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July 14, 1999
HE DID IT! - AROUND-THE-WORLD ADVENTURER LANDS ON TARAWA, GILBERT ISLANDS
>> LOCATION: PACIFIC OCEAN
>> DATE: JULY 14th, 1999
>> SECTION: TARAWA VOYAGE
Tarawa, Gilbert Islands (July 15, 1999) When Jason Lewis touched foot on Tarawa of the Gilbert Islands he made history. The 32-year-old Englishman became the first person to "pedal" the 2,300 mile crossing from Hawaii, performing the feat in 73 days.
"It is hard to explain how I feel," beamed an exhausted Lewis, who endured the last 48 hours with no food and water. "There were times when I didn't think I'd make it."
Lewis will next pedal Moksha, his special pedal-powered water craft, the 2,500 miles from Tarawa to Australia. He is attempting to become the first person to circumnavigate the globe using only human power (either bicycle, in-line skates, or pedal-powered water craft). So far Lewis has completed 20,000 miles of the 35,000 mile effort.
Live media interviews can be conducted with Lewis by telephone (011) 686-30157. In addition, broadcast-quality B-roll tape of Lewis and Moksha is available. Contact RoDan Public Relations at 858/454-1717 to arrange for tape. Expedition 360 updates can be obtained toll-free at 1-800-943-0114 or on the Internet at www.goals.com.
>> END
Posted by jason at 11:37 AM
LAND HO! - OUT OF DRINKING WATER, AROUND-THE-WORLD ADVENTURER SPOTS GILBERT ISLANDS
>> LOCATION: PACIFIC OCEAN
>> DATE: JULY 14th, 1999
>> SECTION: TARAWA VOYAGE
Pacific Ocean - 72nd day at Sea (July 14, 1999) With no drinking water to keep him hydrated during the past 48 hours, Jason Lewis is making his way the last few miles to the Gilbert Islands. But the 2,300 mile voyage from Hawaii is far from over.
Moksha, Jason's special pedal-powered water craft, must be maneuvered to an exact location between the islands of Tarawa and Maiana in order to slip through a break in the reef and safely land on Tarawa.
"If we arrive too late," says Jason, "we miss the high tide and have to wait for the next one 12 hours later, during which we may suffer the same fate as if we arrived early (taken west by the trade winds). The analogy that springs to mind is trying to land a paper airplane into a waste basket from the other side of the room. Tricky indeed - just like in the old days before motors."
His first attempt to successfully complete the navigation between the islands will be today at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time).
Live media interviews over a high-tech Iridium satellite telephone can be conducted with Lewis at (011) 8816 310 28995. While on shore, Jason can be reached via telephone at (011) 686-30157. In addition, broadcast-quality B-roll tape of Lewis and Moksha is available. Contact RoDan Public Relations at 858/454-1717 to arrange for tape. Expedition 360 Expedition updates can be obtained toll-free at 1-800-943-0114 or on the Internet at www.goals.com.
>> END
Posted by jason at 11:36 AM