1000 kilometers against the east wind

After yesterday’s sumptuous meal, my trailer has become considerably lighter. “It’s all in our bellies,” I say with a laugh. As soon as these words have passed my lips, Sascha arrives. “I just wanted to say goodbye to you. I have to go to work in the fields. But before you go, please take a few peppers with you,” he says with a friendly smile, reaches into a nearby sack and loads two handfuls into my Zargesbox, which is standing open. “Oh, thank you very much,” I say happily and hope that he doesn’t reach into the bag again. Thought done. Again, his hands dig into the bag of peppers like a bucket wheel excavator and unload them into my trailer. “Oh, thanks, I’m sure that’ll last a long time,” I try to stop him. “No, you’ll have to take a few more with you. They taste great in a salad. You’ve still got room in your box,” he says and loads it up until there’s no more room. Then he bids us farewell and wishes us a safe journey. “Hold on, wait a moment. Do you have any daughters?” I ask. “Yes,” he replies in surprise. “This is for one of your daughters or your wife,” I say and hand him a ring that Tanja gave me a few minutes ago. Sascha opens his eyes and puts the piece of jewelry in his jacket pocket. As he turns his back to me and hurries across the field to his colleagues, he takes it out again to look at it once more. Then he turns around again and waves to us. “He was very happy,” I now say to Tanja, who has a few small gifts in her luggage for special occasions.

We have been driving against the wind every day for 1000 kilometers. For 1000 kilometers we have always cycled in an easterly or north-easterly direction. The wind situation gnaws at our spirits. We are often close to despair. Bite our way through. Hoping for an improvement in the weather situation. First it was the enormous heat, then the eternal hills from southern Romania all the way through Moldova and now that everything is nice and flat, the previous challenges are being replaced by the eternal and sometimes extreme easterly winds. Every day is determined by this natural element. Surprising for us, because even the wind can’t always blow? Surely he has to run out of steam at some point? Our bodies are tired. Our psyche too. No wonder, since everything is connected. Breaks are important for us because without breaks we achieve nothing other than a burn-out of our system. We must avoid this at all costs. Again and again and again I have to tell myself that it is not the number of kilometers that matters, but the distance we cover within ourselves. On the path that allows us to understand, mature and comprehend ourselves as human beings. Is the wind perhaps a tool to lead us there? To where there is deep understanding? Is the wind not an evil wind, but ultimately our friend? Why not? After all, it is an important natural element. It is there whether we like it or not. We are forced to adapt to it. We are forced to accept it or not. Thoughts that constantly circle in my head while cycling. As a driver, the wind is relatively unimportant at this current strength. The driver may notice a side gust or two, but will not be blown out of the seat. The music plays on the radio and off we go across the country. No matter whether it is blowing, raining or snowing. As cyclists, we are exposed to all the elements. At the moment the wind. A horizontal air movement that makes me think because I find it so annoying. So the wind undoubtedly has something good for us too. He makes me think. He forces me to deal with him. If I were to bottle up my constant anger about the wind, I would fall ill. That’s nonsense, of course. Who wants to fall ill from a wind? Not me. So I think about him. Try to accept it. If there’s no other way, I let my anger out and shout at him. Yes. That’s good. “You fucking wind! Fucking wind! You stupid wind! Stop it already! You! You son of a bitch!” I feel better now, but the wind has no influence. Blows and blows stoically on. What a stupid wind. He won’t let me box him in. No, he won’t let you do that. Has been showing me for weeks. The wind and me. We and the wind. One unit. A challenge caused by horizontal differences in atmospheric pressure. And atmospheric pressure is based on temperature differences, I ponder. Hm, temperature differences between Siberia and here? That is entirely possible. Perhaps that means I should be happy with the wind rather than constantly complaining about it. Because what happens when these temperature differences have equalized? Then it’s bound to be freezing cold. To be honest, I’d rather have the wind than the freezing cold. That would be the next thing on this trip. Cold would also mean snow. Snow is fine, but please only when we have reached our destination.

After five hours, 50 kilometers of stubborn pedaling and an enormous effort, we reach the city of Volgodonsk completely exhausted. We find a gastiniza with friendly staff without much difficulty. Here we decide to regain our strength before continuing our cycle tour in the direction of Volgograd, the former Stalingrad.

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