Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on April 2012
Who are you and why are you in Japan?
I’m what you could call an adventurer. I like to challenge myself and travel the world by human-powered means of transportation. Right now, I’m in the midst of my London2London solo loop of the world. I left London on April 1, 2011, and reached Tokyo last December after covering 18,700km in 226 days.
What means of transportation are you using?
My trusted friends Hercules (a bicycle), Nelson (a kayak), and Gulliver (a rowboat).
You reached Japan in December and are still here. What happened?
I decided to spend the winter here before embarking on the next stage. I have been living in Chiba, where I recovered from the first stage and mended my body. My days have been filled with logistics planning and management, chasing new sponsors, training my body, preparing my boat, visiting schools and giving talks. There has been some playtime thrown in as well, happily.
What will the next stage be like?
That will be the hardest part of my journey: a 4,300-nautical-mile solo row across the North Pacific Ocean to Vancouver in Canada, with up to 200 days alone at sea—a feat that only two men have accomplished so far. I’ll be carrying all the food I need (including lots of chocolate bars to boost the morale), and a desalination unit so I can purify saltwater and make it drinkable.
What makes you do such seemingly crazy things? Are you not afraid?
When I consider the magnitude of this project, it freaks me out sometimes. But I’ve always loved rowing, since my university days, and being in complete communion with the ocean, following the rhythm of the sea, is wonderful. Actually this is not the first time I’ve tackled the big sea, as in 2009 I crossed the Indian Ocean by rowing solo for 124 days.
How do you compare cycling with rowing or kayaking?
The land sections are defined by the people you meet along the way. This can be either wonderful or miserable, depending on the circumstances. You cross borders, so you have to worry about visas, etc. Life at sea is much simpler in comparison. Also, I’m a little bit of a loner, so I don’t mind the solitude. And when you are armed with computer, phone, and other gadgets you never really feel alone.
What has been the best part about being in Japan?
I’ve enjoyed being in one country long enough to make new friends and learn more of the language than I’d do if I was whizzing through on my bike. I also travelled through Tohoku while coming down from Aomori. I briefly stopped at Ishinomaki, which was a humbling and unforgettable experience. So I decided to return to volunteer with It’s Not Just Mud, a volunteer group set up by Jamie El-Banna from the UK. I spent a week with INJM just before Christmas, helping with house clearing and cleaning, rebuilding and gardening, and cooking.
Follow Sarah Outen’s journey from Japan to Canada on her website, www.sarahouten.com. Send messages of encouragement while she’s paddling to hello@sarahouten.com. School link-ups can be booked at education@sarahouten.com.
