My reasons for doing this trip are many. In fact explaining them will definitely be a post all in itself one day. This post is just a short one to let you know that as of recently I have a new one. One including an Iranian man called Akbar and a very special 1 Euro coin.
This thing started on my first night in Croatia. After having waited a bit too long in the evening before thinking about where I’d spend the night I found myself checking in at a campsite for the first time since I started this trip. At first this felt like the night was a total faliure, as it seemingly wouldn’t include either beautiful nature nor meeting new people. And sure – staying in a random touristic Croatian campsite sure wasn’t a very scenic experience, but boy was I wrong about the people part!
Luckily another cyclist – Jacques from France – had ended up in the very same situation as me. Being stuck in a way too touristic place to find a decent campspot after dawn that is. Otherwise his situation is really the opposite to mine. Sure, he is also doing a round the world-tour. The big difference though is that he is on his way home. After more than five years on the road he is now doing his last month of pedaling, going back to ‘surprise his mother’ in northern France.
Apart from being a warm, generous and friendly dude with a heavy French accent, having a conversation with Jacques was like going to the movies. The stories he had from his years of adventure were just too many and too good to only have one night to pick his brain. I was just so happy to have ‘failed’ and ended up with my tent next to his that evening.
Jacques…
…showing off…
…the ‘one million degree-hat’ he got from a Turkmen shepherd last winter
However. This is where the coin comes in. When Jacques found out I am headed towards Iran, he quickly set me off on a mission to deliver a note and a coin of luck to his friend Akbar.
Ehrm. OK? Iran is huge. Like really, really huge.
I think Jacques could see my confusion as he handed over the note and coin he wanted me to pass on to his mystery friend in a few months.
“Don’t worry! You don’t have to look for him. He’ll find you.”
And then it all became obvious. I had heard of Akbar before. In fact, he is somewhat of a legend in the bicycle touring community, as he is going out of his way to meet, welcome and take a photo with every single cyclist passing through his town Marand in Iran. With scouting truck drivers calling to let him know everytime cyclists are approaching, he always heads out to meet and welcome them to Iran with open arms.
Apparently Jacques is cyclist number 482 in Akbar’s photo collection. I think that number in itself proofs that my chances of meeting him should be pretty good. And man, I really really want to have my own number in Akbar’s albums :)
So. Delivering a coin of luck Akbar in Iran. Mission impossible?
We’ll just have to wait and see – but I’m definitely keeping my hopes up.