ZOOM INTERVIEW WITH LOCAL EXPLORER VEDANGI KULKARNI

Probably best known for circumnavigating the world by bike at the ripe old age of 20, Vedangi Kulkarni is an adventurer, business-owner, and writer – and is such a cool gal.

On her infamous journey across the world, Vedangi faced a truly impressive amount of hurdles, such as being chased by a bear, hit by a minibus, robbed at knifepoint, stalked, and catching a couple stomach bugs and lung infections along the way. And yet she made it through, returned safely home, and is here with me today.

First of all, could you tell me a little about how your story began?

Sure! So in 2018 I wanted to circumnavigate the world by bike, and initially I wanted to complete this for fastest unsupported female solo ride in 100 days. Because I was quite young, however, I found it quite hard to get sponsors onboard because they didn’t believe that I could do that!

I read that you were robbed at knifepoint and chased by a bear? Could you tell me more about these experiences?

In Australia I was chased by some people who I later found out were armed, and then in Canada I got chased by a bear! I was actually fascinated to see a real grizzly bear and wasn’t really expecting to be chased because they were far enough for me to think that they wouldn’t notice me. One of them decided I was a danger to their kind so they started chasing me – but luckily a lorry went past and beeped and made a lot of sound and chased him back off.

And then in Spain I was chased on a bike by two guys who were yelling at me in Spanish, and after a while of them following me they came up behind me and pushed me off my bike. Initially I was going to throw my helmet at one of the guys, I was so angry! But then one of them pulled out a knife and put it to my throat whilst another started riffling through my bag, and I was there thinking if I get super scared and try to run away then I will get killed. So I was trying to distract myself from the fear and anxiety by going over their numberplate again and again in my head until I memorised it.

I also tried to think about whether they resembled anyone I could recall, and soon after they decided to push me into the side of the road and leave me and my stuff behind. I hit my head quite bad, but after 40 hours I was back on the road!

Next year I will be doing a documentary on the First Nations in British Columbia, and as you cycled through the area I was wondering if you learnt much about the indigenous people of Canada?

Unfortunately I did not! But I met the nicest people.

I read that you undertook this expedition ‘mostly’ unsupported? Which support did you/ didn’t you get?

I had my parents following behind me for a short while when I was in India, because India isn’t the safest place for a young girl to be riding alone. At the time I was pretty mad at my parents, saying you’re ruining my unsupported thing, but now I realise that was selfish. That’s the only thing that caused me to write that it was ‘mostly’ supported!

Can I ask how you obtained the funding for the expedition, and do you have any advice for others securing funding for their expeditions?

Advice-wise, I can just say to put yourself out there! And you don’t need permission to do something big if you’ve only done small things before, I don’t know if you’ve kind of felt that too? Reaching out to these companies – even if you don’t have the social media reach – is so important. I remember reaching out to Mark Beaumont and he gave me loads of advice and then posted about me on his social media and then there were quite a lot of people who followed me.

You don’t fit the typical explorer typecast of an older white male with a military background, and I was wondering if you have ever felt hindered by a discrimination, such as race, sexuality, or gender?

I have been told a few times that as a young girl I shouldn’t be travelling alone but on a much larger scale, I do feel that being someone with my background it took longer for me to be recognised in media. I wouldn’t say that’s discrimination right away though because there’s no way to point it out like that, but quite a few people have said that I’m too young to do what I do.

I also run a business where I help people plan their own expeditions, and people have told me a lot that I’m too young to start something like that.

So the business, is that The Adventure Shed? Could you tell me more about that came about, and how successful would you say it has been?

So I dropped out of university and was working with this guy who was aiming for the record of the youngest person to walk to the South Pole and I figured that there are some things that I would actually be really good for. I was thinking, hang on, I can create sponsorship proposals and get sponsors on board and then worked with another expedition where I worked with a substantial amount of money – and realised if I wanted to, I could do this.

And then I had to apply for the correct visa to be able to run a business in the UK, so I went back to India and came back with a provisional visa – but then lockdown happened so this visa ran out. I had to come up with something that could bring in money to pay for the longterm visa, and then I spoke to some people within the industry who have done some amazing things, and had interviews with them all.

I made audio recordings and short videos explaining each element of planning of adventure and got some sponsors on board and made a massive workbook then I went on Teachable and set up the course!

I have one last question for you and that is, what’s next?

A lot! I’m planning an Arctic expedition for a couple years and I want to go around the world again. Immediately upcoming, I’m creating a route in the southwest of England crossing the best of the southwest. I have sponsors onboard for it and want to create a film out of it, and hopefully can then get other people involved in more adventures by introducing them to this route.

And then the biggest project that I’m working on right now is I’m writing a book about the need for adventure. I’m talking about the purpose and the need for adventure. I will be talking to hundreds of people in the industry and can then fit this into those approaches and in fact, I’d love to send you some questions about it if you were down for it!

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And there you go! Vedangi was a lot of fun to talk to, and I hope you’ve gained something from her adventures! If you have any further questions for Vedangi, please let me know in the comments below!

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