As a new year begins, many of us look forward to a fresh start. We challenge our current lifestyle, embrace change, set aside negative feelings and allow ourselves to dream.
I am inspired by many of the people who correspond with us and I would like to share with you the journey of a young man who embarked on the adventure of a lifetime last summer.
Benton Purnell, a 17-year old Oakland resident, paddled a Pelican 15.5 canoe down the 2,350-mile Mississippi River, much of it on his own.
At the start of his journey, he had all of two weeks experience as a solo canoeist. He was overweight and not in particularly good shape. He began his voyage in response to his father’s urging that he have an “adventure during the summer break.”
He began his trip on May 4 in the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota, accompanied by his father for the first two weeks. Fallen trees, thick marshes and waterfalls were some of the many challenges he encountered right from the start. The canoe was unloaded, carried for up to a half-mile portage and reloaded numerous times.
Once the pair reached Minneapolis, Purnell journeyed on alone for an additional two months, keeping in touch with his parents via a satellite transponder. He paddled up to 14 hours per day and camped at night, often sharing a sandbar with local wildlife.
Rain, bugs and extreme cold and heat were just some of the elemental challenges he had to face. Close encounters with a wolf, a water moccasin, an angry beaver and a duck defending her young gave him a healthy respect for wildlife.
Purnell completed his journey on July 19, and though sunburned, blistered and bug-bitten, he proudly showed off his calloused hands, muscular arms and new, slim figure.
Purnell is a perfect example of what we can achieve with a little will, drive, determination, hard work, patience and courage.
Let’s make 2014 a year to dare, dream and do.
Pelican International 
Fantastic work as usual from the marketing team! Keep up the great blog posts!