Solo Ride · Departing 5 May 2025 · Pamplona to Phuket
A solo, self-sustained ride from Pamplona to Phuket — 15,000 km across multiple countries — raising funds to educate orphaned children at Kamakhya Balak Ashram, West Bengal.
"I've always wondered what it would feel like to migrate like the Arctic Tern — that small, tireless bird who travels across winds and tides, chasing light and defying distance. Or like the Humpbacks who swim thousands of kilometres, guided not by maps but by memory and instinct.
The Long Haul East is that migration — a solo, self-sustained ride from Pamplona to Phuket. No crew, no support — just me and my bicycle, Vayuvat, crossing thousands of kilometres through cities, cultures and steppe, trusting my endurance and will to drift eastward.
Every kilometre I pedal is not just a step towards chasing sunrise, but also a small act of return — contributing towards facilitating the education for orphans of Kamakhya Balok Ashram, West Bengal, India.
This journey is a bridge — between endurance and empathy, between mettle and meaning, between what I seek and what I can give back. Perhaps, in moving toward the unknown, we don't just discover new lands — we discover new ways to belong."
— Paul, Long Haul East
Every kilometre pedalled is not just a step toward chasing sunrise — it is a small act of return. I'll be contributing ₹100 per kilometre towards facilitating the education of orphaned children at Kamakhya Balok Ashram, West Bengal, India.
Founded in 1989 in Badu, West Bengal, Kamakhya Balok Ashram began with just 7 children and now supports around 55 boys and girls.
I've personally visited the ashram and spent time with the team and the children. While their work is deeply committed, one key challenge stood out — access to quality education and support beyond 10th grade. This is where I hope to help.
For these children, the ashram is more than a home — it's their chance at a better future.
❤️ Children's identities protected with love
Donations in INR via Milaap · Indian accounts only · due to FCRA regulations
Accepts UPI · Google Pay · PhonePe · Indian cards · net banking. Donations in INR only — Indian accounts only due to FCRA regulations.
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I'm Paul — a regular 9-to-5 guy with a not-so-regular habit of being slightly uncomfortable in beautiful places. From Abisko to Margalef to Interlaken, I've climbed rocks and ice. I bike tour. I scuba dive. Basically, I collect experiences that make excellent stories and occasionally terrifying life decisions.
Last October, I quit my job to cycle from Pamplona to Phuket — about 15,000 km across 19 countries. It hasn't been the smoothest lead-up — sciatica earlier this year and regional uncertainties — but I've decided to go ahead anyway. I'm expecting adventure, self-discovery, stunning landscapes… and the inevitable moment somewhere in Anatolia where I seriously question everything.
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