City biker embarks on four-year world tour

When you imagine an experienced rider heading out on a four-year world tour on a motorcycle spanning seven continents and over 130 countries, you think of shiny bikes, huge bags and an over-enthusiastic rider who can hardly contain his excitement. However, Kedarnath, perched on his dusty white Royal Enfield Himalayan, looks the exact opposite, as he presents a picture of tranquility. When Kedarnath rides his motorcycle slowly after the flag off in Chennai, on Tuesday, he opens up about his journey. 

"Ever since I started riding at the age of 28, this trip has been on my mind. It is not an idea I woke up to, one fine morning. I have been planning this since 2012. For me, rather than the trip itself, it is the message I’m trying to spread— Living Without Borders— that excites me. I plan to meet school and college students in every city I visit, to break down the barriers that exist between them. They are our next Presidents and Prime Ministers. If we can convince them to build such a world for themselves, then there is hope.” 

Elaborating further, he says, “During my ride within India through Delhi to Kolkata, I have already scheduled a few interactions with students. But outside the country, I’ll have to meet the school and college authorities while I’m there and persuade them to let me talk to their students. So, a lot about the trip is still unknown,” he says.

At a time when the world leaders are increasingly using nationalism for electoral points, where the US President calls for building 16- ft-walls to keep immigrants out and India itself is engaged in a crisis with her neighbours, is this message welcome? “All revolutions, all change, all movements have stemmed from the efforts of one man. Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Che Guevara, Martin Luther King Jr—history is full of such examples. Who knows? Maybe this is what will make an impact,” he says. Referring to his travel arrangements, he explains, “Acquiring permissions and visas were relatively easy because I had the book I wrote on my Europe tour, Dreams Do Come True — A voyage on my motorbike, to show them. As for other preparations, I never stay in hotels unless it is unavoidable. I either camp or take shelter at a local’s house. People are usually very welcoming. For example, while I was riding through the Czech Republic during my Europe solo ride, it started pouring and I was desperately in search of a place to camp. I met a local Czech couple on the road who invited me to stay at their house. They didn’t know English and I didn’t know Czech. Kindness needs no language or nation.”

He is also well prepared for the extreme climates he is set to face. After all, Antarctica is one of his destinations. “When I went on the Europe tour, I was very dismissive about Europe’s winter. I barely managed to survive through the winter and had to struggle to finish that trip. I had underestimated the cold.” he says. He will compile his experiences from the trip into a book once he is back.