Incredible Journey

Have you ever dreamed of leaving the hustle and bustle of life behind, and just going off on some grand adventure? Dreamed of doing something that no one has ever done before? Well Joe Kolodziejski had those dreams, and decided to make them a reality. On February 2, 2002 he left the small town of Port Aransas, Texas to begin an incredible journey.

Filling a small three-man canoe with camping gear and supplies, he pointed his prow to the east, and began rowing. He plans on rowing across the Gulf of Mexico, around the tip of Florida, up the east coast, across Canada, down the west coast, through the Panama Canal, and back home to Port Aransas. An ambitious undertaking that has some folks thinking he's just a little crazy, some folks thinking he's amazing and others wishing they could be along for the ride.

Joe is taking time to stop along the way to look at the beauty of nature, to meet the people of America, and to keep up an Internet journal of his trip. This week he made camp here in Cedar Key, and graciously offered to be interviewed.

Joe relaxes on his front porch

Q: Why did you decide to make this trip?

A: Well six years ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I decided that I needed to do something to celebrate life and beating that cancer. I wanted to do something that no one had done before. While planning the trip, that whole horror of September 11th happened, and I almost cancelled my plans. Then I thought, no that means that then they (the terrorists) have won. I figured if I did the trip it would show them I wasn't afraid. It would maybe help others see that they needed to get on with their lives and not be intimidated by terrorism. So I went ahead with my plans, and dedicated the journey to America's heroes past and present, and named my boat the American Victory.

Q: How did you finance the trip? Do you have a sponsor?

A: No, I don't have a sponsor, I sold everything I owned and bought what I needed to start the trip. I made sure everything I bought was American made.

Q: What has been the hardest part of the trip so far?

A: The weather, it's given me a few surprises with all the rain and some rough seas.

Q: What has been the easiest part of the trip?

A: Visiting towns along the way and meeting the people, they've been great.

Q: What has been the worst problem you've faced so far?

A: Well, I capsized my boat up in Choctawhatchee Bay and lost almost everything. The people up there were incredible though, and helped me save my boat, get supplies, dry clothes, a hot meal and a place to sleep. People in America are terrific!

Q: Has anything unusual happened on your trip so far?

A: Yes, I got to the end of the rainbow. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. It happened early in the morning, with the sun rising in the east, and a squall line of storms sweeping in from the west. Suddenly there was a brilliant silver line across the surface of the water, right over me, and a horizontal rainbow came right over to my boat. It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen.

Q: What have kind of rations did you stock for the trip?

A: Mostly granola, nuts, dried fruits, pasta and canned fish. I've lost about thirty pounds, but am probably in the best physical shape of my life.

Q: What do you think about alone on the ocean for so long?

A: I write stories in my head. I have a book of short stories almost finished.
Q: Do you plan on writing a book about your trip?

A: Yes I do, and that's why I am keeping the journal. I stop at libraries along the way and update it as often as I can.

Q: If you had to sum up this adventure in one sentence what would you say?

A: It's a wonderful country.

Joe and his floating home

If you'd like to read more about Joe and his incredible journey, you can log onto his web site at: http://www.americanvictorytour.org.