|
This page best view with
| |
Places we want to go to and things we want to do.
The Final Mile
Our plans for the winter of 2000 - 2001 have changed. In the past couple of
years things, bad things, have happened and we feel now is not the time to
venture into the Middle East.
We had planned on returning to Israel and Jordan, with our Jeep, and driving the
Final Mile of our Roads End to Roads End
Jeep Expedition, a world circumnavigating expedition. However, our plans have
once again been thwarted by human nature with the recent political unrest in the
Middle East in particular and in the World in general.
We have put that "plan" on hold once again and decided we would begin another
expedition that we have long been planning – Great Deserts of the World Research
Project. This will be the beginning of a monumental hands-on research project that, with
time and money, will eventually evolve into an educational overland expedition
encompassing the world’s thirteen major desert regions. This winter we will be
traveling in the deserts of Southern California, Arizona and Nevada and we will primarily
be retracing legendary trails that crossed these great sands, i.e. historic routes of
conquest, old trade routes, and previous explorer’s routes of discovery. In addition
we will be interested in cataloging all of the many smaller locally named deserts that lie
within the larger well-known deserts.
We decided last year, 1999, that we would not be here this winter – we are not
snow bunnies, but rather desert rats. So it is off to the warm sands of the deserts,
outback of beyond. Anyone wish to join us?
Great Deserts of the World Research Project -
Exploratory Overland Expedition
The world is divided into many, many deserts, some hot and a few, by definition - cold,
such as the South Pole. We, however, are only concerned with the hot deserts, the arid and
semi-arid lands that circle the globe, both above and below the equator, basically between
the 15th and 35th parallels. The exact number is hard to define, although we have decided
to follow the University of Arizona Arid Lands Study and use the convenient number of
thirteen. Those thirteen are: North American, Peruvian/Atacama, Monte/Patagonian,
Australian, Gobi, Takla-Makan, Turkestan, Thar (Indian), Iranian, Arabian, Sahara,
Somali/Chalbi, and Namib/Kalahari. Now, inside each and every one of those deserts there
are countless smaller deserts, each with its own local name. One of the expedition's goals
will be to record and catalog all these names, including a description and the boundaries
of each desert.
The overall theme of the expedition will be: "a grand romantic high adventure
exploratory expedition of stimulating discovery....mostly self-discovery!"
On this exploratory expedition we will primarily be retracing historic routes of conquest,
old trade routes, and previous explorer's routes of discovery that crossed these great
sands. We will visit historical sites, archeological digs, and unique geological
formations; we will talk with the on-site experts and have live, on-line discussions with
young students around the world. It will be "exploratory," which is, according
to Webster, "of, in, or for exploration." We will not necessarily know exactly
what is there, nor will we always know exactly where "there" is. But we will
explore and find out, and once we do, we want to share our findings with anyone who has
access to the Internet, primarily young school children.
We plan on using the latest Internet satellite communication system to
bring these remote areas and its people into the classroom for children around the world.
In other words, breathe life into history and earth science. Hopefully we will be able to
inspire our young (and those not so young) students to venture forth into the unknown. To
paraphrase the Bard of India, Rudyard Kipling, and the writer's of Star Trek, "to go
look for something hidden behind the ranges, outback of beyond - to seek out strange new
worlds and their exotic civilizations." We want the expedition to be a learning
experience for all that participate, both the "in-the-field" team members and the "on-line" younger school children.
We will be using a variety of vehicles that will project an image of romantic high
adventure, such as specially built and equipped 6x6 ex-military five or ten ton trucks or
smaller 4x4 sport utility vehicles. The trucks will be outfitted to carry 12 to 20
"in-the-field" team members. Our decision to use such high profile vehicles is
because the expedition will not be done up in gray or black overtones, but rather in
uplifting, inspiring bright colors to catch the public's eye and imagination. We will be
strictly out for the experience of it all, grand romantic high adventure experience - at
its best!
--WANTED--
OVERLAND EXPLORATORY EXPEDITION BUSINESS
PARTNERS
AND
We, Loren and Patricia Upton, are looking for some conservative, level headed men and
women of all ages, who are not afraid of demanding healthy hard work, to join us as
partners / team members in building a not for profit world class overland exploratory
expedition company; Great Deserts of the World Research Project - A Grand Romantic
Overland High Adventure Exploratory Expedition of Discovery...Self Discovery.
To start with we are looking for individuals with specific talents.
#1 People who are familiar with the latest satellite communication systems and remote
world-wide Internet access.
#2 People who have multimedia / journalistic skills.
#3 People who are able to function as top notch diesel truck mechanics, skilled off-road
drivers and are also capable of helping us design and build expedition rolling stock.
#4 People who are familiar with corporate structuring; such as the legalities of forming
and marketing such a company.
#5 People who have teaching credentials in history and earth/life science.
#6 People to work behind the scene, doing important research projects that can be
accomplished by the "in-the-field" team members.
All partners / team members must be capable and willing to teach / instruct other partners
/ team members as to their qualifying expertise concerning the expedition, as well as be
able to give lectures to schools, clubs, and civic organizations if called upon to do so.
Ideally many of these partners / team members will be retired professionals (academic or
vocational) married, with spouses who might also wish to become involved in these grand
romantic high adventure challenges - out back of beyond! And if they have "like
minded" children, who are old enough, who knows - maybe they can be fitted in. We all
have to begin some time - somewhere. What we are planning will most likely not be for your
average 9 to 5, come home, watch junk TV - couch potatoes!
If this particular type of innovating project should be of some interest to you personally
(or if you know of someone who might be interested) then please do contact us at your
earliest convenience. We are always open to constructive positive well meaning
suggestions, comments or questions coming from those of you who are looking for a somewhat
different challenge!
Please - if not for the grand romantic mystique of it all, then why inquire in the first
place!!!
Our personal background for doing these types of long protracted overland exploratory
expeditions is fairly extensive. We've spent the better part of 20 years on many
exploratory overland expeditions traveling the world over, via Jeep, motorcycle, and
horseback.
As far as we can ascertain, we are the first to drive a Jeep around the world on a
north-south course, Roads End to Roads End -
Arctic Ocean to Arctic Ocean via the tip of South America and South Africa (except for a
one mile political "gap"- the Final Mile). A World
Odyssey - The Epic Voyage of the Sand Ship Discovery was a five year, 56,000
mile grand romantic high adventure exploratory expedition of stimulating discovery ....
self-discovery!
We have a Guinness Book of Records entry for completing the first all land crossing of the
somewhat notorious Darien Gap of Panama and
Colombia via Jeep. The Gap is a roadless 125 miles of dense tropical rain forest, rugged
mountains and bottomless swamps that required a staggering 741 days to successfully cross.
If we can raise the funds, we want to return to the Middle East and drive the Sand
Ship Discovery that Final Mile and close that one mile political gap. If we do, we
have a chance of adding to our Guinness Book Record entry for being the first to drive
overland from Arctic Ocean to Arctic Ocean, around the world.
In addition we may receive yet another Guinness Book entry for completing the first all
land crossing of that said same infamous Darien Gap
via motorcycle - Through the Gap - The Taking of the Windmill ... a grand romantic 49 day
struggle.
Please do let us hear from you via e-mail (patricia@outbackofbeyond.com)
or snail mail - P.O.Box 803, Salmon, Idaho 83467 USA. Or you can fill out our form
on line.
©1997, ©1998, ©1999, ©2000 Loren & Patricia Upton. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
For More Information Contact:
Outback of Beyond Adventures
P.O. Box 803
Salmon, ID 83467
Internet: patricia@outbackofbeyond.com
|
