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Modern Day Castaway

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Could you survive alone for two months at sea in a dugout canoe?

In 1846, James Morrill survived a shipwreck on Australia’s north coast. Though the young sailor was then embraced by the local Indigenous community, in Modern Day Castaway, Michael Atkinson asks, "could James have built a vessel and made the perilous journey to a historic rescue haven in the Torres Strait?"

With the cyclone season fast approaching, Alone Australia contestant and solo adventurer Mike Atkinson sets sail on an extraordinary 1500-kilometre journey to the northern tip of Australia. His aim is to live entirely off the land and sea.

As malnourishment drains his body, Mike navigates his failing dugout canoe through the treacherous waters of the Great Barrier Reef, and along the wild and unforgiving coastline of Cape York.

From crocodile defense tactics to calamitous canoe failure and fishing with adapted Indigenous tools, Modern Day Castaway journals Mike’s epic struggle for survival. This is a truly unique book. A cross between Tom Hanks' Castaway (although this story is real, not fiction!), a genuine shipwrecked sailor’s tale, and Mike’s awe-inspiring journey of discovery.

©2023 Michael Atkinson (P)2023 Michael Atkinson Adventure Travel Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Travel Writing & Commentary Adventure Survival
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Great book and adventure. I really like the respectful way you go about things and dealing with people. Especially the native Australians - Great adventure

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*** mild spoiler alert***
thoroughly enjoyed this book and was riveted from the beginning. The sheer amount of preparation and research Mike did before the journey even began was mind boggling.
Then the trip itself was an absolute epic. The first few stages where the expedition was conducted amongst people using all a the conveniences of the modern world in their amazing boats and yachts was an interesting juxtaposition.
The author managed to maintain his desire to make the trip authentic despite opportunities to stray from
It which many (me included) would have probably gone for.
The book also contains lots of fascinating information about the environmental concerns the area (well all areas I guess) faces and offers solutions that worked for millennia before Europeans arrived.

An epic adventure told in a way that was worthy of its subject.
Great stuff.

Absolute authenticity from start to finish

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