I have always wanted to see the world. I am incredibly curious on what is out there and this way a way for me to do just that. To explore, to travel and to connect with people.
Now when you hear something like this, you know you are in for a treat. And my guest today, Heike Pirngruber is truly an inspiration. You see, Heike is out to explore the world – on her pushbike. And in case you are wondering what a pushbike is, it is another name for a bicycle. You literally push the bike with your legs and hence it is called just that. Heike has been traveling solo on her bicycle since 2013 with the sole aim of seeing the world, meeting people and experiencing other cultures. Now more than 6 years, 60 countries and many thousands of miles later, Heike is in Africa with the goal of biking around the continent. I caught up with Heike while she was in Senegal and just before we started recording she said, “I hope the electricity does not cut out because if it does no amount of backup is going to get it back for at least a few hours.”
There must be something incredibly fascinating, inspiring and not to mention scary about being out in the wilderness – vast open lands, away from everything you know and are familiar with and no one but yourself to keep you company, right. I asked Heike how she manages to stay focused and motivated. She said, “I have to remind myself that it is just a day or a moment in time. Tomorrow will be different and a fresh start to another day and another experience. That keeps me from getting overwhelmed most of the time. I just ride it out.”
Heike shares how bicycling really has given her such a different perspective to traveling. You get to immerse yourself where you currently are. You get to see and be seen, wave to kids by the side of the road, smell the trees and the forest and even watch the ants cross the road…all the things you tend miss when you fly or drive.
Heike really is such an inspiring woman. Her stories, her experiences and her narratives that she shares on her blog – PushBikeGirl and her images of her adventures evoke a strong feeling of wanderlust and the belief that the world is truly a beautiful and safe place where people are kind and helpful, and the more we explore the more we learn about the world and ourselves.
I know you are going to enjoy listening to Heike and getting to know her on this episode of CulturallyOurs.
{Photos by Heike Pirngruber, Website: PushBikeGirl, Instagram: @PushBikeGirl}
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