In Frankfurt, it took forever before the luggage was finally unloaded. Carolin and my daughter Kara were on the receiving committee. It felt so good to hold them in my arms again after almost a month.
Day 24: Toronto to Frankfurt – going home
Author: Karsten Drath
About 30 years ago, two zis scholarships helped me to broaden my horizon, expand my understanding of what is possible, and develop more self-confidence. zis is a non-profit organization that has been awarding scholarships for study trips to young people between the ages of 16 and 20 for more than 60 years. Today, the word we use for tenacity and grit is resilience - and I've made it my profession, to help managers around the world to develop more of this inner power.
In retrospect, the experiences I've had on these trips to Scotland and Iceland have been priceless for my development. After having had a childhood with some challenges, I learned that I could cycle 1,700km on my own and get wet every day without despairing. I have learned that I was able to get along with only 300 € for 4 weeks and still had a good time. I have learned what it's like to be threatened with deportation and how to get an interview with the President from such a crisis. I have understood that limitations are primarily constructs in our heads, and I want to make these insights available to as many adolescents as possible.
Day 23: Toronto – a big surprise, raising funds and meeting new friends
At the end, Chris, Jacqueline, and Bob had come and we had a nice evening together. The conversations were lively and Aaron did a great job in weaving the fundraising project gracefully into the flow of the evening. It had been my first fundraising event but it was fun. At 10pm we said farewell until next year for the next fundraiser.
Day 22: Hamilton to Toronto – mixed emotions on the last stretch
The ride led me through backroads, parks and greenways. As I was getting closer to the end of my journey, I became a little melancholic.
Day 21: Crystal Beach to Hamilton – Niagara Falls: the best for last
Since my start in Vancouver last year, I had cycled about 4,600km to get here. That is the distance from Naples (Neapel) to the North Cape on the top of Norway. I had at no point in time been convinced for it to be actually possible. And here I was! That was a really humbling experience!
Day 20: Peacock Point to Crystal Beach – cycling in heaven, tons of cyclists, and a 82 year old lady
They were prepping for live music and I could see them serving ice cold beer on the patio. Without consulting my brain, my legs went right into the bar and I found an empty table. I had fish and chips and a beer. A little later the band started playing. It was heaven!