Dubai man cycles, swims and kayaks through 14 countries

Dubai - Here's the reason for the trip, through which he passed through 14 countries.

Meet Sam Brenkel, 27-year-old Dubai resident who cycled, swam and kayaked a 5,000km journey from the top of Scotland to the Black Sea in Romania.
Brenkel, who spent three years living and working for a marketing company in Dubai, left his job for the 3-month-trip that involved swimming for 13 hours across the English Channel, and kayaking the entire Danube, Europe's second longest river which is almost 3,000km long.
The reason for the trip, through which he passed through 14 countries, is simple.
"It's a personal challenge. Each aspect of the trip have been my goals for years, so I have decided to combine them all into one long journey," said Brenkel.
He said: "I wanted to spread the message that anyone can achieve anything. You don't need to be a professional with extreme levels of talent or unrealistic amount of money to achieve your dreams."
After taking swimming and cycling classes six days a week for about a year in Dubai, the Scottish national was ready to go. He had never been in a kayak until a week before starting the trip.
Starting in June, Brenkel cycled about 1,500km from John O'Groats, a village in the north of Scotland, to Dover. He then swam for 13 continuos hours across the English Channel, considered one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
Through his 40km swim to France that started at 3 am, Brenkel braved freezing water, high waves and strong currents. The swim came after about three weeks of training in the cold water of Dover, UK.
"In the English Channel, you have no choice but to keep going. You cannot stop because the water is too cold," he said. He was accompanied by a safety boat throughout his swim.
Upon reaching Calais, France, Brenkel cycled about 700km to the Black Forest in Germany that signals the start of Danube River.
He then kayaked through the entire length of the river, through which he passed through 10 countries before ending his 5,000km journey in the Black Sea in Romania.
"I was able to see cities from a different perspectives and in ways people haven't seen." Brenkel saw Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Nikopol among several others.
He described the journey as a mental challenge. "It was a great sense of achievement. I was on my own, so I had to push myself through the hard times. You don't get to complain, you just keep going," said Brenkel.
Asked if he would undertake similar challenges in future, he noted he has no plans yet.
"I want to show that with sufficient commitment and motivation, any human can achieve their ambitions. My trip also showed the wonders that even small amount of physical activity can make," said Brenkel.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai