Terve (Hello) + Greetings, from Ville & Kristen Jokinen
New friends, long-time followers, family, and others—we’re so happy you’ve decided to come on this adventure with us! Welcome to the trailhead of our upcoming newsletters. Inside, you’ll find exclusive content, updates about Kristen’s soon-to-be published book—Joy Ride: A Biking Odyssey from Alaska to Argentina—plus never-before-seen footage + images of our travels, and an opportunity to take part in the virtual ride of a lifetime.
See the bottom of the newsletter for information on Kristen’s upcoming author events, recent article features, and more!
Who We Are
Some of you may know us as the fearless duo that went from never having ridden a bike around the block to cycling more than 18,0000 miles, from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Bahia Lapataia, Argentina. Maybe you know us as the Finnish football player + the San Francisco nanny; The Bend, Oregon REALTOR® + the Toyota financial analyst; The presenters from MIT, Oregon State University, or one of the many other roles we’ve inhabited: The quirky neighbors or the coolest friends you’ve ever had. Or maybe you don’t know us yet + want to! However you found us—we’re glad you’re here + we can’t wait to share the nitty gritty about us, our company—We Lost The Map—and discover what makes us pedal through this crazy life together.
From a Coincidental Meeting in Vietnam to a 2,650-mile date on the Pacific Crest Trail…
Our lives have never been conventional, which is why it’s almost poetic that two people who grew up 4,892 miles away from each other—Kristen in Bend, Oregon + Ville in Porvoo, Finland—happened to meet on a scuba diving boat off the coast of Nha Trang, Vietnam. We had no idea that impromptu interaction would lead to a beautiful—but unorthodox—life full of adventure, work, and partnership in the truest sense.
Ville + I’s journey intersected where vibrant triggerfish reside, and the chance for something incredible begins. Neither of us was looking for a romantic partner—let alone a life partner—when we bumped into each other in the Vietnam waters. Have you ever tried dating someone abroad? There are lots of phone calls—hellos, goodbyes, and the need to pack an entire lifetime of events into every 90-day cycle we could be together (because that’s all our visas would allow for).
Maybe my first 3-month stay in 2008 at Ville’s 300-square-foot Finnish apartment led to our affinity (and ability) to coexist in small spaces together. That summer was full of Bruce Springsteen, my first sauna experience, and a lesson on windsurfing at the lake. After our 90-day “date” in Finland, I flew back to Oregon—where Ville would later join me for his first experience in the United States. Following our road trip across the states + a brief backpacking journey through Central America, I would find myself in Finland again—unable to keep myself from Ville + the life we were building together.
2010—six years before we would begin our 18,000-mile biking journey—consisted of crewing Caribbean sailboats from North Carolina to the Dominican Republic and more backpacking through Central America. One year later, we’d find ourselves sleeping in a tent together for the first time—during our 2,650-mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Luckily, we found—through the hunger, exhaustion, and (at times) bad weather—that we were incredibly compatible. Navigating those hardships early on in our relationship set a precedent for how we came to manage any adversity we would later encounter—as a team (and soon after as newly engaged partners).
We Can’t Help But Feel Overwhelmed With Gratitude…
Your support means the world to us. Ville + I couldn’t have accomplished what we have—or our 18,000-mile biking odyssey—without people like you. We’re grateful for the opportunity to share stories about us, our adventures, and the thousands of people that assisted us along the way.
Pre-Order Your Signed Copy of Joy Ride Here!
Upcoming Author Events:
RSVP to the Joy Ride book launch at Powell’s Books!
We’re coming to Barnes and Noble in Kristen’s hometown—Bend, Oregon! RSVP here!
Recent Articles We Were Featured in:
Read the Bike Portland and Bend Bulletin articles!
Terve! I'm at the trailhead and here we go go! I love a love story, your love story!