#159 - Noatun’s Route: One Man’s Kayak Circumnavigation of Europe with Urban Heupgen

WEBVTT

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Welcome to Paddling the Blue. With each episode, we talk with guests from the

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Great Lakes and around the globe who are doing cool things related to sea kayaking.

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I'm your host, my name is John Chase, and let's get started paddling the blue.

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Welcome to today's episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast.

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Many of us dream of great adventures like circumnavigating Ireland,

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and as far as I'm concerned, that's a pretty lofty goal and definitely one on my list.

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And then there's Urban Huygen, who's unexpectedly found himself on a quest to

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undertake a bold journey to circumnavigate Europe. Yes, all of Europe.

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Join me as Urban and I talk about his humble start, how he found himself on

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this path, and just how big his plans are for the future.

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Before we get to today's conversation with Urban, James Stevenson and Simon

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Osborne at OnlineSeaKyaking.com continue to produce great content to help you

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surfing, coaching, documentaries, expedition skills, and incident management, and more.

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Enjoy today's interview with Urban Huygen.

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Hello, Urban. Thank you very much for joining me today.

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Yeah, hi, John. Thank you for having me on your podcast. Yes, it's a pleasure.

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So you're on a pretty interesting adventure. So tell us what this crazy adventure

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is that you're on. You know.

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It did not start with a circumnavigation. You know, I first came to Tallinn,

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to Estonia, to buy my kayak there.

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I saw a TV show, not a show, but I saw a documentary about kayaking.

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And I was fascinated. And I got informed what kind of kayak I should get.

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And I went to Estonia to buy my kayak.

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And you know the big

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thing is i was not planning to paddle in

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estonia i was trying to

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transport the kayak to germany where i wanted to paddle and i could not find

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a reasonable way to transport the kayak so i i just came into my mind that i

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could kayak at home and that's the start And it's an amazing start,

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you know, because it was so unpredictable.

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So your first adventure in a kayak was 2007 in Estonia?

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Right. Okay. Long time ago, actually. This is my first trip.

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The Baltic trip is my first trip. And I would say it's not part of my circumnavigation.

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But you had no experience in a kayak. You had been inspired.

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You saw a documentary and said this is the thing for me and there was no way

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to buy a kayak in Germany you had to go to Estonia to get it?

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No, no, I could have ordered the kayak in Estonia but it was cheaper directly

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from the factory I think it's still called Tahe the factory is near Tallinn

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the capital of Estonia and.

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It was cheaper it was much cheaper buying it directly from the factory and I,

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It's a little bit naive because transportation costs a lot of money, and it was not in my mind.

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And later on, I realized it's too expensive to transport the kayak,

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and this is the beginning of my adventure.

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So you paddled it home from Estonia. I paddled it home. So tell us about that

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first voyage in a kayak for you.

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I had zero experience.

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Zero. I never sat in a kayak. I never thought about kayaking,

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actually, until this documentary.

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I was fascinated, and I said to myself, I have to do it.

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And I bought this kayak. I never sat in a kayak. It was difficult for me to

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get into the kayak, actually.

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I was in a marina for boats and launched my kayak on the ramp,

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and it was difficult for me.

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People laughed at me, and what are you doing? And then I started.

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That there was a little river going into this marina and this is my first,

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This was my first playground in the little river of the marina. Okay.

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That's pretty bold to buy your first kayak and decide you're going to paddle at home.

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And that was your first ever trip in a kayak. Yeah. I'm impressed.

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I had a great time.

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You know, when I remember the time in Estonia, this was one of the greatest

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experiences on my whole trip.

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The start. The start was the best experience.

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I enjoyed it a lot. I have so many memories. I mean, I could write a book,

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but going to Finland, you know, crossing over to Finland, this was a big adventure for me.

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You know, never sat in a kayak and crossing over to Finland.

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You know, people call me crazy.

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And yes, and I somehow knew that I can do it. And I test paddled the distance.

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You know, the distance was like 35 kilometers.

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And I test paddled the distance, the 35 kilometers, along the shore of Estonia just to see if I can do it.

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And I could do it. I could do it.

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But the strange thing is, I have to tell you this, the distance was much further

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because I calculated the distance from the last island of Estonia over to Finland.

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But I had to check out from Estonia.

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I had to go to customs and check out. But this was not on the island.

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So I had to check out in Tallinn and was not allowed to set foot on these last islands.

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But the distance went from 35 kilometers to over 60 on my first crossing ride.

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That was a bit of a surprise.

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This was a surprise, yeah.

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Now, how long was that first trip in total from Estonia back to Germany?

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I needed one year, two seasons. You know, I was working the time and I only had...

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The spring and the fall to paddle.

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Because I had to work in the summers and the winters.

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And the first was from Estonia to Stockholm, then going back to work.

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And then I returned in October or September, I think it was, and paddled to Germany.

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All right. So two different legs to that trip.

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Two different legs. So, you bought the kayak, paddled it through to Stockholm, left the boat there,

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And then came back in October and then paddled the rest of the way.

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That's where, you know, in Stockholm, Sweden is famous for kayaking.

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And I went to a Stockholm canoe club.

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I forgot the name now, but that's where I gathered all the technique,

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you know, all the how to paddle, how to paddle, actually.

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I did not know how to paddle. I think it must have looked very funny when people

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saw me paddling. But when I arrived in Stockholm, these people showed me how to paddle.

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And from there on, I gathered my own experience.

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Yeah, I mean, you're right. Your first trip was that trip to Stockholm.

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You don't know what you don't know at that point. And thankful for the goodness

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of people who can help you along the way.

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Yeah, it was a gorgeous time. I wish I could go back there sometimes.

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But I'm afraid after finishing my circle navigation, I probably have a big break of paddling.

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Tell us a little bit about what it felt like on that first trip.

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It was a gorgeous time. You know, the weather, the Baltic Sea is usually calm,

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especially on these thousands of islands.

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You know, paddling through these islands is just gorgeous. And it felt like being in paradise.

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I was able to concentrate on the fun. on the joy, not dealing with difficult

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situations, weather situations, wave situations, or experience.

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I wasn't dependent on experience.

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Without that experience, though, what steps did you go through to keep yourself safe?

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There was only one situation where it got a little bit difficult,

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crossing over to Sweden.

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I was paddling, you know, it was not demanding at all. So it was safe all the way, you know.

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There were thousands of islands. It's just five minutes and you have the next island.

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But from the Orland Islands, you know, which belonged to Finland,

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crossing over to Sweden, this was like 30 kilometers open water. And...

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It was interesting because I went there when there was quite bad weather and

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the Coast Guard came to me and told me, what are you doing out here?

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You should not be here. This is not for kayaking.

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It was kind of stormy. So I waited a day and then crossed over to Sweden.

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And this was my first real kayak experience.

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But I never had any safety equipment. You know, nothing really.

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So you had a good experience, but a lucky one too, I would think.

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Lucky, I don't know if I should call it lucky. I mean, the weather was good all the time.

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Even if it rained or, you know, overcast, there was no storm.

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There are no storms in the Baltic Sea, not in summer.

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Good timing then. So the documentary, what was the documentary, do you recall?

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No, I actually forgot. I think it was paddling.

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Maybe it was even paddling in Sweden somewhere. I don't know anymore,

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but it was the starting point.

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Okay. Well, it inspired you to a great adventure. So you mentioned circumnavigation.

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So tell us about the circumnavigation that you're doing. So,

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when I reached Barcelona, I went all the way.

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Well, six years after I stopped in Germany, I restarted.

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And I restarted in the Danube River. And I still wasn't thinking about circumnavigating.

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It was just a trip, a continuous trip.

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So, I went down the Danube River, went to the Black Sea, went to Istanbul,

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and all the way through the Mediterranean until Barcelona.

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And I had another break of five years.

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And after I restarted in Barcelona, I called it a circumnavigation.

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So I don't even know where is the starting point of my circumnavigation.

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It could be, I think it could be the Danube River. That would make sense.

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But it also could be Istanbul or it could be Barcelona even. I don't even know yet.

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So for our listeners' reference, so you are circumnavigating Europe, basically.

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Yes, that's my plan now. It was never my plan, but since Barcelona, it is my plan.

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Because I saw, you know, I was not interested much in what other paddlers do.

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I didn't even know what Freya did.

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So I got interested in these things. I realized what Freya did.

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And then I said to myself, well, nobody has circumnavigated Europe.

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And I have already done a big part of Europe, right? So I do a circumnavigation

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of Europe. That was the starting point.

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So you've basically started the Danube River, threaded your way through,

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you said, to Istanbul, and then followed the coast, Greece, Italy,

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France, Spain, and you're in Spain now.

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You know, Greece was the first place I really felt like kayaking or exposed

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to weather difficulties.

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I remember the first crossing from Turkey I didn't even check out from Turkey, I just went over to,

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I forgot the island now over to the first Greek islands this was a gorgeous

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feeling, I was free, I felt free I felt like I could paddle anything.

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And Greece was I would still say Greece is the most memorable experience Transcription by CastingWords,

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Why is that? This was my first place where I felt free, and I felt like I was a peddler now.

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The first crossings in Greece, and Greece is only crossings,

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I remember the crossing from Mykonos to Ikaria.

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I would still consider this as the most demanding, challenging part of my trip,

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because it was forecasted at the end I had 6.4 of wind.

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And it was the most difficult time I had on my whole trip, I think.

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From that point, or at that point, how long or how many kilometers had you paddled?

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Let's say starting from the Danube River. The Danube River is like 2,400 kilometers.

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Paddling the black sea is maybe 200 kilometers

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300 kilometers and until i reached greece

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it was like i think it was 3 000 kilometers of

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experience so it took 3 000

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kilometers before you really felt comfortable it

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sounds like i gathered all my experience in

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greece and after gathering these experiences i

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felt comfortable i did not come feel comfortable on my

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on on my first greek crossings i

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was afraid actually you know but i thought

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i needed to do it you know i i'm an i'm

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an adventurer i'm still an an adventurer and i i like to do things i have not

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done before you know i think greece was the first demanding place and there's

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nothing i mean nothing nothing wrong with that it's just that that's that just

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kind of shows that it's not an immediate.

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Effect you know it took you a while to get to

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that point where you felt comfortable and it took that

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challenge for that to happen and if i'm not mistaken you started

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in 2007 you weren't in greece until 2015 right because i had the six years break

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after you know the thing is i paddled to germany i paddled through germany until

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i went to helgoland and put my kayak you know,

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to store it with a friend and then finally transported it to Munich and I had six years of prayer.

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You know, I had family, I had work, I had very much difficulties and a very bad time.

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And I restarted because of my...

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Paying, you know, personal difficulties. And I restarted to get distracted.

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Okay. All right. So you pedaled 2007, 2008, 2009, stopped, came back in 2015

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and restarted the process. Right. Okay. Right.

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Now... 15 to 6, sorry, 2015, I think to 2018.

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Okay. And then I stopped again. Okay. And you restarted again in 2024.

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Right. In Barcelona, when I decided to make a circumnavigation.

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Okay. It was a big thing, actually. I never told anybody what I'm doing.

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I had the block, but I never told anybody what I'm doing.

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I proposed. I said to everybody, this is now a circumnavigation,

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and now I have to deliver.

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Okay. I cannot just say, this is a tour, and I paddle when I want,

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and now I have to do things.

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Now I have to go through all these difficult areas also. Next year will be terrible, difficult for me.

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Now that you've publicly said this is what you're doing. Right. Okay.

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Even though you didn't publicly say it before, you still did each of those legs.

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So when you've been doing those legs, do you always pick up where you left off

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or are you choosing different spots to start and end?

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I always leave my kayak where I stop and pick it up again when I continue.

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Okay. It can be a marina. It can be a kayak club. It can be a private person.

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It was the church one time. It was, you know, different places.

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I left my kayak this year, last year, with people from Scotland.

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Nice people from Scotland. You know, you always ask around, where can I leave

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my kayak? and try to find a place where I can have a transportation back to

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Germany and easy transportation back to Germany and can come back Italy.

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Okay. Yeah. When you left your boat in 2009, you didn't touch that boat until 2015.

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2009, there was Germany. Yes.

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Okay. Yes. I brought it to my parents' garage and left it there for six years

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and didn't touch it, right?

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Okay. And same thing, 2018, left it until 2024.

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Right. I left it in Barcelona, but I picked it up in Barcelona.

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I brought it home because I was not sure if I ever continue.

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You know, when I reached Barcelona, it was like, this is the end of my trip.

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Because what could come next?

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I could just paddle to Gibraltar to the end of the Mediterranean Sea,

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but what should come next? I was not ready to paddle the Atlantic.

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I was not feeling like.

00:18:23.969 --> 00:18:28.649
Paddling the Atlantic. It was too difficult for me. And so I thought, this is the end.

00:18:29.769 --> 00:18:35.889
And five years later, I just made a decision. This should be my adventure, my life adventure.

00:18:36.229 --> 00:18:41.029
So now up until this time, for the most part, you had been right along the shoreline.

00:18:41.969 --> 00:18:45.349
Always. Yes. Except these crossings.

00:18:45.729 --> 00:18:49.389
You know, I crossed from Greece to Italy. I crossed the greek

00:18:49.389 --> 00:18:53.829
islands were crossings only and the

00:18:53.829 --> 00:18:56.529
first big distance was you know i

00:18:56.529 --> 00:19:00.249
could have paddled into the adriatic sea going

00:19:00.249 --> 00:19:03.709
up to italy going up to what's

00:19:03.709 --> 00:19:06.769
the country called you know the northern adriatic sea

00:19:06.769 --> 00:19:09.529
and come back south but i

00:19:09.529 --> 00:19:12.289
it was too it was too much it was too long of

00:19:12.289 --> 00:19:15.129
a way for me so i i just decided to

00:19:15.129 --> 00:19:18.469
make this 90 kilometer crossings my first big crossing

00:19:18.469 --> 00:19:23.509
so what was that like that in your first i mean that's a that's a big crossing

00:19:23.509 --> 00:19:29.989
yes you know i was afraid you know but i had the choice between let's say a

00:19:29.989 --> 00:19:31.889
whole season paddling in the

00:19:31.889 --> 00:19:37.929
atriatic sea or crossing over from Greece to Italy directly in just a day.

00:19:38.929 --> 00:19:42.729
And I was studying the weather.

00:19:42.949 --> 00:19:47.229
I was calculating the distance. Where can I land? Where can I start?

00:19:48.329 --> 00:19:51.349
Resting for many days, getting ready.

00:19:51.669 --> 00:19:55.589
And this was interesting for me, but I was afraid.

00:19:55.849 --> 00:19:59.949
I was a little bit concerned. I did not have any safety equipment, none.

00:19:59.949 --> 00:20:06.829
You know now I have safety equipment but I did not have the time and I started

00:20:06.829 --> 00:20:13.749
at the last island of Greece Othoni is called and started at four in the morning,

00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:19.880
I had good weather. I had no ships on the sea. I didn't see anybody.

00:20:20.520 --> 00:20:26.660
And it took me 14 hours, and I was extremely exhausted when I reached Italy.

00:20:27.580 --> 00:20:32.700
That's quite a trip without any safety equipment. Now, what would you have done if things went wrong?

00:20:33.800 --> 00:20:36.640
You know, I haven't thought about this much.

00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:43.220
I don't think about this too much. You know, my first safety equipment I had

00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:50.660
this year, I did not, you know, because I said, well, British water, Scotland, Ireland,

00:20:51.260 --> 00:20:55.480
crossing over, you know, crossing the English Channel, I need something.

00:20:55.720 --> 00:21:00.280
I need now, I need in reach, I need maybe, what else?

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:04.420
I have a radio now, but before, especially in the Mediterranean,

00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:09.400
the new Black Sea, I never thought about safety really. I mean,

00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:13.060
it was mostly along the coast.

00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:14.780
I waited for good weather.

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:19.440
I'm the kind of person. I don't think too much about safety.

00:21:19.780 --> 00:21:23.320
No, I do. Well, good. We like to keep you around.

00:21:25.300 --> 00:21:34.880
Yes. Many people tell me that I should take care of my safety much more than I did in the past.

00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:40.780
I was known for this. Also, among my friends. They call me crazy, crossing mountains.

00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:45.539
Big distances without anything. Not even, a cell phone wouldn't work.

00:21:45.899 --> 00:21:48.399
So you're crossing to the UK.

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:51.119
Where'd you go from and to?

00:21:52.179 --> 00:21:58.539
I was crossing from Alderney to Weymouth to Luleworth Cove.

00:21:58.739 --> 00:22:04.119
You know, the famous Luleworth Cove. It was easier than I thought.

00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:08.999
It was much easier. Even the distance was bigger. It was like 105 kilometers.

00:22:10.179 --> 00:22:13.099
It was easier than the crossing from Greece to Italy.

00:22:13.439 --> 00:22:18.559
I had new gear. You know, I have a new paddle, and I have a better technique.

00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:24.599
I'm more confident. I'm stronger. It was easier for me.

00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:30.719
I did not have many encounters with the big ships. I saw big ships, but not many.

00:22:31.219 --> 00:22:36.519
Less than I expected. And, yeah, I just went through. I've had a few people

00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:43.359
tell me that in making that crossing, they've had many fewer ships than they expected.

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:47.619
And that's kind of a surprise with that many ships that go through that area.

00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:55.079
You know, I had like, I don't know exactly anymore, but I had like 20 big ships,

00:22:55.219 --> 00:22:57.399
like container ships or oil tankers or something.

00:22:57.399 --> 00:23:06.959
Like i think it was like 15 going eastward and five going westward okay it just happened to be,

00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:12.779
and i'm not afraid of big ships you know i wish i would have seen more but on

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:16.859
the other side i just wish that nobody calls the coast guard you know because

00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:18.959
this this whole thing is not quite,

00:23:19.719 --> 00:23:25.859
legal i will say and i was just wishing that nobody calls anybody i had my radio

00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:31.639
on all the time and i was checking if if do they call or do or do they leave

00:23:31.639 --> 00:23:34.159
me alone or we won't tell anybody.

00:23:35.219 --> 00:23:38.299
The funny thing is my whole trip,

00:23:39.327 --> 00:23:47.227
starting from Turkey, let's say, was more or less not legal because of two reasons.

00:23:47.627 --> 00:23:52.147
Camping is not legal. In most places, like in most Mediterranean places,

00:23:52.387 --> 00:23:53.687
camping is not legal. Really?

00:23:54.847 --> 00:23:59.187
And in most Mediterranean countries, including France and Spain,

00:23:59.487 --> 00:24:03.487
they have a limit how you can go out at sea.

00:24:03.867 --> 00:24:07.227
You know, it was funny because in Greece, I did all these crossings,

00:24:07.227 --> 00:24:10.187
like 50 kilometers, 60, or 70 even kilometers.

00:24:11.087 --> 00:24:16.467
And almost at the end of my time in Greece, coast guards stopped me because

00:24:16.467 --> 00:24:19.147
I was short-cutting a bay.

00:24:19.567 --> 00:24:25.687
Just one kilometer, short-cutting a bay of one kilometer. So they stopped me.

00:24:26.367 --> 00:24:30.367
What am I doing here? You should not be here.

00:24:30.467 --> 00:24:34.607
You should be on the beach or on the coast because Greece had a limit of 100

00:24:34.607 --> 00:24:38.647
meters. Can you imagine 100 meters? You're not allowed to go further outside.

00:24:39.387 --> 00:24:44.527
Italy has a limit of 300 meters. Spain has a limit of, I think,

00:24:44.707 --> 00:24:46.907
3.5 kilometers or something.

00:24:47.147 --> 00:24:49.747
So all I did was not legal.

00:24:50.027 --> 00:24:52.587
Camping was not legal, and paddling was not legal.

00:24:52.987 --> 00:24:56.647
Yeah, I was not aware of that. Britain doesn't have this kind of rules.

00:24:56.787 --> 00:24:58.247
Ireland doesn't have this kind of rules.

00:24:58.447 --> 00:25:01.467
I think the Scandinavians don't have either, and Germany doesn't.

00:25:01.467 --> 00:25:09.547
But the Mediterranean countries, they see a kayak as a toy, as something you

00:25:09.547 --> 00:25:14.807
use on the beach or not a seaworthy vessel like Britain does.

00:25:15.167 --> 00:25:18.387
So now you're paddling the same kayak that you started with in 2007, correct?

00:25:19.333 --> 00:25:24.973
Right. I never sat, tried another kayak, sat in another kayak.

00:25:26.113 --> 00:25:31.933
That's the only one from the start, and I wish to the end. But you have upgraded

00:25:31.933 --> 00:25:33.693
and changed your equipment along the way.

00:25:34.133 --> 00:25:37.573
I have changed now. I have a different paddle now.

00:25:37.833 --> 00:25:46.113
I had a no-name. You know, the company TIE, the boat factory, how you say it?

00:25:46.113 --> 00:25:53.773
And they sold me a no-name paddle I used all the time until France,

00:25:53.973 --> 00:25:56.873
until this year, actually.

00:25:57.513 --> 00:26:02.973
This year, I bought a, what's the brand called? Sorry, I forgot this kind of

00:26:02.973 --> 00:26:04.433
thing because it's not important to me.

00:26:04.613 --> 00:26:07.873
But it's an epic. It's an epic mid-wing. Okay.

00:26:08.633 --> 00:26:11.433
And it's quite good. I'm very comfortable with this.

00:26:11.573 --> 00:26:16.713
And I'm glad I did the change. That's why I crossed the channel quite fast,

00:26:16.853 --> 00:26:18.073
I think, because of the battle.

00:26:18.493 --> 00:26:24.213
So you made the crossing to the UK, crossed to Ireland, and then went up the

00:26:24.213 --> 00:26:25.473
west coast of Ireland, is that right?

00:26:26.113 --> 00:26:31.513
Right. That was the most difficult part of last year's season,

00:26:31.753 --> 00:26:34.313
the west coast of Ireland, yeah. And why was that?

00:26:36.053 --> 00:26:39.313
Because, you know, the Atlantic comes there, the Atlantic...

00:26:40.435 --> 00:26:46.555
The west coast of Ireland is exposed, is fully exposed to the Atlantic coast.

00:26:46.715 --> 00:26:50.075
And I had big swallows almost all the time, big swallows.

00:26:50.755 --> 00:26:55.535
You know, the Irish, the Western Irish coast has many places to hide.

00:26:55.895 --> 00:26:59.775
And I'm not good in surfing, you know, this kayak doesn't surf very well.

00:26:59.935 --> 00:27:03.295
So I had, I always had to find a place to hide.

00:27:04.295 --> 00:27:10.335
And this is also, I would like to say that this kayak I have,

00:27:10.415 --> 00:27:15.195
and I would like to finish also with, is not a good kayak for the open ocean.

00:27:15.615 --> 00:27:23.835
It's not made. It was advertised as fast river canoe, as a fast river kayak,

00:27:24.215 --> 00:27:26.895
not as an open ocean kayak.

00:27:27.675 --> 00:27:33.135
I don't know any other brand, and I'm not interested much in kayak,

00:27:33.995 --> 00:27:36.795
brands and what I could get.

00:27:37.435 --> 00:27:41.495
I'm sticking to this kayak and this is my only one. So you've made your way

00:27:41.495 --> 00:27:47.135
across Ireland and then you hopped across to Scotland and you've basically left

00:27:47.135 --> 00:27:48.395
your boat up in Scotland now, correct?

00:27:48.955 --> 00:27:54.315
I left my boat with really nice people in Scotland. This is Anne from Argyle Kayaks.

00:27:54.875 --> 00:28:00.135
I was asking in a Facebook group where I could leave my kayak for the winter and,

00:28:00.933 --> 00:28:04.893
These were the first people who offered me the place, and I'm very thankful

00:28:04.893 --> 00:28:07.793
and looking forward to next year.

00:28:08.113 --> 00:28:11.013
Good. I have to prepare a lot.

00:28:12.513 --> 00:28:17.113
What I'm doing next year is just huge. Maybe it's a little bit beyond what I'm

00:28:17.113 --> 00:28:19.233
capable of, but I have to try.

00:28:20.673 --> 00:28:27.393
I have to include Iceland on my trip to my trip because unfortunately Iceland

00:28:27.393 --> 00:28:31.233
is part of Europe, and I have to include it somehow.

00:28:31.673 --> 00:28:33.973
Okay. So how will you get to Iceland?

00:28:35.293 --> 00:28:40.513
I think I need to grass. You know, I think I need to grass and I'm preparing now.

00:28:40.713 --> 00:28:43.553
I'm starting to prepare and I'm in contact with Alan.

00:28:44.353 --> 00:28:52.233
I'll be sorry, with Jeff, Alan and Ollie Higgs and some others and Chris Reed who made me my gear.

00:28:52.653 --> 00:29:01.633
You know, this is also a nice thing that Reed sponsors me and he might sponsor me further and it's,

00:29:02.544 --> 00:29:07.144
make more things for me, and I'm preparing for these big distances,

00:29:07.404 --> 00:29:12.164
going from the Hebrides, from Scotland to Faroe, and then to Iceland,

00:29:12.404 --> 00:29:15.524
around Iceland, and back. So what are you doing to prepare?

00:29:16.104 --> 00:29:21.164
Getting the right gear, getting the right safety equipment, studying the weather

00:29:21.164 --> 00:29:24.204
a little bit, asking people how they did.

00:29:24.424 --> 00:29:29.644
It hasn't been done before, not in a single kayak. Only Hicks did it.

00:29:30.024 --> 00:29:34.584
Maybe, I think, two or three more did part of it.

00:29:35.364 --> 00:29:43.544
And I would be the first who did it in an ordinary single kayak without changing

00:29:43.544 --> 00:29:47.284
too much, modifying the kayak too much.

00:29:48.284 --> 00:29:51.264
And I'm a little bit, I have a lot of respect.

00:29:51.664 --> 00:29:54.824
I am a little bit afraid, but I think that's the good thing.

00:29:55.064 --> 00:29:56.284
Being afraid is a good thing.

00:29:56.844 --> 00:30:01.424
It is. We need a healthy respect for the ocean.

00:30:01.964 --> 00:30:07.664
Ali was a guest on episode 72 of the podcast where we talked about their paddle

00:30:07.664 --> 00:30:09.224
from Greenland to Scotland.

00:30:09.824 --> 00:30:16.904
Yeah, and I'm now in contact actually because you had him on your podcast too. It's Mike Keane. Yes.

00:30:17.824 --> 00:30:21.644
Yeah, and I mean, because of your podcast, I'm in contact with him now.

00:30:21.824 --> 00:30:26.644
And because he did West Coast of Greenland. And, you know, I mean,

00:30:26.924 --> 00:30:31.504
it's a circumnavigation of Europe, but if everything goes well,

00:30:31.884 --> 00:30:39.884
if the big crossings go well, then I might even consider going to Greenland.

00:30:41.579 --> 00:30:44.999
Well, you know, I shouldn't even say this, maybe, because I shouldn't.

00:30:45.379 --> 00:30:51.819
No, because I tend to tell, how should I say?

00:30:51.959 --> 00:30:54.459
I mean, I shouldn't even tell because maybe I'm not doing it.

00:30:55.299 --> 00:31:00.359
And then I have talked, and it's not a good feeling if you tell what I,

00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:02.459
you know. You've said it out loud.

00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:06.939
Yes, and then I have to bring it, right?

00:31:07.159 --> 00:31:12.079
And I should not do this, actually. No, but I'm really planning to go to Iceland,

00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:16.259
and this is beyond what I experienced before and what I did before.

00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:23.499
And I just have to find out, you know, the two most important things are sleeping and weather.

00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:29.479
If I know, if I have a weather forecast for a week, then I could just wait for

00:31:29.479 --> 00:31:30.419
the right weather window.

00:31:30.419 --> 00:31:37.199
So if I know how to sleep, then if I know how to do these both things,

00:31:37.499 --> 00:31:39.719
then I can do it, I think. Okay.

00:31:40.899 --> 00:31:46.799
Yes, because if you wait for a calm weather window, and if you know how to sleep

00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:50.479
on a kayak, then I don't know what should it be.

00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:55.539
Yeah, what should it be? Yeah. So what is your plan for that?

00:31:56.837 --> 00:32:00.517
For that crossing for sleep for sleep

00:32:00.517 --> 00:32:03.837
i don't know yet i i thought about making a

00:32:03.837 --> 00:32:07.517
construction like an outrigger construction where

00:32:07.517 --> 00:32:13.457
i can sleep on or buying a pack raft this is probably probably a better idea

00:32:13.457 --> 00:32:19.257
to buy pack raft and blow it and pump it up when i'm going to sleep and sleep

00:32:19.257 --> 00:32:24.497
in my pack raft okay but i'm not sure if this could work you know i'm not even

00:32:24.497 --> 00:32:26.217
sure now if this could work properly.

00:32:26.697 --> 00:32:28.677
Well, you've got a little time to figure that out.

00:32:30.117 --> 00:32:34.577
Actually, I've got a little time, yes. So, in addition to making the crossing

00:32:34.577 --> 00:32:37.417
to Iceland and back, where do you expect to end up next year?

00:32:37.917 --> 00:32:42.377
You know, I said I could end up in Norway, which is not doable.

00:32:42.817 --> 00:32:49.297
I don't even know why I said this, but I think when I reach Iceland and maybe

00:32:49.297 --> 00:32:51.997
go back to the Faroe, I think that's good enough.

00:32:52.237 --> 00:32:56.297
I think I will be happy. I will be happy to reach Ireland, Iceland.

00:32:57.317 --> 00:33:01.577
And when do you expect to complete the journey, the entire circumnavigation?

00:33:02.457 --> 00:33:07.777
Yeah, you know, this is... I don't even... I don't even know what should I include

00:33:07.777 --> 00:33:10.117
onto my trip, into my trip.

00:33:11.844 --> 00:33:16.664
Of course, it's Norway, North Cup, and it could be the end of my trip because,

00:33:16.664 --> 00:33:23.844
you know, completely circumnavigating is Russia involved. Russia will be involved on the trip.

00:33:24.304 --> 00:33:28.444
So, how can I, you know, Russia is difficult now with all the situation there.

00:33:29.564 --> 00:33:35.604
And I don't even know if it's possible if they give me permission or if I need

00:33:35.604 --> 00:33:41.364
some visa or, you know, because of the situation there, if it's possible anyway.

00:33:42.564 --> 00:33:45.344
But the circle is closed in Istanbul, right?

00:33:46.284 --> 00:33:50.084
So if I really want to circumnavigate, I have to go through Russia.

00:33:50.324 --> 00:33:57.984
I have to go into the Black Sea and finish in Istanbul. That's where I close the circle.

00:33:58.324 --> 00:34:00.504
So why is this adventure important to you?

00:34:00.904 --> 00:34:05.564
It is important because it's part of my life now.

00:34:05.864 --> 00:34:09.644
It was not that important at the beginning.

00:34:10.364 --> 00:34:14.564
It was not that important even in the Mediterranean, I wanted to stop in Barcelona,

00:34:14.684 --> 00:34:19.344
I was not even thinking about continuing, but now it's important because it's a big.

00:34:20.342 --> 00:34:23.082
Trip and nobody has done it before i think

00:34:23.082 --> 00:34:26.562
nobody has done it before you know i researched a lot

00:34:26.562 --> 00:34:30.362
and i couldn't find anybody who did this right

00:34:30.362 --> 00:34:33.162
so this is a big part

00:34:33.162 --> 00:34:38.062
of my life and this is why and that's why it is important okay yeah you're the

00:34:38.062 --> 00:34:41.862
first i've talked to that's doing that so we've talked about lots of pieces

00:34:41.862 --> 00:34:48.222
of the of the coastline but this is a first one so yeah you know I think somebody

00:34:48.222 --> 00:34:51.982
has already hardly done it.

00:34:52.142 --> 00:34:57.002
You know, I met a guy, and actually I didn't meet him, but I had it in my contacts.

00:34:57.542 --> 00:35:03.762
It was a person from the Czech Republic who wanted to go around Europe, but I think he gave up.

00:35:04.282 --> 00:35:08.342
He gave up in France when you reach France.

00:35:08.882 --> 00:35:16.582
And there was another guy who did circumnavigate but ended up in Germany,

00:35:16.762 --> 00:35:19.522
back in Germany, and he did not go to the British Islands.

00:35:19.782 --> 00:35:24.582
So I think a complete circumnavigation has not been done before.

00:35:25.042 --> 00:35:28.382
What has left you with a sense of amazement?

00:35:28.722 --> 00:35:35.362
There have been so many places where I would consider the most beautiful place.

00:35:35.442 --> 00:35:40.762
This is Greece, this is the Swedish Islands, the Orland Islands,

00:35:40.922 --> 00:35:46.942
this is Scotland now. and all these places I would consider as.

00:35:47.899 --> 00:35:51.919
Each place has had a different feeling for you, it sounds like.

00:35:52.659 --> 00:35:55.739
Yes, especially Greece. Especially Greece, I would say.

00:35:56.199 --> 00:36:01.219
Because of the people, because of the climate, because of the loneliness, because of the islands.

00:36:01.639 --> 00:36:07.459
I think this was still my most important part of my trip. What advice would

00:36:07.459 --> 00:36:08.919
you have to pass along to others?

00:36:09.459 --> 00:36:14.699
Don't start a circumnavigation without knowing what you're going through,

00:36:14.859 --> 00:36:16.139
what you will go through.

00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:20.019
You know I think I would not have started,

00:36:20.839 --> 00:36:24.759
when I wasn't already so

00:36:24.759 --> 00:36:29.759
far you know I would not have started when I planned it like I planned it now

00:36:29.759 --> 00:36:37.039
I could not plan I'm now going around Europe but because I have already paddled

00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:41.319
such a big distance I could say no but it's still a long way it's still a long

00:36:41.319 --> 00:36:44.659
way I think I'm only halfway through,

00:36:45.828 --> 00:36:50.268
And I need to finish now because I'm getting older and it's more difficult every

00:36:50.268 --> 00:36:53.668
year. And I hope I can finish.

00:36:55.288 --> 00:37:01.708
Next year is the key year. Next year is, if I can do it next year,

00:37:01.988 --> 00:37:08.308
if I can finish and if I do well next year, I think I can finish nicely.

00:37:08.748 --> 00:37:14.308
Super. So out of curiosity, so you've named this Noah Tunes Route.

00:37:15.148 --> 00:37:19.668
Right. Noatun is the name of the boat. How did you pick the name?

00:37:20.488 --> 00:37:24.588
Noatun is a name out of the Nordic mythology.

00:37:24.708 --> 00:37:33.048
It's the home or the seat or how you say it, the hall of the gods of the seas

00:37:33.048 --> 00:37:36.208
in Nordic mythology. It's a place.

00:37:37.448 --> 00:37:43.428
And I just like this name because I'm very much interested in Nordic mythology

00:37:43.428 --> 00:37:49.768
and I like this kind of thing like Odin and Friar.

00:37:52.668 --> 00:37:59.708
The area I'm paddling is Nordic, right? It's the place of this mythology. Good choice.

00:38:00.868 --> 00:38:06.148
Yes, I like this name a lot actually. I named all my boats. I had a sailing boat.

00:38:06.348 --> 00:38:12.608
I had two sailing boats and I all named them the same because I like it so much.

00:38:14.128 --> 00:38:16.508
So where can people follow your journey?

00:38:17.426 --> 00:38:24.766
I started Instagram when I restarted in Barcelona, when I decided to make a second navigation.

00:38:25.026 --> 00:38:30.686
So I have Instagram and I have my blog. My blog I have since the start,

00:38:31.086 --> 00:38:36.226
which is a backup, right, for all those who don't have Instagram.

00:38:37.526 --> 00:38:41.166
And it's a summary. Every year I make a summary on my blog.

00:38:42.306 --> 00:38:49.786
And the Instagram is just for, it's on a daily basis. when I feel like posting something.

00:38:49.946 --> 00:38:55.686
I have not posted something for a long time, but I'm a little bit lazy because

00:38:55.686 --> 00:38:58.246
I'm not a social media person, really.

00:38:59.166 --> 00:39:05.386
I would like to concentrate on paddling and I'm not an influencer type of person.

00:39:05.746 --> 00:39:09.686
But still, yeah, these are my two things, the blog and the Instagram.

00:39:10.006 --> 00:39:15.586
Okay. Well, we will make sure that we include links in the show notes so people can find the blog.

00:39:15.586 --> 00:39:20.226
And so I'll include that as well as your Instagram and then there's also a Google

00:39:20.226 --> 00:39:24.466
map that you've created that shows the route and shows all the legs and we'll

00:39:24.466 --> 00:39:27.146
include that in the show notes so folks can check that out as well.

00:39:27.446 --> 00:39:30.646
That would be great, yeah. It's a drawn route.

00:39:30.866 --> 00:39:38.066
I don't have any tracker so every time I finish, every season I finish I go

00:39:38.066 --> 00:39:41.726
to the computer and draw my route by hand on Google Maps.

00:39:42.866 --> 00:39:44.666
It's an interesting view for certain.

00:39:47.066 --> 00:39:48.806
If listeners had questions if

00:39:48.806 --> 00:39:51.586
they wanted to reach out to you what's the best way for folks to do that,

00:39:52.562 --> 00:39:58.242
I think it's Instagram. I have a contact form on my blog too,

00:39:58.402 --> 00:40:00.902
but hardly anybody uses. So I think it's Instagram.

00:40:01.182 --> 00:40:06.482
I also create a YouTube channel now, but there is no content in it now.

00:40:06.862 --> 00:40:12.862
But I will. I think YouTube is the better platform for my kind of adventure.

00:40:13.082 --> 00:40:16.522
Somebody told me, why don't you go to YouTube? It's a much better platform.

00:40:16.782 --> 00:40:24.202
So I just create. But it's not ready now. So people will see it when I'm ready.

00:40:24.462 --> 00:40:25.982
I will put it on my Instagram.

00:40:26.802 --> 00:40:30.362
Like I said, we will include links in the show notes to your Instagram,

00:40:30.622 --> 00:40:35.442
to the map, and to your blog, so folks can follow your journey and see what's next.

00:40:35.442 --> 00:40:40.122
And we wish you the absolute best on your next leg from Scotland through the

00:40:40.122 --> 00:40:43.842
Faroes to Iceland and then back, and then see where you go from there.

00:40:44.522 --> 00:40:46.622
Yes, I'm very curious, actually.

00:40:47.642 --> 00:40:51.682
Good. so this has been wonderful I appreciate the opportunity to talk to you

00:40:51.682 --> 00:40:55.762
Urban and learn about your adventure or know it yeah know a ton's route,

00:40:56.402 --> 00:41:00.582
and one final question that I have for you is who else would you like to hear

00:41:00.582 --> 00:41:04.502
as a future guest on Paddling the Blue you know an interesting person would

00:41:04.502 --> 00:41:10.502
be Chris Reed he sponsors me and he gave me new gear you know my gear was,

00:41:11.182 --> 00:41:16.602
completely worn out and torn up and had many holes and I definitely needed new

00:41:16.602 --> 00:41:21.402
gear and And Chris has his factory on my way.

00:41:21.682 --> 00:41:25.882
You know, it was along my way. And he gave me new gear and sponsors.

00:41:26.002 --> 00:41:29.262
So I think he would be a very interesting person to talk to.

00:41:29.602 --> 00:41:30.962
So I think it would be Chris.

00:41:31.502 --> 00:41:35.082
Excellent. Yeah, I know I have had an opportunity to correspond a little bit

00:41:35.082 --> 00:41:36.442
with Chris from Reed Schilcheter.

00:41:36.822 --> 00:41:40.462
And they do great work there. And you're right. I think he would be an excellent

00:41:40.462 --> 00:41:44.142
guest. And we'll have an opportunity to connect with him and get him on the show.

00:41:44.342 --> 00:41:49.202
So thank you for that referral. And thank you, Chris and Reed Schilcheater for the support of you.

00:41:50.177 --> 00:41:54.397
Thank you. Thanks to Chris, too. He knows that I'm appreciating it.

00:41:54.877 --> 00:41:57.977
So, Urban, thank you again. I appreciate the opportunity to talk with you and

00:41:57.977 --> 00:42:01.317
to learn about your journey and see where you go next.

00:42:02.117 --> 00:42:04.857
Yeah, thank you, John. Thanks for having me on your podcast.

00:42:05.097 --> 00:42:05.897
Thanks. You're welcome.

00:42:07.650 --> 00:42:11.070
If you want to be a stronger and more efficient paddler, Power to the Paddle

00:42:11.070 --> 00:42:14.710
is packed with fitness guidance and complete descriptions, along with photos

00:42:14.710 --> 00:42:19.130
of more than 50 exercises to improve your abilities and enjoy your time on the water.

00:42:19.330 --> 00:42:23.130
The concept and exercises in this book have helped me become a better paddler,

00:42:23.170 --> 00:42:24.790
and they can make a difference for you, too.

00:42:25.070 --> 00:42:28.730
The exercises in the book can help you reduce tension in your shoulders and

00:42:28.730 --> 00:42:32.630
low back, use the power of your torso to create leverage and use less energy

00:42:32.630 --> 00:42:36.510
with each stroke, use force generated from your lower body to make your paddling

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strokes more efficient,

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have the endurance to handle long days in the boat, drive through the toughest waves or white water,

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protect your body against common paddling injuries, and while you're at it,

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you might even lose a few pounds.

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And who wouldn't mind that? So visit paddlingexercises.com to get the book and companion DVD.

00:42:53.490 --> 00:42:56.270
Thanks to Jeff Allen for referring Urban as a guest on the show.

00:42:56.410 --> 00:43:00.250
I think it was Jeff way back on episode 24 who talked about our tendency to

00:43:00.250 --> 00:43:03.530
sometimes over-prepare and suck the adventure out of a trip.

00:43:03.890 --> 00:43:07.330
While Urban has developed his skills and safety equipment along the way,

00:43:07.470 --> 00:43:10.170
and he is certainly finding himself on a proper adventure.

00:43:10.610 --> 00:43:14.070
You'll find links to Urban's website and his Instagram by visiting the show

00:43:14.070 --> 00:43:18.250
notes for this episode at peddlingtheblue.com slash 159.

00:43:18.650 --> 00:43:22.370
We'll be making the annual pilgrimage to Quiet Adventure Symposium in Lansing,

00:43:22.490 --> 00:43:26.770
Michigan on February 28th, and Canoe Copia, the world's largest paddle sports

00:43:26.770 --> 00:43:30.010
expo, in March 13 through 15, both 2026.

00:43:30.330 --> 00:43:33.650
If you're at either event, please stop by and say hello. We'd love to meet you.

00:43:33.930 --> 00:43:37.470
I'll have an exhibit booth at Quiet Adventures, and you'll catch me at the P&H

00:43:37.470 --> 00:43:39.610
Piranha Kayaks booth at Canoe Copia.

00:43:39.970 --> 00:43:44.770
If you're not already a subscriber to OnlineSeaKayaking.com or OnlineWhatWater.com,

00:43:45.070 --> 00:43:49.550
use that coupon code PTBPODCAST to check out and you'll get 10% off just for

00:43:49.550 --> 00:43:51.190
being a member of the Paddling the Blue community.

00:43:51.550 --> 00:43:56.170
Thanks as always for listening and I look forward to bringing you the next episode of Paddling the Blue.

00:43:57.937 --> 00:44:01.077
Thank you for listening to Paddling the Blue. You can subscribe to Paddling

00:44:01.077 --> 00:44:06.397
the Blue on Apple Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

00:44:06.637 --> 00:44:09.537
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00:44:09.717 --> 00:44:11.377
We truly appreciate the support.

00:44:11.617 --> 00:44:14.817
And you can find the show notes for this episode and other episodes,

00:44:15.037 --> 00:44:20.577
along with replays of past episodes, contact information, and more at paddlingtheblue.com.

00:44:20.777 --> 00:44:23.877
Until next time, I hope you get out and paddle the blue.