Having completed my solo row across the Atlantic Ocean over a year ago, I realized that a year is too long to go without an adventure. Although it’s tempting not to spend another 70 days alone at sea with sharks, dolphins, and thirty-foot waves, I’ve decided to cover another 3,000 miles only this time by land. On June 18th, with my friend Sam, we are taking on a little bicycle trip across the states from Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, MD. From the moment we start, we’ll be riding 24 hours/day until reaching the finish, raising money for a safe drinking water project in Kenya along the way. You didn’t expect anything else, now did you?! Click here to follow my latest adventure.

Onto the next one

It’s been 1 year, 1 month and 10 days since embarking on what should have been the most challenging journey of my life; spending 70 days alone at sea with little more than two sets of oars, 300 chocolate bars and a lot of determination. Perhaps the biggest challenge in the last year has been finding a way to top the last adventure.

More common than being asked “Why row across the Atlantic?”, the question most have asked, including myself, has been “What’s next?”. Although I have embarked on many adventures, I feel as if they have a way of finding me when I least expect it. Continue reading here.

]]> http://rowforwater.com/archives/1904/feed/ 0 http://rowforwater.com/archives/1880/ http://rowforwater.com/archives/1880/#comments Sun, 21 Nov 2010 21:04:31 +0000 Katie http://rowforwater.com/?p=1880

My feet are officially on solid ground again.

I’m all about setting achievable and manageable goals.

During the last few weeks the one that remained high on the list was: not screeching like a fifteen-year-old girl who has caught a glimpse of Justin Bieber. Not falling off stage or freezing during an acceptance speech were on that list too.

After landing from my row one of the first places I ended up was the Glamour office in NYC to receive some big news. Each year for their December issue, they highlight women leaders from around the world as the Women of the Year, and I was lucky to be on this years list. Last week was the star-studded award ceremony at Carnegie Hall. Here’s a short clip from the evening:

Met lots of cool people from Kate Hudson to Fergie, Julia Roberts to Mia Hamm, and even Oprah! It’s all been exhilarating and awe-inspiring and just the right dose of inspiration to move things along for my next big adventure – Ride for your Life! It’s the same distance of the row, completed in a tenth of the time, and this time, with a teammate. Watch this space for the official launch of the new website and all the details!

I consider my Sundays to be a success if at the end of the day, I manage to do my laundry. This Sunday, however, was not laundry day. It was time to get on the bike and roll.

As you might already know, last week I was donated an amazing new bike. And this weekend I just had to test it out on a long ride. 211-mile long ride, to be exact.

Sure, I could have logged those miles all around Cleveland and called it a day, but I had my sights set on Niagara Falls. I’m not sure what it is about having some sort of destination but it truly makes all the difference. It was a great ride passing through vineyard after vineyard in sleepy towns of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. The aroma of the fresh grapes was mouth-watering. And beyond the rolling hills, you could could catch a glimpse of Lake Erie. For most of the journey there was little more than farmland and small fruit stands tucked around each bend of the road.

Each town I rode through seem confused by my lyrcaed-suited presence. I met many new people along the way interested to know my mission.

Conversations went a little like this:

Curious person: “Where are you from?”

Me: “Cleveland area”

Curious person: “Where are you going?”

Me: “Niagara Falls”

Curious person: “How many days will that take?”

Me: Uh, one.

It’s not for everyone, but it’s safe to safe I’m hooked on seeing how far I can go, on a bike or in a boat.

Mile after mile, I finally heard something I hadn’t heard in two hundred miles. The squawking of seagulls. As I made my way closer, the cloud of mist from the falls engulfed me. I DID IT!

Seeing the falls was surreal, yes. But to be honest, after cycling from sunrise past sunset, the only thing on my mind?

Fries.

After my recent vehicle and bike robbery, I thought my cycling days were over. But that all changed when I received a message from a member of the Chagrin Valley Rotary Club that there was some big news in store.

Incredibly, the Rotary Club has teamed up with Giant Bicycles and Century Cycles to replace my stolen one. No more peering around dark alleys in search of my missing bike. No more posting up flyers with pictures of the long lost one.

I was presented with the new bike last week at the Century Cycles store in Rocky River with the store owner, Scott Cowan, several Rotary members, and Mark Zinni with Channel 8 (and mustn’t forget that guy who came to the store with his kayak for me to sign!). I was gifted with a brand-new carbon-fiber 2011 Giant Defy Advanced 1 road bike. For those of you who don’t know bikes, it’s quite simply the cream of the crop. At 17-pounds, I think I can lift it with my finger.

 It felt like Christmas morning. Nope, better. It’s a day I will never forget.

I wasn’t really sure how to say thank you for going so far above and beyond anything I could have asked for. So as a small token I gave one rowing glove to Century Cycles and the other to the Rotary Club. A pair of the gloves I wore to cross the Atlantic as a “thanks for giving me a hand when I needed it the most”.

And now that I have the new bike it’s time for the fun part. Plotting cycling trips of epic proportions. Last week was a nice 80-85 miler and this weekend, I have an even bigger ride planned that includes crossing borders. I won’t stop until I’m in Canada! It’s certainly got me thinking about my next big challenge, and I’m hoping to announce that shortly.

Thank you to everyone who helped in picking up the pieces after the theft. I cannot begin to express my gratitude; it’s been a true blessing. As any cyclist would know, a bike means a lot. But more than a bike, knowing there are people looking out for me means the world.

Oh, and it wouldn’t be right to have a bike without a name. I’ve decided and it’s Phoenix. It means: a person or thing regarded as uniquely remarkable in some respect. Or, in classical mythology, a unique bird that lived for centuries and rose from ashes with renewed youth to live through another cycle.

  Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Phoenix!

This week was one of many new lessons. I can’t say that I thought I would ever learn how to drive a car with a screwdriver, but as of yesterday, I am now an expert.

Monday morning as I was ready to head off to work, I noticed my trusty Dodge 2000 minivan, helpful for towing around a certain rowboat, had gone missing. After calling a few of my friends who might think this a good prank, I realized it was truly gone. Stolen. Poof.

Who would have known that my particular year, make, and model is the most stolen vehicle in Ohio. Minivans come and go, but there were a few items inside that were priceless. Oars and a bike. Not any oars or any bike. The oars that got me 3,038 miles across the Atlantic earlier this year and the bicycle that got me 3,300 miles across America.

It has been a long week making new friends at the Justice Center, Fourth District Cleveland Police Station, the Title Bureau, and finally, Lot #6 in the Steelyard Commons. On Tuesday I had officially run out of luck when a friend proposed we go to the lottery store and pick up a ticket. You know, to turn my luck around. They were out. Not a one. By Friday morning I found out that the van had been found on a side-street in Cleveland and taken to an impound lot. After lots of running around it was the moment of truth – were the oars and bike still inside?

Negative. The van was empty. It was filled with water, the ignition broken, and taillights shattered. The seats were even removed. It looked like they hit something from the hood of the van, and when I got the engine started, it sounded like my van was not interested in running any longer. The robber was able to start the van by busting the ignition and using a screwdriver. Yes, a screwdriver.

They kindly left my bike helmet as a final remembrance of what one was. And, I shouldn’t say my van was completely empty. The robber did leave me two CD’s (music with excessive profanity), a pack of cigarettes, and brass knuckles. Bartering isn’t my strong point, but I think it’s fair to say that two CD’s, cigarettes, and brass knuckles are not an equal trade for a carbon fiber road bike and oars that crossed an ocean. So, if the robber happens to be reading this, I ask to kindly reconsider and I’ll gladly trade back his or her stuff in return for mine.

It’s bit a confusing experience, to say the least, and I am massively thankful for everyone who has been sending positive notes. A huge thank you goes out to the Rotary members of Chagrin Valley, especially Frank Lanza at Highway Garage in Bainbridge for setting me up with a car to borrow and helping put my van back together again. It’s times like these that I realize how many amazing people are looking out for me, so thank you for the support. Without it, I might be left a bit jaded right now. Or a lot.

Remember, if you spot someone riding this bike – please throw sticks in the spokes. It’s my bike and I want it back. Summer is nearly over and I have some more cycling to do.

And my offer still stands – free rowing trip across Lake Erie for whoever finds my oars!

My days of excessive rowing may be over, but, fear not, still busy as ever with speaking, events, and dare I admit – a job! Here is the latest:  

Selecting water projects

Together, after raising over $100,000 for the Blue Planet Network (recently changed names from Blue Planet Run to Blue Planet Network), it’s now that time – selecting projects. With the Blue Planet Network’s “Peer Water Exchange” I have the opportunity to designate those funds to specific projects and communities. Last fall, two projects in Haiti were funded, and the remaining $90,000 is likely going to fund projects in Nicaragua, Guatemala, India, Cambodia, and Uganda. Wherever the projects are, I think it will be a perfect excuse to map out my next big adventure. Stay tuned!

Lights, Camera, Action!

Early on in the summer, I received an email from an ad agency in LA to pique my interest in a new advertising campaign called “The World Needs More Winners” for the Game Show Network. The productions team of 15 was flying around the country for their six commercial spots and they happened to be filming the World Champ of Rock, Paper, Scissors in Detroit. Within 48 hours of receiving that email, I was in Detroit filming for my commercial with the team. Everyone on the productions team had interesting stories from past lives as submarine pilots to back-up dancers and everything in between. There was even one person on set who was solely responsible for the clapperboard (that black and white board with two sticks hinged together).

Since it was all very last minute, we struggled to find a location and when we did, we were asked by the authorities to stop! They eventually got what they needed after six hours of filming for a thirty-second clip. The commercial will air next month and I’m anxious to see which parts they end up using. They had a script for me which included a segment of me kissing my “mini-wilson” tennis ball. I’m might regretting that one if it ends up on national TV!

Cough drops, please

Lots of speaking engagements and especially excited for one this Friday at the United Nations for an Annual Youth Assembly with over 700 youth leaders from around the globe. If I’m really lucky, I might get to meet Angelina Jolie!!

Finally have a short video with my first talk post-row in April at the Welcome Event. If you’d like to see the talk in person, here’s a list of the upcoming ones too:

Upcoming talks and events:

August 6 – Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations in New York City

August 21 –Crocker Park Green Week in Westlake, Ohio

September 10-12 – Lake Erie Boat Week in Huron, Ohio  Event canceled!

September 26 –Wellness Weekend for Lake Health in Cleveland, Ohio

October 7 – Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District in Brecksville, Ohio

October 11-12 – Women’s Sports Foundation in New York City

October 22 – Year of Water Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio

October 23 – Bowl for Water event with Rotary Club of Solon

October 29 – Evening talk at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History

After the initial media wave in New York City, I’m still busy as ever with interviews, talks, and events. Here is a recap of the highlights during the last couple weeks:

Special guest at a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game. I may have missed celebrating Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, and St. Patrick’s Day in Cleveland, but this one night made up for it all. The Cavaliers were participating in “NBA Green Week” in early April and I was invited to be recognized before tip-off in front of the 20,000+ cheering Cavs fans. Little did I know they would present me with an incredible surprise – my very own jersey. Number 70 for my 70 days at sea. I wonder if they’ll notice if I run on court at their next game wearing it! As I was walking off court, I even heard one of the Cavs players shouting “Go, Katie, go”. Well, hello Lebron!

At the game, a Row for Water booth was set up at the concourse and autographed warm-up shirts worn by all the players were raffled off. Over $3,000 for the Blue Planet Run was raised, reaching my final fundraising goal of providing one person access to safe drinking water for every mile it took to cross the Atlantic.

Appearance at Beachwood High School’s “The Green Dream”. Last year, I gave a talk to a class at Beachwood High School about the challenge and goal setting. The seniors hosted an annual event with eighty eco-friendly business and I set up a booth with my rowboat outside for attendees to check out. The students generously presented me and Jin Zidell, the Blue Planet Run Founder, a check for $2,000 for safe drinking water projects. That’s enough to help 70 people gain access to safe water for life!

Welcome home party. Last Saturday I had the final celebration of the journey with an hour-long talk and a half-hour of questions and answers, followed with the biggest birthday cake ever. The Rotary Club of Chagrin Valley really went above and beyond to make this a memorable day – putting together a short video, presenting a map of the journey, inviting the guests (especially the Blue Planet Run Founder and my sponsors), and reuniting the “mini-wilson” they gave me before I began the journey. A HUGE thank you to everyone who attended and who put the event together. It was another reminder of how small this all started and the magical ripple effect of how this came to be. Except for a bit of volcanic ash that kept Sam in London (good friend and mentor during row), I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my birthday!

Speaking, speaking, and more speaking. Lots of upcoming talks to schools and groups. Yesterday I gave a talk in Portland, Oregon to an all-girls high school called St. Mary’s for their poverty awareness day and tomorrow in Vancouver for a rotary club (in between two radio shows – we’ll see if I can pull it off!). Then back to Ohio for one on Saturday morning.

It’s all been a bit crazy!

On Saturday, April 17th, Chagrin Valley Rotary Club is putting on a “Welcome Home” celebration for Katie at Kenston High School. From 1 pm, Katie will be giving a presentation about the row, followed by an opportunity for you to ask all the questions you’ve been dying to put to her.

The best part of it is that it won’t cost you anything at all (but, of course, donations will be very gratefully accepted!).

If you want to come, please e-mail Mark Besand (bykrdad2@aol.com) or Roger Kallock (rwkallock@windstream.net). I look forward to seeing you all there. (Yes, I’m afraid I’ll be there too!)

When: Saturday, April 17th, 1 p.m.
Where: Kenston High School Auditorium
9500 Bainbridge Road
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 [Click here for a map]
Who: Katie Spotz (and Sam Williams)
Why: To celebrate Katie’s accomplishment
Cost: Free (donations for clean water projects will be accepted)

RSVP: Mark Besand (440) 543-5520 bykrdad2@aol.com
Roger Kallock (440) 343-5954 rwkallock@windstream.net

Gradually, as I rowed across the Atlantic, things would start to grow on Liv. If left for too long, it would turn into a jungle underwater, making my boat glide through the water much slower. So, in order to stop that, every now and again I had to jump in to scrub my boat!

But I wasn’t the only thing down there. And, sometimes, the fish got a little too close for comfort. Here’s a short video with some of my close encounters while cleaning Liv and keeping everything running smoothly. Sorry for the screams!

It’s incredible how long it takes to sort through over 2,000 photos and several hours of video. I’m really sorry I’m taking forever to get these posted up; definitely blame me and not Katie!!

Little by little, I’m working through them and there are some truly fantastic photos still to come. Here are a few more just to keep you entertained.

(once again, click on the image to open up a larger version)