Несколько лет назад моя жизнь кардинально изменилась. Потеряв всё имущество, лишённый всего, что когда-то казалось важным, я стал по-настоящему ощущать, как драгоценна свобода. Этот вызов заставил меня переосмыслить многое: отношение к вещам, к жизни и к людям.
Несколько месяцев назад у меня появилась задумка совершить велотурне через всю Европу. Это не просто поездка по картам и дорогам, а путь через страны, города и деревни, в которых я буду не только преодолевать расстояния, но и познавать жизнь людей, их культуру, их отношения к свободе и реальности.
Several years ago, my life changed drastically. Having lost all my possessions and everything that once seemed important, I began to truly understand how precious freedom is. This challenge forced me to rethink many things: my relationship with things, life, and people.
Several months ago, I came up with the idea to embark on a bike tour across Europe. This isn’t just a trip across maps and roads; it’s a journey through countries, cities, and villages, where I will not only cover distances but also learn about people’s lives, their cultures, their attitudes towards freedom, and the reality they face.
With the arrival of warm weather, I plan to start the VeloLiberty bike tour from Warsaw to the southernmost and westernmost points of Europe — the Cape of Marroquí in Spain and Cape Roca in Portugal. According to my preliminary calculations, the route, which will pass through 11 countries, will cover over 5000 kilometers.
My goal is to raise awareness about the refugee crisis, highlight the importance of protecting fundamental human rights and freedoms, regardless of nationality or skin color. A key focus will be to show this perspective to those who find themselves behind the new “Iron Curtain,” living under political repression or fighting for their place in the world due to war and persecution.
VeloLiberty is a combination of freedom and movement. “Velo” means bike, and “Liberty” stands for freedom.
A bicycle allows you to truly feel the world around you: the smells, sounds, and details that are hidden behind the windows of a train or car. It gives you the opportunity to slow down and see the world in a new light. VeloLiberty represents the chance to break out of the ordinary and experience life at a slower, more conscious pace.
I plan to show how people live in different corners of Europe — in villages, small towns, and capitals. Every place, every story has its own truth, and it’s important to hear these stories. I want to demonstrate how the world can be without borders, where there are no barriers between people and cultures, where cooperation, mutual understanding, and support are possible. I hope this will allow people to see and present the world as it is, without filters or distortions.
I don't plan to stay in hotels but will instead seek opportunities to stay with farmers or hospitable locals. For me, the journey is not just about the road, but also the chance to engage with people, understand their lives, struggles, and perspectives.
During my trip, I plan to organize meetings with local residents, activists, journalists, and other interested individuals if such requests arise.
The project is alive, and it will be filled with meanings, thoughts, and ideas, just like the route itself. Every new place, meeting with people, every conversation, and every perspective will shape the development of this project.
I have compiled a list of the necessary equipment and items to take on the road. This includes a bike, repair kit, tent, sleeping gear, special clothing for various weather conditions, a camera for video recording, a power bank, as well as various accessories like a flashlight, maps, spare tires, etc.
This trip is not tourism; it is full-time work 24/7, during which I will share observations and maintain a blog. My goal is to make this journey as beneficial as possible for everyone who supports it, participates, or follows my posts and videos on YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms.
The project will be realized thanks to donations, advertising, content monetization, and, of course, the help of kind people I hope to meet along the way. Every contribution, even a small one, will be important to me.
You can support the project through donations, advertising, and more.
4fund.com
https://buymeacoffee.com/balkunets
BTC: bc1qkrt4un22ceynyjvf2a4nhwfgf6m5zgkuj4947z
I invite anyone who wants to be part of this project. If you want to join me at any stage of the journey, support it, or simply follow along, welcome. I will be glad to have anyone who decides to be part of this important process.