It is raining today, and we are enjoying the beautiful view from our balcony overlooking the rooftops of Meran. We left Switzerland yesterday on a cycling path off the main road, only noticing that we had crossed the border because of a signpost reading “0.5 km to Switzerland” pointing in the direction we just came from. After days and weeks of preparing and saying goodbye, we are finally on our way. We have left home.
I have been asked many times lately how I feel about our journey ahead. Interestingly though, it is what we are leaving behind that has occupied my own mind much more than the journey ahead. The last few weeks have been filled with “lasts” (for a long while): the last time seeing friends and family, the last run with my running buddies, the last day of work, the last sauna with my flatmates, the last time sleeping in my own bed…
And then the day of departure came, and with it many friends and family to see us off — Thomas’s parents even came all the way from Germany. Some of them rode along with us for the first day to Murg at the Walensee. During the first few days of our journey, as people left, we had to say goodbye repeatedly — to some even several times. My mother and stepfather rode with us to Murg, brought my passport (which DHL delivered with the India visa after we had left) to Zernez, and again caught up with us around the corner while we were filling our water bottles at the village fountain. At least by the third time, even my mother had more laughter than tears.
When I had my first mini crisis after leaving our flatmates in Walenstadt, where they took the train back home, I asked Thomas whether he felt the same way about leaving everyone behind. He took me in his arms and said, “No. I have you with me.” With these words in my head, I continued onwards: over the Wolfgang Pass to Davos, over the Flüela Pass to Zernez, and over the Fuorn Pass down to Meran. As I snuggle into Thomas’s arms now, looking down onto the rooftops of Meran, the journey ahead starts to feel more real. I smile and think, “And I have Thomas with me.”
As much as it hurts me to say goodbye, I also feel incredibly grateful to have so many dear people in our lives. Thank you all for being part of our lives and our journey ahead.
Anecdotes from the first four days:
Day 1: Only two kilometers to the campsite. I have a sugar low and scold myself for not having eaten something when we last stopped despite there being only 3.5 km left. I should have known better. Then, a thought popped into my mind: “Oh well, at least I have a motor, so it is much easier for me than for some others who joined us for the first day.” With new energy, I cycled on until the realization hit me: I do not have a motor! My bicycle is a lot more robust and sturdy than my old one, but there is no motor except for my legs…
Day 2: We stopped at a farm shop for ice cream, and an old man from the village asked us where we are going.
Thomas: Towards Nepal.
Old village man nodded: Yes, yes, it is nice here, beautiful cycling tracks we have here.
Thomas: Yes. Tonight we cycle to Davos.
Old village man, surprised: Oh! But that is far!
… And yes, it was far. Not as far as Nepal, but surprisingly exhausting.
Day 4: Many people have laughed seeing the map on top of my handlebar bag — 25 cm wide with the whole (planned) tour from Zurich to Kathmandu. Too small to navigate in any way. But seeing that we have already cycled 6 mm on that map today feels oddly satisfying 🙂
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