TERROR IN THE AMAZON!

“URGENT! WE WERE ATTACKED BY PIRATES ARMED WITH HIGH-CALIBER WEAPONRY!”

We found the above posting in our facebook message box. It came from the Amazon 5000 expedition support team members in Brazil.

Back in Orlando at the Amazon 5000 command center we tensed reading the message. We know that the expedition body has been split into two teams with Mickey inland seeking medical care to his illness while the other team is on a makeshift balsa raft floating on the mighty Amazon River - a No-man land. They are on their way to a dedicated checkpoint that Mickey has assigned for them all to meet later on.

“THE ASSAULT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AMAZON RIVER as we crossed to a small jungle village location" they wrote. "We were afraid for our lives as they have threatened us seriously. The pirates had us drowning in the river. They beat our heads up with the butts of their powerful automatic sub-machine guns and threw us all into the river.  They then searched all our backpacks for “DRUGS".  After 20 minutes of torture and threats when they didn't find any drugs they left us all together in the middle of the AMAZON RIVER. They stole most of our expedition gear and the money we carried. It took us great EFFORTS IN ORDER TO reach the village.  We are nervous and terrified following this terror event ...”

The team continued to say:

“We were threatened! We were not injured but tortured. These were dramatic moments we can hardly erase from our minds”.

While none of the Amazon 5000 team members has been physically injured they have had yet another emotional trauma experiencing yet another TERROR ON THE AMAZON, while on locations the expedition crosses along their cancer awareness journey.

Back at home in Florida, we are in direct contact with the expedition team whom are keeping a low profile in a small village while recuperating from their trauma. Meanwhile Mickey is seriously ill and must be treated by professional medical care so to regain his strength in order to be able to continue to lead the last 1000 miles of the expedition.

Again, The Amazon 5000 expedition is stationary in one location – and that is NOT GOOD. The Brazilian people along the region of the Amazon are neurotic with an easy finger on the gun trigger. It is a POLICE STATE Region where every citizen is an informer for the benefit of cash or other goods. AND THEY ARE HATEFUL TO FOREIGNERS – Especially to GRINGOS!

                                      

Since crossing into Brazil the Amazon 5000 team has experienced raid after raid by the Military Federal Police forces. With each community they pass by along the river someone is reporting our team to the police and yet another armed unit appears from nowhere with automatic machine guns pointed at the Amazon 5000 team members’ heads and seeking for drugs and drugs and drugs. This is madness!

Armed pirates roaming free along the Amazon River on one hand, Armed Federal Military Police on the other, and hostile local Brazilian indigenous communities in the middle… And the unarmed Amazon 5000 team is now in a constant danger and at a constant big risk to their life: Not by the Elements! Not by Nature! Nor the Wildlife! ONLY by Mankind!!!

The AMAZON 5000 expedition, to remind you all, is all about SURVIVAL of the ELEMENTS through rugged terrain, harsh climate and pristine wilderness, all are part of the marvels of the Mighty AMAZON we all grew to love so much in the past 8 months and 4000 miles throughout the virtual window MICKEY GROSMAN has provided us with in a constant LIVE electronic communication.   

But MANKIND proved to be the most dangerous element among all and the biggest obstacle Mickey and his crew are to overcome!

                                                   

                 

We must end here with our big concern to Mickey’s health and to the safety of his team, as without him able to stand back on his feet and lead his expedition safely, the remaining 1000 miles of the Amazon 5000 expedition is in jeopardy.

Mickey himself has now come to big concerns for the nearest future of the expedition. His concerns are mainly with the safety of his people – the Amazon 5000 support team - and the fact he is still going through the turmoil of his illness, a fact that prevents him from being fully focused and alert as needed in such a hostile environment. 

He weighs various options to complete the last 1000 miles of this inspirational journey in a way that will assure no one’s life is at stake and no one will be harmed by mankind. 

While he has confidence in their ability to survive the elements along their 5000 miles path it is now obvious mankind is the biggest threat of all!

*** We wish to shed a strong spotlight here on Mickey’s loyal and courageous crew that despite all the TERROR IN THE AMAZON they are standing firm behind him. These are some of their words:

“Hoy somos mas fuertes que nunca! Y continuaremos inteligentemente por las vias que sean necesarias....”

Translation – “Today we are stronger than ever! And we will continue along the tracks intelligently necessary…”

“Nosotros estamos firmes para apoyar a Mickey! Incluso hemos arriengado nuestras vidas…”

Translation – “We are firm to support Mickey! Even if we risk our lives …”

“que hoy somos mas uertes que nunca… NI UN PASO ATRAS!”

 Translation -“we are today stronger than ever ... Not one step back!”

“Ya estamos mejor y el equipo aqui esta muy solido!”

Translation – “We're better and the team here is very solid!”

The latest quote we received from the Amazon 5000 team:

We regret the difficult situation Mickey is at. I particularly have been with him in recent months "in the deep jungle of the Amazon" And I saw his courage and determination in favor of his cause, fighting cancer. I've seen Mickey a great person and great human being with a strong and explosive character and he is for me like a father with the learning to be a living on ... Never forgets his strength in the most difficult time!

Press Release: August 19, 2012

PRESS RELEASE August 19, 2012

For Immediate Release   Contact:                         Rachel Perez                 407-756-3732                                     rperez@amazon5000.com

Mickey's Fans Get Down And Dirty  In The Fight Against Cancer

Attention reporters: Mickey Grosman is available for interviews live from the jungle. High-resolution images from the expedition are also available. ORLANDO, Florida- Amazon 5000,www.facebook.com/amazon5000, announced today that Orlando Cancer Activist, Mickey Grosman will have his footsteps mirrored back at home by his fans. Amazon 5000 fans are standing united to promote awareness and spend a day in Mickey's shoes at the American Mud Race (http://www.americanmudrace.com), Saturday, August 25th. Mickey has trekked over 1,000 miles already in his campaign for cancer awareness. He has had numerous close encounters and life-risking moments but still, him and his team of (6) indigenous forge on. Beginning on the shores of Pedernales, Ecuador they have crossed the country by foot, over the brutal Andes and through the dense Amazon Jungle.  Despite his dramatic kidnapping last week by the Huaruani tribe, he has continued his journey and is now traveling in Peru. Mickey exemplifies his personal motto: Never EVER Give Up! In support to Mickey and his mission to reignite the fight against cancer a group of fans will represent the Amazon 5000 Team on the American Mud Race's muddy and extreme, 3.4 mile course. Just as Mickey has already, and will continue to, face many obstacles on his 5,000 mile journey, fans will encounter over 18 obstacles on race day.     "Mickey is in the mud and dirt all day out on the Amazon 5000 Expedition. He is going to the extreme for an extreme cause. I feel honored to mirror his footsteps back at home and make a statement to our local community to DO Something in the fight against cancer." Stated fan Katrina Putnam. "I am inspired by Mickey and his passion for the cause and I look forward to being part of his incredible movement!" Out of the thousands of racers participating in the American Mud Race the Amazon 5000 Team will identify themselves with bright green Amazon 5000 Bandanna's. On a mission to promote awareness for the cause, fans will make their presence visible on race day and make Mickey's voice heard in Central Florida.  Journalists and fans can track Mickey on The Impossible, Possible Journey by following us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Amazon5000. For more information please contact rperez@amazon5000.com.

About Amazon 5000:  Amazon 5000- For the Cure was founded to inspire those who are battling cancer, promote awareness to the fight against cancer and to provide endorsement  to research foundations and local organizations supporting Cancer patients through their journey. For more information visit:www.amazon5000.com.  Visit our BLOG to read personal expedition blogs from Mickey and get updates. # # #

The Impossible, Possible Journey!

What the River Takes From One, It Gives to Another: The Dugout Canoe Story

 

We are stuck at the Ecuador Peru border. The soldier in charge of the check point is trying to contact by two ways radio with his supervisors in Iquitos Peru, hundreds of miles away. To my request he is seeking instructions in order to allow Amazon 5000 expedition to cross the border in ordinary way. It has been already 3 days since we arrived this point, still no answer...the radio only goes one way… No one in Iquitos pick up the other side radio. It seems as if my original plan of cutting on foot through the deep dense jungle would have worked better, rather wasting time with the incapacity of the confused Peruvians guards who apparently never had a western dude crossing that point of land. But as I’ve quickly learned, the jungle ground around here is flooded to neck height and surrounded by thousands of acres of nasty swamps…I still feel the pain my expedition support team and I have encountered just in the past month of crossing through the Yasuni jungle’s swamps north of here, and where I’ve tasted the bitterness these swamps provide. If I could just avoid that “pleasure” I will cross the border’s checkpoint along the River, at the confluence point of the Cononaco and the Curary rivers. These two rivers originates from the source of the Amazon; the ridges of the Eastern Andes, and down the orient, and makes one wider and winding river that heads South-East to meet with the mighty Amazon river.

Stopping first at the Ecuadorian checkpoint I experience no problem exiting Ecuador. I have an official letter provided to me by the Government of Ecuador that calls for anyone who read it to provide me and my Amazon 5000 expedition team with all the help and support we need. After all we received a tremendous support to the Amazon 5000 cause and for going such a grueling expedition, by the Ecuadorian people all along the way since 3 months ago when I began my expedition at the shores of the Pacific ocean in Pedernales. You should understand; where I am right now it is not a traditional “tourists” checkpoint. No tourists ever come here! Therefore there is not exactly a Passports check in or out station and all other procedure known to the west. Only one small soldiers unit posted here, and they did not even understand what exactly to do when I stood there, asking them to stamp my passport! I wanted to assure my exit from Ecuador will be done properly and documented in my passport. The officer in charge – David, agrees to sign his name and post a date on my passport page. That’s the only way they can document my exit he said. One kilometer downs the river and East, and we are now in Peru’s checkpoint.

So here I am, awaiting the Peruvians to approve my expedition passing through their checkpoint. Presenting the Peruvians with the Ecuadorians official letter and briefing them about the Amazon 5000 expedition the soldier in charge is trying every four hours to communicate with Peru’s inland. These unsuccessful attempts look to the observer like if the “Tam-Tam” drams system works very slowly here in the jungle. Not only has that no one picked up the radio on the other side, but in my case also the thunders and lightning storms that are so common to this region disturbs the radio communication transmission. I must adapt to the slow pace things are being handle here, I know. So I accepted the advice from my lovely wife – “be patient” she text messaged me to my Satellite phone, from as far as Orlando Florida, where she and the Amazon 5000 home base team monitoring my progress very careful… from their comfortable couches. “Time is the best commodities you have, so relax there, on the river’s “playa” until things will get clear…” she said.

I take her advice and am here for 3 days already, waiting… but it’s not me to just simply sit still… having thorns pokes my rear constantly I must keep busy. I also become worry watching my Ecuadorian indigenous support team as boredom threaten to control their strong being. The adrenaline this expedition provides is dying with each day the expedition is on halt. Such can cause motivation to drop and the united body of the team fall apart. I decided there is a lot to do in preparation for the moment a clear sign will be given to me. I realized a trek on foot through the jungle like we did before will not work here, at least not for quite a while. I must move down the river waterway and over the swamps area. Balsa makeshift raft will do it!

I asked two of the Peruvian soldiers with whom I’ve made friendship to join me and my team while we seek for balsa trees deep in the thick jungle. For the whole day we trekked the forest but couldn’t find such trees. Empty handed we returned to the border checkpoint. While we discussed other means for waterway transportation one of the soldiers mentioned that one hour away southeast along the Curarai River he observed a dugout canoe that has been drifted a while ago from the upper river and is stuck at the muddy river bank since then. The two soldiers volunteered to show us the exact location of the canoe while did not see any wrong doing in letting us entering deep into the Peruvian territory. But how could we go down the river, a one hour distance? 

Not expecting any military combat happening at their border, the border patrol unit does not have even one canoe for transportation… They are stranded in the jungle as much as we are! So how can I reach the abandoned canoe? the canoe the River stole from one and sent over to us…? It is the best survival tool sent my way. It will allow me to resume moving and to get out of this trap. I can’t miss this opportunity. However, I still don’t know the condition of the dugout canoe and hope it will float!  My head is spinning seeking a solution...here it is, an immediate order to my men to pump air in three of my rubber commando boats and hit the Dugout canoe rescue combat operation!  

And like Francisco de Orellana the Spanish conquistadors who has been stranded in this region in the year 1541 during the legendary El-Dorado voyage, I became Pizarro – his colonel - who sent Orellana down the river to seek for food… I now sent my people; Delfin Gualinga and three others to seek for ….a canoe.

It has been seven hours now and Delfin and his small canoe’s rescue team is not back yet. The Canoe should be located only one hour down the river….and there is no sight of Delfin….for a second I remembered how Francisco de Orellana went down the river at the same region and could not return up river after he found a food source. Will the same happen here? Will Delfin be unable to paddle the rubber boats or dugout canoe if found up the river? Will the incredible Seven Amazonian Indians team and one Ameri-sraeli colonel are doomed to split as happened 500 years ago?

17:00 – It is sundown time. In a short hour a thick darkness will cover the canopies and the jungle nocturnal life will resumed.  Delfin and his team of three finally shows up from around the river curb, all covered with mud and exhausted….  There is a canoe! he reports to me. But it is all cracked and needs a major repair. It took them hours to dig the canoe out of the mud and tow it upstream. They left it at a nearby sand bar. Tomorrow I will go there to assess the canoe’s damages and see if I can use it to continue the Amazon 5000 jungle expedition.