At an age when people find it difficult to even go for a walk, a man of 71 years loves to travel long distance on bicycle or on foot. Meet Bipin Bihari Sahu, a businessman of Keredi under Phulbani Block in the district.
Till today he has made 12 visits to Puri covering 241 kms each time. While he has gone six times on foot, on the rest occasions, he used his bicycle. His passion for cycles is such that he keeps changing his bikes every eight to 12 months.
“I have gone to Puri on foot six times between 1991 and 1996. It took me six days to go from Keredi to Puri. Similarly, I have travelled to the pilgrim city six times on bicycle between 1999-2013. Each time it took me only two days to reach Puri,” said Sahu. His last visit to Puri on bicycle was in February. Apart from Puri, he has also visited Ghatgaon in Keonjhar, Kantilo and other holy places of the State on bicycle.
Besides, he carries 80-90 kgs of grocery and other items on his bicycle across 15 kms from Phulbani town to his village Keredi. Despite being the father of two sons and a daughter, he has never depended on them.
Sahu developed the passion for going long distances on bicycle while he was reading in Class VI. “When I go to Puri on foot, I barely take food with me. I take only ‘Chhatua’ (powder of cereals and grams) and tea to give me energy,” said Sahu. Being encouraged by Sahu’s enthusiasm, two villagers had accompanied him in the last cycle trip to Puri.
“Cycle is part of my daily life. I cannot live without it. I have planed to go to Puri on bicycle to participate in the car festival this year,” he said with a gleeful face.