“I thought about what else I would like to experience, what impressed me as a child or which people I haven’t seen for a long time,” says Franziska Papouschek, who was born in Leoben. All of these things made it onto “Franzi’s” 100 wish list, including a Harley ride, says the 79-year-old.
During a random visit to the coffee house in Segafredo Leoben, Papouschek got to talk to one of the bosses, Andy Bäuchl, who is also on the IRFC organization team. In the three-hour conversation, the two also talked about “Franzi’s” list of 100 wishes, says Bäuchl. “We didn’t know each other before, but it was kind of a totally magical conversation. She’s such a bright woman. She also told me about her trip to America, the Harley ride and her 100 wish list.” The 79-year-old even has a motorcycle driver’s license and has spent a lot of time on a rickety Puch bike, as she says.
“Space for an enthusiastic biker lady”
“Ride a Harley one more time” – but it is at the top of her wish list – next to “ride the ghost train and don’t be afraid” or a “Visit to the Schönbrunn Zoo”. When 79-year-old Bäuchl talked about it, she didn’t know that she was sitting opposite a member of the organization team of the Iron Road For Children biker charity event, which takes place from July 28th to 30th with thousands of bikers, US car fans and Vespa drivers.
Franziska Papouschek will also be sitting on one of around 300 Harleys at the exit on July 29 © IRFC
Bäuchl immediately picked up the phone and dialed through to the Styria Chapter Austria to arrange everything and to fulfill “Franzi’s” wish. 30 minutes later he got the good news from the chapter: “I’ve found someone who has room for an enthusiastic biker lady at the exit on Saturday.”
On July 29, 79-year-old Franziska can be found on the saddle of a Harley among 300 petrol brothers on the exit to Eisenerz. “It almost knocked me out when I found out,” says the Leoben native, who lived in Bavaria and Salzburg for a long time but moved back to Leoben last year: “It’s just so nice when a wish that I’ve had for so long is fulfilled. I’ll appreciate it.”
Franziska Papouschek already thanked Andy Bäuchl with a little something: A for Andy, B for Bäuchl, C for charming, D for thank you © private
From wild bears to teddy bears
This desire hasn’t let go of her since a Harley moment in America many years ago and has grown stronger and stronger, she says: “I saw a row of Harleys on the street, I went there and stroked the leather saddle in fascination. Suddenly a door opened and men in leather gear came towards me. When I explained to them that I was Austrian, the wild bears became teddy bears and they took me for a ride. I melted away.”
The sprightly 79-year-old thanked Andy Bäuchl with something homemade: she brought the letters ABCD made of puff pastry, with the following explanation: “A for Andy, B for Bäuchl, C for charming, D for thank you.” “She’s so nice,” says Bäuchl happily.
2023-07-25 18:47:05
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