By Bicycle to the Sea – A Journey Along the Rhine

My luggage is packed: two bike bags, one of which can also be worn as a backpack. A reduction to the essentials. I take the train from Zurich to Basel, my bike can come along. From there, my journey begins – always along the Rhine, until I reach the sea.

What may outwardly sound like a cycling trip is, for me, also an inner journey. A kind of modern pilgrimage – on two wheels. No destination that needs to be "found." No spiritual pressure. Just being on the way. Allowing myself to arrive. At my own pace.

The Rhine flows steadily, even though the landscape around it is constantly changing. Sometimes it passes through industrial areas, sometimes lush meadows, sometimes historic cities, and sometimes wild nature. Yet, it remains in its flow.

This is exactly what the essence of this journey means to me: not allowing external changes to throw me off course, but finding my own rhythm. The surroundings may change – but my inner flow stays the same.

• The River as a Life Path: It represents the flow of life, which sometimes carries us gently and sometimes presents challenges. Like the Rhine, we must also adapt, bypass obstacles, and find our own way.

• The Journey to the Sea as Goal Achievement: The sea, that infinite and vast destination, symbolizes our dreams and visions. It is the place where everything converges, where new beginnings emerge, and where we can reconnect with the greatness of life. It is the feeling of having arrived after a long journey.

• The Journey Itself as a Process: Every pedal stroke, every night spent, every encounter along the way is part of this process. It’s not just about arriving, but about experiencing, learning, and growing during the journey. It’s the conscious engagement with oneself, with one’s own thoughts and feelings, which inevitably arise during such a trip.

• The Luggage as Resources: My bike bags, which I carry with me, symbolize all the experiences, skills, and inner resources we carry along our own life paths. Sometimes we discover new strengths, sometimes we realize what we can let go of to move forward more easily.

• The Connection to Nature: The journey along the Rhine is also a deep connection to nature. It reminds us of how important it is to pause, notice the beauty around us, and tap into the healing power of nature for ourselves.