Amazon Swim (Martin Strel)
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DURING FEB 1 - APR 08, 2007 MARTIN STREL SWAM 5,268 KMS (3274 MILES) OF THE AMAZON RIVER! HE DEDICATED THE SWIM TO THE PROTECTION OF THE RAINFOREST.
Tue, February 27 2007

Fire Ant Infestation

Anchoring for lunch along some thick vegetation proved to be a big mistake today. The team returned from the mess hall to find the ground floor of the Cassiquari teeming with swarms of red ants.

All of the rooms along the bottom left floor of the boat, including Martin’s had to be emptied and fumigated, but there are still stragglers making their way around the boat and some of our equipment bags are infested. Most of us have little welts all over our ankles from the tiny little ferocious biters which are more aggressive than their North American cousins and inject a more troublesome poison.

Martin swam another 87 km today, finishing amongst a mob of fans at Santo Antonio de Ica as darkness settled in. Martin slurped his way barefoot through knee deep mud to greet the cheering throng on shore. He was cut off from his boat team amidst the darkness and confusion as a crazed mass led him up a giant hill and into the town square in a scene that resembled the running of the bulls.

>>Matthew Mohlke