Colours of the Nile July 2003 Update

July 2003: Since the last update, the team has been hard at work making trip preparations, meeting with members of previous Nile expeditions, sorting out planning and logistics and researching the tougher sections of the river. Work continues in expedition preparations.

The highlights of the last few months are:

1. Ali Donald strengthens Colours of the Nile river expertise as river guide.
2. Planning & Logistics progress well for Ethiopian section of the river.
3. Expedition members draw on previous Nile explorers’ wisdom.
4. Download a stunning Egyptian screensaver at niletrip.com.

1. Ali Donald strengthens Colours of the Nile river expertise as river guide.

To further reinforce the expedition’s river proficiency, Ali Donald has joined fellow Irishman Rob Coffey as an official Colours of the Nile river guide. With 20 years of paddling experience, Ali contributes extensive kayaking knowledge and prowess to the expedition. Some of his accomplishments include jointly leading the first Irish whitewater expedition to Northern Pakistan in 2001, representing Ireland in 4 kayaking World Championships (in 5 disciplines), and competing in 15 countries on behalf of his sponsors Pyranha, Roughstuff, Kogg and Teva.

In addition to his paddling experience, Ali is an impassioned advocate of water conservation. He was recently quoted as saying: “ I believe the issue of safe drinking water is a global crisis in the making, and it is vital to draw attention to it in constructive and interesting ways. It really hit home when I was in Pakistan, and yet, on returning to my parents home in rural county Mayo, found that now the closest safe drinking water to them is half an hour's drive away!”

Ali’s international kayaking portfolio includes working as a rescue kayaker on the Zambezi River in Zambia and as a video kayaker on West Virginia’s Gauley River. He has been a kayak instructor since 1998 and is an Irish Canoe Union (ICU) Level 4 instructor; Instructorship Training & Assessment panel member and Level 5 Training and Assessment panel member. Ali holds a Rescue and Emergency Care (REC) IV in Wilderness First Aid and Senior Beach Guard Award.

Ali’s passion for rapids is notable both on and off the water. He has written several magazine articles about whitewater trips worldwide and founded Shamrock Designs, a West Ireland based business dealing in composite kayak equipment. For 6 years, Ali has been a key volunteer in the Ballyban & Ballinfoyle Neighbourhood Youth Project, providing outdoor activities for underprivileged youths in Galway.

Ali has a BSC with Honours in Marine Science and has published numerous papers on the subject. In addition to working as a children’s seashore guide he also delivers practical and classroom instruction in the training of adult coastal guides and is actively involved in the course’s curriculum development. For more information please visit niletrip.com/team

2. Planning & Logistics progress well for Ethiopian section of the river.

The Colours of the Nile expedition is pleased to announce a number of significant milestones in terms of planning and logistics. In recent weeks the team has been in contact with a humanitarian organization operating in Ethiopia that has been extremely helpful in terms of providing local assistance. The following outlines the team's progress in various areas.

Pack Mules & Porters
Preliminary contacts have been collected for organizing pack mules and porters. Due to the rugged terrain and lack of accessibility by vehicle, it is necessary to hire local help to follow along the river by foot to act as a re-supply chain. This is particularly important for the whitewater sections of the river where it is difficult to carry food and equipment in the boats. Therefore it envisioned that a caravan of porters and mules will be used to re-supply the team and travel down at least as far as the Shafartak Bridge.

Health & Medicine
It has been advised that the team hire a local doctor to ensure the expedition's health and safety during the trip. A local physician has been contacted and discussions begun regarding hiring someone that can act as the expedition's medic, translator and guide. It has been suggested that a local doctor would be much more knowledgeable about local illnesses and diseases and can deliver humanitarian aid by setting up clinics along the river to treat local patients. Many of the river dwellers have difficulties seeking regular medical attention so this would be a welcomed opportunity.

Preliminary River Survey
A preliminary river survey has been planned for the fall of 2003. Assistance is currently being sought for maps, GPS and a local plane or helicopter to conduct an initial survey of the whitewater sections of the river. More news on this is expected in the next installment of Water Colours.

Government Contacts
A number of contacts in the Ethiopian Government have been passed along that should prove helpful in dealing with future planning, logistics and permits.

3. Expedition members draw upon previous Nile explorer's wisdom.

The Colours of the Nile team have recently met some of the Nile’s greatest past and contemporary explorers who have made their name conquering various sections of the river. Spanning all corners of the globe, these avid adventurers have provided an invaluable insight to assist with expedition planning.

While in New Zealand’s South Island, Mark Tanner met with Mick Hopkins who now runs the New Zealand Kayak School in Murchison. In 1972 with Mike Jones, the British duo kayaked previously untravelled sections of the Blue Nile. Although Mick’s feat was more than 30-years ago, the Colours of the Nile were pleased to hear some of the subtler suggestions gleaned from Mick’s experience. Mick was also helpful in providing contacts in the vicinity of the Nile who have proven helpful in further planning.

Ali Donald, the most recent addition to the team, has proven his worth by contacting Marcus Ballie and Pete Vicker who together covered substantial areas of the Nile in two separate trips prior to 1982. These paddling legends provided the team with helpful documentation on their experiences and some very practical suggestions. Most notable were their suggestions for troubles with marshes in the southern Sudan and problems navigating large waves in Lake Nasser.

Additionally, Rob Coffey has recently returned to Ireland after a kayaking spree in Italy where he met Francesco Salvato and Gianlucca Ricci, two Italians who successfully descended from Lake Tana to the second Portuguese Bridge in 1996. Their electrifying accounts of the trip provided many useful tips on things to avoid and some practical suggestions for staying healthy.

Each of the adventurers presented a different perspective, all valuable bits of information that has contributed to the extensive pool of knowledge that the team is compiling.

4. Download a stunning Egyptian screensaver at niletrip.com.

The Colours of the Nile is pleased to offer "A Portrait of Egypt" screensaver that can be downloaded free of charge from the expedition website. Your monitor will be brought to life by 12 beautiful images taken along the Nile from Aswan to Alexandria. The photos are part of a collection created by Mark Tanner during his reconnaissance trip to Egypt in January.

To download the screensaver, simply visit http://niletrip.com/saver.asp.

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