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Hello Everyone
Before I begin, Kathy and I welcome those receiving our newsletter for the first time. Thank you for joining in on the adventure. Without you there would simply be no need to write these things : )
Duel Editions of our Newsletter Planned for 2013
For 2013 we’re planning a second edition of The Xpeditions Newsletter. The one you’re currently reading will now be called “The Adventure Edition”. Within this edition you’ll read about our adventures, expeditions, new discoveries… you get the idea.
The second edition will be called “The Healers Edition” and focuses on health and wellness, stories from my experiences, health tips I pass on to others, suggestions to enhance your abilities, and anything else associated with my work.
These will be sent out alternatively and as now planned I hope to send out bi-monthly. We’ll see how that goes haha! Of course as we get closer to the expedition there might be more in the adventure department during that time.
For now, I don’t plan to separate the mailing list into two different lists. I don’t have time for that. My suggestion; If you don’t like one or the other simply unsubscribe, or delete the one you are not interested in : )
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Ok… be sure to read to the end. I have an important update about our expedition to Tocache, plus a continuation of what was mentioned at the end of our last newsletter; details from a conversation I had with one of our Peruvian guides. This is important news you will not want to miss!
First, here are a few dates for upcoming events I have planned in the greater Phoenix area.
Conference
January 19th: 1pm ~ 5pm ($25 admission)
January 20th: 1pm ~ 5pm ($25 admission)
I’m participating in a 2 day conference interviewing Andrew D. Basiago. I am also on a 5 person panel (broadcast to England) discussing UFO’s and extraterrestrial presence. For more information follow this link for Saturdays event, and this link for Sundays event. An Evening with Jerry Wills
January 19th: 7pm ~ 9pm ($50 per person)
New United World Trade Center Symposium
World Leaders in action for Global Transformation
February 9th: 9am ~ 8pm
I will be one of the presenters at this event.
An Evening with Jerry Wills
February 19th: 7pm ~ 9pm ($50 per person)
I’ll let you know as more events are scheduled…
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The Prairie Schooner
The last newsletter was sent out in October, and since then we have been unusually quiet. Because of where we were staying we haven’t had a good enough connection to get online. This really bothered us, but there were issues requiring us to make a few sacrifices. Because of this we were “out of the loop” for awhile. We didn’t think it would be for such a long period of time. That was not in the plan… No, nothing bad happened. It’s all good, and though we haven’t stayed in touch as we wish we had, things are now going in a less technologically challenging direction.
Our latest excursion into the unpredictable started last August while driving back from Pittsburgh. When crossing America we typically drive back through Nebraska to visit Kathy’s family. Checking Craigslist we located a 35 foot (11 meter) travel trailer in southern South Dakota a short distance north from where Kathy’s mother lives. The RV looked to be in very good condition, was clean, seemed reasonably functional… and the price was exactly within our comfort range! Having talked about this for over 10 years we decided it was the time to give it a try, and we bought it. We didn’t realize what a life changing decision this would be.
The Prairie Schooner has been quite a project. I should probably have started a blog to document the experiences we’ve had. I knew nothing about construction or fabrication. My experiences were completely dealing with circuits, design, and repairing electronics system. I have since become pretty good with a hammer, saw, and everything else used to build. It has been a crazy thing to get my mind around. I now have a deep appreciation for anyone who can accurately measure, then cut a straight line through plywood!
There have been a few bummers (like when all the boards I cut were inches off), but for the most part we have really enjoyed our choice. I can’t remember when we spent so much time laughing. Kathy and I have both lost a lot of weight since August and I think it’s from the laughter.
Our goal has been to get this thing ready to live in full time! To do this we would have to redesign much of what was there. The bedroom walls and ceiling were stripped to the frame (because of water damage) and rebuilt. The dinette has been removed. In its place we’ve designed and built a 2 station computer center housing our broadcast console and video editing suite. Every window was removed and resealed, entry doors, realigned and repaired, and the electrical system has been improved. With all we’ve already done there are still several improvements we have planned. It looks like this will be a work in progress for awhile.
To work on the Schooner we moved from Phoenix to Jerome, Az. where the Schooner was parked. A daily trip of 100 miles was out of the question.
Living in Jerome was extraordinary. We were high on the mountainside overlooking the red rocks of Sedona and Sycamore Canyon. We fell in love with Jerome and the folks living there. Life in Jerome is a real life version of “Andy of Mayberry” and Woodstock. Jerome is one incredible place if you like the eclectic.
Recently, the Jerome Humane Society
distributed catnip to the residents
Still, as interesting and unusual as it is, living in Jerome was quite a challenge for us. There is very limited internet (iPhone mostly), and no TV unless you agree to a years contract. We knew we wouldn’t be there a year, so we did without. Our cell phones marginally worked due to being in a fringe area. Jerome is a beautiful area, and maybe one day we will join the crazy fun residents who live in and around Jerome. It really is an amazing high energy place!
Our plan was to be finished by early October. That changed several times, always pushed forward. Finally, after months of work we could count on the Schooner being ready for travel by the first of December. What a maiden voyage… If enough people ask I’ll tell you the details hahaha…
You might wonder why we chose this lifestyle over having a “home” to come home to. Consider this; We spend most of the year traveling around America, or overseas. Whether it’s home ownership or renting your home, it still adds up monthly. For us it was always renting, and we would spend around $1,800 a month in the Phoenix area (this includes utilities, cable, and so forth). We hardly ever used the 2,000 + sq feet we always had. It was just a big home, and always costly. While stopping for the night at some hotel far from home we would talk about how nice it would be to have our own bed, and have our things around us. we have that now and it has already made a huge difference in how we will conduct ourselves in the months to come. If you have thought about doing this I suggest you make plans and get on with it. There is now a sense of freedom we have never experienced. THIS is really great!
As for size; The Schooner is exactly big enough to be comfortable. With very little planning we can go whenever we want to, where ever we want to, and take our home with us. As for costs; our monthly expenses are a third of what we were spending monthly. Best of all, it’s ours free and clear.
We’ve lived in the Amazon Jungle, high in the Andes mountains, traveled years at a time across country in our Chevy Suburban, lived in big homes and small apartments, and traveled the world staying in nice and horrible places. Life in The Schooner is just the next extraordinary experience, and we are truly enjoying, it. From this we will have another great story to talk about around a warm campfire in some exotic and distant location… or perhaps just outside the Schooner as we meet up with friends and camp for the night. Life is fun on the holodeck : )
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Tocache Xpedition: UPDATE
The Doomsday Stone
The reason we’re going back
Since our last newsletter (3 months ago!!!) we have made progress toward acquiring several items we really felt were needed for the expedition. As it stands we are delaying the expedition for a few months. I’ll explain…
We had planned to travel to Peru in December. Permissions have been obtained and the local people are ready to receive us. We have local air and land transportation secured, and once we arrive to the area there are burro’s and men waiting to help us journey into the great wilderness up the Tocache Valley. The international airfare is another issue…
Flights require booking at least two weeks in advance if you hope to get a reasonable price. We discovered the costs were bumped a thousand dollars higher in December. It was the Christmas rush. I couldn’t see spending an extra thousand dollars just because it was December.
Of course, weather conditions are a serious consideration as well You cannot go into an area like this if it is raining buckets – and I assure you, there have been times when we’ve been there when it really rains like the second coming. I had never seen drops of rain so large falling for days. If we happened to be there during one of these storms we might spend days (or weeks) huddled in a shelter waiting for the weather to clear. Then the ground is supersaturated… really really NOT good!
Because we are all to familiar with this, Kathy checked the weather conditions daily. The regional weather reports are provided for a 10 day period. These predictions are otherwise known as a best guess because the weather in this area can rapidly change. Personally I feel their predictions are foolish since the weather in this region is completely unpredictable… There is a rainy season and a dry season. Once the rainy season starts – early or late – you can depend on it staying around for awhile.
Our contacts in Peru (in the jungle area we were heading to) stayed in touch with us. Though the weather predictions suggested December would be a good time, it was not. Heavy rains came early and poured for days at a time.
December came and went, and from what we have been told it looks like it will be at least April before the rain subsides, and the ground dries enough for us to venture in. The danger from landslides, mudslides, and a roaring river flushing from the eastern slopes of the Andes is too much to deal with… and too dangerous to attempt. So, we have postponed for now.
The progress we’ve made really thrills us. Since the last newsletter many of you have contacted us, made donations, and shown us you support our expedition. If I haven’t already written you (remember, not much of a connection for awhile) Kathy and I want you to know we acknowledge your support with gratitude and appreciation. The promises we made you will be honored when the time comes.
We now have the best water purifiers available, solar energy chargers, auxiliary power systems, and have improved several important pieces of equipment needing attention.
Thanks folks… You’re amazing friendship and support mean so much to Kathy and I
For you just receiving our newsletter for the first time, and as a reminder to those who might want to get involved, there is still an opportunity to lend your support for the expedition. We still have a few items needed. Plus, the possibility of continuing on to finish Part II of Cumbemayo (now that we’re delayed a few weeks) is becoming more likely. Your contributions will help us afford these expenses, and are greatly appreciated.
GET INVOLVED There are a few items we have to acquire. As you know, we typically finance ourselves on these expeditions. It can be pretty expensive, but always worth it. That said, it would be a little easier with your help. So, we’re putting it out to our worldwide audience to see if there is a chance you might like to get involved. If not, no biggie. However, here are the details if you can…
BECOME A PRODUCER Would you like to see your name in the credits? Here’s how you can be part of this. We are still trying to raise extra funds to purchase a solar battery charging system and several additional items we need to acquire before we leave. If you want to assist us with this expedition you can make a donation at Xpeditions TV. Just look for the donate icon on the page. Follow the link and fill in what you wish to help out with.
- Donate any amount and you will see your name in the end credits. Yes, even if it’s only a dollar.
- Those donating $25 or more will be provided a link to watch (at no charge) the video before it is publicly available.
- For those donating $50 or more we will send you a DVD once we have finished editing.
- For more the $100… Well, aside from all the above, I think sending you a souvenir from the site would be in order! I have no idea what this would be (or how big – remember, I’ll be the one carrying it out). I promise it will be pretty neat!
Once completed, this episode will be placed within the new members section to help us recover our expenses.
I know times are difficult for everyone. Kathy and I do not expect you to help, but we simply ask you to if you can.
Additionally, if time, finances, and especially weather permits we are considering a return to Cumbemayo to film part 2 and finish that one up. We really want to get to the source of the water that once flowed through those aqueducts. We know it’s high in the Andes, and that trip will be equally difficult (though not nearly as dangerous). This is a maybe right now, though we are strongly leaning in that direction. We’ll keep you posted on that one!
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The “Other” News…
In the last newsletter I wrote about a call we had received from our guide in Peru that came in minutes before the newsletter was to be sent out. I wrote:
“While composing this newsletter a message arrived from Peru. Our contact, the person helping us get permission, wrote to inform of something exciting. Our assistant was told there is something else the locals have found… “It is something truly incredible” is all he wrote. I have no idea what it is, but know he is not one to be dramatic without reason. I expect to hear more from him in the days ahead.”
We spoke with him the following week. The information was amazing… and exciting.
As you recall from the previous newsletter – or if you have read any information we’ve posted about this area – the eastern slopes of the Andes hosted quite a few seemingly advanced cultures. Kathy and I (and several others) believe these folks were the survivors of some global event that forever changed the world. What we have seen is only a sliver of what is really there. Knowing this compels us to keep going to uncover more. There is so much still hidden there.
While discussing our expedition with someone living in this remote area we’re headed to, our guide, a longtime friend, told us something incredible had been seen. He refused to discuss it over the phone or by email. We will need to speak with him in person. All he offered is to repete over and over, “You were right! You were right! The extraterrestrials, they WERE here, and I think they maybe still are! You were right! You MUST come as quickly as you can! I’ll tell you more when you arrive.”
We learned long ago not to get our hopes up. Our friend and trusted guide was quite excited and emphatic, but until we know what the situation is I don’t think it wise to rush in only to find out what excites him is not so exciting. You bet our curiosity is stimulated!!! We’ve never know him to sound so anxious. He’s usually very quiet and reserved. I suppose we’ll find out once we finally arrive. Whatever it is you can be sure we’ll share it with you, whatever it is we find out.
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Thanks folks… Kathy and I send each of you warm wishes. We really appreciate you being part of our extended Xpeditions family. Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to those you feel would be interested. We’ll be in touch soon…
Jerry & Kathy Wills
 “There’s something moving in that pot!!!” Kathy Jerry & Kathy at Lake Titicaca |
The Vinny Eastwood Show
One last item: Terranomaly
Paula Taylor (to your left) was dear to us, and an amazing woman who always showed how forgiveness, kindness and warmth can alter the world around her. Paula was one of the original hippies who settled Jerome in the 70’s. At that time Jerome was an abandoned ghost town. I’ve heard about the parties, music, and culture that was here. It must have been incredible.
VIDEO / DOCUMENTARY/ MOVIE?
CLASS 4: Into The Mystic
The view from our jungle hut
Kathy at Bolivian border crossing
Nalonmit's Blog 