Sure was. I remember the vivid pictures and the bombardment of the flying fish. Heyedahl proved his point and he did so courageously...but what the heck are these guys trying to prove? Same sort of thing with Will Steger and his polar expedition a few years back. In my neck of the woods (MN) he was seranaded in the press like a super-human god. Yeah, he spent a few cold weeks up there, but so what! The REAL heroes, writ large, are the men that took real chances with primitive equipment, no communications and NO chance of rescue as they went into the truly unknown. These guys are just staving off adulthood.
I agree with you, sir; those who undertook real risks and perils are the real heroes.
There is quite a difference between undertaking an expedition in which case the whole world is watching, and so if something goes wrong, rescue is possible--and an expedition in which one ventures into the unknown with no means of communication and rescue if something goes wrong.
Robert Scott in Anarctica was a real hero; "Admiral" Richard Byrd in Anarctica (and the Arctic) was a wannabe who took not nearly the same risks and perils.
well said