Travelling some 15,000km and visiting 20 countries in the process in one year is a huge feat in itself, but doing it in a kayak is something else.
Australian adventurer Huw Kingston is about to finish his marathon voyage from Anzac cove all the way across the Mediterranean and back, coinciding with commemorative events for the centenary of the Anzac campaign.
He is expected to steer his kayak back to the shores of Anzac Cove on 23 April.
“It’s been an incredible journey thus far despite several challenges along the way, and it’s fitting to finish back at Anzac Cove in time for the centenary celebrations,” Huw said, entering the Turkish coast.
He spent three months paddling 2,500km along the coasts of Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Croatia, then entered a 100 day, 1,500km trek following the full length of the European Alps in its arc from Slovenia through Italy, Switzerland, France and down to arrive in Monaco on the Mediterranean Sea. He then cycled through the top end of Africa, where he was escorted by police through Algeria due to political unrest.
Along the way, Huw has also become one of Save the Children Australia’s highest ever personal fundraisers, achieving $63,000 to date.
“Whilst my journey has been human-powered and often hard, it has been the power of human kindness that has nourished me at every turn, in every country,” Huw says.
“Unexpected generosity and innumerable coincidences have been everywhere.”
While in Greece last year, Huw spoke of his awe at the generosity of the Greek people.
“I have had the most beautiful of times with fantastic hospitality that has been bestowed upon me, just random hospitality, of random people who didn’t know I was coming,” he told Neos Kosmos.
“I just land in someone’s backyard, on the coast, and suddenly I’m having dinner with them, or I’m being put up in hotels. Greek people have been incredibly generous all the way through for what I’m doing.”
While in Greece, he was able to do a 100 km paddle across the Gulf of Corinth in one day and throw in a 42km run in Marathon.
Amazingly, Huw has already made a 25,000 km journey around Australia.