Gunnar Rundgren på resa / on tour

I do need female company.
In this case it comes as a bike. The bicycle I am using is older than me and was my mothers until I took it over from her some years ago. It is a black beauty and I named it Margareta (which is the name of my mother, who also was black until she got kids and turned silvery grey - I mean the hair of course). Some people think I am an idiot to treavle with such an old heavy bike without gears, but I have my reasons.

• I don't think anybody will steal an old bike like this (as a matter of fact it is parked outside here without even being locked)
• Old bikes are of extraordinary quaity and they don't break easily. Most new bikes are crap and can't do a trip like this.
• When (IF) it breaks down there chance that you can repair it somewhere is much higher than with bikes made of aluminium and plastic.
• Finally, I am in no hurry, it doesn''t really matter if I do 80 or 160 km per day. It is not the distance that is the objective. it is the trip itself.

I must admit that if I had planned a trip in Norway, Switzerland or Caucasus or Nepal I would have chosen another bike, one with gears.........My planned trip is mainly through plains and modest hills.

In Lithuania people still think I will get my bike stolen. In Birtzai they told me to take the bike into the reception. In Ukmerge I put it in their basement and in Panevezys they insisted I put it in my room!