On August 1st, I got on my bike, an Orbea Terra, kissed my girlfriend goodbye, and cycled into the unknown from the comfort of my home in Groesbeek, the Netherlands.
There was no predefined route for this trip. Each day, for 30 days, I woke up—sometimes in a forest, other times in the home of a kind stranger who had generously hosted me—packed my belongings, and pedaled into the unknown.
These trips are pivotal chapters in my life—opportunities to connect with source energy, deepen self-understanding, and enjoy the journey. I imposed three self-defined rules to guide the adventure:. August I woke up in Lupiac, France, at the home of Lucie and Niels, a young couple with two wonderful children and a stunning house overlooking rolling hills in every direction.
Standing at their terrace on a sunny morning, I admired the beauty of their garden and the hills beyond. They had invited me to stay at their home after seeing me on the side of the road repairing a flat tire — under in the pouring rain. I began my trip heading south, chasing good weather. The coin landed heads, so I pedaled south, crossing the Jura Mountains into Switzerland. This was the first cycling trip where every decision—where to ride, where to sleep, where to eat—was entirely unplanned.
The freedom of having no route gave me the time to stop whenever I wanted, have long conversations with strangers, and ride at my own pace. But it also came with unexpected challenges. Without a set plan, I had no external structure to push me forward—it was entirely on me to stay motivated. While I loved the spontaneity, I might go for a more traditional cycling tour next time, if only to benefit from the extra kick in the ass that a predefined route provides. I slept in some of the most random places imaginable—from a small cave in Germany between Kordel and Trier to pitching my tent like a homeless in the city park in Paredes, Portugal.
