Rosie Swale Pope: 23,000 miles, Strength be a Woman!

[Ed Ziomek]

Rosie Swale Pope.

61 year old world hiker, has just left the New York area and is headed towards Boston, probably arriving by Monday-Tuesday in time for a Boston Red Sox win, no doubt.

She has been hiking around the world for 3 and a half years, 21,000 miles or so now, and has set a personal timetable completion of June 1, 2008 in her native Wales.

Siberia was the toughest: 7 months of incredibly cold hiking/running, pulling a 300 pound bike trailer/tent behind her, and sleeping literally amongst curious wolves. While her overall experience has been exceptional, she has been mugged four times, once with a gun to her face, and she certainly feared the cold and packs of wild animals not sympathetic to her journey. For breathing on rest breaks, she used a series of reindeer pelts as a filter, cleaning them by simply holding them out in the cold, letting them freeze up, then breaking them clean, to be used again.

Why does she do it? Her husband died of prostrate cancer, and she is raising cancer awareness by her efforts.

Her most amazing moment may have been on a series of 65 degree below nights in Siberia, when she couldn't sleep for the pounding noise of her heartbeat in the stone cold silent surroundings. Later, Siberian natives told her that the volume of her heartbeat was the body's defense against killer sleeps...once you submit to sleep, you don't wake up, so the legend goes. Your body has this natural defense demanding you stay awake, and not pass out.

And the final two legs of the trip are daunting in themselves, 1000 miles across Greenland in the Winter, all in the dark. Then Iceland. Then Ireland, then home to Wales hopefully by June 1.

Monday-Tuesday in Boston!!! Try the Capital Grill on Newfield!

Hollywood could not write this script, but if it could, maybe titled..."Strength Be a Woman".

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/04/05/runningrosie/

[Ed Ziomek]

Apparently Rose was in Rhode Island today, and is headed for Boston maybe by Monday (I was off my previous prediction by one week)

http://www.rosiearoundtheworld.co.uk/

Map of her trek....
http://www.rosiearoundtheworld.co.uk/Rosie%20world%20strip%202%201%206%20kinkfix%20line%20brighter%20pre%20shrink%20update.jpg

[Ed Ziomek]

quote from Rosie today via wireless Blackberry... Finished with Greenland, on shore in Iceland now....

http://www.rosiearoundtheworld.co.uk/

".....Re my plans, I have ONLY 90 miles to go in Iceland, mostly through the open lavafield and desert along the lonely winter road. No more towns until within about 15 miles of the Iceland Finish.

I 'm bouncing with energy and well stocked up, so that's fine. It's very stormy again. The prediction is whiteouts and gales for the whole week. So we'll be very careful. Icebird has learnt to 'heave to' beautifully..

She is shaking hard now, making the Blackberry jump, but holds true. I am getting great trust in her. We're getting there bit by bit. The situation regarding ferries from Iceland to Scotland. Is more difficult. Getting to Scotland is a challenge.. The first scheduled ferry to Scrabster is on 18 June. I hope so much that the sweet little Icebird and I MIGHT be able to buy a berth on a friendly fishing boat or a cargo vessel before then...

It's typical of this round the world effort - that it's going to be edge of the seat suspense and excitement RIGHT TO THE END!! I am VERY keen to get to the FINISH in Tenby!! I think the Iceland, Scotland,Tenby stretch will be a huge adventure. I shall be extremely grateful for help and information about boats It's GOING TO BE A VERY B E A U T I F U L SUMMER IN GREAT BRITAIN THIS YEAR. CAN HARDLY WAIT TO BE THERE!! ! Rosie END"

Another story, Man Rows across the Atlantic.... ABC News

Sam Williams, 75 days, 3700 miles....

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=7190633&ch=4226714&src=news

[Ed Ziomek]

On April 7, 2008, still in Iceland...Rosie slipped on ice and broke some ribs while falling onto her rigging.

She will be out for a few weeks, and we wish her the best...

Maybe to cheer her up, for when she gets better...and you too Sam Williams channel ...Billy Squier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLHc-yIAPbg

[Ed Ziomek]

Update on Rosie's progress...

She has crossed into Northern Scotland, and she is headed South towards Wales and home!

http://www.rosiearoundtheworld.co.uk/

[Ed Ziomek]

As you read this, Rosie may have arrived home, on crutches, with two stress fractures in her legs! Note: All she can do at this point is walk in slowly, painfully, shoulder injury, leg injuries, hand injuries, and everything else!

She was less than 25 miles away, yesterday, Saturday, and is due into her Tenby home town, but noonish Monday.

Can anyone of us imagine what she has been through?

God Bless her!

http://www.rosiearoundtheworld.co.uk/

[Ed Ziomek]

Rosie came home today, broken bones and all.

I have heard of human endurance stories, walking across Siberia in wartime, walking through jungles after airplane crashes, surviving 4 years after a shipwreck, but this is a world's first.

Congratulations to a very strong-hearted, inspirational human being.

Rosie Swale Pope. Superwoman. Humanitarian. Dedicated to her Husband, taken down by prostrate cancer.

Tina Turner.... Simply the best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG7StGqZFms&feature=related