WESTERN SAHARA 25°36’43.1”N 14°40’54.8”W
We saw animals fighting their way through the storm with half-closed eyes and were woken by a cat seeking shelter in our sleeping bag at night. There were times when we had a tailwind so strong that we could just sit back and let the wind do the work for us. But even though the sandstorm was unbelievably fascinating and impossible for us not to enjoy, it was good that it only lasted for a week. During the sandstorm, all we could see was sand, and everything was hidden by a veil of fine yellow grains. We couldn’t tell the position of the sun, let alone see stars at night. And we missed seeing them, sleeping with the night sky as our canopy. I didn’t know that if we stared into the sky for several hours, we could see the Milky Way rotating above our heads. I also didn’t know how far we could see when there are no hindrances, no trees, mountains, or buildings blocking our view. We were unaware of the freedom and peace the vast nothingness of the desert held for us. Travelling by bike is both harder and easier than we initially thought. Crossing countries with such different cultures and ways of living can be easily overwhelming. Sometimes physical and mental exhaustion pushes us toward a breakdown, and from time to time, I want to throw my bike in a dumpster and never cast another glance in its direction, but in the end, the rewards are worth the effort. After dragging ourselves up a mountain, we get to see the view from the top and have a nice—sometimes even great—descent. Getting to the village surrounded by rainforest appeases the struggle of having to push the bikes through thigh-deep mud relentlessly. And when we have to navigate through overcrowded and polluted cities, we remember that we might just get to know one special person we didn’t even know we’d meet. We don’t have to actively plan anything. When we’re unsure of what to do, we just hop on our bikes and begin cycling. Typically, something interesting or unexpected happens on the road, simply by moving. Having such a slow-moving and eye-catching means of travel makes it hard for us to miss something and almost impossible for others not to notice us. But on the other hand, being so utterly exposed to the world and having no place to escape can be quite draining. We’ve found ourselves hiding in bushes to have just five minutes of solitude. Being the focal point of every village and city we pass through is immensely overwhelming, but yet more often than in bushes, we’ve found ourselves part of numerous families and communities, sleeping in their homes, getting to know their culture and sharing everyday life. We’ve made amazing friends who taught us their language, took us on family vacations and weddings, and travelled with us. Our trust in life and humanity constantly grows and we have a deep-rooted faith that everything will work out somehow.
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MOTHER VOLUME THREE
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