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The departure from Switzerland

I'm starting my journey at the end of September, the 19th September 2004. The departure is full of feelings like a little bit of apprehension, joy, doubts and other new feelings for me. For the first time in my life, I'm leaving those which I love, I'm leaving voluntarily the place I like and that for a life which I know in advance much harder, not always funny and full of surprises. But the real new feeling (because I did that already 5 years ago when I travelled around the world for almost a year) is that I'm not going to the airport to fly away but the departure depends entirely on me. I don't have to run to get on time for the check-in (like ever...), the person who check-in my luggage that's me ! I am ready, all the stuff packed on the bicycle and I'm leaving, so simply it is.

On the way, I'm seeing my 'working' friends to say a last good bye and then when I'm crossing the bridge in Bellevue, Zurich, and then starting to drive along the lake, I'm realizing  what's is happening. I'm leaving, leaving for the unknown, for the worst and, of course, the best. The life which I dreamed is now in front of me or in front of my handlebar. Everything can happen, I choose when and where I will drive, the dream is now reality. My first ascension in Horgen (and this one was a really small one compared to what's coming up) is terrible, the weight of the luggage suddenly becomes reality as well...

I'm driving to Montreux, passing by Zug, Luzern (in Luzern for the second picture I wanted to take, the camera that Tonina gave me just went out of order.), Interlaken, Chateau d'Oex and the 'Col des Mosses' (a nice and hard pass). I can appreciate the beauty of Switzerland doing a last small touristic tour. And especially I can appreciate its cleanness, except on the Bruennig Pass: I'm breathing during all the ascension the smell of the paint (they are remaking the white lines on the road) a very thin road which goes up very stiff. A good exercise for the continuation of my journey: the perfect conditions of driving don't really exist.

The wild side of Switzerland is missing a bit during my trip because it's especially hard to find wild places to camp on the itinerary I chose. The first night, I'm sleeping on the floor in a parking place with as only comfort my isothermic mattress... A dog is waking me up in the morning. The beginning of a new life, of a new way of life.

After a few days with my family in Montreux and (again) a nice party with my friends, I'm riding my 'horse' and I’m leaving Switzerland. Easier to find a wild place to camp on the way to the Simplon Pass. I'm suffering a few hours but when I reach the top, I'm really excited: In front of me, infinite horizon, the world with all his wonders! My fears, doubts or whatever are erased. Now I know I can reach everything. Of course, and fortunately, everything can happen but there are always solutions and everything is possible. This is also the philosophy I assimilate to my life and not only for my bicycle's journey. From now, the horizon is fully open and I already dream of exotism...


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