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Traveling after a stroke, they told me i should forget it.

Short story about riding after having a stroke

Published Mar 29, 2026
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Off we GO! Karin & Paul By Off we GO! Karin & Paul
Traveling after a stroke, they told me i should forget it.
Karin and I, Paul, came to motorcycle travel later in life. Karin had built a career as a firefighter, while I worked as a professional musician. At one point, Karin was even my guitar student. A mutual friend—at the time—brought us together, and we quickly discovered a shared passion for riding motorcycles and traveling. That’s where we truly connected.

From there, everything moved naturally. We started a relationship, made a simple plan, and said: “Off we go!” 

That plan was as straightforward as it gets: ride from the Netherlands to Kraków, Poland, to eat pork knuckles at a restaurant we already knew. You can see how that trip went on YouTube—but that’s not what this story is about. 

This is. On October 23, 2022, after a routine morning meeting, I suddenly started feeling unwell. Within minutes, things got worse. A colleague called for medical assistance, and I was taken to the hospital. There, I was diagnosed with a stroke near the brainstem. 

The hospital team did an incredible job. After a few days, I was allowed to go home with strict instructions to take it easy. I was recovering well and already starting to think about returning to work soon.

Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse. Three weeks after the first stroke, I suffered another one—and this time, it was serious. 

The left side of my body was heavily affected. I had no feeling in my left hand. Speaking became difficult. Walking was a challenge. Even keeping my thoughts together didn’t really work anymore. It was clear: this was bad. 

Caregivers told me I should forget about ever riding a motorcycle again. 

But Paul  refused to accept that. 

 Karin pushed me—not harshly, but with belief. She encouraged me to focus on what was still possible. And slowly, very small things became possible again. The first victory, as silly as it may sound, was getting out of bed and making it to the toilet in my hospital room… to vape. (Yes—I know, not my proudest moment.) 

From there, progress came step by step. 

With a lot of hard work—and incredible support from the rehabilitation team, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and many others—I began to recover. Not everything came back the way it was. I still struggle with overstimulation, concentration, and sometimes with regulating my emotions. The feeling in my hand isn’t perfect either, but it works. 

And that’s enough. 

Looking back, we truly believe that without our motorcycles—and without our shared love for traveling and for each other—I might never have found the strength to push this far. 

But we did. 

Since then, we’ve ridden through 24 countries, covered over 50,000 kilometers, and created countless unforgettable memories. And we’re not done yet. Right now, we’re planning a 10,000-kilometer journey through the Baltics, Finland, and Scandinavia.  We are telling you this story for the only reason what riding a bike and travelling can mean and how it can motivate to overcome anything.

We’re still riding. 
We’re still exploring. 
We’re still doing what we love.

https://www.youtube.com/@OffweGoMoto/
Photo
Traveling after a stroke, they told me i should forget it.

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LoneRider-EndlessRoad
Mar 29, 2026 (edited)

I live in Spain and after reeding your story the only thing that i remember was a poem from Antonio Machado!
It's not in English but its a ode to the capacity of superation that life put us in to!
Cheers mate, those words are for you! ;)

"Caminante, son tus huellas
el camino y nada más;
Caminante, no hay camino,
se hace camino al andar.
Al andar se hace el camino,
y al volver la vista atrás
se ve la senda que nunca
se ha de volver a pisar.
Caminante no hay camino
sino estelas en la mar"

Antonio Machado

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Off we GO! Karin & Paul
Mar 29, 2026

Wauw, I had to translate that to English and although that kill the actual words that is an incredible poem. Thank you so much for those kind words🙏🙏

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Johny Pear
Mar 30, 2026

Truly inspiring! And now you are contributing for the adventures of other riders, both by providing inspiration and content!
Thank you!

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Off we GO! Karin & Paul
Mar 30, 2026

Thanks Johny. not compairing to what you guys at THORK do for the community. You guys really made an impact for the adventure riders around the world. we started using DMD2 3 years ago and somehow every time when i had something "i wish they had...." sooner or later it was there plus all the things we hadn't thought off but are incredible usefull.

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Michel aka Sneezle1980
Mar 30, 2026

I already knew your story Paul and of course Karrin. still A inspiring story about what the body is capble of if you mindset is strong willed. and you never give up.. Safe journey

Hope so see and talk to you guys again soon.

Groetjes Michel

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Off we GO! Karin & Paul
Mar 30, 2026

Hi Michel. We will be there on the Sunday of the Dare Event by the end of this month maybe we see each other there.

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Michel aka Sneezle1980
Mar 31, 2026 (edited)

I unfortunaly won't be DARE :)
I'll be riding in Luxemburg with Dutch Minion. But we will meet up at some point

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Off we GO! Karin & Paul
Mar 31, 2026

Its a small world so we surely will. Enjoy Luxembourg

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silberfuchs
Apr 1, 2026

Great text, great article that gives me courage and inspires me. Will follow your stories and wish you a good and safe ride!

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Off we GO! Karin & Paul
Apr 3, 2026

Thanks friend. notthing is impossible, always follow your dream and dont wait to long the moment may pass.

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11Merte
Apr 8, 2026

Dear Paul, dear Karin,

close to tears after reading that! You can be terribly proud of not accepting the message to forget riding and being back on the bike again. If you are asked to stop what let's you feel most alive, where could there be the sense at all?

I would even go further and say "Motorcycle riding means headling on wheels!". I did not have a stroke but suffered from a serious burnout. It transformed my life so that I've stopped my professional career from before and founded my own company, using motorcycle riding for increasing health. Let me know once you are in the southern part of germany - I would be more than happy to ride some kilometers with you.

Wishing you all the best
FJ

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Off we GO! Karin & Paul
Apr 21, 2026

Hi merte, sorry for the late response. I did just see it. Thanks for your kind words. And yes riding a motorcycle into the sunset is the best therapy possible. This year we will be heading north to the baltics and Scandinavia. But next year we might be passing southern Germany again. Maybe we will meet then.

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Bap
Jul 22, 2026 (edited)

Fellow firefighter in Australia here. Too often we see things without a positive ending, Karin will understand. So glad to hear of your recovery and getting back on the bike, inspiring! Throttle therapy is a real thing too. Helps unwind the damage of stressful careers and life’s challenges. Hoping you have many trips ahead.

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Mattias Eriksson
Jul 30, 2026

What a healthy recover and encuragement to never give up you dreams, just adapt and overcome. So You are back in the North! Last seen in Norway. Heading south?
Happy Trails!

Author
Off we GO! Karin & Paul Off we GO! Karin & Paul

We are "Off we GO!" Karin & Paul. Riding both on a CFMOTO 450MT trough Europe Check us out on YouTube: www.youtube.com/offwegomoto

Published
Mar 29, 2026
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