With only fish and birds for company, Eric Erden has been rowing across the Pacific Ocean to Australia in his 23-foot-long boat since he left California on July 10, 2009.
But crossing the Pacific is only part of his incredible journey. Eric has decided to go all the way around the world using only his own energy. He will row, bike, and walk without help from any motors at all. Oh, and his plan includes climbing the tallest peak on six of the continents along the way, to honour the memory of a fellow climber.
He says he is doing this to show kids that they can achieve any goal, but he hopes to have some great adventures along the way.
As a solo traveller, Eric has already faced disappointments and challenges. Because he has to row about ten hours a day, he brought along an MP3 player to listen to music and pass the time. Unfortunately, the nearly daily tropical rain for several months has forced him to keep his player packed away where it's safe and dry.
Storms and huge wave wind regularly force him in the wrong direction and even threaten to overturn his boat. “Sometimes I really feel scared,” says a somewhat embarrassed Eric. “But that’s all part of the journey. I knew this wouldn’t be easy when I started. That's why I gave myself two years to finish.”
Protein bars（蛋白棒） give him energy, and he boils water to heat freeze-dried meals on a one-burner stove. A solar-powered machine removes salt from ocean water so he can drink it, but only when the sun shines. When that fails he sometimes tries to collect rainwater in buckets.
He’s not bothered by any of the hardships. Eric sees the world as a laboratory where there is much to learn. And when his trip around the world takes him across land, he enjoys meeting people - especially children. He has already visited several schools and shared his story.
小题1:Why is Eric making this trip?
A．To encourage children to reach for their goal.
B．To learn more about the world around us.
C．To have many great adventures in strange lands.
D．To honour the memory of a fellow climber.小题2:What does Eric plan to do on each of the six continents he will visit?
A．Visit schools to share his story.
B．Study the culture of the local people.
C．Climb the tallest mountain.
D．Cycle from one end to the other.小题3:When does Eric expect to finish his journey?
A．July 2009.
B．June 2010.
C．January 2011.
D．July 2011.小题4:Which of the following words best describes Eric’s character?
A．Determined.
B．Intelligent.
C．Fearless.
D．Lonely.
