But I've had a bike since I was seven and went swimming in the lakes or rivers since my childhood.
It wasn't until I was 14yo that I started kayaking in a sports community near my home. In the socialist era it was free of charge for children and young people.
Training four times a week and regattas several weekends a year. From March to October in a kayak on the river and in winter in the gym room with weights.
But at the age of 18 the doctor banned me from competitions because of my spine.
So I started as a trainer and trained children and young people.
I cycled from Beeskow to Luban (Polish Carpates).
From Beeskow to Cape Arkona (Baltic Sea), 1000 km return.
In Romania from the Munti Apuseni (west Mountains) on the Hungarian border to Istria on the Black Sea.
And in Polynesia I have cycled around several islands (Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, ...).
On La Digue (Seychelles) I was also cycling every day along the coastial road.
left hand my first big bicycle, original from my mum, so very a very old with 28" tyres. I have painted it with blue color
right hand my next bike ( 26" tyres) - my first own men bycicle, my parents bought it after my long ride when I have been 16 yo.
After an accident at black see coast I sold the good parts to Romanien guys and the destroyed parts left near Histria
Up to the age of 37 I had no car and made every way by the trekking bike.
So has been a little biking break a few month
Until then I had lived in a small apartment under the roof. That means going up and down the stairs every day.
In winter carry coals for the heating (stove) and for making hot water in the bathroom. In the summer evenings going in the garden for watering.
That's why I was healthy and had no real belly.
But when I was 37, my place of work moved. The school was relocated. I had to buy a car and move to another apartment.
There were no more stairs in my life. Not at school and not at home.
I would have had to make up for the missing stairs with sport. But I had to drive to school by car and the day was 2 hours shorted.
There was no more spare time for it. My weight increases more and more, my belly became bigger and my blood pressure got worse, so 5 years later I have been in a crisis with my health.
I started to walk 30 - 60 minutes every day over the hill behind my house.
But in summer there is often no time for this, because you have to water the garden, mow the lawn (sod), etc.
And if you are tired because you didn't have enough time to sleep at night, you also have no power for sport and gym. ....
I was cooking just vegetables, like beans, carrots, Red cabbage, Kale, Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, spinach, ... with a little rapeseed oil or 2-3 slices of sausage.
But after 6 years I didn't want this anymore.
The following years my dinner was just tomatos and feta cheese or some slices of cumin-salami.
In summer fresh tomatos from my garden or from the market and in winter there have been one supermarket, wich offered tasty tomatos.
But since more than one year now, I couldn't find anymore tasty tomatos in wintertime. Just tasteless stuff ...
So I fellt back into traditional german dinner: bread and sausage or cheese ... :-(
(the bred made from spelt)
But there are two more reasons for my big belly. The one is the food in Germany. I wondered, why I loosed weight and got a firmer face during my trip in Ethiopia and also in the trips in Cuba and Colombia, although I didn't walk much. Just sitting in the car or boat. The one reason should be the better food. We have eaten just goat and chicken (in Ethiopia) and some cattle and fish too in Colombia. And this meat has a much better quality and taste, than in Germany, because they feed just natural, no chemicals, no antibiotica and no other medicine for speedy breeding.
An other reason is the chocolate. On travel I am happy. Not that stressed like in Germany. I don't need chocolate, but in germany I need every day. And thats not good for my weight ...
