departure to South American to begin final preparations on the ground.Watch the clip above.

Pre-Expedition Blog: May 7, 2012

May 7, 2012: I heard word today FedEx has the expedition boxes in. We got a message to come over to their office in Quito. "That went fast!" I could not help but think out loud. The shipment has arrived on time. "So timely" I think, "just like in the United States". 


I quickly gathered my camera team and their gear and we all pack onto a crowded bus – Nixon, Sumac and Matt too. Natalia is taking the lead. The bus is crowded and there is barely any room for us to get on. The bus doors close on us quickly, Matt is almost left behind as he chose the wrong time to be chivalrous, allowing a lady to get on the bus first. His camera’s Pelican case is surly tucked inside the bus, his body still not. He maneuvered his way in, all the while the doors close on him. Hopping on a jam packed bus, even for a short distance, is taking a big risk I find out quickly. Pocket pickers are all over. My eyes are on my crew and on the gear they carry. I must get us off the bus and quick.


We finally get off the bus and search for about an hour for the FedEx office building. Hiding in a corner, we find the office. Armed with cameras, ready to document the moments to follow, we all step in. "No camera recording por favor" states the gentleman behind the desk. My team is well trained for this situation. "No problemo Sir" I say and wink at Matt. One glance of Matt to the other camera guys and at once all cameras change position, arms are down, but the cameras keep rolling from waist level up. The FedEx employee is pleased. I know, you must obey orders here. 


"We came to pick up our expedition boxes" says Natalia in Spanish. We want to make sure we are getting nothing lost in translation. "Aha...boxes? Sorry, the boxes are not in Quito" said the FedEx clerk. "All boxes are held at Guayaquil, (8 hours driving distance South West of Quito). Your shipping document is not good" says the the guy. 


Why? What is going on? We can not figure it out! The man asks us for an inventory list with all items in each box. This is no problem, I handle it right away. I have with me the detailed list I made when packing the boxes back at home. FedEx says this is still not good! For every document they request, I provide them with and for every question they asked, I answered, yet still they demanded more. 


More of what? I can't tell you, no straight answer is being given to us as to why our boxes are being held in Guayaquil. Their story changes every five minutes. Maybe they want cash under the table? This is not my style...I can see now that I am not getting my boxes today. Maybe tomorrow? How much red tape is in this country? It seems we need professional help. Natalia will check for us tomorrow.


After an exhausting battle with FedEx we are out of luck and out of energy, my crew is hungry. A KFC / Pizza Hut center in middle of Quito seems very comforting suddenly. It did not take but a minute and everyone was hungrily scarfing down their chicken portions like there is no tomorrow. All sitting around the table, hovered over their food, they haven’t even had the courtesy to save me a seat. Well, let them pig on the food. They have a big eye opener coming to them when we start the expedition!


After dinner we head back to the apartment and we hook up our BGAN satellite unit to check the incoming SPS mail. Yes, messages from Amazon 5000 home base in Florida are in. 


We are now wrapping up the day here, storing away all the electronics. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.


Until then...


 - Mickey


Just a minute... Sumac is asking to leave the apartment saying she must go do some school work with a friend of hers who happened to be in Quito. It is about 21:00. I am not sure if she really has studies or if she is going off with friends, but she has agreed not to return late at night through Quito’s dangerous streets and stay overnight with her friend which is much safer. She will return back at 7:00 am tomorrow morning. 


Here it is. My first mistake! I agreed to let her go, at a crunch time, only days before our departure to the expedition. At this time I did not realize the consequences that would follow my decision. But that night she left, she went walking out the door with her typical cheery demeanor like any typical day, except this night was certainly not typical...  

Mickey Gives a Passport to Adventure

Things have been a blur here are the Amazon 5000 home base. The floor is filled with expedition gear provided by over 35 very generous and reputable sponsors. Gear has gone through inspection and testing and new technology is being learned every day. Mickey has just recently departed to Ecuador to finalize logistics on the ground and the team is working around the clock to prepare for the launch of this epic expedition.

Despite all the chaos of the days leading to his departure, Mickey set aside time to do what he is really passionate about-- making a difference in the world of a child with cancer.

Thanks to a very generous donation from Lin and Ro Grosman at Mickey’s farewell event, Into the Wild!, Amazon 5000- for the cure was able to purchase an iPad for a sick child in the hospital. Mickey personally delivered this gift to 9 year old Elijah, a young boy currently in the battle for his life.

With this iPad, Elijah will be able to get an escape from his hospital procedures and track Mickey along his journey and tune into his live broadcasts. This little piece of technology will allow Elijah to be virtually transported to the mystical Amazon jungle with Mickey and give him the mental break he needs from his daily routine.

Elijah can not run and play outside like normal kids but he will get to be part of an amazing adventure many can only dream about. We would like to make the Impossible, Possible for every sick child in the hospital but we need YOUR help. 




If you are interested in sponsoring an iPad for a sick child in the hospital please visit HERE. A donation of only $399.99 will give these children a Passport to Adventure!

Reignite Inspire Endorse

Don’t miss YOUR opportunity to be part of the adventure, stay tuned to our website! mark your calendars, the official ceremony launching the Amazon 5000 Expedition will be aired LIVE here: http://new.livestream.com/accounts/386727/amazon5000/statuses/633797 
on Saturday, May 19 at 10:00am US-EST.

Pre- Expedition Blog: May 6, 2012

May 6, 2012: The time I spend in Quito goes by too slowly, especially over the weekend. Some administrative tasks are on my agenda before I leave for the wild. I came two weeks early so to assure all final preparations, coordination and logistics on the ground are in place. 


Arriving to Quito, I carried with me a few backpacks and duffle bags that contained some essential gear for the expedition for immediate use. The main gear for the expedition was sent from the States via FedEx and is scheduled to arrive to Quito tomorrow, on May 7^th. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the gear so I can sort it and pack all the individual backpacks. Once this is done I can continue on to Pedernales, a laidback fisherman town on the Pacific shore that sits on the Equator line and is the initiation point of the Amazon 5000 Expedition.


Delfin left a few days ago to go back to his hometown Shell, to make final arrangements in hiring the expedition support team comprised of three Amazonian indigenous, one of which is my friend Bartolo who hosts Eco-planet Adventures in his Kichua community along the Curaray river. With Bartolo, will come Vidal - his brother and Pedro, a guy whom I have met before and that joined my recon mission last September. All three are physically strong and could be a great support to me in carrying my electronic communication gear. Valuable gear such as my industrially rugged laptop, the Bgan Satellite internet device, backup batteries (which are many), solar panels and other like items. 


Last year on my last visit to the Pavacachi community in the Amazon basin, I introduced my hosts to my Amazon 5000 program and asked them if any one of them will take the challenge in leaving behind their jungle community, wives and children to join me on a 5000 mile expedition that begins in Ecuador, their country and ends at the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil. 


The excitement was high when I presented them with my maps. They have never left their community more then to Puyo – a gateway town to the Amazon jungle, 300 miles away, which they have visited not too often. To visit the Pacific shores of Ecuador and to travel to their neighboring countries in Peru, Colombia and Brazil all the way to the Atlantic Ocean was something far of reach, even in their imagination! To follow the mighty Amazon River was only a legendary tale told by father to son – not a reality. Here I come and get them out of their comfort zone, out of their quite and slow phase of life in the jungle, and offer take them on an extreme challenge adventure. It was something they had to consider. 


The head chief of the Pavacachi community, Luis, had to make the decision. I could tell he had a great itch to join me but he had a greater responsibility leading his community and assuring they are fed and taken care of. He passed on this adventurous opportunity dreams are made of, to Bartolo and Vidal, assuring them he will take charge of their families in their absence. He will fish and hunt food for their wives and children and will care for their needs. With that promise, these two are now making their final preparations and are heading out of the jungle to join Delfin. Together they will travel on an 8 hour bus ride to the big city Quito, where I am awaiting them.


This morning and afternoon I went over some logistics with the limited gear I have. I configured the Delorme inReach system, and went up the roof of my apartment building to test the Bgan Satellite communication device in the open sky. My videographer team was testing their camera gear practicing the new technology and assigning shooting roles for the days to come. Natalia came in, bringing fresh crusty bread from a nearby panaderia, eggs and coffee, and prepared a late delicious breakfast to us all. 


Very soon after, Matt "took care of his business". It was not long until we heard him yell out for help, as he just clogged the SECOND toilet in the apartment. WTF?! Is he the reason for all this madness, the big tall American using small people toilet bowls? Is his American bowels producing larger movements then an average Ecuadorian? Or is it that he runs much more often than the average Joe? No matter what, I know it is Matt to blame. We now have no toilet left. We called the plumber and asked him to rush his arrival and fix the damage from our overdo exit activities.


Testing my gear I watch from the corner of the room over my photographers; Matt - the white, blonde, handsome, American young man and Sumac - a super energetic, red skin, beautiful, indigenous girl of the Amazon region. They are giggling and hushing conversation. It seems language is not a barrier here. Love is in the air! I knew this stud I am taking with me will only cause problems... they seem to be enjoying the company of each other, perhaps too much. 

Shall I be worried this expedition will yield a baby at the end of it? Will Matt's parents Bonnie and Kevin, be delighted to have an Indian Amazonian, blonde, grandchild joining their family at the shores of the Atlantic Ocean? I am in trouble, I know that.                    

-Mickey

Pre- Expedition Blog: May 5, 2012

May 5, 2012:  Today I let everyone sleep in until 07:00. Natalia showed up an hour later, and together we fixed a quick breakfast of eggs, bread and coffee in our little kitchen. Shortly after, Matt began training Sumac and Nixon with the use of the cameras, the meanwhile practicing his high school Spanish pretty well. Having instructions for the camera printed in Spanish also helped to speed along the training session. Sumac and Nixon seem to be catching on quickly.

Mickey marks his route on the map.

While the crew trained, Natalia and I went out and about to search for a map of South America that I will present in my upcoming TV interview. Finding an adequate map, we then returned to the apartment to mark the expedition route on the map. It is the same drill as I did in the states, appearing in various TV morning shows prior to my departure. 


Sumac and Nixon have gotten their hands over the cameras and seem confident and excited of the opportunity to take such a role in the expedition. We took a quick break, strolling the nearby streets, tasting some fresh juice squeezed out of exotic local fruit and are now back to our preparations.


It is 19:30 now and while I am working on some logistics and technological details, Nixon, Sumac and Matt continue to practice video. Natalia has called off for the night and went to her home located in Calderon, Quito.

With Matt, Sumac and Nixon preparing to call the night off as well, I went to my bed. Just as I finally began to relax for the day I noticed the toilet was running. To my dismay I found the toilet had overflowed to the floor, covered with all the goodies a toilet can bring. That, was nasty! I yelled for Matt to come film right away while Nixon and I began to mop the floor. We used a little toilet brush and the table cloth... (mind you, we had limited resources). This is terrible, my room stinks! I called the landlord and he is supposed to have it fixed tomorrow. 


Fingers crossed he comes through tomorrow...


-Mickey

Pre-Expedition Blog: May 4, 2012

May 4, 2012:  I have a busy day ahead of me, trying to maximize my stay in the city for needed preparation prior to the expedition launch day. From cataloging my gear, testing my Delorme satellite communication devices and satellite phones, to a visit at a local dentist clinic for a final teeth check up before I leave civilization for the wild. The morning flew by. Natalia still busy arranging for media coverage, she scheduled a TV interview on the government channel for this coming Monday.

Back to the Hostal we returned and packed up our stuff. We are moving today to the apartment I rented. There we will be waiting for two of my camera team members to arrive from there homes, 5 hours East of Quito. The apartment located in a busy center of Quito, discos, bars, karaoke rat holes, fine restaurants, Ecuadorian food, art and of course lots of music. The crowd is made out of the locals who pack up the bars, drinking cervesas and singing their hearts off until 2:00am every night. It is an international crowd of backpackers, business men and women, tourists and students abroad that fills up the restaurants and cafes. Not exactly my life style but it feels great to sit down at a local restaurant and watch the crowd, after all there is only a short time before I head up to the wild and a sight like this will not be found in the jungle.

My local Videographers team, Nixon and Sumac arrived at the afternoon from Puyo, a gateway town to the jungle. Both are indigenous of the Amazon region and are projected to join me throughout the duration of the expedition to document the journey. Matt, who has mastered the use of the cameras by now and trained on all the new high tech devices we carry along, did a quick overview with Nixon and Sumac over the new state of the art camera gear I brought here. 

Videographers: Matt, Sumac and Nixon

Hiring a camera crew on such an extreme challenge adventure and for the length of time (an estimated one continuous year) is not something you can “buy at the supermarket”. Taking in consideration the harsh environment we will deal with, the treacherous terrain we will trek through: cloud forests, mountains, volcanoes, jungles, rushing rivers and constant rain.


You need to think out of the box when hiring camera crew. Not only that they need to be courageous, they also need to be physically fit, determined and mentally prepared to work harder than any of the expedition members, all while surviving the elements with us. There is no tent behind the scenes with cooked food for the crew, no dry roof above their heads at night and no lab to work and sort their daily takes of filmed footage. Above all, they will need to survive me! My choice of videographers for this mission is quite a gamble, I know.

We ended the night over cervesas for the guys, Matt and Nixon, and wine for the young women Natalia and Sumac. The sound of loud South American music at a local restaurant filled the air. No dancing in any of the clubs tonight… the young women danced to the music along the sidewalk all the way back to the apartment.

Tonight Sumac and Nixon slept in the living room on air mattresses they had to blow up manually because they forgot to bring the pump from my storage at their town in Puyo. Blow after blow, much laughter, jokes and deep sleep catches all. 


The attitude of this team is amazing, the jungle makes them resilient in all situations. They will truly be put to the test on the Amazon 5000 Expedition, will their resilience carry through?   


- Mickey