A GERMAN woman yesterday started a marathon bike ride from her home in Bavaria to Scotland in support of Scottish independence.
Eva Gerber, a 54-year-old online media manager, left Wurzburg early yesterday morning on a trip that will take her through Germany and the Netherlands, before she lands on British soil in Newcastle in nine days’ time.
She will then head to Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh, from where she will take the Union Canal route to Linlithgow, before heading to Stirling and her final destination Glasgow after almost 1000 miles.
Gerber, a mother of four grown-up children with two grandsons, said she would love to live and work in Scotland, although she has been here only once before – in 2012 when she “fell in love with the people, the country and the culture of Scotland”.
She said: “I want to send a sign to the people in Germany, Netherlands, north England and Scotland, that there is no way back to the old status-quo of Scotland in the EU.
“For me as a German European it has always been unreal that Scotland was forced to stay in the UK.”
READ MORE: German Yes supporter set for 1000-mile independence bike ride
She said European friends living in Scotland had told her that Brexit had made it more difficult them, and added: “That made me very upset, because I know from a long time watching the relationship between England and Scotland, that England for 312 years puts everything of Scotland down, for its own good.
“Now, because indyref2 is coming up, the Yes movement needs every support to show that Scotland is fed up with the Westminster Government.
“With or without Brexit, it is time for Scotland to leave the UK for good.”
“I would love to work and live in Scotland, if and when it is possible for me. Also, I would love to show people how to take care of their own dreams, visions and goals.”
Gerber is documenting her journey on her Facebook page – “Independent Scotland – From Germany to Scotland by Bike”, where she has had a tremendous response with many offers of accommodation on her travels. She is also helping fund it through an online appeal at www.gofundme.com/independent-scotlandfrom-germany-to-scotland
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