Days traveling

90

Total distance

8310 km

Fuel used

579L

Campsites

32

Countries

Belgium
France
Spain
Portugal
Morocco
Gibraltar

However, after 32 campsites where I never quite got the rest I needed, fatigue started to set in. I noticed it especially when I re-entered Spain from Portugal; my enthusiasm for exploring began to wane. The heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 42 degrees Celsius, didn’t help either. I had to force myself out of my tent or Airbnb each day. I made a clear agreement with myself: things need to stay fun and enjoyable. As soon as they start feeling like a burden, it’s time to make a change.

And that’s exactly what I did. Ever since Valencia, I had been thinking that I needed to take some time to rest. But staying longer in one place would cost me money. On top of that, my rear tire was due for replacement. It’s designed to last about 5,000 km, but I had pushed it to 7,500 km. ?

So I thought I’d replace the tire in Barcelona, rest for a few days, and then continue on my way. But when I started looking for an ideal place to pause my journey, store my bike, and fly back home, the options were limited. Since I’m already somewhat familiar with Barcelona, and it’s an easy city to fly in and out of from the Netherlands, I thought, “You know what? This is a good moment to stop, rest, and process all the amazing experiences I’ve had.” Even good memories need time to be fully absorbed.

So that’s exactly what I did. I arranged storage for Nacho, where he can stay safe, dry, and well taken care of. I booked a cheap ticket and spent a few more days chilling in Barcelona.

I think it’s an amazing city! I even shed a tear when it was time to leave. I didn’t want to stop or go back. But my body thought otherwise. And so did my bank account. Due to a couple of unexpected expenses with Nacho, my trip got shortened a bit. But don’t get me wrong… I’m not complaining, and these aren’t excuses. My journey was, in one word: I N C R E D I B L E !

My journey was, in one word:
I N C R E D I B L E !

I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and I can now say with certainty that this is the freedom I’ve been searching for. Sure… there were days when I didn’t speak to anyone… So I spent a lot of time in deep conversation with myself, revisiting and re-examining past situations. With every kilometer I traveled, it felt like I was shedding old layers, like a snake shedding its skin. This process made my soul feel lighter and gave me more room to simply be and enjoy life. So, if there’s one piece of advice I can give you, it’s this: take that trip. You don’t have to do it on a motorcycle like I did, but go on a solo journey and see the world. It will do you a world of good! As for me… I’m going to make this my career. Hahaha, seriously!

But aside from that, I had the time of my life. I saw and experienced amazing things. Traveling by motorcycle means you feel every bump in the road and every temperature change as you move through different landscapes. All of this made my experience even richer. Now I’m even more certain that I want to see the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, that requires money. So now, I’ll rest for a month, then start looking for work. I’ll work for about 10 months, and then I’ll be off again! 

The great thing is that I now have plenty of wonderful memories to savor. As I’m busy editing the rest of my videos, I get to relive everything all over again, and that feels amazing. So if you haven’t subscribed to my channel yet, now’s your chance! From Seville to Barcelona, I’ve got lots of exciting experiences to share with you.

But you, as a reader, can challenge me too! Feel free to ask me questions about my experiences, the places I’ve visited, and more. You can ask your questions here. I will collect them all an I’ll answer them in a separate video.

And if like what i’m doing and you’d like to support me, check out this page where you can read all about how to do that.

HPPY TRVLS

The salary is more than I was expecting…

Although I was disappointed to have to put my plans on hold, I also knew that I made the right decision.  The salary is more than I was expecting and will give me a chance to save more money faster.  It also gives me the opportunity to acquire some more cool gears but also grow my Youtube channel, hopefully surpassing 1000 subscribers. Make sure to subscribe! ?

This means that when I do eventually go on this trip, I will be able to make it bigger, longer, better, stay in better accommodation when needed and to have more adventures along the way than I ever imagined.

So I’m choosing to look at the bright side. I am still very excited to take the trip and now I have more time to refine my planning, researching and testing out my gear. Sure enough… refine is what I did! I added a slight change to the mix. Instead of going on a bike… i’m now going on a motorcycle. ?

Sure, it is less physical challenging but still exciting tho… I can’t wait!

Let me know what do you think

HPPY TRVLS

But I’m trying to focus on the positive and remember all the reasons why I wanted to do this in the first place. I’m excited to see new places, meet new people, and push myself out of my comfort zone. I know that it won’t always be easy, but the sense of accomplishment and growth that I’ll gain from this experience will be worth it.

I feel like I’m as prepared as I can be.

I’ve been planning this trip for a while now, I’ve spent countless hours researching routes, gear, and logistics, and I feel like I’m as prepared as I can be.  I have a solid route planned out, I’ve tested and packed all of my gear, and I know how to fix things, like a flat tire (hopefully I won’t have to, but it’s always good to be prepared). One of the things I’m most looking forward to is the freedom and independence that comes with bike touring. There’s something incredibly liberating about being able to set your own pace and schedule, and not having to rely on anyone else to get you from point A to point B.

Ultimately, I think the key to tackling any anxiety is to focus on the present moment and take things one step at a time. Of course, there will be challenges along the way – the weather, the hills, the occasional flat tire – but I’m ready to tackle them head on. I’ve trained for months and I know I have the physical and mental stamina to make it through.

I’ll be documenting my journey on my blog, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok… so be sure to follow along and see where the road takes me. I can’t wait to share my experiences with all of you and inspire others to take on their own adventures.

Here’s to a new year, a new journey, a new chapter and making the most of every moment!

So, wish me luck!

HPPY TRVLS

My chosen route is crafted around landmarks that have piqued my interest and cities I’ve been eager to explore. Starting my journey in Helmond, the Netherland where I will ride towards the South of Belgium. To be precise towards the beautiful city of Dinant. Then the intention is that I will enter France and continue riding towards Reims, Paris and cross to over to Étretat. From here, the plan is to cruise along the coastal roads down to the southern regions of Europe, occasionally venturing inland for detours. like Pampolona in Spain to experience the Camino de Compostela and Picos de Europa. The return leg will follow the coastal roads, completing a full circuit around Europe.

As a motorcyclist, I’m always on the lookout for the most relax and scenic routes to get from a to b. I’m in absolutely no hurry, I’m all about enjoying the surroundings and the journey. So I will be riding a lot of back roads because if I may be honest. I hate the highway. If there is no other option, so be it, but preferably no highways.

Because courage is acting in the face of fear even when the feeling of fear tries to stop you.

This route is a rough plan, and undoubtedly, as I embark on this journey, adjustments will be made based on circumstances. It’s an ambitious endeavor, one of the most significant challenges I’ve taken on in my life. To be perfectly honest, there’s a hint of excitement mixed with nerves, but I can’t wait to kickstart this adventure. After all, courage is acting in the face of fear even when the feeling of fear tries to stop you. I plan to depart in the early weeks of May 2024, and during my travels, I intend to take a leisurely approach, allowing myself the flexibility to stay in one place for 2 or 4 days if I feel inclined. My priority is not to rush towards a specific destination within a set timeframe; instead, I aim to immerse myself fully in every experience, savoring each moment consciously.

And before I forget… if you look at my route and you have suggestions of what I should see or visit. Let me know, I’d love it.

HPPY TRVLS

For this trip I want to save a bit more money and the freelance work has not been so stable since the start of that epidemic BS. And to be honest, I’m also kind of done dealing with whining customers who always want a front row seat for a dime. 

The thought of having to reintegrate into the system I had spent the last few years avoiding was daunting.

So if you want that big gold pot then you have to give something for it, right? The thought of having to reintegrate into the system I had spent the last few years avoiding was daunting. Still I took the plunge and looked for a job. That means registering myself in the system again, searching for a job, adjust to the hours and expectations of the job, acquiring health insurance because it’s mandatory and all that other nonsense.  

I ended up working as machine operator in a textile factory that produces and distributes fashion fabrics, for the West and Central African market. It pays pretty well and I need that to complete my gear and saving some money to have some financial stability and freedom, for example; If I want to stay a little longer in a city etc.

But also to expand my digital gear with the new Gopro 11 camera, a Dji Drone would be nice, a good powerbank, solar charger and maybe an Insta360 X3 camera. To document all my adventures in a more visual extensive way so I can share it with you in a nice quality.

So I have to bite the bullet and put my principles aside for a while to achieve the bigger goal. It’s only for a few months tho and I’m filled with excitement for when I set off on my bike tour, knowing that it would be an adventure of a lifetime.

Wouldn’t you agree?

HPPY TRVLS

So considering that the weather was so good today and for this time of year, I thought… I’m just going to test the stove here in the garden, and then… No, I’m going to cook and have breakfast in the woods, oh yeah… and I’m going to also film it all, why not? So I packed everything I needed, grabbed my bike and I hit the road.

I didn’t care, the weather was good, my eggs were done cooking and I was enjoying everything.

As I mentioned before, the weather was glorious. I cycled at a relax pace to the forest where I picked a bench where I unpacked everything I took with me there. I put the stove together, gave it a few pumps and then turned on the fire. All went pretty smoothly and within about 12 minutes the eggs were ready and cooked.

In the meanwhile I was busy filming and snapping photo’s while people walk by and riding on horses. They must have thought… what is he doing? I didn’t care, the weather was good, my eggs were done cooking and I was enjoying everything. When I was done filming, which takes quite a lot of effort. I continued with my breakfast and enjoying the sound of the forest… So nice and I can definitely get used to this.

I’m glad I finally took the time to test the stove, the cooking set and my custom water carrying system. And I have nothing to complain about, everything performed perfectly. The filming also went well, but took a lot of time tho. That’s ok, because now I can get back into the groove. It has definitely been a while since I’ve filmed anything. A few years ago when I still had my production company, I was working on a film assignment every day. And at some point it started to become a burden. The good thing is that I am now enjoying it again, and that’s a positive thingy. Now I have also been able to establish an editing flow for future videos. Here is the result, I hope you like it:

It was a relaxed morning and I’ve had a delicious and simple breakfast. I also really enjoyed the forest, it reminded me when I was younger and also use to cook in the forest behind my house. Real total freedom. I am very happy with the stove, the cooking set and my custom water system. Once again I checked something off my list.

HPPY TRVLS

Brands

• Decathlon MT500 3L Hydration Bladder
• 1L outdoor thermo water bottle
• Katadyn Steripen Ultra UV Water Purifier