If there’s one angle that’s almost common amongst journey athletes, it’s a pathological dedication to optimism. Irishmen Johnny Coyne and Liam Cotter possess this high quality in spades. Within the final 5 months, they’ve camped in freezing chilly temperatures beneath the Cliffs of Dover, hauled loaded kayaks uphill for 100 miles by way of Germany’s Black Forest, and after they knocked a gap by way of one in all their boats in a French canal, they went door to door asking for assist to restore it.
To those many obstacles, Coyne merely says, “It’s all part of the experience.”
The 2 24-year-olds set out from Eire in early September 2024 to drag off an inconceivable quest: kayaking throughout Europe from Dublin to Istanbul. That might make them the primary individuals on this planet to journey the continent by kayak. It hasn’t been simple, and several other setbacks have added months to the deliberate itinerary.
However when GearJunkie caught up with them in January, Coyne and Cotter had been fortunately establishing camp alongside the Danube River, close to Germany’s border with Austria. Of the three,100 whole miles probably required to succeed in Istanbul, the pair have traveled greater than 1,200. They’ll now comply with the Danube by way of Japanese Europe till it empties into the Black Sea, the place they’ll comply with the shoreline all the best way to Istanbul.
“I know this is going to be one of the longest and most unique journeys I’ll ever do,” Coyne stated. “Trying to stay in the present moment is key.”
The duo kayaks by way of a canal in Warrington, England, in October 2024; (picture/Johnny Coyne)
Channels and Canals
Whereas Coyne’s kayaking quest has been harder than he anticipated — it’s removed from his first grand journey. The younger Irishman has dedicated himself to daring out of doors journeys in the previous couple of years, from biking to Portugal and trekking throughout Nepal to a motorcycle journey from Canada to Costa Rica (with out realizing a lick of Spanish).
Although neither take into account themselves severe kayakers, Coyne and Cotter compensate for the shortage of expertise with an indefatigable angle.
“I didn’t have too much expectations of the journey. I just knew it was gonna be hard,” Coyne stated.
It’s doable that probably the most troublesome elements of the journey are already behind them. For starters, it took them 9 lengthy hours of paddling to make an unsupported crossing of the Irish Sea to England. They arrived at 10 p.m., slept for a number of hours beneath the well-known White Cliffs of Dover, after which wakened at 4 a.m. to begin their crossing of the English Channel.
Although they’d deliberate on having a help boat for some further safety whereas crossing one of many enterprise transport lanes on this planet — the operator canceled on the final minute. So Coyne and Cotter as soon as once more paddled unsupported, pulling off a 12-hour crossing whereas combating the channel’s fierce winds and waves.
Often, the pair spend every night time tenting on no matter delicate riverbank they will discover. They preserve their kayaks loaded with meals, water, tenting gear, and clothes. The unique concept was to spent virtually the whole journey touring by water — however France had different plans.
Coyne and Cotter had been kicked off the nation’s canals for two to three weeks for paddling them with out particular permission from the federal government. And by the point they lastly obtained a allow, winter had arrived and frozen the waterways.
Realizing that portaging their kayaks lengthy distances was going to be essential to have an opportunity at ending the journey, they spent 3 weeks in a French village awaiting attachable wheels. However even that proved fulfilling, as an area named Bruno launched them to his “football club” (meaning soccer) and located them a extra comfy sleeping scenario at an area hearth station.
“There’s a massive learning curve always. There’s only so much planning you can do,” Coyne stated. “And it’s always the most memorable parts of all my journeys. We wouldn’t have experienced any of that if we hopped on a bus.”
(Picture/Johnny Coyne)
Portaging By Europe
It was by no means a part of Coyne’s plan to do lengthy portages with loaded kayaks weighing as much as 200 kilos — particularly in city areas.
But that’s the scenario Coyne and Cotter repeatedly discovered themselves confronting in France and Germany. Generally, that’s a comparatively quick jaunt round “the odd weir” blocking the waterway. Different instances, it entails a protracted carry, like their 100-mile portage by way of Germany’s Black Forest (“a really cool, mystical place”).
However maybe the hardest portages are by way of cities, the place these touring Irishmen should cope with transferring automobiles and metropolis site visitors. In addition they grow to be the topic of weird fascination amongst bemused locals.
(Picture/Johnny Coyne)
“For some reason, we love chaos — but it does get very stressful at times going through cities,” Coyne stated. “Everyone is looking at you like what the f*** are you doing? Most people are smiling and laughing, though there are a few honking.”
In the meantime, their gear has held up comparatively properly to all of the abuse. Coyne and Cotter have been paddling in Pyranha Valkyries, an outdated sea kayak mannequin from the British boat maker. In addition they received sponsored quickly after beginning their journey, receiving a few Palm Gear dry fits which have made all of the distinction.
“They’re an absolute gamechanger,” Coyne stated. “We probably wouldn’t be finishing the journey without them.”
The Kindness of Strangers
As Coyne recounted probably the most particular moments of his journey thus far, it was the surprising kindnesses that obtained probably the most consideration. Again and again, the duo had been aided, fed, and saved from potential catastrophe thanks to finish strangers.
The truth is, the duo is now a trio. Coyne’s pal Ryan Fallon, additionally 24 years previous, joined up in Strasbourg, Germany, and hopes to complete the remainder of the pilgrimage to Istanbul.
Final week, the three had been touring down the Danube River in Germany when some whitewater slammed Cotter’s kayak in opposition to a rock, producing an enormous gap. Feeling “distraught” about overcoming this downside whereas in “the middle of nowhere,” Coyne discovered a close-by highway and knocked on the primary home he discovered to ask to assist.
In opposition to all odds, the German man who emerged really owned a plastic welder, and was capable of repair Cotter’s boat in a half hour. Then, one other man arrived to assist restore the kayak. Coyne and Cotter had known as him earlier, however weren’t positive he’d arrive in time. The person not solely invited them to remain in his dwelling for the night time, but additionally gave Fallon a kayak totally free. (Fallon’s kayak was previous, filled with holes, and lacked storage.)
“It went from a terrible disaster to something that happened for a reason,” Coyne stated. “We had people invite us into their homes and were constantly getting looked after by really nice people. It’s amazing how many people have tried to help us.”
Midway There
It’s been a troublesome, sophisticated journey to make it about midway to their meant vacation spot, however Coyne is hopeful probably the most troublesome bits are already behind them.
Forward is the remainder of the Danube River, which they’ll comply with by way of Japanese Europe till arriving on the Black Sea. As soon as there, they’ll paddle alongside the ocean’s northern shoreline all the best way to the Turkish metropolis as soon as known as Constantinople. When Coyne talked with GearJunkie final week, it was quickly after he, Cotter, and Fallon had arrange their tenting tents, getting ready for one more night time in sub-zero temperatures.
Although clearly drained, Coyne’s optimism by no means wavered. He repeatedly voiced his gratitude for the individuals who helped get them this far, and described his deep appreciation for the rivers and forests that had supplied a lot solitude.
Coyne close to the Cliffs of Dover; (picture/Johnny Coyne)
With a number of months nonetheless left to go, he and Cotter nonetheless hope to satisfy the fundraising objective of their journey. Their GoFundMe web page goals to boost €30,000 to construct a second location of Daisy Lodge, a charity for youngsters with most cancers, “just down the road” from the village the place Coyne grew up. As soon as dwelling in Eire, they hope to finish a documentary of their journey.
However first, they’ll have to complete what they began.
“I might not ever do a journey as long as this again,” Coyne stated. “We wanted to do pure travel — pure adventure — and see what happens. And that’s what we got.”
