He started at Lake Itasca on July 4, 2002, the same starting point of many Camp Chippewa canoe trips.  He already held the Guiness Book world record for swimming the 1,862 mile length of the Danube River in 58 days through Europe in 2000.

On July 6, after 63 miles, he reached Lake Bemidji. During the afternoon he swam another 19 miles to Allens Bay of Cass Lake.  Cass Lake, with its clean water and sandy bottom, was undoubtedly the most beautiful part of his trip!

On July 7 he continued across Cass Lake and reached Knutson Dam where he stopped for lunch.  Some Chippewa campers went out in the pontoon boat, the Chips Ahoy, to see him swimming. C.J. Endres and family canoed out to meet him and his support crew of four kayakers, and accompanied him to the dam.

During lunch, CJ had a chance to chat with Martin and his crew.  He was very friendly and even shared some of his lunch.  Afterwards, CJ swam with him through one of the dam's open gates, and then he bid Martin farewell.  CJ was heard to say "keep going downstream and you will reach the Gulf."

After Cass Lake's 7 mile crossing, Martin was hoping for good current in the river down to Lake Winnibigoshish. But all Chippewa campers who have paddled from Cass to Winnie know that there is not much current in the Mighty Mississippi as it flows through Bullroar Swamp.

Martin successfully completed his record swim, reaching the Gulf of Mexico on September 9.

After swimming 7 miles across Cass Lake, Martin reads about himself in the Bemidji Pioneer newspaper while resting at Knutson Dam.

Kelly Endres picked flowers for Martin. Knutson Dam is in the background.

Martin with Terri, Kelly, CJ and puppy Winnie.