6000 Kilometers of Perspective: What My Motorcycle Trip to Athens Taught Me About Work, Life, and Everything In Between

A few weeks ago, I set off on a solo motorcycle trip. I wasn’t quite sure how far I would go but had a slight idea in my head. Greece was the idea. At the end, my bike led the way from my home in Hinterbrühl, Austria all the way to a little beyond Athens — and back.

The route.

It wasn’t planned from the beginning. It rather evolved from day to day with a couple of spots I had in mind before.

Crossing Hungary, Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia I entered Greece after a couple of days. Moving towards the Southern tip, I then went back up the west Balkan through Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Slovenia and Italy back to Austria.

Twelve days, eleven countries, 6,000 kilometers. Blazing sun, sudden rain, very curvy mountain roads, gravel and dirt tracks, empty backcountry roads, border crossings, street food, good coffee, silence, dense city traffic, small encounters, broken gear and so much more — and some refreshingly deep thoughts.

I didn’t do this trip to prove anything. Not to tick off countries, or to escape from something. I wanted to explore the Balkan and I did want to connect the two worlds where my heart beats stronger: Austria and Greece on the terrestrial way. AND I did it to reconnect. With myself, with the world, and with the part of me that needs to move — not just physically, but also mentally. And honestly, I hoped but didn’t expect to receive quite as much as I did.

Here are a few moments and five key learnings that stuck with me. Maybe some of them will resonate with you too. Have fun reading this!

#1 – Turn around if necessary.

At one point, I ended up on a dead-end road somewhere near the Kosovo border. Maps said “go.” Reality said “don’t.” And that was after 45min of quite heavy dirt-road going uphill. I had no option but to turn around.

This moment was a lesson. It reminded me of something simple but often ignored:
Changing direction is not failure. It’s a form of progress.

In my work with founders, researchers, and changemakers, I’ve seen this too many times — we cling to plans just because we made them. But sometimes, the smartest move is to stop, breathe, and go another way.

Roads connect the known with the new.

Sometimes it was beautiful newly paved tarmac and other times it was just gravel or super slippery windy roads.

It’s a unique experience to go on these roads and establish a physical connection between two spaces I never manage to establish when I fly from one place to another.

A roadtrip always is a peculiar experience.

#2 – Define your destination — clearly.

Somewhere around Thessaloniki, I caught myself drifting. Not in the pleasant, flow-state way. But in the “what am I actually doing here?” kind of way. In my mind the goal was Greece but I had not defined it any further. When I finally crossed the border I was really, really happy but soon felt lost because I had not defined my goal any further and was a bit lost.

It hit me: when the road is long, and the conditions unpredictable, you need a sense of purpose. Having a precise vision of where you want to get to is helpful in this. Otherwise the beauty fades, the effort feels random, and the joy dissolves. Success may feel bleak although it actually was a significant achievement.

Same goes for projects. A shared direction is key — especially when you’re navigating complexity. Creating a well described common vision can be a game changer.

Nature desperately needs us.

Sadly, I came across several spots that show marks of severe forest fires. The land was devastaded and one could see the wounds.

On this image you can see some smoke near Athens from the temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, the turning point of my trip.

One very sad observation was: pollution is severe in a lot of places and nature really needs serious caretaking by us!

#3 – Culture ≠ culture. But human is human.

One thing I always cherrish when travelling, especially when doing so on a solo trip, are the small interactions with people. An espresso offered by the police ladies on the border between Kosovo and Northern Macedonia. The kid on the side of the road being excited about a big shiny motorcycle. A nod from a fellow rider in the Serbian highlands. A good chat with the Greek ship-engineer after a long day ride sipping some Malamatina.

Despite language barriers or cultural differences, there was always connection.
Talking about these encounters with a friend who also travels solo, we both agreed:
If you meet people as people — with curiosity, respect, and humility — you’ll always find common ground.

Every place has its peculiarities.

What we notice in our surrounding often says as much about us and not necessarily about the place itself. Our observations are shaped by our mindset, our background, and what we’re tuned in to.

In Albania, one thing that struck me was the sheer number of car-washing stations — and the surprising presence of high-end luxury vehicles in a country that, at first glance, doesn’t appear particularly wealthy.

I enjoy taking note of these kinds of details. They may seem random at first, but they often hint at something deeper — a local habit, an economic paradox, a cultural rhythm.

#4 – Ride your pace.

I passed some. Some passed me. I rested when I needed to. Some days I rode longer than I had in mind, others shorter. It was my trip. My rhythm. Riding solo this is easier but even when we are in groups I think it is essential to pay attention to your own rhythm. Becoming aware of that is often all it needs.

Experiencing this yet again, was a reminder I needed — and one I now try to carry into how I work and lead: You don’t have to go fast. But you do have to keep going. Steady wins the race(!).

Austria’s tallest mountain.

My home land’s highest peak, the Großglockner, marks one of the most spectacular moments of the return.

The road crossing the mountain is breathtaking — and so was the weather. I rode through thunder, rain, and hail. I could have waited it out, but I chose to keep going — not to push through, but to drop the fear I still had around travelling on wet terrain.

Learning happens at the edges of comfort.

#5 – Just, do it!!

Coming back home — tired, dusty, content — I realized something: I had just done a big tour for an amateur rider like me. The road didn’t just take me to Athens and back. It brought me closer to my own clarity. About how I want to work. What matters. And why I do what I do.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to just get on the road and go — do it!! Even if it’s just for a few days. Even if it’s just a few kilometers from where you started.

You may not come back with answers. But you’ll come back changed.

If you’re curious what this has to do with my work in project development, funding, and systems change — I’d be happy to share more. Sometimes, a good story is the best strategy session.

Αντίο Ελλάδα! = Good bye Greece!

It was an amazing experience. Would do it again? Probably not the same trip but I would enjoy returning to many of the places I visited but, at the moment, I don’t see the point of doing the same trip again.

HOWEVER, I certainly want to do similar trips again. Solo. With friends. With my partner. With my children. Traveling simply nurrishes my spirit and my soul.

At last, I’d like to share a quote a friend texted me while I was somewhere between borders, landscapes, and thoughts: “Travel far enough, you meet yourself.” — David Mitchell