We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caitlin Fine a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Caitlin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

I would spend many a grueling hike or cold night camping joking with my friends that we were on the “edge” of adventure, where it is difficult and you pushed your physical limits, but you achieved a goal, and afterward could look back on your shared accomplishments with pride.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started my company, Edge of Adventure Tours, to provide people with the confidence to explore the many beautiful landscapes of the American Southwest in their chosen medium- motorcycle, overlanding, or on foot- with a spectrum of support from motorcycle rental, to trip planning, to guided motorcycle rides, to rides in a 4×4 vehicle that reach usually inaccessible destinations for regular cars or casual hikers. I was on active duty in the Navy and often forced to live places with limited outdoor access, even though exploring the outdoors is what fills my soul and helps me de-stress. I had to take some limited vacation, fly and lug gear, rent a vehicle (tough to do when I’m too short for most motorcycles available for rent), or hope my schedule lined up with my friends to go on adventures. I did a lot of solo camping and motorcycle rides, which used to drive my mother crazy with worry, because I had a strange 24/7 schedule which often ended up giving me off days during the week. However, that is not the wisest of choices, and I recognize that many people feel unsafe going on solo adventures, and then they may feel trapped and unable to explore at all without easy outdoor access or knowledgeable friends with whom to travel.

Edge of Adventure Tours customizes trips and creates tracks with where to hike/ride/drive, camp, and additional recreation activities in the area, for people’s desired challenge levels. We offer motorcycle rentals for those not lucky enough to live in the American Southwest, but who want to explore its many natural treasures and enjoy the year-round recreation options of Southern California, Arizona, Utah, or Arizona. We can also provide a guide, ride-along mechanic, gear rental like camping kits or helmets, and a luggage transport truck for those who want additional support and confidence that their trip will be safe and successful.

Edge of Adventure Tours is a woman, veteran owned and operated business based in San Diego.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My business partner and I were stationed on the same ship together in the Navy. I previously had never even been taught how to change a flat tire- I once asked my dad, and he told me to “stand on the side of the road and look sad until a man stops to help you.” However, my business partner has always helped all the young officers with their car troubles and didn’t mind taking the time to explain things. When I was transferring off the ship, I had a long drive across the country, and back, coming up in my older Subaru Outback, and he taught me how to do all the maintenance in the 60,000 mile package, instead of taking the car to an expensive dealer. Like all the engineers on the ship, he also happens to ride motorcycles and, of course, does all his own maintenance on those too. He’s a much better motorcycle rider than me with several decades of experience on me.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Contact Info:

• Website: www.edgeofadventuretours.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edge_of_adventureco/?utm_source=qr&igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg%3D%3D
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Edge-of-Adventure-Tours/100095554358564/?mibextid=ZbWKwL