This Raft is Really Happening

You didn’t believe it. I didn’t believe it… BUT IT’S REALLY HAPPENING.

We (an Englishman, an American, a Slovakian, and a Dane), will be Pirates. We’ve built a raft, looked up information about safety, and now there is nothing else to do except get our ears pierced and climb aboard our raft. I first shared this a few months ago as I announced plans for a big adventure. It’s always nice to follow through and see plans come into completion.

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How did we build the raft? A little like this…

this raft is real (rafting pirates of the danube)-1First we went to a goat farm owned by the uncle of one of our pirates. There we met some lovely goats and even had a try at milking them. Although I one day wish to own my own goats, I have an awful lot to learn about how to milk them quickly. It’s quite a surreal experience to be squeezing elongated dark nipples so hard.

this raft is real (rafting pirates of the danube)-3At the goat farm, we were lucky enough to be offered the use of old billboards, old pieces of timber, 8 x 200 litre barrels, and some power tools. We set about drilling and tying things together, debating the many ways that we could make this raft work. Mostly, the workers at the farm laughed and thought that we were crazy, but they did offer some useful advice.

Namely, one particular guy essentially single handedly changed all of our plans and redesigned our raft. Without this advice, we would probably still be unsuccessfully fighting with wood and barrels in the farm yard.

One joy of the farm yard was that it was filled with fresh fruits and other animals to keep all of us occupied. Some of us like building rafts.. some of us like playing with cats.

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By this time, our raft was really starting to look like a raft.

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Another uncle then offered us the use of his fishing hut on the river. There we lived for several days and finished the raft.

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As men are often wont to do, we made fire.

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If we were going to live on the raft, we decided that we needed shelter from the elements, so using old billboard material, we made a rigid frame tent.

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As we slid the raft down the slope and towards the water, we had literally no idea if it would float.

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You know what though?? It worked!!

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More coming soon… (get free updates)

Also, check out the map of our progress since we left England.

By | 2013-12-12T01:48:10+00:00 August 31st, 2013|Pirates of the Danube|9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. BakoymaTravels 31/08/2013 at 23:38 - Reply

    Those cats’ll get you karma on Reddit, but I doubt you guys need it. I’m so glad this worked and I can’t wait to read about your progress! I’m well impressed with you guys, I have to say šŸ˜€

    Remember: To err is human, to ARR is pirate! \o/

  2. Dad 31/08/2013 at 19:47 - Reply

    Be safe, keep a good lookout at all times, plan ahead and wear your life jackets!

  3. Kevin 31/08/2013 at 13:47 - Reply

    I’ll admit that I didn’t think you’d actually build a raft. I thought you’d find a used boat or something and settle with that. So glad you’re following through with this wacky idea. I’m envious of your creative insanity.

    • Jamie 31/08/2013 at 13:59 - Reply

      Wait till you see my pirate coat!

  4. Mumski :) x 31/08/2013 at 10:28 - Reply

    An Englishman an American, a Slovakian and a Dane on a self built pirate raft, what wonderful stories this conjures up šŸ™‚ x Does your raft have a name yet šŸ™‚ Have an amazing time, travel safely šŸ™‚ x

  5. Melanie Murrish 31/08/2013 at 09:48 - Reply

    Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur………

    OK, you’ve gone down in my estimation…a law abiding raft? Whatever next-buying food from a supermarket?!

    • Jamie 31/08/2013 at 10:22 - Reply

      Rather than law abiding, it’s more that it isn’t law breaking. Did I mention that we have a cannon and cutlasses… šŸ˜‰

  6. Gianella 31/08/2013 at 01:41 - Reply

    It’s crazy, the things you can make out of very simple objects. I admire your courage. Best of luck to you and your mates in this journey :)! can’t wait to hear all about it

    • Jamie 31/08/2013 at 09:34 - Reply

      Thanks for the encouragement.

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