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| Dr. Detlev Henschel, left, and Katrin Frommhold are pictured Tuesday afternoon standing in front of the Mohave Museum of History and Arts on their way across North America. JC AMBERLYN/Miner |
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JC Amberlyn
Staff Photographer
KINGMAN - Dr. Detlev Henschel and Katrin Frommhold, a couple from Germany, are traveling from coast to coast in order to find the "real America."
Detlev calls himself the "ronin-doc" on his business card - ronin being a Japanese word for "masterless, wandering samurai."
This seems an apt description - Detlev was once a CEO of a large, multi-million dollar construction business, but 15 years ago, he decided to quit.
Despite the money, he did not enjoy his life, his work or his surroundings.
He decided to try and find something better. In his case, simplification became his salvation.
He left the corporate world behind with the sole exception of Katrin, whom he had met while working at the company.
He set out on a journey - a 1,600-mile trek from Germany to the Polar Circle and Baltic Sea.
He lived off the land, eating plants and fish, and chronicled his adventures later in a book.
After that adventure, he set off on a 7,000-kilometer bike trip, humorously titled the "Torture de France," across Europe in 2003. From there, he faced grizzly bears at Lake Baikal in Siberia.
He also went on a 3,100-kilometer trip in Japan, and in 2006, he and Katrin explored the Australian Outback.
This year, the two of them are traveling a route that takes them more or less along Route 66, as well as on some historic trails, exploring the grandeur of North America. Detlev is walking all the way, while Katrin drives a vehicle with their supplies, stopping at certain places to walk with him. Detlev explained that he wanted to show the "good news" about America - one removed from world politics and the biggest cities and focused instead on the smaller towns, natural beauty, history and everyday kind of people that help make this country the great place it is.
When asked about his thoughts regarding the Kingman area, he said the area was "beautiful - the people (are beautiful) as well. One place in particular that stood out in his mind was the Cool Springs store located along old Route 66 at the base of the Black Mountains near Oatman. He said they'd had a pleasant stop there with the owner.
Detlev and Katrin are being sponsored on their journey by several European companies, including Leica, Ecco, Panasonic and Ortlieb. They will continue along Route 66 and towards Santa Fe, N.M., through Kansas City, along the old route of the Pony Express, into Chicago and finally end their trek in Newfoundland. Once this adventure is finished, they will travel to Maui, where they plan to write books about their experiences in Australia, Japan and of course, the USA.
More information can be found at their Web site: www.detlev-henschel.com.
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