It took me a few weeks to leave the company and sell my assets. I had one unfinished project that I needed to complete, and I was looking forward to receiving a few thousand dollars upon its completion. During this time, I discovered my desire to travel by bicycle. I discussed my plans with a friend, and soon we assembled a team of five. However, I had no experience with long-distance cycling, and I didn’t know what to expect from traveling with others.
As the team planner, we had several meetings to discuss our goals for the journey. I wanted to do more than just travel, but my friends were primarily interested in the adventure aspect. The idea of planting trees and the slogan “We Need Trees” emerged, and I let it grow into a concept. We began preparing for our journey, starting with finding sponsors. Unfortunately, I was the only one actively seeking sponsorship, and despite my efforts, we couldn’t secure any funding.
We set up a website and started working on it, and I also began training on my bicycle (I had been a cyclist for 10 years). As we planned to start in May 2005, I had set a personal standard that I wanted to reach before embarking on the journey. However, my friends were impatient, and I had to postpone our departure. In July, one team member decided to leave and embark on a solo journey to Turkey and Syria, another went cycling in Europe, and another started a business. Eventually, only two of us remained, but still, no sponsor.
At this point, I knew what I wanted to do and could follow my intuition. The journey had begun, and I was at the starting point of a challenging path. I had an old shoulder problem from my climbing days, which had been manageable but was now worsening.
I should mention an old friendship that played a significant role in my life. My friend, who was 17 years older than me, was kind and knowledgeable but also tough in some ways. However, as I discovered my own path, I realized it diverged from his, and I had to distance myself from the friendship. Unfortunately, this led to a misunderstanding, and one day, he physically attacked me, which resulted in my hospitalization for shoulder surgery.
After the surgery, I was told that I wouldn’t be able to travel for several months, and my shoulder movements would be limited. I had to make a quick decision and undergo the operation. The recovery was difficult, and I had to start physiotherapy a month later. However, when my project was completed, the owner refused to pay me, citing negative comments from my former partner. I was left with less than a dollar, and I had to stop physiotherapy due to financial constraints.
I started going to the gym, where I could train for free, and I also began learning English with a private teacher. Despite my efforts, my girlfriend became frustrated with my lack of progress and eventually ended our relationship. I was in a tough spot, with no money, health issues, and no clear future. My friends thought my idea of cycling around the world was foolish.
I remember nights when I had to wait for a bus in freezing weather, and I couldn’t even afford the fare. I had to walk home, sometimes reaching 1:30 am. I would look at the street, hoping to find a lost bus ticket or some money. Eight months after the operation, my shoulder started to improve, and I could lift weights again.
One night, while running with friends, I fell and broke my arm again. I was in pain but couldn’t afford medical treatment. I waited for two days for my brother to lend me money for the hospital. The experience was humiliating, and I felt like I was failing.
Regardless, I didn’t give up. I continued to train and look for sponsors, despite the setbacks. A year earlier, I had met a Swiss couple who stayed with my family, and I remembered their kindness. Now, with no money and a broken arm, I had a dream that gave me confidence. In the dream, I freed red fish from a cabinet and took them to the sea.
On my way back, someone gave me money, saying, “Do your job, and I’ll pay you.”
This dream was a sign for me that I wouldn’t have a problem with money; I just needed to start. One day, I felt the urge to begin my journey, and I called my last friend to join me. However, he declined due to lack of funds, and I was left to start alone. I knew I had to find the right moment, and I was determined to continue.
Throughout that year, I struggled to stay motivated, but I had internal determination and occasional signs of hope. I knew that some of these signs were just imagination, but they helped me keep going. The journey was far from over, but I was ready to take the next step.