I’d like to tell you about my friend, Kevin.
Back in 2016, when I was planning this journey down the Mississippi, I had no clue where to start.
I had an idea, and that was it.
As I was wrapping up my job in Australia, a colleague said to me, “You know what? I should put you in touch with Kevin. He worked here about 15 years ago, he’s a Kiwi too, and he also quit to go and do something crazy.”
A quick google told me Kevin set a world record for rowing across the Atlantic, and had trekked to the South Pole.
I knew I had to meet him.
I had a couple weeks before I could get back to New Zealand, so I read both his books: The Oarsome Adventures of a Fatboy Rower, and Escape to the Pole. Both laugh-out-loud reads!
When we eventually met in a small Auckland cafe, Kevin was no nonsense. Within a few minutes of sitting down, he asked me point blank, “How serious are you?”
I tried to pretend like I was pausing for dramatic effect, but I really didn’t have an answer.
Kevin helped me out, “You see, I get quite a few people contacting me about how to row across the Atlantic or some other adventure, and most of them don’t follow through. I want to know how serious you are.”
I mustered the little courage I had—and although I had no idea if I could actually make it happen—I said “I’ve quit my job, and I can last about a year on my savings. I’m serious.”
From that point on, Kevin was on my side. Over the next month, we met numerous times in that small cafe. And over the next year, Kevin would spend hours with me on Skype helping me with my plans.
He kept a no bullshit approach. He was direct and told me when my ideas were stupid, and I’m so grateful for that—Lord knows I needed it.
I now call Kevin a friend, and it’s a real privilege to catch up with him each time I’m back in New Zealand.
If you’re interested in a Trans-Atlantic rowing adventure, or a hair-raising South Pole expedition, check out his books!