UPDATE: Wellington embarks on magnificent expedition

By Ellwood Shreve, QMI Agency, Friday, July 13, 2012

Chatham native and self-propelled adventurer Rod Wellington is in the midst of the first stage of a 15-year Magnificent Seven Expedition that will involve a lot of paddling.

Wellington is currently kayaking the Missouri-Mississippi river system from source to sea.

He sent me an e-mail, about his plans to paddle, from source to sea, the longest river system on each of the world’s seven continents. These include the Nile River in Africa, the Amazon River in South America, the Yangtze River in Asia, the Volga River in Europe, the Darling-Murray River in Australia, and the Onyx River in Antarctica.

Wellington, who began his journey on June 17 at Brower’s Spring in southern Montana, recognized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the source of the Missouri-Mississippi river systems. He estimates it will take him five months to reach the Gulf of Mexico, a distance of about 6,100 kilometres.

When he’s not paddling – or resting – Wellington said he will be doing a number of speaking engagements to promote the self-empowering benefits associated with partaking in low-impact, long distance, self-propelled, eco-responsible exploration.

“When we propel ourselves forward, we propel the world forward, as well,” he said. “And when we share the stories of our journeys, it inspires others to share their stories.”

Wellington is encouraging people to join him to paddle sections of the river system.

For more information, check out his website at www.ZeroEmissionsExpeditions.com.