Questions & Answers

Hi Cécile,
I’ve established a very local track, following the Eurovelo network (a lot of them are still not realized). Then, country by country, I check if: they exist yet, they will run on former paths, and then I try and settle on that base. Eventually, I kick (and will kick) mostly on roads shared with vehicles.

At the beginning, I would sometimes use the gps of my phone to spot where I was on downloaded maps, when the veloroute road signs would not be enough.

Then, little by little, I totally put the gps aside, and began to collect regional maps in the tourism offices, catch sight of the trail and decide precisely which way to kick day by day.

I don’t know yet by which road I’ll be passing in a few days for example, but I know that I’ll be crossing the Alps by the Tendes Pass :)

See you soon!

Hi Fulvio,
yes, I kicked Nantes-Budapest pretty much like a tornade! I’m more measured this time. Depending on the road profile, my shape and desires, I kick an average 50/70km per day, something like 4 to 6 jours on the board, I’d say. It’s winter now, it may change in summer…
Thanks !

Hi Fougere ;)
Breakfast at camp : oat + banana + chocolate in the stove. Peanut butter, grapes and oleaginous plants, fruits.

When I spend one or two nights somewhere to rest (under a roof), then breakfast change, and yet, I enjoy the geo-cultural diversity! In Spain, tradition is toast and jam (or ham) with a coffee, in Morocco all sorts of pancakes, jams, honeys, fresh orange juices, semolina and olive oil, Germany had its share of cheeses and meet products, small breads, etc.

I often stop after 20 or 30km to drink an “americano”. I love behind around small cafes, bars, “pmu” or little houses that shelter those places of sociability, it’s a strategic place to observe habits and customs of the locals (very often: men!).

As for crafts, appart from feeding Quentin’s ewes, I haven’t participate to anything yet.

Hi Matt!

What I’m missing the most: perhaps good counters to the cold (hands above all) in the morning, despite layering and variety of fabrics tested, I’m not satisfied yet!
What I’m missing the least : frankly, the permanent media “noise” and incitations to buy, that just get obvious when I’m near, or passing through, any big agglomeration. :) Thanks!

Hi Fafa,
Between 50 et 70 km per day. I began more slowly than on the Nantes-Budapest, the path is vey long ahead of me :)
Thanks !

Hi Cyril,
Yes, one of my priority is to be unnotied when I set camp, and to not be (or little) visible once it’s done. Indeed, it’s a fear instinctively raising when on hears an unexpected noise, or get worried for an unidentified cause: is a human sneaking around? On the contrary, mornings are not stressful, the night went well, I’m happy! I’m not fearing that much for my stuff which lies besides me under the tent (not the footbike). Thanks!

Hi Yoann,
Not really, I was very scared once in Slovakia, hearing a frightening and unidentified bark which seemed to run forward on me, but the beast finally went somewhere else. Otherwise, a dog (but with its master not far) came and sniffed around one evening. Most of the time, it’s unidentified noise that is scary, that’s why, when I set camp and before night falls, I’m vigilant and get aware about the surroundings “music”: afterwards I’m able to recognize the noises:)

Hi PY,
Not for now, I can stand it pretty well, since I’m a real loner:) But I haven’t been confronted yet to extreme solitude, to the extent of not meeting any living being for several weeks…

Hi Alan,
Thanks for that nice quote.

Being a fairly big collector and devourer of books, it was an issue I had to face during the preparation, since a light-weighted journey is also one of the goals… I eventually opted for an electronic reader, which allows me to carry many books without too much weight. And has the huge advantage of giving me concrete material to elaborate on technology / nomadism / culture issues :)

Hi, and thanks.

For the Nantes-Budapest challenge, I was using my phone. This time I’m shooting with a hybrid camera (Lumix GX7) with a fixed focal, and then I do the post-processing my laptop.

Hi Sandrine !
It’s very rare, I enjoy solitude and don’t suffer from it! Merci :)

Hi Julie :)
At the beginning I would get up very early, despite the night. Then, I found my marks, and, though I wake up at 7 am generally, I wait a little for more light to pack up and hop on the board again. I often read in the morning.

Arnaud

Hi Arnaud,
to cover everything from the beginning, and the first challenge (Nantes-Budapest), I think it was not far from 6000e (I was working as a freelance graphic designer, and financed it all with that money).

For the Europe Tour, I moved out my apartment, quitted my job, and invested what I had left in the missing gear (around 2000e I believe), then I left with 2000e in my pockets, my last provisions, for an undetermined duration (at least a year). It’s an aspect of the adventure, to see how to travel with few, and when there will be no money left. Thanks for asking!

Hi Pauline,
I enjoy solitude, I’m quite a loner in fact. It’s not something annoying. And I meet enough people not to forget the oral language skill:)
Very few dark mood moments, it’s more about physically hard times, when I gather my mental forces! Thanks!

Hi John !

Hi John !
I’m writing a book (an essay) that I should publish in English as well, if I ever publish something :)
I’m also thinking of a pictures/drawings and lighter stories book, it would be in both languages I think.
Thanks!

Bonjour Robert,

Not when I went there for the first time, but as I plan to kick through Finland on the Europe Tour, I might meet him in Helsinki !
A bientôt :)

Hi Bertrand,

a part of my family has planned to join me after the Italy part.
Some of my sisters seem to wait for the sunny and hotter days :p
Thanks !

Bonjour Ben,
I mostly sleep in the wild. I have a tarp-tent, and a good sleeping bag:) It happened that I ended up in someone’s house, generally after a nice discussion, when people show their generosity.
Thanks !

Hi Antony, thanks for the question.

I have no international nor european suscription, so, no mobile phone network abroad:) (I don’t receive text messages from France!). To communicate and update the blog and Facebook page, I manage with the public wifi spots, that I find here and there…
Have a nice trip in Morocco, looking forward to follow this:)

Hi Mike! It’s hard to keep my feet totally dry: I have gore-tex coated shoes that keep safe from light rains, and for heavier drops, I have adapted cyclist rainproof feet covers, by cutting the bottom part that would have touched the ground:)