Simply enough.

It's a lovely Sunday morning in Auld Reekie (Edinburgh) and due to my rather unsuccessful attempts to write applications I much more feel like writing something about biking instead, which suits the weekend more than thinking about future work engagements. I just managed to import my road bike into Scotland, after a very long winter break, my first long time off the bike in 4 years. And let me tell you that once I am back on two wheels, I am feeling much better and confident again. It only took 5 minutes till the magic got back to me, being out there, facing the elements (there are quite a few things to face in Scotland) and just have sheer fun. And get the odd look from confused car drivers that can't believe a simple human can accelerate that quickly, a cheer from the odd person in the bus stop and whatever comes with it. Combined with the fact that I will eat much more healthy again and have the chance to socialise with people who share the same passion, I wonder if there ever will be something better than biking to make me happy apart from the obvious things? Possibly not.

The same time my passion for biking developed, I also developed a simple passion for simplicity. It's partly due to the fact that I had to move around in a frequency that even made me thinking whether it's worth that or not? It's not a simple question to answer, and yet the answer is still to be found, but I would not change my attempts for keeping things simple. Now I would maybe consider staying in some places longer than I did, as it takes a while to really appreciate a place to live. But still keep it simple. Looking round my room at the moment I haven't got many things to call my possessions, yet those things I do own are the things I really need and they are enough! Clothes to wear, most of my outdoor gear, bike stuff, camera equipment, my MacBook and some hard drives with pictures, music and videos. All fits in a big backpack, a smaller backpack for hand luggage, and of course, a bike box. And yes, I do have a bed to sleep in, a table to work at, some drawers for stashing things away, a mirror and a light to read, which all came with the room, so happy to leave them once I leave. Enough to pack everything within a days time, ship it somewhere else and keep exploring again. No flash plasma TV, no expensive audio system (even though I still own one back in Germany), not all the fancy shit that makes you play around with and waste your precious time in life. Not having much stuff makes you appreciate the simple things in life, in may case truly the great outdoors. And to appreciate yourself, your dreams, your ambitions, and people rather have to value yourself instead of the things you own. It makes you want to spend every minute doing something nice, and not distract yourself from reality. Reality is great, and I love it, so I might as well enjoy it.  Whether it will be travelling and exploring new places, catch up with good mates and have a chat, take the bike out for a ride, climb a mountain and so on. In my case I fancy a great sunset outside much more than a movie on the newest Plasma, it's real life I value much more than life on screen. It's quite simple. And a great sunset in combination with good mates is even better, it doesn't take a lot to get that.

The same applies to travelling in my case. Bike touring makes you live simple, and it's this simplicity that makes it attractive to me. All you need fits in two pannier bags, even if your out for a couple of days in sheer wilderness. And it only takes a few minutes to pack everything again, jump on the bike and explore again. And yet you have time to really appreciate the rest, being with mates, meeting new people, taking in those stunning pictures, being free as a bird, no restrictions, no limits. Giving those things up for possessing a fancy house and all those things that come with it? I think the answer is simple!