A 72-year-old globetrotting cyclist Armando Basile from Germany has entered Dakshina Kannada district on Monday. He is visiting Mangaluru for the second time.
He has already circled the globe six times in the past and this is his seventh lap of globe. He said “I do not have watch, computer nor mobile phone. I have enough time to spend across the world.”
Italy-born Basile lives in Germany when he is not pedalling across the world.
On his passion for cycling, he said “When I developed severe back pain in 1983, doctors advised me to go for sports activities and I took to cycling. Soon, I started liking cycling and have been globetrotting on cycle. As part of globetrotting, I have visited India four times. I have several friends at Mohali and Amritsar”
“My wife Jesilla expired in 2005. I have a girlfriend back in Germany. I get pension after retirement. From Delhi, I will head to Thailand on November 11. I have to pedal my way to Delhi in a tad over two weeks,” he said.
To Mumbai
From Mangaluru, he will head to Mumbai. “I spend night at petrol bunks. As I have flight ticket, I can rest at airports as well. The journey gives me immense pleasure. As I have bank cards, I do not face any problem when it comes to daily expenses including food. I have now put 12 lakh kilometre under my wheels. I have been to 80 countries before reaching India. The temples in India are wonders. I have learnt enough Hindi to converse with people in India,” he said with a smile on his face.
The cycle has a space to keep materials for cooking, documents and clothes as well.
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