{"id":3102,"date":"2022-04-05T12:58:39","date_gmt":"2022-04-05T10:58:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.heroes-world.de\/?p=3102"},"modified":"2022-04-08T09:14:43","modified_gmt":"2022-04-08T07:14:43","slug":"a-pilgrimage-to-my-inner-self","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heroes-world.de\/en\/blog\/2022\/04\/05\/a-pilgrimage-to-my-inner-self\/","title":{"rendered":"A Pilgrimage to My Inner Self"},"content":{"rendered":"

250 kilometers, 350,000 steps and a very personal realization. At the start of the year, photographer and blithe spirit Daniel Huber<\/a> embarked on a pilgrimage through Bavaria. His trek took him far from his bed, shower and washing machine at home. Instead, he relied on donations and traveled an emotional journey filled with surprises.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Departing from home<\/h2>\n

Huber, a native of Vohburg in the heart of Bavaria, had it all mapped out. He would walk along the Danube, with Passau as his destination. Daniel had chugged along the route in a rubber dinghy as a child. \u201cVisiting my relatives in Passau was always a highlight for me,\u201d he says. So, this was a journey to the past, with Huber all on his own. \u201cNothing to hear, nothing to see \u2013 just switching off for once and seeing what happens, recharging my batteries for my next season as a photographer, and a chance to listen to my inner dialog,\u201d says the 36 year old as he outlines his intentions.<\/p>\n

However, there was another motivating factor for Daniel. He had attempted the journey once before, back in 2020, but was forced to abandon it. He\u2019d been wearing the wrong clothing, the wrong shoes, and his feet had ended up covered in bloody blisters. \u201cThat really annoyed me, so I told myself that I needed to be smart about it this time!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

\"Daniel<\/div><\/div>

Preparing for the 250-kilometer walk<\/h2>\n

Four weeks before setting off, Daniel started getting himself ready. He logged 15 to 20 thousand steps per day as a minimum. Instead of wearing sneakers as he did last time, he bought some decent walking shoes and onion-style functional clothing. The first acid test was a trial run of 25 kilometers. The clothes fitted, the shoes proved sturdy, nothing rubbed or nipped \u2013 all set for the get-go!<\/p>\n

The passionate barefoot walker also spoiled himself with a little spa day before setting off. \u201cI paid my physiotherapist a visit and booked myself a 90-minute reflexology massage for my feet,\u201d he recalls with a smile. He also had his leg, which carries the scars of his years playing soccer, taped up in preparation. And so, wrapped in strips of blue sports tape, he set off on February 2, 2022.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\"Sonnenuntergang<\/div>
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High hurdles and magical moments<\/h2>\n

Daniel shared his experiences with family and friends via Instagram. He also tried to forge his path using donations alone. \u201cBefore I had even set off, I had \u20ac80 in my online account,\u201d he says, recalling his astonishment. In total, he says he received \u20ac600, with some coming from friends but some from new followers he gained along the way. That said, money isn\u2019t everything. Daniel also needed an extensive network and hospitable people \u2013 as he discovered on his first night. \u201cI got completely lost and ended up taking an eight-kilometer detour,\u201d he says, shaking his head. \u201cIt was far too late to book something at such short notice. So, I put up a post asking for help.\u201d Within 15 minutes, he had found accommodation in Kelheim and was able to spend the night on the couch of someone he had never met, cuddled up with their two cats.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

\"Daniel<\/div><\/div>

The following day, he arrived in Regensburg, where another surprise awaited him. Although he had arranged accommodation in the city, the people he had planned to stay with had been forced into isolation shortly before his arrival. Daniel, who got the news while washing his clothes in a laundromat, was not able to stay with them. That meant another post asking for help \u2013 and another slice of luck! \u201cI got a message from my cousin, telling me that we had relatives in Regensburg. So, I walked four kilometers to their house with my wet laundry in my backpack. Thankfully, they let me crash there and we stayed up until midnight having a lovely conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

\"Daniel<\/div><\/div>

When asked about his favorite moment during his pilgrimage, one image instantly springs to Daniel\u2019s mind: a tattered, yellow soccer ball, almost entirely deflated, lying by the side of the path. \u201cIn that moment, all my pain disappeared. I felt like a kid again and kicked the ball along for an hour and a half.\u201d As a parting gift \u2013 and a small homage to Wilson from \u2018Cast Away\u2019 \u2013 Daniel drew a smiley face on the ball when he left.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

\"Daniels<\/div><\/div>

Maximum deceleration<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve met Daniel or follow him on social media, you\u2019ll know how he communicates. \u2018Hubi\u2019, as his friends call him, always smiles cheerfully into the camera and gladly provides daily reports on his life and work. He documented his pilgrimage with his usual diligence, even producing a short podcast series. \u201cRight at the beginning, I felt a strong sense of disquiet. I was impatient, wrought, and full of zest and drive. I was longing for change but had no plan for achieving it.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, instead of just putting his phone in his pocket, he would stuff it deep into his backpack and simply set off walking for four hours at a time. And, when he did stumble across a special moment he wanted to capture, Daniel would reach for his analog camera, a 50-year-old Olympus OM1. \u201cYou start to think very carefully about how you use your resources. Will you take a snapshot of this moment with you or keep it just for yourself? That grounds you and also makes you thankful.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

\"Instagram\"

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