Papillon & Alcatraz Inspired Autobiography
extreme zip lining
ESCAPE TO THE WEST
THE MOST EXTREME ZIP LINE EVER
Can you imagine zipping down and away on a 380, 000 volt power line that comes out of a nuclear reactor, from one country to another, and all that in the middle of the night?
No?
How about doing that amidst nature's raging elements such as high winds, and an intense rain storm, while your weight causes you to sink 18 feet (5.5 meters) closer to the live wires, untill you start glowing, ready to be incinerated?
Still can't?
Well, I can. Because I did it! Certainly not for fun, however that's what I had to do to get over the Iron Curtain, (The Communist version of Total Lockdown). The power line was placed in a highly monitored militarized border zone, and that was our best imagined path to freedom.
In July 1986, I was escaping from Czech Republic, (formerly known as the Communist Czechoslovakia), into Austria.
I did that together with a friend of mine, sort of a "Mad Scientist" who was also working on his 'Free Energy' device. His activity, and his friendship with me, as well as his sharply opposed ideological viewpoints, didn't go unnoticed by the government in Prague.
To irritate the dictatorship even more, I became outspoken about the Secret Service/ Police spying on the public by wiretapping the phones, suppressing our human rights etc. Needless to say, that kind of totalitarian Diablo Zeitgeist was not exactly conducive to a free spirited politically incorrect spiritual gangsters like me. Due to the mounting pressure enveloping my life, I had to get out fast. The massive time crunch I was in forced me to improvise hard, that's if I wanted to dodge a North Korea type of style political prison.
I knew that crossing the International border, where hundreds died trying to defect, was going to pose a serious challenge. In reality, I had no clue what a wild ride my escape was going to turn into.
Yes! We kind of had to recreate ourselves into something like a divergent Spider Man to be able to do the unthinkable, and that was to ride the world's most extreme zip line. The nuclear powered high voltage power line!
Nothing is impossible!!!
Inspired by great escape stories such as Papillon (Butterfly), and Escape from Alcatraz, we knew that whatever the human mind can conceive, it can be achieved. Anything can be accomplish by the human spirit, including crossing the deadly 5 miles without anyone even noticing.
In short, once we managed to infiltrate the militarized border zone, we had to become ghosts. We failed a few times, yet our morale remained unbroken. Then, not giving up, more determined then ever. When the time was right, we removed ourselves from our only known home, which was a Communist nightmare, with a surgical precision.
Free!!!
While back home in Czech, (and in my home town Litomysl especially), the shocked Communist propaganda demonized us but in Western block countries this story exploded upon a public like an atomic bomb and became an instant media sensation.
At least in Europe, tensions in Middle East, the biggest drug bust, terrorist activities or gun runners didn’t get better coverage than this story. In Austria, and in Germany, our story was just as shocking and observed as is the Israel/Arab conflict today. We were called: the two 007. “The Young James Bonds of Eastern Europe.” In oppressed countries; as well as in the free world, we gained legions of fans, constantly wanting to hear more about riveting details of this amazing accomplishment.
A few days after the crossing. Posing for journalists. The same power line, the same crossing. Just the other side of the Iron Curtain.
This collage is just a fraction if all the media coverage. Articles about us were written in USA, Singapore, Spain, France, and other countries.
A few days after the crossing. Posing for journalists. The same power line, the same crossing. Just the other side of the Iron Curtain.
As a result, our totally unique escape story kept stealing the headlines of major magazines and newspapers for many months. Some of the U.S. media such as the L.A. Times, the Boston Globe and the Chicago Tribune noticed this truly unique triumph of the human spirit as well.
Now, after all those years, this time from exciting Las Vegas, I am offering the readers to share all the details of my one of a kind "Supermax" unauthorized exit strategy, in which you find not only a unique piece of Cold War history, but also suspense, humor, Czech beer drinking pub scenes, adventure, and a lot of intellectually stimulating material.
My self made pulley is on display in Checkpoint Charlie (Museum of Escapes), in Berlin, Germany. In my book and in the photo gallery that's on the bottom of this page, you can see the latest photos from my visit in October 2013.
I hope I peaked your interest, and I also want to encourage you to sample my autobiography which is on Amazon.com. Feel free to check out my YouTube video, if you like my site, please share it, and I also hope that to you, my story will be a reminder of just how precious freedom is, as much as it can be an entertaining eye opener.
NOTE: Due to the high translation cost, I can offer the book only in English. To read my book in your own language, just buy the eBook, and run 2 chapters at a time through Google Translator.
The wait is over! Now I finally was able to read it. The most electrifying escape story I have ever seen! Thrilling and entertaining, made me feel like I was escaping with them.
Gerald Andersom
By far, this is the best, the most ingenious, and at the same time the most daring move to gain freedom. This amazing accomplishment proves, that no tyranny, prison, illegal phone wiretapping, no Government oppressive regime is strong enough to crush the human spirit. I believe that story like that should be turned into a movie, or everyone shoul at least have a chance to hear about.
Truly inspirational.
Ronald Gillembardo
Donation and Support
To support me in my current and future non-conformist endeavors against any abusive system, such as Communism, Neo-Communism or Corporate Fascisms, feel free to donate any amount you feel comfortable with. Much appreciated.
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