It all started with a need to explore new horizons and a desire of a sportive and mental challenge. My goal was to reach the city of Tromsø, in the far north of Norway, by bike.
I started off in Geneva and had the pleasure of visiting and enjoying 9 countries during 4 months of crossing: Switzerland, France, Luxemburg, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
The richness of the different sceneries, the changing weather conditions and the experience of the different cultures were all impressive. I found myself loving this slow way of travelling. The landscapes passed slowly, but in parallel, the kilometers were indeed counting as I made my way forward.
Every night I found a new place to camp using either the tent, the hammock or simply by putting a mattress under the stars. I took pleasure to cook true meals after the daily effort around a campfire or by using a gas burner.
I started off the adventure during the summer, and I was able to enjoy warm temperatures, taking a small shower in the lake and enjoying a nap under a tree. My bike and I, the only company I had. When crossing people they did not hesitate to start a conversation being curious about where I was going and why.
Once in Stockholm, and after a couple of cold nights, it was time to swap my summer equipment for winter gear. It was the start of a new phase of the adventure. New routines had to be integrated, as the temperatures were dropping every day and the days became shorter.
All of a sudden I found myself in winter wonderland and the polar night. It required more effort during the day, it asked more of me every night to put the camp and to cook, and it was also more mentally demanding. I have to admit that I had some moments of doubt, some moments of pain, and some frozen feet.
Despite the challenging moments, I never considered to give up. I loved every single moment of this adventure. Even the hard ones. I got to experience a temperature at -25°C at the lowest and some strong winter storms before I reached my final destination and my goal Tromsø.
And I was left with 7200 kilometers travelled, having climbed 45 000 meters in total and 9 countries explored by heart, before to close this chapter of the bike crossing.
