French eco-adventurer cycles from Bangkok to Europe
As I've always said, global warming is now, and we can't wait for public consensus or government initiatives to start changing our lifestyles to prevent further damage. We each have to start doing our own part to make a difference and if everyone in the world felt the same way, or even half the world's population _ all right, I'll settle for 10 per cent _ things would gradually improve. One person who has decided to embark on his own carbon neutral adventure in a big way is 32-year-old Frederic Linget of France who, after living in Vietnam and Thailand for 10 years, became homesick for Cha{aci}teaudun and decided to pack up and move back to the beautiful Valle{aac}e de la Loire (Loire Valley). But instead of booking a flight like the rest of us would, Linget has decided he has done enough damage to the environment throughout his 32 years. Sitting down and calculating all his movements by car, plane, boat, bus, etc., over the years, he estimated he has contributed a total of 198.4 tonnes of CO2. So the most environmentally friendly way to travel home was by bicycle.
To him, cycling was also the best way of seeing the world. There is a bit of romance about cycling, and the adventure element is akin to that of Marco Polo (he even got himself a wind rose tattoo on his back in deference to the 13th century adventurer), as he explains on his web site www.aventuresbicycletales.org/, ''Cycling is also about holding your own destiny with a firm grip rather than letting it wander; while you sit in the saddle, your are the only captain on board and you can choose to go wherever you want! You are free.''
It wasn't a surprising choice for those who knew him, because Linget has been cycling since he was two, and during his stay in Thailand, he has been cycling all around the country and into neighbouring Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma, alone and with friends. He has been an active member as well as grand master of the Bangkok Bike Hash.
His bicycle had to be specially made to withstand the extreme conditions and long distance, so it was custom-made in France and shipped over. It took him a few months to break it in, riding it around town and even just doing laps around Benjakiti Park, without weights, and eventually, with weights. After all, although he would be travelling light, his load would still be approximately 50kg. One thing he won't be using is a GPS to find his way, though. He will rely on the sun and the accuracy of local people who are known to point in any direction they happen to feel like. And if he gets lost once in a while, it's all part of the adventure!
After a year of planning, he finally set off last Sunday at 8am from the statue of King Vajiravudh in front of Lumphini Park, with a group of friends to see him off, some cycling along with him part of the way. He headed due east on the first day, and will travel through Isan until he reaches Mukdahan where he will cross into Laos. In fact, the 20,500km trip will take him through 17 countries starting from South East Asia (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam), China, the Himalayas (Tibet and Nepal), India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and most of Mediterranean Europe (Greece, Albania, Kosovo, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and France).
Linget expects to be cycling an average of 73km per day when he's on the road, and hopes to reach home by June 2009. When the same distance can be covered in only 12 hours by aeroplane, that seems like an eternity, but don't forget that he is hoping to get back to France without emitting greenhouse gases and to become carbon neutral. He is also inviting everyone to help him achieve that goal (visit his web site to find out how).
Through his trip he is also hoping to generate awareness of global warming and carbon offsetting, and promote cycling as an alternative to motorised transportation, as well as an environmentally friendly form of adventure travel.
True to his motto: ''Travel towards the unknown, meet people, respect the Earth!!'' Linget is living his dream as only few of us dare to do.
Bon voyage and good luck!
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