First We Ate Your Wife

by Adeena Gerding, Karina Greco (Editor), Mary-Anne Hampton (Illustrator)

How do you end up adrift on the Pacific? And survive pirates? How do you accidentally cycle across a continent? Why didn’t you listen to your mother when she taught you not to hitchhike?Forced to watch all 64 games of the 2010 World Cup, ADEENA needs to up her interest levels and swears to flightlessly travel to whichever country wins. Surviving that much soccer seemed an unfathomable feat, but the journey that lay ahead was even more unprecedented!First We Ate Your Wife is a harrowingly accurate account of an impromptu voyage from Australia to Spain (or thereabouts). Joined by an assortment of colourful characters and a giant teddy bear; it’s an expedition into the absurd. A tale of shipwrecks, dog attacks and survival; spiced with love and other perilous endeavours.In over a decade on the road, Adeena (also known as the “Bearfoot Gypsy”) has filled more than her quota of travel “catastrophes”. Beyond all expectations, she has endured them all and assembled the whole world into a single book.“If giving up is not a choice, there is no point in looking back. As the basis of existence was shrinking on board, the collaboration between two souls became essential for survival. The journey I shared with Adeena was by far the most humbling and astonishing trip of my life. It was a crossfire of impediments and catastrophes but also magical wonders and love. I could not have wished to share it with anyone else than her.” - Karl-Oskar Wicksell

418 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2021

About the author

Surviving volcanoes, sharks, pirates, dragons, a shipwreck, motorbike crashes, and the 2012 predicted world end… Adeena Gerding, (A.K.A. Bearfoot Gypsy) has expended at least 14 of her 9 lives. At twenty-two, the thaasophobic South African stepped out of her front door and found herself perfectly lost in the world. After years spent studying and preparing to adult, she found travel to be a far better teacher and growing up to be over-rated.

In almost two decades of extraordinary adventures, Adeena Gerding has accidentally sailed across oceans and cycled across continents. She’s survived volcanoes, sharks, pirates, a shipwreck, motorbike crashes, and multiple brushes with the Grim Reaper. She is living proof that hitchhiking does not always kill you.

Adeena (A.K.A. the “Bearfoot Gypsy”) hesitantly stepped out of her front door and found herself perfectly lost in the world. What was initially intended as a three-month trip quickly transformed into an addiction to both adventure and the word “yes”. After years spent studying and preparing to adult, she found travel to be a far better teacher and growing up to be overrated.

Adeena spent her early years insecurely chasing frivolous things while totally unaware of who she was and what she was capable of. Travel, and the adventures that came with it, completely transformed her life. She is now an adventure therapist because she knows the transformative value of adventure first-hand.

You can read about her [mis]adventures in her books “First We Ate Your Wife” and the sequel, “Unemployment Looks Better with a Tan”. And, if you’re looking for adventure inspiration, you can find it in “MORE”. For more about Adeena’s adventures, you can visit www.bearfootgypsy.com, and for more on the work she does, make sure to check out www.moreadventures.org.

Reviews

[Dick Nijdam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring book about travel adventures by the author at a young age. After graduating she travels Africa (which is the continent where she grew up) and moves on to other parts of the globe amongst others hiking by car and working to make a living. She then moves on by sailing seas and oceans as a crew member at different sailing boats where she finds her greatest adventures. I found the most interesting about her adventures not the travel itself but her inner reflections trying finding her strengths and desires in life. By reading the book the title of the book becomes clear which is not chosen at random.

[Davina Mortlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been so enjoying reading Adeena’s adventures and being transported into far flung places, hopping on tiny boats, crossing oceans, enduring life threatening situations, watching amazing sunsets and exploring paradise islands. A fascinating and enthralling read filled with humour and told in all honesty. Highly recommended!

[Sarah Porter]

It is almost unbelievable reading the sailing adventures of this intrepid barefoot gypsy. How she survived some of her long ocean crossings in small boats is nothing short of miraculous. Adeena has brought her life of adventure into our homes with this very real and personal account.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome read, definitely recommend it for any adventurous soul or anyone for that matter.