EINSAMKEIT & ERKENNTNIS - Mit dem Fahrrad nach Schweden #002 (Bikepacking)

In the last video I started my first multi-day solo bike tour. Around 1000 km I will go from Hamburg to Stockholm in the next 7-10 days. But not only that I will be alone on this tour for the first time. I also started a little self-experiment. During the time of the trip I will completely give up on my social contacts and any distractions. No mobile phone, only for navigation and filming. No social media, no headphones, no music. Only the bike, my thoughts and me. Somehow it's a very special feeling to start now. I think a very special time will come to me in the next few days. In this fast-paced time, in which we can simply scroll away our thoughts and loneliness and boredom have become our biggest enemy, I'm curious what this will do to me. Do you know what it's called when you've understood that? Life! After I left Hamburg, the way led me to a place I hadn't seen for a long time. A youth village in Lake Lüttjen, where I spent several summer holidays as a teenager. I have no idea what's going on there, if there is any event. But I'm just going up there now. I just have to take a quick look. With beautiful memories from long past days, it went on towards the Baltic Sea and with a beautiful sunset on the beach, the first day ended spontaneously in a small corner of a campground. In the morning it's still, still, not still, already, already relatively fresh again. You don't want to get out of your sleeping bag. Yes, the first night is over. I have to get the machine running again. I have to say, the left knee, it's always this outer knee, here in this area, you can still feel a bit of yesterday. It's not dramatic now, but let's see how it develops. The first night was definitely rough, I was awake a few times, but actually slept quite well. The sun is rising over the Baltic Sea. Beautiful. Day two greeted me with a sunrise that couldn't have been more beautiful. And after I had packed my things, I decided to have my breakfast by the sea. It's a wonderful morning, guys. You notice again that you really don't have to go far, right? Whether it's a beautiful forest or the beach, I'm still aware of such tours. We've been on the road for 24 hours now, and you have a completely different perception of everything. Just enjoying breakfast in a beautiful place without looking at your cell phone, without checking messages and e-mails. Strange, isn't it? Why don't you see that otherwise? It's weird. How often do you just start eating on your cell phone, scroll around in any posts, or let your mind wander elsewhere? Our brain seems to be constantly looking for occupation. And somehow, with this boredom, this rest, you often don't seem to be able to handle it well. I once heard an old woman who said, when I eat, I eat. Sounds stupid. But in moments like these, I am constantly aware of how beautiful it can be to listen to the silence and devote a moment to it. After a short but intense break by the sea, we continued with the warm sun in our backs, past dikes, fields and meadows. Nice, when you can just be in the moment. Or, to put it in the words of the old woman, when I ride a bike, I ride a bike. Oh, it used to be so easy We had all the time in the world I can feel your heart is rushing And you got nothing more to buy So you're trying to figure out something It don't matter what you're trying to sell Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh So, we are officially in Denmark. It took about 45 minutes to cross the border. It cost 12.50 euros by bike. And if I wanted to go back by bike today, that would also be included in the ticket. So that you can go back on the same day. Yeah, here we are, folks. Now it's a different kind of waiting And you just don't know how to dance So you're trying to figure out something It don't matter what you're trying to sell Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh I have to say, technically it could hardly be better. I'm riding along a beautiful, colorful avenue through the trees on the left and right. Nicely protected from the wind. Left and right, meadows and fields. Really wonderful. There even the knee gives a break. And I can ride through here really nicely. Wow, wow, wow, wow. This turquoise blue sky and these autumnal colors that slowly reflect in the trees. Yellow, green, apple trees in between. It's a festival. Really beautiful. Look, guys, I just discovered something here on the bike path. I'm riding along such a beautiful gravel road. And right here on the edge of the path there is such a wooden hut. And I think this is such a shelter for overnight stays. Here in Denmark there are such legal overnight stays. Yeah, awesome, that's such a thing. That also looks really new. Hey, mega cool, guys, look. That must be brand new, the thing. And these are extra shelters for people who come by to spend a night, for example, when it rains in the dry. Or in general, when you are on the road trip, you can throw your sleeping bag in there and sleep wonderfully. There is a small fireplace up here, another seating option and a really awesome view. Wild camping is not allowed here, as in Germany, as far as I know. Camping is not allowed in Germany. Bivouacking is allowed in some federal states. For example, in Brandenburg you are allowed to stay overnight as a hiker or cyclist, as far as I know, outside. Very legally, friendly. Yes, I usually don't stick to the rules either. Honestly, I live according to the motto I act as if I were not there and leave everything as if I had never been there. And I have respect for nature, I am in tune with nature and then it's okay for me. But nevertheless, I think it's really cool that you put these huts here from time to time, where people, even if wild camping is generally not allowed, where you have a sleeping option and can stay there legally. I think that's awesome. And when we arrive in Sweden, that's the way it is anyway, everyone's right. That means you can go anywhere, except, I think, next to a private house or something. Or you have to have a certain distance. But otherwise you can plant yourself everywhere and stand everywhere for, I think, up to two days. Let's see, it's still a bit early to take a break. But if we find something like this again this evening, that would be a dream. That would be really cool. Guys, the country road got me again. And the headwind too. A few hours have passed since the nice bike path. And what can I say? The wind has turned. Relaxed 13 km h. I'm going to go for it. Field and country road, always do your best. I would say it's time for a nut. The last ingredient, the good old pistachios. They will save me. Wow. Frustrating. Just ate the whole package in 10 minutes. 610 kcal. What do I eat now? The beautiful bike path was already a few kilometers behind me. The next hours it went on and on. Over country roads with, well, a slightly more monotonous view. Do you know that? If you have the feeling, there would be days in between. I always find that so blatant anyway. On bike tours or when hiking. I think it's because you just travel so slowly. With the car everything is over so quickly. On the bike you have a lot of time all day to look at everything. And I think all these impressions make you think that days have already passed. But I think that's the cool thing about it. That you don't just pass everywhere. But also have the look for the little things again. Even if I curse every centimeter of this country road. No, it's not that bad either. But I think basically ... I mean, I also drive a car, a lot of cars. Basically, I think it's all against our nature. That we move back and forth so quickly. The beauty of things lies in the detail. Because if you rush through everywhere so quickly. Without looking left and right. Then you lose sight of the essential. I'm sure of that. So, I keep my eyes open. And maybe I'll even find something nice. On this damn country road. And in the damn headwind. Söle I was just shopping. The worst fail happened to me, guys. I'll tell you right away. In the background, the sun sets. Beautiful sunset. And I just looked at the map. Could be that we have a cool sleeping place in front of us. There is still a small piece. Let's take a look at the whole thing. And let ourselves be surprised. So, guys. The sleeping place for today has been reached. I think we did 137 kilometers today. Yes, and this is what our sleeping place looks like. There is a lake back there. You will see it tomorrow. And this is just such a shelter place, guys. As we saw this afternoon. I'll probably unpack my tent now. Very simple. Because I have to get my tent out anyway. Otherwise I would have had to put it under the sleeping mat as a plan. And I just noticed. Even if it has gotten a little fresher. There are still a few mosquitos at the start. And I know exactly. Even if only one mosquito flies past my ear. Then I'll be awake right away. That's why I go straight to the tent. Before I somehow wake up in the middle of the night. So, the camp for the night is ready, I would say. So I just set up the inside of the tent. I am protected from the mosquitoes. I have the wind protection in there. I don't have to set up everything. I even put the bike in front of it. Perfect. Yes, very briefly. About the fail from earlier. I bought in. I was in a hurry because I knew it was getting dark. And I thought. Everywhere is the pink water without carbon dioxide. Well. Wrong idea. Now I have water with ultra-high carbon dioxide. And to that. Still raspberry flavor. One could have interpreted that as raspberry flavor. Now in retrospect. In a hurry. Not careful again. And now I have such a puddle of water with raspberry flavor. At least not with sugar. But only with natural aroma. So maybe also quite nice in between. But now I have to cook the noodles with sparkling raspberry water. Hot. Dude, it really smells like raspberries. Little conclusion to the first days. Especially when it gets dark. I think. It's always a time. Of reflection. It's the time. Where you would usually be. With reading news. Checking Instagram. YouTube this and that. Everyone probably has their habits. His routines. What he does. And since that's gone now. You come to reflect. It's really great. How much. When you're alone. You're on the road differently. You have no one. Where you feel like you're slowing someone down. Or maybe you're too fast for the other. You have your own pace. You can stop when you want. Somehow. Because you're alone all day. You have a different view of things. On the other hand. I have to say. That I miss one thing. One thing in particular. I really didn't think. That it would hit so hard. I'm cutting tomatoes here. And no onions. All these beautiful moments. Driving through this alley today. And already at the beginning. When I left Hamburg. I enjoyed it so much. But I have to say. That I somehow miss. To share what I enjoy. And I don't mean on Instagram. With the people who are close to me. There is no such beautiful saying. The only thing that becomes more. When you share it. Is happiness. I don't have any music. No distractions. Nothing. But that's how I wanted it. And that's how it should be. I am convinced. That the most important lessons in life. Always. Through. Difficult times and pain. Nothing that is really important in life. You just learn. Through books. Or if someone tells you. You have to do certain things first. And experience. So that you really understand them. So that you don't see and hear them. But so that you feel and understand them. Especially in the quiet minutes. Mostly in the evening. And in the evening. There is a calm. And then the thoughts come up. The brain. It wants me to. Communicate immediately. That I give in to my desires and habits. Because the brain always wants the easy way. The heart. But knows the real direction. And I think the real art is. This here. And this here. To bring it into harmony. And that is only possible through experience. And experience. Is unpleasant. And unpleasant things. He doesn't like up here at all. He wants habit. He wants everything to stay as it is. I didn't think it would be so emotional when cooking noodles. But real men don't cry. When cutting onions. But when cooking the noodles. In that sense I would say. I'll eat my raspberry noodles now. And then we'll see each other tomorrow morning. An old fresh one again. Well, who would have thought that? Not 48 hours outside the comfort zone. And by that I don't mean the physical. But much more the mental comfort. In which we often make ourselves unconsciously comfortable. And already I begin. To look at me and the world around me differently. If I'm honest. I questioned the whole experiment this evening. Asked myself. What's the point of all this? Sure, putting the phone away. To escape the constant distraction. To escape the endless comparison. Sounds sensible. But why do so many other things? On this tour. It wasn't about cycling from the beginning. But much more. To get a little closer to yourself. To find answers. To questions that we all might ask ourselves. Everyone is on his own personal path. And no one can really see from the outside. At which point of this path you are standing. What seems ridiculous and insignificant to some. Can for someone else. It can seem to be an inevitable obstacle. Is it freedom? To just go for it? Does it start to do things? That you want it to do? Or is it something much bigger? Right now. Where I'm aware of the lack. I can see what kind of value. Resignation can really have. Good morning. I'm still in the beautiful warm sleeping bag. It was a good decision. To build the tent here. In this shelter. It rained a bit during the night. This is my view. Over the lake. It looks like there is a bit of fog. It looks beautiful. Idyllic. Now you can see it. In the daylight. The nice little shelter. You could sleep well here. Everything stayed dry. Great. There is nothing worse. Than packing a wet tent in the morning. And wet the bags from the inside. No problem in the summer. But in this season. It won't be dry anymore. The shelter is great for that. And now. Look at the view on the other side. Isn't it great? The sun is slowly rising. The lake is still sleeping. So calm and idyllic. It's wonderful here. Let's go. Day 3. Really fresh this morning. Gloves are on. The morning dew is everywhere. In the background the sun. Which gives a bit of warmth. The wind is fresh. A wonderful morning. Nothing going on here. Absolute peace on the streets. Today we should reach Copenhagen. Until then it's about 90 km. Let's go. Day 4. The feeling of loneliness was gone. And full of euphoria. We drove through small countries. Slowly towards Copenhagen. I don't know what to say. The day is getting better. Look at this perfect meadow. I have rarely seen a more perfect meadow. It's perfect for a break. And I will do that now. In the sun. About 25 km to Copenhagen. It's like always. Just straight ahead. I only drive one straight road. A bit along the water. And then we are actually earlier than expected. Today we are making good progress. I have to say. This track is really beautiful. You drive here all the time. Alternating gravel passages. Or very well developed bicycle paths. Behind the dune is the water. Look how this is signposted. With markings on the ground. Everywhere signs to the left and right. Here are some real crossings. Everything is illuminated. Everything is really well developed. It looks like a highway. I have rarely, if not even never, seen such a well-developed bicycle network. Such a bicycle highway. Especially the paths are so smooth. You can really glide there. Dude, you have to be careful here. These are just highways for the bicycles. You can ride through here like this. So many people ride bicycles. Really crazy. It's a lot of fun. And so it went on. We are now at the end of our journey. Through the center of Copenhagen. The capital of Denmark. By the way, a little side info. Already in the 70s, the city began to invest in the expansion of its bicycle infrastructure. Today Copenhagen is considered as a pioneer in bicycle culture worldwide. Wide cycle paths, own bicycle bridges and priority for cyclists at many crossings ensure that more than half of Copenhageners cycle with their bicycles every day. Allegedly there should be even more bicycles in Copenhagen than residents. After a short break it went on. And for the rest of the day the well-developed bicycle paths should remain my loyal companion. So, we have already left Copenhagen. Very, very beautiful, modern city with a lot of bicycles, cyclists and really cool bicycle routes. Honestly. And I think, guys, that over there should be Sweden. We are now going up and up this country tongue on the water to Helsingborg or something like that. And tomorrow morning the ferry will go to Helsingborg with a G. Although I think the Swedes pronounce it Helsingbori. Ah, they pronounce this G differently. I definitely hope the bicycle path will stay like this for a while. Because this is really awesome, guys. I don't know if it has a 10% boost or something like that. In any case, you fly on this thing just like that. Really, I think I'm really doing kilometers today. And not at all because I really want to go fast. It just happens. Well, I want to. It's just super fun on these paths today. The third day ended for me in Helsingborg. The city at the narrowest point of the Öresund. Sweden was within reach.