Beautiful Wales!
After setting out to follow the Welsh section of the Eurovelo2 (from …
May 25
Beautiful Wales!
After setting out to follow the Welsh section of the Eurovelo2 (from Newport to Machynlleth) I ended up diverting around the Elan valley and following the quiet and stunning Elan valley trail and mountain road. No regrets and after 3 days in Wales I can't wait to come back and explore more.
Favourite sections;
Gospel pass
Elan Valley Trail
National cycle network routes 42, 8 and 81
-L
#bikepacking #bikepacking_inspiration #biketour #cycletour #biketherapy #cyclewales #walesadventure #worldbybike #camping #Wales #ecotravel #slowtravel #steelframebike #travel #biketravel #whyiride #solocycle
We aren't back on the road quite yet but we are squeezing in a few #microadventures while we …
May 9
We aren't back on the road quite yet but we are squeezing in a few #microadventures while we figure out where to head next. This weekend we enjoyed a peaceful night under the stars on the beach on the beautiful #hermisland
#gonecyclingadventures #guernsey #wildcamping #wildcamp #wildcampuk #billionstarhotel #solostove #bivvylife #bivvylife
We came into Georgia a month ago knowing not a lot about this little country. Now, as we prepare to…
Feb 26
We came into Georgia a month ago knowing not a lot about this little country. Now, as we prepare to leave, it feels like we are going to miss it very much. Georgia is beautiful, peaceful, welcoming, and full of culture – it has become my favourite place.
Our route options are completely blocked at the moment due to Covid, and recent politics, so we have decided to take a break from this adventure and return home for a few months until things open up enough for us to continue. On Monday we catch the 2 day Black Sea ferry to Bulgaria from where we will find trains, buses, and ferries that will take us home.
It's been an incredible 6 months. Thanks for following our adventure. We'll post again soon as we make plans for the next installment. -S
🚴♀️🚴🇬🇬🇫🇷🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🇲🇪🇦🇱🇬🇷🇹🇷🇬🇪
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #bikepacking #biketour #biketouing #adventurecycle #biketheworld #whyiride #bicycle #bicyclenomad #ecotravel #goexplore #steelisreal #steelframebike #biketravel #slowtravel #worldbybicycle #worldbycycling #adventure #worldbycycling #cycletouring #bicycletouring #georgia
While we are having some downtime we've been sorting through photos from the last few months on…
Jan 30
While we are having some downtime we've been sorting through photos from the last few months on the road. We've seen 11 countries and pedaled over 5000km. Here are a few of our favourites and a link to the map of our journey so far: https://www.pebbls.com/journey/359/world-by-bike/
We have started making plans for the next stage of our adventure, details coming soon. -S
🚴🚴♀️🇬🇬🇫🇷🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🇲🇪🇦🇱🇬🇷🇹🇷🇬🇪?
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #bikepacking #biketour #biketouing #adventurecycle #biketheworld #whyiride #bicycle #bicyclenomad #ecotravel #goexplore #steelisreal #steelframebike #biketravel #slowtravel #worldbybicycle #worldbycycling #adventure #worldbycycling #cycletouring #bicycletouring
The night we slept in a tunnel in the heights of the Italian Alps there was a chilly wind blowing …
Jan 23
The night we slept in a tunnel in the heights of the Italian Alps there was a chilly wind blowing through, forcing us to layer up. We were woken around midnight by the bright lights of another cyclist, who had gotten a flat tyre and needed to fix it up before cycling the next 100km of his journey to meet his friend for breakfast in Verona. It was a time when I started to feel like a true cycle tourer as I lent him my pump and we briefly shared anecdotes before he sped off into the night.
I've been looking back on our camp sites from the trip so far and wanted to share some of our favourites: here are a few places we've slept. -L
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #wildcamp #wildcamiping #bivvy #sleepunderthestars #camping #bikepacking #biketour #biketouing #adventurecycle #biketheworld #whyiride #bicycle #bicyclenomad #ecotravel #goexplore #steelisreal #steelframebike #biketravel #slowtravel
#worldbybike34 #hilleberg
As we journeyed our last few kilometres of Turkey this morning there wasn't a cloud in the sky …
Jan 21
As we journeyed our last few kilometres of Turkey this morning there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the sun felt so warm we even took our gloves off – what a contrast to those wet and windy days that greeted us when we arrived 9 weeks ago. Although the weather was good today, the slush on the road edges had melted and frozen so often that it was like an ice rink and was too dangerous for our heavily loaded bikes so we ended up walking much of the way.
At the border there was some confusion from the Turkish guards about the status of our #Guernsey Passports – they were certain that the 90 days that British citizens are allowed in Turkey doesn't apply to Guernsey and that we should have been travelling using a visa instead (contrary to the advice we received on entering Turkey). After an hour of phone calls and reading of documents they allowed us to leave but advised us to apply for a visa next time.
And then we were in Georgia and flying flag number 11! Our home for the next few weeks will be the city of Batumi. Here we will wash our clothes, service our bikes, rest our legs, and most importantly sleep until the ice begins to melt again. We have some big decisions to make too – our original road East after Georgia is blocked at the moment by closed borders (Covid) and political fragility, so we are going to study the maps and come up with a new plan for the next installment of our adventure. We probably won't be posting on here so often while we rest but we'll be back in spring with details of what's coming next. -S
🚴♀️🚴🇬🇬🇫🇷🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🇲🇪🇦🇱🇬🇷🇹🇷🇬🇪
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #worldbycycling #adventure #bikelife #bicyletouring #wintercycling #steelisreal #bikewander #georgia #bicycleadventures #cyclingadventures #cycletouring #biketheworld #bikeride #cyclinglife #cycleplanet
Today we arrived in Hopa. This is our final stop in Turkey before we cross into Georgia. We'll…
Jan 18
Today we arrived in Hopa. This is our final stop in Turkey before we cross into Georgia. We'll stop here for a few days to let a band of rain pass and to arrange our PCR tests for the border crossing.
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbycycling #worldbybike #adventure #cycletour #bicycletouring #bikewander #biketouring #bikelife #bikeplanet #cyclingadventures #stanforthbikes
A break in the weather made for great cycling today.
-L
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #bikepacking #biketour #biketouing #adventurecycle #biketheworld #whyiride #bicycle #bicyclenomad #ecotravel #goexplore
We've had a couple of days indoors sheltering from the strong winds and snow. Hoping for a …
Jan 16
We've had a couple of days indoors sheltering from the strong winds and snow. Hoping for a window in the weather tomorrow so that we can get back on the bikes.
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbycycling #worldbybike #cycletouring #cycletour #bicyletouring #winter #adventure
We woke up to see mountains dusted with snow and I felt childlike excitement all day pointing out …
Jan 14
We woke up to see mountains dusted with snow and I felt childlike excitement all day pointing out any snow covered cars. Cycling today was a real treat with crisp air and a (mostly) blue sky.
-L
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #bikepacking #biketour #biketouing #adventurecycle #biketheworld #whyiride #bicycle #bicyclenomad #ecotravel #goexplore
A day off the bikes allowed me to explore Trabzon in a different way. While Simon was catching up …
Jan 12
A day off the bikes allowed me to explore Trabzon in a different way. While Simon was catching up with some work I joined a tour to visit Soumela Monastery and experienced some snowy mountains as a stunning bonus! The monastery is closed at the moment but it could still be appreciated from the nearby roads.
-L
#gonecyclingadventures #travel #adventure #explore #biketour #turkey #wanderlust #gooutside
We left the main road for a while again today to avoid some more long tunnels, it was pretty muddy …
Jan 10
We left the main road for a while again today to avoid some more long tunnels, it was pretty muddy and rough in places – we stopped for a chat with some ladies working on their vegetable patch (they speaking Turkish and us speaking English) – they didn't seem to rate our chances of making it through the way we were headed (last time we ignored this advice, in Albania, I ended up going for a swim in the stagnant mud of a salt marsh!) but we decided to keep on going and it turned out to be a really nice ride – a change of scenery and much needed respite from the noisy traffic. -S
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #worldbycycling #bikepacking_inspiration #adventure #cyclinglife #bikelife #bikewander #bicycletouring #cycletouring #cycletour #biketouring #bikeplanet #bicycleadventures #cycleride #cyclelife #cycling
We'll be arriving in Trabzon in a couple of days, at about the same time as rain is due, and …
Jan 9
We'll be arriving in Trabzon in a couple of days, at about the same time as rain is due, and snow after that. We've had a week of sunshine and warm air making it feel like spring is here already – we are enjoying it before the return of winter next week.
Today there were a few tunnels along our route, including a long one which we didn't fancy cycling through. There was no gap in the centre barrier for a few km so we had to unload our bikes and climb over to reach a side road and follow the headland around. -S
#gonecyclingadventures
#adventure
#worldbycycling #worldbybike #cycleride #cyclinglife #cycletouring #bicycletouring #cyclelife #cyclingadventures #bikewander #bikeplanet
Today was totally away from the main road; discovering busy fishing harbours, lighthouses and …
Jan 7
Today was totally away from the main road; discovering busy fishing harbours, lighthouses and meeting many friendly people.
-L
It was time to deviate from the dual carriageway that we have been following since leaving Samsun so…
Jan 6
It was time to deviate from the dual carriageway that we have been following since leaving Samsun so we headed into the hills a little in search of Ünye castle. We imagined that the steep climbs, now being tackled on our own terms, might feel a bit easier… But this wasn't the case! Inclines which were at some points covered with slippery patches of algae made for a difficult climb.
Unfortunately, once we had reached the summit, we found that the castle was closed for renovation, though we did enjoy the beautiful views and a little hilltop nap in the warm winter sunshine.
I had struggled with the motivation to get up those hills this morning, and in the afternoon I appreciated the flat dual carriageway as we cruised alongside the stretches of beaches and promenades. I think I may have even got a little sunburnt.
– L
#gonecyclingadventures #adventure #cycling #worldbybike #turkey #worldbycycling #biketour #cycletouring #cyclinglife #bicycletouring #bikelife #cycletheworld #biketravel #cyclingtheworld #cycletheplanet #bikepacking #bikewonder #bikepacking_inspiration
It has been a nice couple of days now that we aren't feeling the time pressure that we were …
Jan 5
It has been a nice couple of days now that we aren't feeling the time pressure that we were under before. Although the road here is a bit busier than before we have had more opportunity to stop for some sightseeing and taking breaks for çay, Turkish coffee, and baklava.
Tomorrow we are planning to detour a short distance into the hills to explore Ünye Castle and the countryside there before rejoining the coast again and following it around to Ordu.
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbycycling #worldbybike #cycletouring #cyclinglife #bicycletouring #bikelife #cycleplanet #cyclingtheworld #biketouring #adventure #travelbybike #bikepacking #bikewander #bikepacking_inspiration
The past 10 days have been a really nice introduction to the Black Sea – we've had incredible …
Jan 3
The past 10 days have been a really nice introduction to the Black Sea – we've had incredible weather, amazing scenery, and have made new friends – but we have realised that our plan to cycle the length of the coast during winter may be a bit over-ambitious. We are feeling pressure from the weather, terrain, shorter days, and our Turkish time limit.
If we continue as we are we should just about make it to Batumi in time, but the pressure will make it less enjoyable and our daily judgement calls as to whether it is safe to ride or which route to take could become compromised by our need to be making progress East.
So, to take away the pressure of time, and to keep as safe as we can, we've decided to jump on a bus to Samsun and skip the next week of cycling. This means we are going to miss some of the scenic places that we had hoped to visit along the route. From Samsun we will cycle the remaining ~600km of coast to Batumi with plenty of spare days to sit out bad weather.
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #cyclinglife #worldbycycling #adventure
New year bicycle wash. We have collected a lot of mud, grit, and salt from the roads over the past …
Jan 2
New year bicycle wash. We have collected a lot of mud, grit, and salt from the roads over the past few weeks so while we are having a day off today we popped to a garage to give the bikes a good clean.
#gonecyclingadventures #bikelife #worldbycycling #worldbybike #adventure #biketouring #cyclelife #cycletouring #bicycletouring #bikemaintenance
Looking back on our adventure so far. 🚴🏻♂️🚴🏼♀️ 🇬🇬🇫🇷🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🇲🇪🇦🇱🇬🇷🇹🇷
All the best for 2022!
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #cycletheworld #bikelife #biketheworld #adventure #travel #happynewyear
When we planned our route for today Komoot told us there would be lots of very steep climbs. This …
Dec 30
When we planned our route for today Komoot told us there would be lots of very steep climbs. This morning Ilker warned us that the route we had chosen would be very steep. A number of people stopped us as we cycled out of Zonguldak to tell us that the road ahead was going to be very steep.
It shouldn't have been such a surprise when we found the road was too steep to cycle! We spent much of today pushing up hills. If nothing else it means our increasingly scrawny arms got a bit of a workout.
This evening we arrived in Filyos. Tomorrow we'll be heading to Bartin for new year and a day off the bikes.
#gonecyclingadventures #bikelife #bicycletouring #worldbybike #worldbycycling #adventure #bikepacking_inspiration #bikeride #cycling #cyclinglife #blacksea #turkey
Yesterday was one of those days that started off really well and then around each corner just kept …
Dec 30
Yesterday was one of those days that started off really well and then around each corner just kept on getting better and better.
We were prepared for hills, but we didn't expect the magical views that we would be treated to as we were climbing them. We couldn't keep our eyes on the road because the scenery was so breathtaking.
After a hard few hours cycling up from Eregli we reached the top and began our descent towards Zonguldak. We stopped in a service station to buy some fruit juice and have a breather where we got chatting to Ilker who was interested in our journey and gave us tips of places to visit on our route. Before we knew it he had invited us to spend the night at his home with his wife, two children, and a family friend – so we took the address and a few hours later found ourselves sharing an incredible homemade Turkish meal and discussing travel, history, language, politics, and life. It was a very special evening for us, to be welcomed into the home as if we were members of the family.
This morning we are on our way to Filyos full of an amazing breakfast that will keep us pedaling for weeks!
Teşekkür ederim @caglar.ilker @serpilue @nemaproblemamm @utkucglr_ & Ertugrul – memnun oldum
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbycycling #worldbybike #adventure #bicycletouring #turkey #blacksea #bikelife
We planned a short day today after the last few long days… Though we didn't expect to arrive …
Dec 28
We planned a short day today after the last few long days… Though we didn't expect to arrive by midday! An afternoon to relax!
Today we had a series of tunnels along our route. We had planned 2 alternative routes as we usually do what we can to avoid tunnels, however as we approached them the road was relatively quiet and the weather was good (so other vehicles didn't have misted up windows) and it felt safe so we decided to go for it. This cut out a number of steep hills and probably the reason for our speedy progress!
#worldbycycling #biketour #gonecyclingadventures #blacksea #cycle
Last night Lucy was kept awake for much of the night by the cries of a pack of Jackals that were …
Dec 27
Last night Lucy was kept awake for much of the night by the cries of a pack of Jackals that were circling the area where we were camping. We have crossed paths with Jackals on a number of nights in Albania, Greece, and Turkey – they seem harmless if left alone but their calls and the sound of them warning off other Jackals isn't particularly sleep inducing!
Thankfully today was a much flatter day than yesterday and again the weather has been almost perfect for us – cool and sunny with a gentle tailwind. We know this good weather will end in a few days – we are really enjoying it while it lasts though.
As we pass through towns and villages we are usually met by people with expressions caught somewhere between curiosity and bemusement.
Tomorrow and the next week or so are quite hilly again, and very steep in places, so we will be aiming to keep our distances lower than we have since leaving Istanbul. -S
#gonecyclingadventures #adventure #worldbycycling #worldbybike #cyclinglife #cycletouring #bikelife #turkey #cyclelife #cycleride #bikeride
Yesterday we did a half day of cycling so that we had some time to have a Christmas catch up with …
Dec 26
Yesterday we did a half day of cycling so that we had some time to have a Christmas catch up with family and do some route planning for the next couple of weeks.
This morning, after possibly the biggest breakfast of our lives, we set out to begin our journey along the Black Sea coast. We knew it would be a hilly day but the app we use for planning, which until now has been very reliable, was off by about 50% with how many metres we'd be climbing – this meant that the difficult day we had prepared for ended up being even tougher. The weather was good though and we had some amazing first views of the coast.
Tonight we have set up camp on an area of sand dune. Tomorrow should be a flatter day and will give our sore muscles a chance to recover! -S
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbycycling #worldbybike #cycletouring #bicycletouring #cycling #adventure #wahoo #cyclinglife #bikelife #wildcamping #turkey #bikepacking_inspiration
It seems a bit counter intuitive to be heading north just as winter arrives but we will be doing …
Dec 24
It seems a bit counter intuitive to be heading north just as winter arrives but we will be doing that for these first few days out of Istanbul. We have decided to take a route along the Black Sea coast so that we avoid the mountains in the middle of Turkey.
Today the temperature barely made it above freezing but with the sun shining and a gentle tailwind it was almost perfect weather for cycling.
We escaped the suburbs this morning and are back out in the countryside… Returning to being gifted tea by strangers and getting chased by dogs every 20 minutes.
Tonight we are back in the familiarity of our tent, being lulled to sleep by the sounds of a nearby flight path and the distant howling of wolves.
Happy Christmas to all who are celebrating, happy Yule to others, and happy weekend to everyone else! ⭐ -S
#gonecyclingadventures
#worldbycycling
#worldbybike #adventure #wildcamping #adventure #bikelife #cycletouring #bicycletouring #wintercycling #nature #bikepacking_inspiration #bikeride
It feels so good to be back on the bikes! We spent all day saying this to each other and grinning. …
Dec 23
It feels so good to be back on the bikes! We spent all day saying this to each other and grinning. Although we are happy to move on, Istanbul has been one of our favourite cities of the trip so far! It's a place of huge variety; live music, ferries, beautiful mosques, bustling bazaars, busy nightlife, friendly people, chilled out areas with library cafes, and some smooth seafront cycle paths.
More importantly we really treasure the connections we've made here. Simon meeting other musicians at the Irish music sessions, and through busking and chatting with Louisa and Tobi from @chainsandchords , and the links we've made with fellow cyclists along the cycle path. And then yesterday and this morning Simon had a couple of lovely conversations in a mixture of Turkish Sign Language and British Sign Language with a lady who is Deaf who came to clean the hotel room – we enjoyed one of the longest conversations we've had with a non-English speaking Turkish person. It made our week.
Note, we also almost adopted this dog, or did he adopt us? He ran with us for 10km before ditching us for 2 other cyclists 😯 -L
#gonecyclingadventures #cycle #worldbybike #istanbul #biketheworld #biketherapy #bikewander
And we're off again! 😀 🚴🚴♀️
Thanks @stanforthbikes for helping get us back on the road.
#worldbybike #turkey #cycletouring #gonecyclingadventures #worldbycycling #adventure
What a whirlwind few days! I arrived back in Istanbul on Saturday in a real mix of emotions; glad to…
Dec 13
What a whirlwind few days! I arrived back in Istanbul on Saturday in a real mix of emotions; glad to be back with Simon, but a little torn about leaving my family for what may be 2 years. Seeing my sister and neices was incredible and has left me with fresh memories to treasure as Simon and I continue our journey. This morning, we were all packed up and ready to put our waterproofs to good use, with fresh tyres and newly tightened brakes.
However, we will have to wait just a little longer before we can cycle onwards. A small part of Simon's bike has come loose and eventually broke, without us noticing it. We're incredibly grateful to Simon @stanforthbikes who helped us to identify the part, sourced and has sent it out to us so that we can get back on the bikes as soon as possible.
For now, I can look forward to joining Simon for an Irish session with the lovely group of musicians he's met here in Istanbul and we can send home a few things in a bid to further lighten our loads.
-L
#gonecycling #gonecyclingadventures #cycletour #bikelife #biketour #travel
The past 10 days in Istanbul have been in equal parts eventful, fun, and challenging. The day after …
Dec 9
The past 10 days in Istanbul have been in equal parts eventful, fun, and challenging. The day after arriving in the city a strong storm ripped through, damaging buildings and taking lives – we were glad to be staying in the shelter of an AirBnB rather than our tent that night. We had decided that this would be a good place from where Lucy could return home for a few days to visit family while I took time to catch up with some work, play music, and rest. I still do not like cities but at least the walls of the apartment could provide shelter from the bustle and noise like they did from the storm. However, the day after Lucy left I was evicted from the @airbnb without notice, by the authorities – from what I understand the host didn't have the correct tourism accommodation permit – this meant relocating myself plus two bikes and all our gear to a nearby hotel. A few days after arriving in the hotel I was visited by two men who needed to "inspect the curtains" of my hotel room – I suspect they may have been officials checking that I had actually moved out of the AirBnB!
It's not all been so dramatic though – I had a really great time sharing stories and playing music with Tobi and Louisa from @chainsandchords who are on a similar cycle adventure to Lucy and me and who we have been following on Instagram for a few months. I also found some musicians to join with for a traditional Irish music pub session – the first I've been able to find on our journey so far – it's been a lot of fun to be finally playing music with other people again and definitely makes up for the accommodation drama!
In a few more days Lucy will be back to rescue me and we'll be ready to begin our journey along the Black Sea coast towards Georgia. It's likely to be a cold and wet few weeks as winter catches up with us but we plan to have another rest once we arrive in Georgia (maybe a small town this time!) where we will wait for the beginning of spring before continuing East. -S
#gonecyclingadventures
#adventurecycling #istanbul #irishtraditionalmusic #worldbycycling #worldbybike #cycletouring #irishfiddle #bicycletouring #cycletouring #bicycletour
We have reached Asia.
#gonecyclingadventures #adventurecycling #bicycletouring #biketravel …
Nov 28
We have reached Asia.
#gonecyclingadventures #adventurecycling #bicycletouring #biketravel #bicyclelife #turkey #istanbul #biketouring
Bike maintenance, headwinds and acts of kindness. These have been the main features of our time in …
Nov 26
Bike maintenance, headwinds and acts of kindness. These have been the main features of our time in Turkey so far.
So much kindness; new friends sharing coffee, strangers asking if we need anything. To the man who gave us sandwiches as he passed us (fixing punctures again) and simply walked on; we wish you had stopped to talk. Turkey is teaching us a new way to be. Be patient, think of others always and trust that people are good. -L
#gonecycling #gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #cycling #bikelife #biketouring #biketravel #türkiye
We were stopped for lunch on the side of the road and two policeman pulled over. They then escorted …
Nov 25
We were stopped for lunch on the side of the road and two policeman pulled over. They then escorted us, lights flashing, along the road to a cafe where they treated us to Turkish tea and coffee and a lovely chat. Turkish hospitality is so welcoming. -S
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #worldbycycling #adventure #adventurecycling
The rain stopped before we surfaced from our tent this morning and gave way to a persistent and …
Nov 24
The rain stopped before we surfaced from our tent this morning and gave way to a persistent and powerful icy headwind – which, combined with a day of hills, made for a challenging cycle. We have opted to take the main road for the first ~150km of Turkey which can be mentally exhausting too. We were down to the wire on daylight but made it a few km further than we had planned, motivated on by the incentive of a warm hotel room with a comfy bed and a shower.
Our route tomorrow is a little shorter and less hilly. We are planning on an early start to make the most of the better weather forecast first thing. -S
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbycycling #worldbybike #wildcamping #adventure #cycletheworld #bicycletouring #bikelife #cycletouring #biketravel #worldbycycling #turkey #stanforthbikes
#gonecyclingadventures #bikepacking #cycletheworld #worldbybike #worldbycycling #adventurecycling
Nov 23
#gonecyclingadventures #bikepacking #cycletheworld #worldbybike #worldbycycling #adventurecycling
Getting up before the boat reached Kavala at 5am meant that we cycled further than we had planned. …
Nov 20
Getting up before the boat reached Kavala at 5am meant that we cycled further than we had planned. I'm chuffed with that, and am trying to persuade Simon that we should get up at 5 every morning – he might take some convincing though!
The cycling was mostly flat with scenery which was quite different to what we've seen recently in the Peloponnese and Athens area. The ferry has transported us from summer firmly into autumn. Rolling hills enveloped with beautiful colours and a chill in the air. We experienced the kindness of strangers yet again and enjoyed gifted tomatoes and Fanta with our 'Turkish pasta' before setting up the tent at dusk in a valley, next to the river. -L
#gonecycling #gonecyclingadventures #biketouring #cycletouring #worldbybike #cycletheworld #gooutside #adventure #bicycleadventures #travel #camping
A man drove along side us on a main road and shouted out the window to stop at the next cafe and he …
Nov 20
A man drove along side us on a main road and shouted out the window to stop at the next cafe and he would buy us coffee. -S
#gonecyclingadventures #bicycletouring #bikepacking #worldbycycling #worldbybike #morningcoffee #adventurecycling #adventure #greece #cycletheworld #cycletouring
And relax… It's such a good feeling to have escaped the noise and bustle and to be back beach…
Nov 18
And relax… It's such a good feeling to have escaped the noise and bustle and to be back beach camping again. Although the history in Athens was fascinating I am not built for cities and Athens is not built for bicycles.
We're laying on the shingle watching the stars and full moon and have just realised that we've been on the road for 3 months already. Tomorrow we will be sleeping on the ferry that will take us to Kavala where we will begin our last couple of days of cycling in Greece before arriving in Turkey. -S
#gonecyclingadventures #bikelife #bikepacking #wildcamping #bicycletouring #adventure #travel #solostove #hilleberg #cycletheworld #worldbycycling #worldbybike #wildcamp #biketravel #camping @worldbybike34 @bikepacking_inspiration
Very excited today as we replaced our chains with our new belt drives which arrived this morning. …
Nov 17
Very excited today as we replaced our chains with our new belt drives which arrived this morning. The conversion process was pretty straight forward and we've had a short test cycle around Athens' National Garden. Looking forward to giving them a fully loaded test tomorrow when we leave Athens in the direction of Istanbul.
Thanks @stanforthbikes and @veercycle for the advice and assistance with the upgrade 🙂🚴♀️🚴 -S
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #bikelife #cycletheworld #cycletouring #bicycletouring #bicyclemaintenance #bicycleadventures #biketouring #greece #athens #adventure #bicycleadventures #drivebelt #worldbycycling #bicycle #bike #cycle #explore
Yesterday we spent the afternoon walking around Athens' Acropolis, imagining what the space was…
Nov 13
Yesterday we spent the afternoon walking around Athens' Acropolis, imagining what the space was like 2500 years ago at its golden age. -L
#gonecyclingadventures #travel #explore #worldbycycling #greece
This morning we woke up on a beach and this afternoon we arrived in Athens after a couple of short …
Nov 10
This morning we woke up on a beach and this afternoon we arrived in Athens after a couple of short ferry crossings, some quiet coastal roads, and lots of very busy city roads. We are looking forward to exploring on foot for a few days before deciding which direction we will head in next. -S
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #biketouring #bicycletouring @stanforthbikes
A few weeks ago these chases by gangs of dogs were pretty terrifying but they happen so often each …
Nov 9
A few weeks ago these chases by gangs of dogs were pretty terrifying but they happen so often each day that they are just a bit of a nuisance now. Our strategy is to get off our bikes and walk side by side with our bikes on the outside of us as shields. This is the first time I've been able to think about switching on the camera and getting a picture. Today's ride was quite busy and industrial in parts but we have found a lovely little cove to swim and set up camp for the night. Athens tomorrow if all goes to plan. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #bikelife #bicycletouring #biketouring #worldbybike #greece #wildcamping
We were in need of a couple of rest days so after getting the ferry to Rio (near Patras) we found …
Nov 7
We were in need of a couple of rest days so after getting the ferry to Rio (near Patras) we found somewhere to hole up for 3 nights. Back on the bikes again today continuing towards Athens. We have found an abandoned campsite to pitch up in this evening – right by the beach.
#gonecyclingadventures #biketouring #bicycletouring #worldbybike #wildcamping
On our way to Mytikas yesterday, after a wet and windy night, we met some German campervan travelers…
Nov 3
On our way to Mytikas yesterday, after a wet and windy night, we met some German campervan travelers who invited us to dinner at a parking spot a little further down the coast. We had a really nice night eating shakshuka and sitting in real chairs! This morning we swam and ate breakfast together before continuing on our way towards Patras (S).
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #biketouring #bicycletouring #eurovelo #greece #adventure
We treated ourselves to a hotel bed and meal out last night in a beautiful little town called …
Nov 1
We treated ourselves to a hotel bed and meal out last night in a beautiful little town called Menidi. We had a fairly short day today (~50km) and this evening we are back in the tent which we got up just in time before the rain started. We saw our first sea turtle as we were stopped for a water break this morning (loggerhead turtle I think). Tomorrow we're continuing South to Mytikas where we'll stop for couple of rest/work days. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #biketouring #bicycletouring
Our chosen beach was busy with fishermen last night so we decided to pitch our tent in a small …
Oct 31
Our chosen beach was busy with fishermen last night so we decided to pitch our tent in a small forest. A few unfamiliar noises in the night had me questioning our decision but we woke up to a calm, quiet morning and returned to the beach to make porridge with muesli and watch many morning swimmers take to the sea.
The cycle today was enjoyably varied; passing the Roman Odeum of Nicopolis and through wetlands teeming with wildlife. We also got further practice in dealing with dogs on the road! (L)
#gonecyclingadventures #gonecycling #eurovelo #wanderlust #bikewander #biketouring
Good morning!
#gonecyclingadventures #bicycletouring #biketouring #morningcoffee #coffeewithaview
We had a successful morning shopping for brake pads and inner tubes in Igoumenitsa. This afternoon …
Oct 29
We had a successful morning shopping for brake pads and inner tubes in Igoumenitsa. This afternoon we cycled further than we had planned because we couldn't find a decent spot to camp, we've been rewarded with a beautiful little cove though. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #bicycletouring #biketouring #worldbybike
Mirupafshim Albania, thank you for your warm welcome, we will miss you very much. Today, after a …
Oct 27
Mirupafshim Albania, thank you for your warm welcome, we will miss you very much. Today, after a morning looking around parts of Butrint National Park and ancient ruins, our Schengen Zone clock started to tick once again as we crossed the border into Greece. Our priority for the next few days is to find a campsite or hostel with a washing machine, and a shop to buy some spare brake pads and a few other bits that we've had on our shopping list for a few weeks. (S) 🚴🚴♀️🇬🇬🇨🇵🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🇲🇪🇦🇱🇬🇷
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #eurovelo #bicycletouring #bicyclelife #biketouring #albania #greece
The forecasted rain never arrived, instead our short cycle into Sarandë this morning was a warm and…
Oct 25
The forecasted rain never arrived, instead our short cycle into Sarandë this morning was a warm and sunny one. We arrived with the plan of saying farewell to Albania and jumping on a ferry to Corfu. However the Albania/Greece sea border is closed currently so instead we'll have a rest day here and then continue pedaling to the land border at Qafë Botë. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #bicycletouring #biketouring #albania
It was a stormy night last night but the rain had stopped by the time we surfaced from the tent. We…
Oct 24
It was a stormy night last night but the rain had stopped by the time we surfaced from the tent. We spent the morning drying things out and replacing worn out brake pads after yesterday's hills. Humid and hilly today, along with a dog chase (these haunt the nightmares of most cycle tourists!), has left us a little tired, and with more rain on its way we have booked into a guesthouse for the evening (a real bed!!)… Nowhere to get food though so we're having apples and crisps for dinner. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #bicycletouring #biketouring
Yesterday we climbed 1000m up the steep road out of Vlore as we head south over the mountains …
Oct 23
Yesterday we climbed 1000m up the steep road out of Vlore as we head south over the mountains through Llogara Pass and slowly towards Greece. The views have been pretty spectacular but we were cycling though torrential rain for most of the day today. This evening we have found a campsite to try and dry out some of our wet clothes in hope that the rain eases off before the morning, otherwise it might be a tent day! (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #bicycletouring #bikepacking #eurovelo #albania #worldbybike
We decided to leave the EV8 route today to do some exploring in Divjaka-Karavasta National Park. An …
Oct 19
We decided to leave the EV8 route today to do some exploring in Divjaka-Karavasta National Park. An afternoon of woodlands and wetlands. We saw a couple of flamingos and I went for an accidental dip! (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #biketouring #adventure #flamingo #bicycletouring #worldbybike
We had an unplanned day off the bikes yesterday after I realised I'd left something behind at …
Oct 18
We had an unplanned day off the bikes yesterday after I realised I'd left something behind at the campsite in Shkoder 🙄 We got the bus back there from Tirana and then resumed pedaling this morning. Today involved a lot of gravel and unpaved tracks, which made for slow progress but we weren't in a hurry and it was nice passing through more rural areas. This evening we are back on the coast, about 15km South of Durres. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #biketouring #worldbybike #bicycletouring
We have just stopped for our morning Byreke and a random man in the road insisted on buying them for…
Oct 16
We have just stopped for our morning Byreke and a random man in the road insisted on buying them for us. We have experienced so many gifts such as this in Albania and Montenegro, the people here are so welcoming and kind.
#gonecyclingadventures #payitforward #albania #eurovelo #biketouring
We cycled to Albania! We're having a day off the bikes at a campsite in Shkoder tomorrow to do …
Oct 13
We cycled to Albania! We're having a day off the bikes at a campsite in Shkoder tomorrow to do some bike maintenance after the big hills of the past couple of weeks. We also have a pile of dirty washing to sort out, and legs that need some rest. We've made the decision that we'll carry on roughly following the Eurovelo 8 until we reach Athens instead of cutting in East to Bulgaria. Looking forward to seeing what Albania has to show us. (S)
🚴♀️🚴♂️🇬🇬🇨🇵🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🇲🇪🇦🇱
#gonecyclingadventures #eurovelo #bicycletouring #worldbybike
Our first dry day in a while… what a relief to be able to dry our damp clothes! We were inland a …
Oct 12
Our first dry day in a while… what a relief to be able to dry our damp clothes! We were inland a little today with amazing views of lake Skadar and lots of pomegranates for foraging. As we were cooking dinner tonight a passing goat herder gave us a couple of handfuls of chestnuts to add to our curry – really delicious! (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #eurovelo #montenegro #biketouring #cycletouring #adventure #skadarlake #solostove
Stopped for breakfast/lunch/brunch/last night's dinner and thought we'd share a few photos…
Oct 11
Stopped for breakfast/lunch/brunch/last night's dinner and thought we'd share a few photos from this morning's climb. (L)
#gonecycling #gonecyclingadventures #rainbow #Montenegro #Eurovelo #mountains #travel
Our first day in Montenegro was a little soggy. It's been a spectacular start to our short stay…
Oct 10
Our first day in Montenegro was a little soggy. It's been a spectacular start to our short stay in this beautiful country. (L)
#gonecycling #gonecyclingadventures #iwanttoridemybicycle #bikepacking #montenegro #explore #whatevertheweather #worldbybike
Dubrovnik was a beautiful place to be, even in the rain. Wandering the narrow streets and looking …
Oct 9
Dubrovnik was a beautiful place to be, even in the rain. Wandering the narrow streets and looking out on the stormy seas, I felt quite protected there in the walls of the old town. (L)
#gonecyclingadventures #gonecycling #cycletour #dubrovnik #eurovelo #bikestagram #travel
Another stamp in our passports 🙂 We spent the last few days sheltering in Dubrovnik trying to …
Oct 9
Another stamp in our passports 🙂 We spent the last few days sheltering in Dubrovnik trying to plan our rough route for the next month or two and binge watching the inspirational adventures of @hels.on.wheels and @mredpratt – we still aren't sure which route we'll take to reach the Black Sea but we arrived in Montenegro this afternoon and will keep heading down the coast for now. (S) 🚴♀️🚴♂️ 🇬🇬🇨🇵🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🇲🇪
#gonecyclingadventures #biketouring #worldbybike
There's a storm headed this way and it is due within the next day so we got up at dawn this …
Oct 5
There's a storm headed this way and it is due within the next day so we got up at dawn this morning and headed off as the sun was rising to make the most of the last of the good weather. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #eurovelo #croatia #biketouring #bikepacking #worldbybike
Some signs are better than others at deterring wild-camping… This one is pretty effective with us!…
Oct 4
Some signs are better than others at deterring wild-camping… This one is pretty effective with us! Luckily we already had a campsite booked for last night and tonight.
#gonecyclingadventures #wildcamping
Pretty good breakfast stop and campsite today! We're enjoying the sunny weather while it's…
Oct 3
Pretty good breakfast stop and campsite today! We're enjoying the sunny weather while it's here and are taking every opportunity to swim in Croatia's clear blue sea. (L)
#gonecyclingadventures #gonecycling #eurovelo #bikelife #travel #Croatia #seaswimming #camping #sunset
Nemo (and me) enjoyed another swim this afternoon. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #foundnemo
Oct 2
Nemo (and me) enjoyed another swim this afternoon. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #foundnemo
After rushing through Europe to beat time restrictions we are taking it easy in Croatia with shorter…
Oct 1
After rushing through Europe to beat time restrictions we are taking it easy in Croatia with shorter cycling days. While the sun is still shining this means we are able to take time for lazy afternoons on the beach and swimming in the sea, and I am finally using the hammock that I have carried with me all this way! Croatia is beautiful. (S) 🇬🇬🇨🇵🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🚴♂️🚴♀️
#gonecyclingadventures
#biketouring
#eurovelo #worldbybike #croatia #adventure #outdoors #bicyclelife #bicycletouring
Good morning from Croatia! (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #eurovelo #croatia #biketouring …
Sep 30
Good morning from Croatia! (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #eurovelo #croatia #biketouring #bicyclelife #worldbybike #travel #adventure
We have arrived at the Adriatic Sea! One more day of cycling before we catch the ferry to Croatia …
Sep 26
We have arrived at the Adriatic Sea! One more day of cycling before we catch the ferry to Croatia for the next leg of our journey. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #eurovelo #worldbybike #italia #biketouring #adventure
Last night's wildcamp… The net may have stopped the mosquitoes but it didn't stop the …
Sep 25
Last night's wildcamp… The net may have stopped the mosquitoes but it didn't stop the other creepy crawlies.
This meant we didn't get much sleep but had a lovely view of the bright moon.
(L)
#gonecycling #gonecyclingadventures #wildcamping #italia #travel #biketour
On our journey we have seen so much amazing artwork in cool places, we thought we'd share this …
Sep 24
On our journey we have seen so much amazing artwork in cool places, we thought we'd share this one we've just cycled past near Composanto in Italy.
For the next few days we are cycling through a vast area of agricultural land with few wild spaces for camping. We pedalled into the night last night in search of a spot but had to resort to a B&B, which means we are well rested this morning! We are hoping for somewhere to put the tent just beyond Bologna this evening. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #biketouring #graffiti #eurovelo #italia #bikelife #adventure
Now that we're enjoying the luxury of a cabin for the next 2 nights I want to share a few of …
Sep 20
Now that we're enjoying the luxury of a cabin for the next 2 nights I want to share a few of our recent wild camps.
The first is a bicycle tunnel up in the Alps, where we warmed up after a wet day with hot muesli and a prolonged fire in our stove. Where we also met a cyclist passing through at midnight on his way to meet friends in Verona for lunch…200km away! We can't begin to imagine cycling this distance so quickly but thoroughly enjoyed chatting to him before we put our heads back down and he cycled off into the night.
The second was a less remarkable last minute bivvy near a busy road and trainline. We were tired and really low on energy after a noisy night the previous night in a campsite and just needed to get some rest, and it did the job. We woke up feeling a little better and ready to carry on.
(L)
#gonecycling #gonecyclingadventures #wildcamping #wildcamp #travel #bikepacking
We've been on the road for a month and a day, we've pedalled more than 1800km and have 5 …
Sep 19
We've been on the road for a month and a day, we've pedalled more than 1800km and have 5 flags on our flagpole so far. Over the past week we crossed from Germany to Austria and on to Italy – a stunning route over the mountains with lots of steep climbs and descents. We arrived at lake Garda today where we plan to take a couple of rest days. When this thunder storm eases off we might even go out for some authentic Italian food instead of lighting our stove… If we have any clean clothes! (S)
🚴♂️🚴♀️🇬🇬🇨🇵🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹
#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #adventure #biketouring #lakegarda #lagodegarda
It's amazing that we made any progress at all today. Around every corner was a new view just …
Sep 17
It's amazing that we made any progress at all today. Around every corner was a new view just as stunning as the last. We spent a lot of time just taking it in. Here are a few of our favourites. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #tirol #biketouring #adventure #worldbybike #adventure
This is our reward for the tough hills yesterday; beautiful downhill views in the Italian Alps.
…
Sep 17
This is our reward for the tough hills yesterday; beautiful downhill views in the Italian Alps.
(L)
#gonecycling #gonecyclingadventures #travel #biketour #biketherapy
Today had lots of “ests” – hilliest, slowest, wettest, steepest, coldest, and highest of the …
Sep 16
Today had lots of “ests” – hilliest, slowest, wettest, steepest, coldest, and highest of the trip so far – but we made it Italy quicker than we thought we would so I haven’t had the chance to sew the next flag on to the flagpole yet! We’ve found shelter in a bicycle tunnel for the night and look forward to a drier day tomorrow.
(S)
#gonecyclingadventures #biketouring #adventure #worldbybike 🚴♀️🚴🇬🇬🇫🇷🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹
Hello Austria! We have had a few days of resting and catching up with the German side of the family….
Sep 14
Hello Austria! We have had a few days of resting and catching up with the German side of the family. We have been very well fed and are hopefully ready for the next few days after leaving dad in Rosenheim (as he turns around to cycle back to Guernsey) and we head onwards to the mountains of Austria as a duo. #gonecyclingadventures #austria #biketouring #worldbybike #travelling #adventure 🚴♂️🚴♀️🇬🇬🇨🇵🇩🇪🇦🇹
After an amazing storm last night we had a beautiful scenic end to this first leg of our adventure. …
Sep 11
After an amazing storm last night we had a beautiful scenic end to this first leg of our adventure. We are now staying with family in Rosenheim for a few days of rest and catching up. From here we say goodbye to Greg who will turn around and pedal back towards Guernsey. In a few days we (Lucy & Simon) head to the mountains that can be seen on the horizon of this photo as we make our way over the Alps of Austria and through Italy to Ancona.
(S)
#gonecyclingadventures #biketour #bikelife #bicycletouring #adventure
Packing up our wild-camp before a busy cycle today with the plan to arrive in Munich this afternoon …
Sep 9
Packing up our wild-camp before a busy cycle today with the plan to arrive in Munich this afternoon then on to Wasserburg am Inn followed by Rosenheim. Thunder is forecast for the coming few days so we are looking forward to being in campsites for the next couple of nights.
(S)
#gonecyclingadventures #wildcamping #worldbybike #adventure
Greg found a peaceful clearing next to the forest for tonight's camp but then… the mosquitos …
Sep 7
Greg found a peaceful clearing next to the forest for tonight's camp but then… the mosquitos descended. After lots of layering up and a little flapping about, we remembered our mosquito nets!
Great protection for a bite-free dinner.
(L)
#gonecycling #gonecyclingadventures
#wildcamping #nature #biketouring
After cycling up-hill for the entire day today (thankfully not as steep as yesterday) it was nice to…
Sep 6
After cycling up-hill for the entire day today (thankfully not as steep as yesterday) it was nice to find this beautiful spot to cook dinner… And a bonus that a nearby farmer has let us pitch our tents on his land. We have another steep hill day tomorrow. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures
Today was very hilly and hot. Some beautiful scenery, much of which we were too tired to photograph!…
Sep 5
Today was very hilly and hot. Some beautiful scenery, much of which we were too tired to photograph! Thankfully the last couple of kilometres were downhill and we rolled into Stuttgart this evening with sore legs ready for a good sleep. (S)
#gonecyclingadventures #biketouring #adventure #bikelife