In the summer of 2023, I went on a motorbike trip from Switzerland via the Baltic States to Finland. From there via Åland to Sweden and finally through Denmark and Germany back to Switzerland.
The encounters on this trip in particular set a ball rolling. I met many motorcyclists chugging from hotel to hotel on Harleys, Moto Guzzis or Triumphs. None of them travelled with a tent and sleeping bag. At campsites, I was the only motorbike surrounded by cyclists. So I heard more and more crazy stories from bikepackers and was almost like one of them.
But I felt like the ugly duckling. Unspoilt nature and a motorbike are a contradiction in terms. Apart from the fact that unspoilt nature is often inaccessible due to prohibitions, I would destroy the unspoilt nature with the noise of my motorbike on arrival.
Despite these thoughts, the journey was a great experience and the ball kept rolling. In the winter months, when I was planning my next tour, the decision was made. I'm going to buy a bicycle. To be continued!