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misc02 – about red lines

How do you come up with your route? – this is probably the single most important question when it comes to walking.

So where do you get started?

First we need to get a world map, and figure out some fun places we might want to check out on our way. For me, it’s always been about two historical cities, a set of magical names echoing through the millenia: Samarkand and Istanbul.

Whenever I was feeling weak, or my head was hanging low, I would humm the name “Samarkand” to myself – the pearl of the Ancient Silk Road, the birthplace of the stories of 1001 Nights. Always enough to cheer me up.

You see, it doesn’t matter if you are ever going to actually make it to any of those places. You need to dream.

Then what?

1) Get educated – buy travel guides, go to your local library and get a bunch of resources on all the places you might come through, copy any kind of map you can get your hands on, and do some extensive research on the Internet.

2) Work your government – get online and check out any safety-warnings concerning the places you might visit. Don’t go anywhere near an area with an official safety-warning! Send E-mails to your own embassies in the countries that make up your route. Bug them with safety questions, ask them about anything that you weren’t able to extract from your other resources. Most of the government officials are going to be very helpful and friendly about your inquiries, and I personally think that they are rather trustworthy.

3) Check out Google Earth – I highly recommend this for any kind of outdoor activity. You need to get a more specific idea about the areas you’re planning to visit, so instead of using only regular maps, I think it’s a good idea to check out the satellite pictures and the photography uploaded by other people on panoramio.

What are some of the main concerns about the route?

Well first of all, we want to stay away from warzones and places with a high level of civil unrest. Once we have figured out a route where we are unlikely to get killed or kidnapped, then we are facing the second most important issue: visa problems – some countries are very restrictive, and we might not be allowed to walk around as much as we like. The third problem is about the natural surroundings: how cold does it get in the winter, how hot in the summer? How long is the road between two places, where can we fill up on water and food? Are we willing to walk through sandstorms if we must? Are there dangerous animals around? This goes especially for areas where we’re going to camp out!

Do you work out a very detailed plan, or do you just float around wherever you feel like it?

Here’s a list of the kilometers I did on my walking days:

I think it is not very practical to make a highly specific plan for a route this long. It wouldn’t be that much fun anyway. So what I do is I start out with some relatively large cities, serving as general waypoints, and then I make up the in-betweens once I get there. It is very important to listen to the local people and remain flexible in one’s own planning. There are so many places to be missed out on if we choose to always stick to a fixed plan!

Again, walking should be fun.

And we need to dream.

Soundtrack: Sefyu – “Bollos”

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9 Responses to “misc02 – about red lines”

  1. 1
    Jeab Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    สวัสดีค่ะ

    My name’s Jeab. I live in THAILAND. I think your life so goodddd…

    bye..bye
    เจี๊ยบ (Jeab)

  2. 2
    champ Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 3:52 am

    Hello!! My name is champ . I live in thailand . I want go with you.

    Do you have hotmail ?

  3. 3
    Steven Says:
    May 25th, 2009 at 7:29 am

    “we need to dream”

    and

    you made our dream came truth!

  4. 4
    Aaron in Kansass Says:
    June 4th, 2009 at 10:00 am

    Hey me,Matt Stewart, and Ryan Berry…another swim bud…or going to flow down the Arkansas River next week…I think we were slightly inspired by your walk. We won’t have to worry about governments and such, but we will have to worry about river snakes, giant catfish, and strong currents…we are going to float it in a small tin boat without motor–just luck, a couple of backs, and at least for myself some Johnny Walker. All the best…keep rockin, I mean walkin, Mr. Rage

  5. 5
    Petra Says:
    June 6th, 2009 at 5:29 am

    Aloha Chris,
    me being a travel-chick, i like the way you plan and i totally agree. Enough (but not too much) planning to know what you’re dealing with, BUT remain flexible and talk to locals. My plans change from week to week when i’m on the road.

    For all future nomads i recommend the (german) forum: http://www.reise-forum.weltreiseforum.de/
    for general infos about organizing travels (health, visa, accomodations,
    etc) and a good talk to fellow travelers,

    We could use your knowledge there, too. ;)
    I just recently posted a link to your caboose because someone wondered how on earth he should carry all his stuff… *g*

    Happy trails,
    Petra

  6. 6
    Christoph Says:
    June 8th, 2009 at 3:56 am

    Jeab & champ: Greetings from Germany to Thailand!! :)
    Steven: Thanks dude.
    Aaron in Kansass: Dude, it’s you!! I just got your email, and I promise to write back ASAP!! :)
    Petra: Hehe, I miss the caboose so much, I can’t even tell you!!

  7. 7
    Rafche Says:
    December 5th, 2009 at 1:33 am

    Finding yourself is a never ending journey.
    I know it.

  8. 8
    Wojty from Slovakia Says:
    January 12th, 2010 at 6:50 pm

    I like video that you post on a Youtube.Actually, traveling by “your way” must be grat if you understand me.I was always interested in adventures,and also in adventurers like Christopher McCandless(R.I.P) was or now you are :-D.I am 18-teen years old now (about six months to the end of the school)and i have already made a plan for holidays(i hope that i can earn enough money) before university(i do not know how it is in germany but here we have holidays for four months after secondary school)-i would like to go on Santiago de Compostella but from Northern Spain(about 800 kilometres, it is nothing to your trip but i think that is enough for the start).So I just want to say that u are my great inspiration,an i hope u will finish your trip one day.Also thanks for all you post here,it is really helpfull!

    PS:sorry for my english :-(

  9. 9
    Juraj Says:
    March 19th, 2010 at 8:31 am

    I belong to the particular group of people, that can be happy in one place called home,but sometimes I have to get lost in the stream of reflections, on the road and with my backpack on and observe sunsets that are different from the ones I know. I am sure you know what I mean. And btw, Wojty, if you´ll read this, the pilgrimage to Compostela is the best thing that has happened to me in my life. Zmení ti život:)

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