Viracocha II

Along with Captain Phil Buck of the reedship “Viracocha II” I’d like to invite one and all to a reunion party of the entire Viracocha II reedship crew and a showing of the Viracocha II documentary. Please make an effort to come and rub elbows with modern-day adventurers and enjoy an afternoon/evening of food, drink and fun. Everyone is invited, so bring along anyone and everyone who might be interested in this one-of-a-kind event. The more the merrier.

WHEN:  SEPTEMBER 18, 2004, 4 PM until whenever (bring a tent and sleep over) WHERE: Heath Fairgrounds, Heath Massachusetts  (directions below). Bring your own drinks. Food will be on sale, as will T-shirts, videos.

Crew will be arriving late this week from across the United States (and Texas), France, Germany, Chile and regions around the world. Bring kids and friends, no RSVP necessary. (You will only have to cover the ears of your kids once or twice during the film...but, it will be worth it!!)

THE FILM: We’d like to share with you our adventure across the Pacific Ocean in the spring of 2003 wherein Phil Buck and his crew successfully reached Easter Island from Vina del Mar, Chile in an ancient-styled reedship made of 2.5 million totora reeds. Phil is the first modern-mariner to successfully reach Easter Island in an ancient-styled craft.  Why would someone want to try this, you ask?  He hopes to shed new light on the migration of pre-Columbian cultures, to see if it was possible for ancient mariners to reach Polynesia and Easter Island, and to see how far these craft could have traveled in ancient-times. His theory is not a popular one with anthropologists. His ultimate goal is a five-stage circumnavigation of the globe in ancient-styled reedships.

The documentary, filmed and edited by Thom Pollard of Eyes Open Productions and Co-Produced by Thom Pollard and Phil Buck, is nearing completion and soon to be marketed worldwide.  Witness first-hand the expedition from its very beginnings to the nearly disastrous launch to its final destination of Easter Island, which it reached 75 days after its departure Pacific.  Pollard and Buck are both members of 100-year old Explorers Club, based in NYC.

Some highlights you can expect to see:

    *Aymara boat builders of Bolivia
    *The moai statues of Easter Island
    *Reedcutting on Lago Titicaca (quick, cover the ears of your kids!)
    *Ship construction in Vina del Mar, Chile
    *The nearly disastrous launch
    *The Ship’s departure
    *75 days of trial, tribulation and glory upon the Pacific
    *Insight from the entire crew
    *Rod’s World of Fishing “television” program
    *Storms and serenity upon the sea
    *Swimming with an ocean sunfish
    *Food shortages dwindling
    *Easter Island FINALLY!!!

We hope you can make it. After the huge investment in time, money and energy the crew hopes to share this adventure and see it through to the final phase...the long-anticipated completion of the film.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. Thanks and see you Saturday! For those of you unable to make it to the party, a copy of the video will be for sale. Please let me or Phil know.

With kind regards,
Thom Pollard
Creative Director

DIRECTIONS:
1) From Interstate 91 North in Greenfield, take Rte.2 west past Shelburne Falls to Charlemont.
2) Watch for Rte 8a north on your right just before gas station.
3) Head up Rte 8a North approximately 8 miles to "Branch Hill Road" on your right.
4) About 1 1/2 miles up is Heath Fairgrounds on the left.

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