Ocean Rowing Expeditions Underway

For the past few years, I have followed the adventures of paddlers heading off on expeditions that most of us can only dream about.  These adventurers have developed blogs with real-time electronic route maps, day-to-day narratives, current photos, and some have satellite telephone reports to add an even more compelling quality to the story.

I am currently monitoring the following expeditions:

Sarah Outen is a young British adventurer who is doing a 2½-year expedition using human power to circle the glob.  She travels by bike, kayak, and rowing boat.  This venture began in London, continued by bike across central Asia to the Siberian coast, then by kayak and rowing boat across to Japan and on to the west coast of America.  She set out for America two days ago and is now at sea.  You can follow her at:  http://www.sarahouten.com/blog/

Charlie Martell is also on a cross pacific row, and he left from the same location in Japan 10 days ago in his specially made rowing boat.  His goal is to make a solo and unsupported row into San Francisco.  You can follow his venture at:  http://pacific2012.com

Finally, Roz Savage, a British adventurer who I have followed on her rows across the Atlantic to America, from California to Hawaii, on to Tarawa in the Gilbert Island, then to Fiji, and finally to Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, is on the move again.  She had planned to retire after her voyage of three years or so, but she has agreed to fill in on a rowing voyage with Andrew Morris across the Atlantic from Newfoundland, Canada, to the UK. They have been delayed due to icebergs in their projected route, but will be underway within a few days.  You can follow her adventure at:  http://rozsavage.com

These three blogs offer the promise of vicarious adventure to all of us who would like to be involved in such adventures but find ourselves caught up in the routines and obligations of a constrained life.  Electronics makes this fanciful adventure available to us all.