Sarah Outen: Making A Historic Global Expedition Using Her Own Power
Sarah Outen started her long human-powered voyage around the world April 1, 2011, when she paddled her kayak from London’s Tower Bridge to the coast of France. Sarah is the first woman in history to travel completely around the world using just human power.
In the upcoming months, Ms. Outen will embark on the final leg of her London2London: via the World journey when she leaves New York, goes across the Atlantic Ocean, and returns to London.
Sarah Outen is not only making history with her voyage around the world. The 29-year-old, Oxford University graduate is fundraising for a variety of charities, including water aid, breast cancer awareness, motor neuron disease, and sailing for the disabled.
Since Ms. Outen first departed on her journey, she boarded her kayak and paddled her way to France, rode her bike across Europe for 11,000 miles, got back onboard her kayak, and traveled from Russia to the coast of Japan using only her human strength and power.
Following her trip to Japan, Sarah rowed across the Pacific Ocean to Alaska. The next leg of her trip entailed riding her bike from Alaska across the United States to New York.
Last Thursday, Sarah arrived in New York. The British adventurer plans to visit friends, give some talks, get some much-needed rest for a couple of weeks, and then ride her bike a distance of 400 miles to Cape Cod.
She will then attempt to paddle across the Atlantic Ocean to London, where her journey initially began four years ago. This stretch of Sarah’s global expedition could take close to four months.
The Telegraph reports the following comment made by Sarah Outen.
“It seems strange talking about the home straight when you still have to get across the North Atlantic, but I do feel that the end will soon be in sight.”
Sarah updates everyone on her progress by posting on her website, sending emails, and tweeting. When she’s in the middle of the ocean, she uses solar-powered batteries to keep her communication equipment charged up.
Ms. Outen has suffered some setbacks on her voyage, including severe allergy attacks, pneumonia, and near-death experiences. For example, when traveling across the Pacific Ocean, Sarah encountered a major tropical storm, with wind gusts up to 80 miles-per-hour.
Sarah shares her hair-raising experience.
“I looked out of the window and it just looked like the Alps were engulfing me because there were these huge waves all topped with the foaming white. They capsized and rolled 20 times and there was nothing I could do. It was frightening. It’s the only time I’d really like someone else to be there with me.”
Another experience that terrified Sarah occurred in the Pacific, as well. It was a foggy day; she could hardly see anything; however, she heard the roar of a large engine. As the engine roar got louder, Sarah saw the bow of a huge vessel headed straight towards her.
She recalls her most terrifying event.
“It felt like it was going to obliterate me. I jumped back in the cabin and just prayed that the bow wave would save me by pushing me along the side of the vessel. That’s exactly what happened, but it was an incredibly close call.”
After Sarah completes her journey, she plans to write a book and have a movie made about her global expedition.
Sarah Outen explained her frustration and concern that women are not depicted in a positive way when it comes to adventure.
“There seems to be a perception for some reason that the public only wants to watch men doing manly things. I really want to see some women on TV doing cool things not just men with beards. It doesn’t need to be me. But if I can inspire someone else, that truly would be great.”
The world can expect to hear and see more of Sarah Outen and her global expedition around the world.
[Featured image courtesy of Paul Kane/Getty Images]
