Why we are travelling the world by bicycle.
The quick (but not very witty) answer:
Because such a tour of the world by bike is simply a lot of fun.back
The pragmatic answer:
Once we have retired, we won't have the power, and probably won't have the money either, for such little pleasures - and we certainly won't feel like doing this by then, because at that time we will have become too lazy.back
The good lie as an answer:
We are born adventurers: sports(wo)manlike, tenacious, risk-taking, speedy, intelligent, very talented with languages, curious to know everything new, pleased to experiment... Such talents must not be allowed to rot in an office job...back
Answering bluntly:
Why? Does that play any role? Do you need a reason for everything? Don't you have any dreams?back
The patriotic answer:
The experiences we had on our trial tours outside Europe helped us look at Germany from a different angle. Only distance and comparison with other countries can teach us what we value about Germany. Nowhere else in the world you can find such a tasty, healthy bread. Cycle paths are uncommon in many countries. Generally speaking, in matters of environmental protection most others can learn from us... No matter how much we liked it abroad, after each tour we have learned to love and appreciate Germany a little more.back
The impertinent answer:
Such a journey round the world is an excellent boost for your ego, it gives you something great to boast of. Back home we will immediately organize a class reunion. What is your house, your car and your sailing yacht in comparison to our adventure of travelling around the world? And besides: we don't feel like having children. We'll leave that to the others.back
The individual answer:
Mila's answer:When I was a teenager I made up my mind in much detail about what I wanted to do with my life. There is a long list of several A4 pages, which I have carefully kept until today. The first item on the list - marked with a fat red cross, which stands for "I am totally sure that I want to do this" - is "World tour (wandering like the "Good-for-Nothing")". "From the life of a Good-for-Nothing" by Josef von Eichendorff (1788-1857), (see the English translation here) which we were reading at school at that time, had evoked this longing in me. A few years ago Markus accidentally reminded me of this "aim" for my life, and he convinced me that a bicycle is the ideal means of transport for such a long journey.
Markus' answer:
I want to learn what others take for granted, so that I can reflect what I myself take for granted.
back
The literary answer:
"I wouldn't give a fig to travel with horses, and coffee, and freshly-made beds, and nightcaps and bootjacks, all ordered beforehand. It's just the delightful part of it that, when we set out early in the morning, and the birds of passage are winging their flight high in the air above us, we do not know what chimney is smoking for us today, and can never foresee what special piece of luck may befall us before evening." To this statement, made by a wandering student in chapter nine of Eichendorff's "Good-for-Nothing", we can only agree.back
The honest answer:
Why we allow ourselves to get into such a madness - we don't know ourselves.back
The answer to be waited for:
The journey itself will surely answer this questions in its own way.back
____________________________________________________________
