The preparations for my journalistic cycle tour along the former Iron Curtain from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea are in full swing. I have been researching for months, making contacts and roughly planning the route. And now it's getting serious. I will soon be starting in Kirkenes in Norway and would like to make it to the Curonian Spit in Lithuania on the first section.
Today I did some trial packing. What do you need for about ten weeks? Clothes for every temperature, equipment for rain, a few small items in case hunger comes faster than the next opportunity to satisfy it, and above all things to be able to do journalistic work while travelling.
Everything is ready here. And it all fits in my two panniers. But they can't go on the bike yet, as I can only pick up my new e-bike in a sports shop in Kirkenes. Until then, the panniers have to go in the bulky travelling bag so that I can get them to the plane.
Once I've familiarised myself with my new bike and everything fits, I'm off: always southwards, largely on the Iron Curtain Trail, but above all towards the exciting people who live in the east of Norway and Finland along the border with Russia. Then it's on to the Baltic States. I am looking forward to exciting encounters, breathtaking landscapes and the many stories that I will collect on this tour.
Over the coming weeks and months, I will be taking you with me on my journey here on this blog. I will report on my encounters, present the impressive nature along the route, tell you about the (hopefully not too great) challenges of cycling and, of course, shed light on the historical and political background of the former Iron Curtain, which has developed into Green Belt Europe. The European Green Belt connects numerous protected areas along the Iron Curtain and represents the connection between nature conservation and contemporary history in Europe.
Stay tuned - the journey begins!
