SHERMAN, Texas (KTEN) — A Nepalese cyclist on a 5,000-mile journey is stopping in Sherman, Texas.

"I healed myself with the bike," said Ajit Baral, who picked up cycling in 2015 after struggling with poor mental health for two years following a serious leg injury and breaking his spine in a crash.

"Now I can run, I can go anywhere," he said. "I've been to 6,000-meter height; I have done paragliding with bicycle, zipline with bicycle. Wherever I go, I go with the bicycle, because that bike changed my life."

Baral's journey began in Key West, Florida. He was on the road for two weeks before reaching North Texas.

While cross-country biking is elite level cardio, Baral said he hopes his journey brings a bit more of the qualities he values most to the world.

"I advocate the environment; I advocate world peace; and I also advocate my country, Nepal, because Nepal is a touristic country," he said.

While in North Texas, Baral is speaking with city leaders and groups like the Dallas-based Nepalese Society of Texas.

"We are also celebrating 75 years of friendship between U.S. and Nepal this year," he said.

Baral has completed about 1,500 miles — the equivalent of 22,000 football fields — of his planned 5,000-mile ride. He documents every pedal on social media as Traveling with Ajit.

And his opinion on Sherman?

"I'm enjoying it; it's beautiful," Baral said. "I'm getting connected with lots of people here. I only met positive people."