Sarah Outen's Journey by Bike/Kayak/Row Boat

By Ronit Bezalel

Sarah Outen is a 29-year-old Englishwoman who is currently three-quarters of her way through a human-powered trip around the world by row boat, kayak and bicycle. She recently spoke at the All Saints' Episcopal Church in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago, where she shared stories, pictures, and video of her adventures.

When traveling on land, Sarah rides "Hercules," a chainless, belt-driven bicycle which helps eliminate drivetrain problems due to snow, ice, and sand. Together, they've traveled more than 11,000 miles across Europe, Asia, and now through North America. Sarah and "Hercules" have endured fierce weather conditions, ranging from scorching sun in the Gobi desert to subzero temperatures in Canada and the Midwest.

Outen's talk was inspiring. She shared not only her physical journey, but also the emotional roller coaster she's experienced. For example, she has-faced deep depression resulting from the loss of "Gulliver," her beloved rowboat, to a tropical storm. Outen said it felt like losing a friend, and she struggled for months.

But Outen remained determined to realize her dream. Overcoming her fears and depression, she purchased a new boat with the insurance money. She named the boat "Happy Socks" and journeyed onwards.

Overall, Outen's presentation served as a lesson to "dig deep and keep going" when the metaphorical seas get rough.

Outen leaves Chicago on Wednesday, February 11th. Over the next few weeks, she'll ride east to Cape Cod. From there, she'll row Happy Socks across the Atlantic and back to London.

Follow Sarah on her blog www.sarahouten.com.

Ronit with Sarah Outen after her talk.