Tochs. Thoughts On Climbing Happenings Scribbled & Serialized : Home2Home Biking Around the World

“To see the world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wildflower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.” -William Blake

By chance, I viewed in full on Netflix, a subject of interest, biking globally around the world. “Besser Welt als Nie”, the German title translated as “Home2Home” is a documentary of Dennis Kailing released in 2020 about his biking around the world not just in a day or multi day or even months but for two years and 1 month covering 7 continents.

This was triggered by his boredom of doing repetitive routine daily, the desire to take a big break. Even with limited biking proficiency, he embarked on a bold extreme adventure to experience the diverse world in landscape, culture, weather, conditions, people, plants, and animals outside of his comfort German zone.

After about two hours completing the semi-docu/movie joining Dennis in his journey:

• Infinity at the palm of your hand. I saw the world at a glance-41 countries 7 continents 43,600 kilometers 295,000 meters of elevation gain.

• Eternity in an hour-761 days, 2,353 hours of cycling time, 515 different sleeping places

• Heaven in a wildflower-the thrill of the uncertainty, the joy of interacting with all types of people, the appreciation for hospitality, the understanding of culture, the universality of being human, the return home to family

Dennis started his journey with a sendoff by his family, a leisure chill ride in Europe his home continent, crossing to Asia, the Western part with a distinct Asian culture (Turkey and United Arab Emirates), the Southern part (Iran, Nepal, India), and the exotic Southern-Eastern side (Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Indonesia). Asia was his gateway to a small landlocked continent Australia his takeoff point to North and South America (USA and Latin America) and his enroute back to Europe.

Dennis learned the universal language of being human despite the language differences to understand a diverse culture through body language, gestures, emotion, appreciation, hunger and even pain. He enjoyed the freedom of solo riding but at times longed for the joy of a company to share the burden and to double the fun. He is no superman, getting sick from fatigue and food in Asia, almost giving up in the endless pedaling in Australia crossing from the deserted Western side to progressive urbanized Eastern and Southern part.

His bike equipped with panniers both front and back for his basic stuff go through breakdown from the usual flat tires (63 per his count), parts replacement (bottom bracket, crankset, cassette, brakes, inner and outer tires etc.) and temporary fixes from unexpected accidents. Not proficient at bike repairs, he eventually learned how doing them faster and smarter eventually.

He brags of the versatility of traveling globally in a bike when he shows how it is packed for a flight, stored inside the tent, used to flirt in Iran’s “dordor”. He stacks it when hitchhiking in trucks. It performs in ascents flowing fluidly in descents. It can take all types of weather and winds. Bike repairs can be done easily as parts and fixes are readily available anywhere.

When going through low moments, Dennis would get boosted recharging from the locals who host him, fellow bikers who share his crazy drive, his visualized target of the next destination and at times the thoughts of home and the time and event-based targets as Christmas, birthday, preset meet up with friends. Frustrations at not getting permits, visas, interception at checkpoints, uncooperative weather, dwindling resources, bike breakdowns are overcome by his determination to cross and face the adventure of a different situation he set out to see each day.

His memories of the exciting, at times unpredictable experiences, the beauty of the places, landscapes he has seen, exposure to the biodiversity of flora and fauna and the kindness he received from people across seven continents are enough drives for him to complete the journey he set.

Two years and 1 month after, five months ahead of what his father set as his return date, Dennis returned to Hessen Germany recharged with a different perspective in life. No longer bored and questioning life’s purpose and perhaps having found the formula for happiness.

He ends his Home2Home with these learnings which he would not have realized had he not pursued this bold adventure foremost of which recognizing that the greatest adventure is returning to home.

The magic to happiness is, “Two wheels, time and the freedom to decide where to go next is more than enough”

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“What was it all about?
Once again, I’m where I didn’t want to be back then
But I probably won’t stay for long
During my journey, I think I discovered what I need to be happy right now
It’s not the money, an expensive car or the latest smartphone
Two wheels, time and the freedom to decide where to go next is more than enough
And the assertion that the world is so dangerous
My travels gave me a different perspective
The opposite is the true
We human beings stick together
Everywhere I went, strangers helped and supported me on this journey
A conversation at the side of the road, a cup of tea
An invitation for dinner or even to spend the night
And most of the time, the most special thing was something way simpler
What . . . What remains is love
And having an open mind
And what we do not accept is
That they don’t smile
What’s next for me?
I don’t know yet
Because one thing became clear during my journey:
The biggest adventure hides in uncertainty
The world is waiting
It wants to be discovered”