Exactly a year ago on this date, I remember peering down from the airplane window at the vast emptiness of the Argentinian Patagonia. Although I was determined to cycle across the South American continent, seeing nothing but isolated and rough nature below me for hours on a plane ride, definitely made me doubt my great idea. What the hell had I done…again? (more…)
Tag: Long-distance cycling
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10 THINGS NOT TO ASK A LONG-DISTANCE CYCLIST
When cycling, you get asked a lot of questions. In fact, every long-distance cyclist would probably want to bang the askers in the head from time to time. Not because of the people or the questions themselves, but just because as time goes by, you answer the same questions over and over again (sometimes 5-10 times daily). And the longer your trip, the more times you do so (on a year-long trip, you’ll probably do it at least 365 times). So, to spare us (and your head from getting hurt), here’s what not to ask a long-distance cyclist. And if you’re dying to know the answers, here they are as well! (more…)
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FORMOSA TO CHACO: “SLIGHT” CHANGES IN REALITIES IN LESS THAN A WEEK
How many strangers and strange events can you fit into a week? Well, A LOT. On my way through the Argentinian provinces of Formosa and Chaco, I’ve Couchsurfed with a guy working for Coca-Cola (with whom we went on a motorboat ride and wakeboarding on the Río Paraguay), gone on a pilgrimage with cycling pilgrims (on the longest Vía Crucis in the world), spent the night at the office of a sports field (with the local mayor bringing me a mattress and a fan in the evening), (more…)
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I’M ON PARAGUAYAN TV! 15 MINUTES OF FAME ON #INVISIBLES
On the day I left Paraguay, the Red Paraguaya de Comunicacion (RPC) conducted an interview with me on my whole trip (so far) and filmed me step onto the ferry crossing over to Argentina (so, no turning back!). Here’s the 15-minute documentary journalist and producer Diego Marini compiled for his Invisibles series! Enjoy! (more…)
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10 REASONS TO STOP BLOGGING
When I began cycling in Latin America, this blog didn’t exist. I had another one, very basic and random, aimed mainly at my family and friends. However, the more I cycled, the more I wanted to start blogging for whoever was interested in joining me for the ride. So, in the end of August 2016, I created Strangerless. And now, only two months later, I’m daily thinking about quitting it. Here’s why.
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VÍA CRUCIS FORMOSEÑO: PILGRIMAGE ROUTE BY BICYCLE
Vía Crucis Formoseño is a pilgrimage route in Formosa, Argentina. The 512km-long stretch used to be done only by car, until one local lady decided to give it a try on a bicycle. In year 2008, Celia Insaurralde convinced three of her friends to go with her and so began the story of the Cicloperegrinos – pilgrims on bicycles.
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META-ANTHROPOLOGY IN FORMOSA: LOCALS OBSERVING LOCALS
I find anthropology fascinating. To study of human life in different societies is one of the things I most love to do. So, imagine my double-layered enthusiasm when taken to an introductory class of anthropology and social systems in a culture, which already in itself is somewhat new to me. In other words, getting the opportunity to observe people observing people. Yep, that’s what I’ve done in Formosa, Northern Argentina, (more…)
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HELINÄ RAUTAVAARA: MOTHER OF HITCHHIKING AND LONG-DISTANCE CYCLING
Believe it or not, I’m not the first Finnish female to cycle alone through Latin America in the discovery of local cultures. It has been done before me, but the crazy thing is that the last and only time a Finnish woman did it was nearly 60 years ago. Imagine, as if the whole journey wasn’t already full of challenges these days, Helinä Rautavaara did it in times before asphalt roads, mobile phones or waterproof Ortlieb panniers. (more…)