Saturday, December 17, 2005
12/17/2005 12:01:00 AM

Renata's Around America Adventure

posted by FH2o

In July this year, Swedish Expeditioner Renata Chlumska began a 11,200-mile circumnavigation of the United States via kayak, bicycle and inline skates. She planned the journey with her late fiancée Goran Kropp, who in 1996 pedaled his bicycle from Stockholm to Nepal, climbed Mt.Everest without oxygen, and cycled back!

After Kropp died in a 2002 climbing accident, Chlumska decided to complete the expedition on her own. She started in Seattle to San Francisco some 900 sea miles later. From there she plans to kayak to the Mexican border, bike – with kayak in tow – to the Gulf of Mexico and then paddle to Florida. After crossing the peninsular she’ll paddle up the Eastern seaboard to Maine, kayak the Great Lakes and follow the Canadian border back to Seattle. She hopes to finish her trip in October 2006. Her boat will be with her the whole time, as will a sense of safety and doggedness I am sure!

You can follow her progress at www.renatachlumska.com.

Here are some photos of her expediton so far taken off her website.

I wonder how many amongst us would be prepared to get out of our comfort zones to embark on an adventure like this. Sometimes it takes someone like Renata to challenge our thinking about our purpose in life, sense of security and what we can achieve; as well as giving armchair adventurers inspiration and maybe a prod to go out and 'Just Do It'.

And our adventures doesn't always have to be big like Renata's. It just needs to be ours. Kayaking with me on some 'crocs-infested' river on the weekends anyone? ;o)

Godspeed Renata!



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  At Saturday, 17 December, 2005 Blogger Pandabonium said:

People like this don't get me thinking of doing the same kind of thing, but they do make me realize how lame I am when won't do small things.

I'm for kayaking with you - crocs or no.

  At Saturday, 17 December, 2005 Blogger Jellyfish said:

not me... :)
at least not at this moment

  At Sunday, 18 December, 2005 Blogger @ロウ 。LOW@ said:

So much for the dream and shear determination! Thanks for sharing!

And Pandabonium, i'm sure we can find some place without croc, first, as the level of difficulties slowly increase... :p

  At Sunday, 18 December, 2005 Blogger Lrong said:

Imagine if she is a 'Malaysian of the right breed'... multiple Datuk titles will await her...

Brave lady indeed... can see how she pulls along the canoe while cycling... but wonder how she 'carries' the bike while she canoes...

  At Sunday, 18 December, 2005 Blogger FH2O said:

panda - u're most welcomed to join me and it would be my pleaure. Care to join us, low?

jellyfish - we can only dream of this ...

lrong - a "tun" might not be out of the question; and judging from her model good looks - multiple wedding proposals from all those Datuks (irrespective of breeds)as well!!

  At Sunday, 18 December, 2005 Anonymous louyau-mike said:

really salut this woman!

  At Monday, 19 December, 2005 Blogger Robin said:

Wah!!!!! Women leh.. oops..

(hidding under u know where)

  At Monday, 19 December, 2005 Blogger @ロウ 。LOW@ said:

Hey thanks...i'll know whom to find when i'm Kuching then :)

Not sure exactly which river, though :p

  At Monday, 19 December, 2005 Blogger Happysurfer said:

FH2o, I hear you but it's not so much as getting out of our comfort zone as in what is it we want out of life. Each one of us has our own inclinations and I believe that drive what we
do. Remember 'to each his own'?

She's a very brave lady. Thank you for sharing - nice pix too.

  At Monday, 19 December, 2005 Blogger WayneMethod said:

Renata is such a brave girl. But certainly she is behaving like a Swede. I have been working with Swede for more than 6 years; what I discovered is that they are the nicest people to work with. When I was a kid, an AngMo is an AngMo. No difference to me. But now I know an Amercican is confrontational, a Brit has a sercastic sense of humor, and the Norwegians are the loveliest bunch to work with. Nice blog. Keep it up.

  At Monday, 19 December, 2005 Blogger 9lives said:

Yup, I agree with what you said on saturday about the woman. Who would've thought someone looking like a model would have dared doing something like that.

I guess, if she were a malaysian, she'd be busy trying out for film auditions or auditioning for the next akademi fantasia.

And perhaps not multiple wedding proposals from allt he datuks, she'll be getting weddign proposals from all the royalties in malaysia definitely..:)

  At Tuesday, 20 December, 2005 Blogger FH2O said:

... and probably a proposal from Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei as well! ;o)

  At Tuesday, 20 December, 2005 Anonymous Michael said:

She is really cool!!! So admire of her!


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