Chaos                                                     January 11, 2006 

As with just about every expedition that's ever taken place on this planet, it's been pretty manic around here lately. There's a million things to do and a feeling that the JRM Antarctic Kayak Expedition juggernaut will steam on

regardless. We've had enormous hassles getting our kayaks over to South America. For a while there it was looking like we'd have to cut them down to size so they'd fit on a domestic flight in Argentina, but thanks to some wonderful help from the locals (Roxanna, we owe you big time!) we've hit upon a solution that should see us down in Tierra del Fuego in three weeks from now with our trusted kayaks loaded up and ready for forty days paddling in Antarctica. Think we can't wait? You betchya!!!

Santa                                                    December 30, 2005

Santa has been good to us this year. The Antarctic Expedition gear has just about all arrived, and I'm sure we will have trouble fitting it all in the kayaks when we leave for the ice in a few weeks! This is the first time in years that I've taken a bit of time off work without bolting away on an expedition or trip of some sort. It's actually been really, really good to chill out around the house for a change, going for long training paddles, doing a few canyons with friends in the Blue Mountains, and modifying gear in preparation for Antarctica. This will be a cracker of a trip and we are all champing at the bit to get started. I hope Santa's been good to you this year too, and (most important of all) you've been able to spend some quality time with your family and loved ones during the break. More in 2006...

Bega                                                              November 25, 2005

The JRMAK Expedition team will be hosting a night of Antarctic adventure in Bega, on the NSW far south coast, on December 3, 2005.  The Bega region is home to wildman Laurie Geoghegan, who lives an alternative lifestyle on an (almost) self-sufficient block in the hills out of town. Andrew McAuley will be giving the background on the coming Antarctic expedition and the rundown on some of his previous adventures.  The well-oiled expedition team's night of entertainment will include slides, video and some fascinating stories of past epics.  Expatriate pom Stuart Trueman will also be along with his inimitable sense of humour.  Join us on Saturday December 3 the Bega High School Hall, Auckland St Bega at 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start.

VSKC                                                    November 1, 2005

Laurie Geoghegan and I spent the weekend at the Victorian Sea Kayak Club's annual kayak symposium and AGM.  What a great bunch of people.  We catered for around 140 dinners as part of our fundraising efforts for the upcoming expedition to Antarctica. Hard work! But a bit of fun nonetheless. The meet was at Portsea, on the southeastern shores of Port Phillip Bay.  There are some great places to paddle around there -lots of nesting sea birds, seals, some gnarly tide races and some good surf at the Heads.  Plenty of carnage in that surf on Sunday too!  Our sincere thanks to the VSKC for their hospitality over the weekend. ;

Award Ceremony                                    October 19, 2005

Well I have to say the Australian Geographic awards ceremony was a great event with a lot of very interesting folk there.  It's not every day you meet an astronaut - Andy Thomas, the well-known Australian astronaut, was actually sitting next to me at the ceremony.  General Peter Cosgrove, well respected for his work in East Timor, was handing out the awards, and Sorrel Wilby was the MC.  Without wanting to drop too many more names (!), Dick Smith,the well-known entrepreneur and founder of Australian

Geographic was there along with most of the wonderful staff at AG, at least two Everest summiteers, and many others.  It was inspiring to meet other like-minded adventurers who have all achieved exceptional things in their own chosen fields.  Check the Australian Geographic link above for more info on the other awardees.

Adventurer of the Year                         September 24, 2005 

Andrew McAuley has been awarded the Adventurer of the Year award for 2005.  Read more in the news report in the Sydney Morning Herald here.

Socio Adventures                                 September 10, 2005

Andrew McAuley has been invited to be the patron of Socio Adventures, a group dedicated to improving the lives of the mountain-dwelling Peruvian people.  Socio Adventures build fuel-efficient cooking stoves with chimneys for people in the mountain regions of Peru, greatly reducing the reliance on local timber. Smoke from indoor cooking fires is the 4th greatest cause of death in developing countries, primarily due to the link to lung cancer and respiratory diseases. By introducing the simple concept of a chimney to these houses, smoke is vented outside for the first time in generations.  Western tourists can participate in Stove Trek tours by contacting Socio Adventures via their website.

Australian Museum                                  August 20, 2005 

The Australian Museum (Sydney) is featuring a night of Antarctic Adventure on Thursday, September 1 at 7:00pm.  With polar adventurer Tim Jarvis, the Icebird Expedition team will present the future of wind-powered travel in Antarctica.  Check out www.kitesled.com for more details.

Spirit                                                             July 25, 2005 

A few berths have become available on our yacht to Antarctica!  In February 2006, the John Rymill Memorial Antarctic Kayak Expedition will sail to Antarctica on the Spirit of Sydney, a 60-ft yacht built for the Southern Ocean.  If you'd like to spend 40 days discovering Antarctica, and see the kayakers off on their journey, contact us to find out how!

Kitesled                                                      July 24, 2005 

Check out kitesled.com - an awesome wind-powered expedition to the South Pole...

JRMAKE                                                    July 20, 2005 

The John Rymill Memorial Antarctic Kayak Expedition team are providing a slide show and presentation on their fascinating project at Bundeena, near Sydney, on July 23 from 7:30pm.  The core audience attending will be NSW Sea Kayak Club members, however this presentation is open to the public!  Click here for more details!

Antarctica                                                     June 2005 

Website Updates - andrewmcauley.com has been updated... A new set of pages dedicated to the John Rymill Memorial Antarctic Kayak Expedition has been created. 

These are start on the "Antarctica" page, click here to have a look!  We welcome your feedback - if you'd like to let us know what you think of the new additions to the site, send us an email here.

Adventurer of the Year award                        May 2005

NEWS FLASH!!! Andrew McAuley has been nominated for Australian Geographic's Adventurer of the Year award!!! This is a wonderful endorsement of Andrew's 2004 Gulf of Carpentaria kayak crossing.

Click on the map to see the 2004 Gulf of Carpentaria kayak crossing route

Australian Antarctic Division                           Feb 2005  
The Australian Antarctic Division has scrutinised the John Rymill Memorial Antarctic Kayak Expedition plan and determined that there will be no more than a ‘minor or transitory impact’ on the environment. Approval for the expedition’s activities was granted on February 10, 2005.