Today – Egor boards a plane and flies back to his hometown, Tomsk – in Siberia.
In late August 2019 this remarkable young Russian set off on his bicycle from Kairo, and headed for Cape Town. An epic 6-month journey followed, which ended a few days ago when he finally reached Cape Agulhas.
We had the privilege of hosting Egor at our house towards the end of his voyage. Through broken English, a little gesturing, and with the help of some good friends who have insight into the Russian language and culture, we could listen to Egor’s stories. We gawked in silence as we heard about his endaevours, difficult periods, magic moments, days on end in a desert without seeing another human being, and how Africa had been so different to his previous tours through and around other continents.
We spent a pleasant, long evening over dinner asking questions, listening to his quiet voice as he spoke. We wondered what makes this sun-burnt guy tick, shared insights, enjoyed his language, and chuckled in disbelief when we heard that he loves running and would happily join in a local marathon when he arrived in a town (after being on his bicycle the whole day before)! We marveled over his modesty, his way of being able to get along quietly with only the barest of necessities… sometimes living on dry bread and water. What an astounding wealth of experiences he has gathered!
Egor: thanks for spending time with us. It really has been special. It is extraordinary people like you, who have seen so many horizons, that broadens the horizons in OUR minds. Guys like you demonstrate to us that neither culture, nor language, nor distance, nor time and not even money, is a barrier to connecting with people, animals, the earth, or oneself. The barriers are purely in our minds.
Spasibo!
Schastlivogo puti, Egor.
Facebook: Egor Kovalchuk
