'5+1' with adventure seeker Lea Rieck

Lately we spoke to adventure seeker Lea Rieck who decided in 2016 to leave her everyday life behind and to circumnavigate the world with her motorcycle in 18 months. With this solo world tour Lea realised her own big dream through 50 countries covering 90.000 kilometers. When she doesn’t travel, Lea works as an author, keynote speaker, journalist and consultant in digital design in Munich and Zurich.

1. What motivated you to travel around the world by motorcycle all by yourself? Why did you choose a motorcycle and not a car?

I always wanted to travel overland and feel how the culture, the environment and nature slightly changes the further I get. Especially in times like ours travelling slower, more conscious and trying to avoid airplanes as much as possible and rather explore destinations that you can reach by yourself became from more importance to me. Curiosity probably motivated me the most. And I always wanted to do this journey on a motorcycle because it’s a vehicle that still gives me a feeling of being safe, for example if I am in a dodgy area it’s not a problem to just drive 50 or 100 kilometers further until I find a place to stay I feel safe about. In the same time I am still completely exposed and as well more vulnerable to my environment than in car – there are no walls or a roof to protect you on a motorcycle. If it rains I get wet, if it’s freezing I am cold, if the sun shines I feel the warmth directly on my face. There is a certain beauty and power in experiencing your surrounding without putting a wall in between. 

2. How long have you been passionate about motorcycling?

I only did my motorcycle license a year before I went on the trip around the world – but I always wanted to ride a motorcycle because my father circumnavigated Australia twice when he was younger and I always saw these pictures of him looking so adventurous and happy. Meanwhile I have my license since five to six years and I am still passionate about motorcycling but as well hope, that we might see a more sustainable development of these vehicles that as well will be good to travel with soon. 

3. Which place have you been impressed and inspired by the most?

I was always most impressed with the places that I didn’t expect much from or that I even was scared to visit because of their bad reputation – and then they turned out to be the most hospitable places on earth. I lost my heart to Central Asia: Tajikistan, Kirgistan and Pakistan made me fall in love with their mountain ranges that are up to 8000 meters high and feel like out of this world with their vast beauty. I was very inspired by the people living there under the rough conditions of such a high altitude and political conflicts – still believing in their dreams and fighting for them with such a strong will that I have seldom experienced anywhere else.

Lea in Kirgistan

4. If you are not traveling around the world, you live and work in Munich and Zurich. How do you get from A to B in these cities? Are you satisfied with the mobility offer in Munich and Zurich?

In Munich I live very central – so I mostly walk or take the bicycle because I just like to be outside. If I have to do bigger distances inside town I use shared mobility like car sharing. In Switzerland I always stay a bit outside of Zurich – there is basically no other option for me than taking my car or motorcycle if I want to get into town quick. Once in town there is good public transportation available – but mobility offers like car sharing are still expandable. 

5. Which is your first destination when the current situation has settled and we can travel again?

I was on a journey around Africa with my motorcycle – now it came to halt in Benin in West Africa. At one point I of course would like to continue this journey, but for the closer future I might do some trips inside Europe and explore more of Scandinavia. Even though I really want to continue my Africa-journey, my opinion is that we as travelers as well have a responsibility and choice: I don’t want to carry a virus from Europe where so far we were hit much harder than Africa to a country that has a worse healthcare system than we do. 
In the same time I feel very lucky to live in a place like Europe, where so many different cultures meet, where the mountains and the sea is close, where we have a lot of history to explore. So my first destination is my home-continent: Europe!

And now the +1 question for you: “When was the last time you were really brave and took a decision that changed your life?”

Pictures: Lea Rieck
Interview: Britta Reineke