James Castrission – Crossing The Ditch
Last modified: March 30, 2010The following synopsis is from
www.crossingtheditch.com.au
Crossing The Ditch
Two mates, a kayak, and the conquest of the Tasman.
With more than 2000 km of treacherous seas and dangerously unpredictable weather and currents, it was little wonder no-one had successfully crossed the Tasman by Kayak. Two young Sydney-siders, James Castrission and Justin Jones, reach the sand at New Plymouth – and a place in history – on the 13th of January 2008, 62 days after they’d set off from Foster on the mid-north coast of NSW.
“At first you ask ‘Why’? Why do some individuals risk everything to test the boundaries of endurance? Like all great stories this one offers answers.
Through its humour and tears, its aspirations, perils, follies and ultimate triumph we learn what it is to be human. That, together, we negotiate the chaos of the world by relying on the better, more heroic, parts of ourselves.”
GEORGE MILLER - OSCAR WINNING DIRECTOR 
I love nothing more than when someone is prepared to take a punt and go for their dreams, in this case it is two best mates who backed each other to achieve what others thought was impossible. I could relate to this book well having come from a similar background to James as an accountant wanting to break free to do something bigger and more purposeful.
Crossing The Ditch is written in such as way so that you can feel the frustration in the setbacks and obstables thrown at them, but also triumph when James and Justin finally arrived on the shores of NZ. Tens of thousands of people who from afar looked like colourful rocks were screaming and cheering as they reached the shore.
I’ve seen this book is featuring as a must read in Borders bookstores and been given the large amount of bookshelf it deserves.