Being on an expedition is the ultimate
April 30, 2004
In May of 2003, Heather and Brandon Nelson showed up at
San Francisco International with their sea kayaks, two plane
tickets to Moscow, and a couple of tourist visas good for
one month. Their goal: to travel to south-central Siberia
and the giant inland sea known as Lake Baikal. Once there,
they'd start paddling around the lake, and keep going until
they'd gone full circle. Exactly three months later they
returned home, and claimed the expedition a success!
"Around Baikal" kept Heather and Brandon on the water
for 71 days and exposed them to 1200 miles of rugged coastline.
The journey was a result of nearly 2 years of planning,
networking and research, and is just one of many projects
the pair has taken on since they first met in 1998. Collectively,
their travels have taken them to New Zealand and Fiji,
the Galapagos and the Amazon, the Yukon and the Caribbean,
Costa Rica and the Cook Islands, and Baja to Bellingham,
Washington, which they now call home.
Three years before Baikal, with nothing more than an
idea and a burning desire to "see what's out there," Heather
and Brandon launched themselves head first into their
first major expedition, Canada to Cabo.
"We had exactly three months to get EVERYTHING in place,"
says Brandon, "and we thought this one trip might be our
only shot." Working 18-hour days, 7 days a week, Brandon
and Heather transformed their roommates' office and barn
into a logistical basecamp and boat-building shop. Relying
on every guerilla marketing technique they could learn,
some carpentry skills, and the support of an entire community,
Heather and Brandon researched the route, acquired the
gear, raised the money, built and pre-shuttled two wood-and-fiberglass
kayaks to Mexico, and caught a plane to Montana to start
the first leg of the journey-a 3300-mile mountain bike
tour of the Continental Divide.
Three years before Baikal, with nothing more than an
idea and a burning desire to "see what's out there," Heather
and Brandon launched themselves head first into their
first major expedition, Canada to Cabo.
"It was the most frantic and exciting three months of our
lives," says Heather. "We had one speed: On!"
Since that first project, Heather and Brandon have learned
their fair share of tricks-of-the-trade, from acquiring
and keeping sponsors, to staying "connected" no matter
where on earth an adventure may lead; from eating gourmet-style
cuisine in the wilderness, to keeping a marriage thriving
despite the challenges of the expedition lifestyle.
Whether competing in the Eco Challenge or the Yukon
River Quest, or exploring the backcountry of the U.S.
or abroad, the Nelsons have strived to live by the motto:
All Glory Comes From Daring to Begin!
Editor's Note: To learn more about Heather and Brandon Nelson, check out our
interview with them.
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