Finding an Adventure: Solo Journey Around the Baltic Sea (Jenny Tough Interview)

Go find an adventure.

These are the words Jenny Tough speaks from the mountains, from her bike, on a SUP board, or on a boat.

One day she decided to cycle from Copenhagen for a complete 3800 km circumnavigation of the Baltic Sea, solo and unsupported, in just 35 days.

She camped in the deep forest of the Nordic countries, made her way through traffic in Russian, slept on stunning white-sand beaches in Poland, and made it back within her cut-off time.

Her goal in all of her adventures is to encourage women (and everyone) to get on their bikes and go find an adventure!  Let’s dive in and hear from Jenny Tough in this Women Living Their Dreams On and Off the Trail interview.

“Decide you can do it and you will do it. The details can all be figured out later.” -@jennytough

(click to tweet)

What’s the first thing you did to prepare for your 3800 km cycling journey around the Baltic Sea? How did this preparation compare or relate to other goals you’ve set and accomplished in other areas of your life?

I was literally gazing at Google Maps, daydreaming a little, when I began to wonder about the Baltic Sea. I checked the distance, the flights, visas, and by then I was sold – I knew it could be done, and not much else. All you need to make an adventure happen is to decide that you can do it and you will do it, and that can relate to every other area of your life. The details can all be figured out later.

Are there certain habits or rituals you have to nurture your adventurous spirit and always be ready to “go find an adventure?”

My adventures always involve some sort of physical challenge, whether that’s running, cycling, paddling, skiing, or whatever, so keeping myself in shape is really important to always being ready to go if an opportunity arises. I find the thought of one day running up some incredible mountain in a far-flung land and having oxygen left to enjoy the view from the top is a far more motivating reason to exercise than being able to fit into my skinny jeans.

Has fear ever been a good thing in your outdoor adventures or life? How do you use it to your advantage, or how do you overcome it?

Fear is an important physical state that humans need in order to survive, so I like to keep a healthy relationship with it. It also works like a muscle, and if you keep exercising it – as in, keep doing things you’re afraid of – you’ll get better at managing it. The key is to acknowledge what you’re afraid of, and then take steps to minimize that. For example, if you’re afraid of wild camping on your own, commit yourself to some camping trips with friends, or in campgrounds but by yourself, and over time you’ll become so comfortable sleeping inside your tent that wild camping by yourself will seem far less scary.

If you passed another hiker/runner/cyclist on the trail, and only had a few minutes to give them your best tip, what would it be?

Think about safety when you’re alone in the wilderness, and stop to take more photos!

What’s on your list of upcoming adventures?

At the moment I’m spending time writing a book about my recent expedition to run across Kyrgyzstan, but I’ve got some exciting bike plans for 2017 both on and off the road… Stay tuned!

What does “living your dreams on and off the trail” mean to you?

In my view, living my dreams on and off the trail means feeling like I’m living honestly – that each day serves me in a way that makes me feel satisfied with how I’m living my life and what I’m working towards. It means that I’m living in the present, and filling my life with joy.

About Jenny

Jenny Tough is a Scottish-Canadian endurance adventure enthusiast, taking on solo cycle tours, overnight MTB marathons, epic sailing challenges, exotic paddling expeditions, shark diving, mountain running, freezing surfing, and adrenalised skiing all over the globe. She has travelled six continents, and is enthusiastic about encouraging others to explore the wonderful outdoors and both the close-by and far-away cultures of our amazing planet. Go find an adventure!

Connect with her at JennyTough.com | Instagram| Twitter | YouTube