Bike Without Borders

An Unconventional Route

This latest adventure began in mid-December 2013, when Veronica and Nala departed from Italy with their sights set on Central Asia and China. Their trip was far from linear; as they arrived in Kyrgyzstan in early October, they decided to leave the bike and trailer there to return home by land, traversing Russia, the Baltic countries, and Northern Europe.

Flying wasn’t an option for Nala, as it would mean spending hours in a plane hold—an experience Veronica was determined to avoid for her four-legged friend. The plan is simple yet adventurous: return to Kyrgyzstan next year to pick up the journey exactly where they left off.

The Call of the Silk Road

For Veronica, the Silk Road has long called to her. It’s a route woven with history, stories, and vibrant cultures, and her dream to travel it by bicycle aligned with recent shifts in her life. As she puts it, “A journey helps to restore order, as much as possible, in the heart and spirit.” Veronica’s inspiration to explore Central Asia also came from reading transformative books such as Sovietistan by Erika Fatland and Turkestan Solo by Ella Maillart, which she heartily recommends to anyone captivated by the region.

Lessons from the Road

Through her travels to 53 countries—49 of them by bike—Veronica has gained invaluable insights. “I think I’ve learned not to judge anything by appearance but to try to understand things from other points of view,” she says.

Her adventures have taken her to breathtaking places: the smoking volcanoes of Indonesia, the vast salt flats of Bolivia, the snowy peaks of the Afghan Hindu Kush, and the vibrant marine life of Borneo.

Not all experiences have been serene. In Thailand, she faced a comical challenge when a gang of macaques raided her supplies while she stopped at a shop. Armed with a camera tripod, she and her partner managed to reclaim their bikes, but not without losing dinner to the mischievous monkeys.