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The History Boys – The Nile Explorers: Speke, Wood, Baker

Nile explorer decendents — L-R: Tom Mayberry, Peter Speke, Levison Wood, David Baker – image by Jason Florio

The Nile Explorers – Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution (BRSLI), Bath, Somerset.

Yesterday (with huge thanks to writer, explorer, and photographer, Levison Wood) we Florios were honored to be in the midst of such esteemed – and truly inspirational – company to commemorate the 150 year anniversary of an encounter between (Nile explorers) Captains Sir Richard Francis Burton and John Hanning Speke, in the Royal Mineral Water Hospital, Bath, 15th September, 1864.

Over the space of a few (all too) short hours, we sat and listened to superb narrative – facts and anecdotes, richly woven together – from, amongst others, descendents of the above mentioned (who themselves have gone on to become 21st Century African explorers in their own right), highly acclaimed explorers of the 19th Century.

We also got a chance to listen to Levison Wood, give a synopsis of ‘Walking the Nile‘ – he very recently completed an astonishing 3750 miles walk of the length of the mighty river. It was all too brief… I’m certain Lev could have easily filled the whole afternoon, regaling the audience with tales (and great images) about his incredible journey. Alas, we will have to wait until 2015, when the documentary series of his epic walk is aired on C4.

Royal_Hotel_Bath — The Royal Hotel, Bath – where Captain Sir Richard Burton laid his head, in preparation for the much publicized reunion with John Hanning Speke. Image © Jason Florio

Yesterday’s vicarious immersion into great explorers, past and present, has our adventure juices well and truly whetted.

Thanks again to Lev Wood and to Jane Sparrow, BRLSI Geography & Adventure Group, for extending the invite.

As for our humble foray into the world of exploration, you may like to check out ‘River Gambia Expedition-1044km source-sea African odyssey‘ and ‘A Short Walk in the Gambian Bush – 930km African odyssey‘.

Now, where will our next adventure take us? Watch this space…

The Florios – Helen & Jason

FLO_LEV_MATT_UGANDA — Jason Florio, Levison Wood, Matthew Power (R.I.P.) – Uganda, East Africa, 2014. Image by Boston (Woka) Beka

In remembrance of Matthew Power: In March this year – whilst Lev was walking through Uganda – Jason, along with our friend and writer, Matthew Power, joined him for what would transpire to be a truly tragic few days.

Matt, you are missed… x H&J

River Gambia… photo stories

‘The River Gambia Expedition – 1044km source-sea African odyssey‘

Tales from a mighty West African river…

'River Gambia' the source, Fouta Djallon Highlands - VQR Magazine © Jason Florio — ‘River Gambia‘ the source, Fouta Djallon Highlands, Guinea-Conakry – VQR Magazine © Jason Florio

Screen Shot 2014-09-14 at 8.49.40 AM — Image © Jason Florio

Screen Shot 2014-09-14 at 8.47.26 AM — The shot… Jason Florio at work. Image © Helen Jones-Florio

Screen Shot 2014-09-14 at 9.02.02 AM — HJF, Ebou & Abdou at work! River Gambia, Senegal, West Africa © Jason Florio

Screen Shot 2014-09-14 at 8.57.27 AM — Florio at work – River Gambia, Kuntaur, The Gambia, West Africa. Image © Helen Jones-Florio

Screen Shot 2014-09-14 at 9.18.21 AM — Samba Fishing © Jason Florio River Gambia, Kuntaur, The Gambia, West Africa

GEOGRAPHICAL COVER — Geographical Magazine – Image © Jason Florio

'River Gambia' The Gambia © Jason Florio — Boy with Mask © Jason Florio

To read (and see) more about our River Gambia journey, please visit rivergambiaexpedition.com

The Florios – Helen & Jason

H & Flo - we did it! — Mission accomplished! The Gambia, January 2013

9/11 – Remembering

Screen Shot 2014-09-11 at 8.49.12 AM — Image © Jason Florio – 9/11, NYC

Rewind to: 11th Sept 2001 – I remember being on the #52 bus on the way home, from Nottinghill Gate to Kensal Rise, in London,UK, when I received a phone call from a friend to tell me the staggering news of what was unfolding in New York City – the first tower had just gone down. Little did we know as we watched the news back to back well into the night – until a mutual friend told us the next day – that Jason had been down at the World Trade Center as the towers fell. Thankfully, he is still around to tell the story. His recounting of the hours he spent down there, and seeing his photos, still make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Some years later…

… Jason and I walked out of our apartment building, off 6th Avenue, NYC, and retraced his route downtown… following the exact path he took, as he ran towards the World Trade Center (as most people were running away from it) on a truly tragic, seminal, day: September 11th, 2001.

Jason photographed, ‘9/11 Redux‘, the same locations that he had shot on ‘9/11/2001‘ – a confluence of two contrasting periods in time… yet, not altogether dissimilar…

Screen Shot 2014-09-11 at 10.10.46 AM — 2012: Patricia Mack with Jason and the photograph he took of her on 9/11 outside Trinity Church, Broadway, NYC – Image by Neville Elder

June 2012: ‘Captain Patricia (Patty) Mack – pictured above – is a retired New York Courts Officer. In 2001, her being a first sponsor – along with her husband Tim – comes with special meaning. I photographed her on September 11th 2001, just a few minutes after she appeared from the rubble of the collapse of the World Trade Center’s south tower. We had not communicated since that life changing time, but we were recently re-acquainted when she kindly agreed to be in the documentary I have been working on with my colleague, Neville Elder about our experiences photographing that tragic day‘ Jason Florio – See more on Vimeo: ‘Return to Ground Zero’ (currently in post-production).

Screen Shot 2014-09-11 at 10.43.16 AM — Vimeo: ‘Return to Ground Zero‘ – click here to view (image ©Jason Florio)

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To view then and now: ‘New York City 09.11.2001‘ & ‘9.11 Redux‘

In remembrance to all those who lost their lives on September 11th, 2001.

Jason & Helen Florio

He walked the length of the River Nile! Congratulations to Levison Wood

Screen Shot 2014-09-08 at 10.19.12 AM — Images © Jason Florio, 2014

Earlier in March, along with friend and writer, Matthew Power (we miss you dearly, Matt), Jason spent a few days with Levison Wood on the Uganda section of his historic walk.

Now, explorer, Lev, has just completed his incredible journey. The first person to walk almost the entire length of the River Nile, in Africa, from it’s source to the sea – fighting in South Sudan meant he had to abandon a 450-mile section. But still, come on, credit where credit is due…he covered a whopping 3750miles! When Jason and I made a mere 930km walk around The Gambia, in 2009, we met people along the way who frequently announced that ‘your donkeys will be dead in two days!‘ and/or ‘it is not possible for someone to walk that far‘! We can’t wait to hear what incredulous comments Lev would most definitely have heard along the way.

Screen Shot 2014-09-08 at 10.57.56 AM — L-R: Jason Florio, Levison Wood, Matthew Power (R.I.P.) – Uganda, March 2014

We are looking forward the forthcoming documentary about the journey. In the meantime, you can read all about Lev’s epic adventure here: ‘Walking the Nile‘.

The Florios – Helen & Jason

_MG_8592 — Image © Jason Florio– taken whilst on our ‘River Gambia Expedition – 1044km source-sea African odyssey’

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