Bikepacking is like being a parent. You are never ready!
Everybody gives you an opinion, everybody tells you that this and that is obligatory.
Everybody tells you to carefully plan, everybody tells you the immense amounts of money you will need to spend.
But, like being a parent, you can do it your own way, survive it and even enjoy it!
In fact, life is like that! I started bikepacking in 2018...not long a go...and no, I didn't get out of my country to some exotic route.
As Portuguese and being sun kissed, I kept it simple: I would use my summer holidays to...go to the beach! To cycle across the Portuguese South Coast.
There is a route called rota vicentina that is simple and beautiful So some months before the vacations I started reading about bikepacking, what to take, precautions, planification sheets, bikes, routes, etc...
And well... eventually I got a little bored with that. I seemed like I would go to the war! It was just one week of cycling!
So...I just bought a "lite" sleeping bag from lidl, a 20eur "sub 1kg" tent from ebay and some other stuff from aliexpress. For navigation I used old android smartphones I had laying around. All explained in this blog. And see what trains I should catch.
The adventure started "well": the train got delayed and I arrived at dusk... Pedaling at night...in a place I didn't know...but..I got the pleasure of seeing the stars! It was amazing!
As people say in Portugal "A sorte protege os audazes" (luck protects the daring ), and so on the first night I had the chance of having a stay in the fireman of the São Tiago do Cacém, got a good bath in the morning.
The route started in the morning, I had breakfast with a long time friend and I was ready to go!
WIth my navigation skills I was lost about 30min just about 2kms after starting the route...I couldn't find the way...even with gps
But I was enjoying! I saw great places, animals and even met some people pedalling also.
Everybody gives you an opinion, everybody tells you that this and that is obligatory.
Everybody tells you to carefully plan, everybody tells you the immense amounts of money you will need to spend.
But, like being a parent, you can do it your own way, survive it and even enjoy it!
In fact, life is like that! I started bikepacking in 2018...not long a go...and no, I didn't get out of my country to some exotic route.
As Portuguese and being sun kissed, I kept it simple: I would use my summer holidays to...go to the beach! To cycle across the Portuguese South Coast.
There is a route called rota vicentina that is simple and beautiful So some months before the vacations I started reading about bikepacking, what to take, precautions, planification sheets, bikes, routes, etc...
And well... eventually I got a little bored with that. I seemed like I would go to the war! It was just one week of cycling!
So...I just bought a "lite" sleeping bag from lidl, a 20eur "sub 1kg" tent from ebay and some other stuff from aliexpress. For navigation I used old android smartphones I had laying around. All explained in this blog. And see what trains I should catch.
The adventure started "well": the train got delayed and I arrived at dusk... Pedaling at night...in a place I didn't know...but..I got the pleasure of seeing the stars! It was amazing!
As people say in Portugal "A sorte protege os audazes" (luck protects the daring ), and so on the first night I had the chance of having a stay in the fireman of the São Tiago do Cacém, got a good bath in the morning.
The route started in the morning, I had breakfast with a long time friend and I was ready to go!
WIth my navigation skills I was lost about 30min just about 2kms after starting the route...I couldn't find the way...even with gps
But I was enjoying! I saw great places, animals and even met some people pedalling also.
This adventure also had its downs, but as everything in a trip, and in life, a solution was found and I continued the way!
One year after I still couldn't stop thinking about bikepacking, my next trip... In that year, I had already changed jobs, and I only had about two weeks vacation...
Well...what about a challenge and a trip? That's how I "signed up" for Portugal Divide.
You need to prepare the route, you need to prepare your material, food, and on my side the trips for going to the north of portugal and coming back from south with a bike (in Portugal is not that easy).
Well..first is the preparation of the route...I am that kind of guy that can be lost in his street...so preparing about 1300kms took some time and learning... Needless to say that sometimes I almost ended up going to a highway...but all was solved!
I needed to manage the training: well, I cycled to the beach to drink some beers... And the rest was adventure...
Adventure is really right world...42C...lots of climbing...some desert places...but I was living! Forgot to say that I tried to fundraise 1eur per km for "From Kibera with love", a kids association in Kenya...and by the middle of the adventure (and the end for me..at 600kms) I got it all!
Well...what about a challenge and a trip? That's how I "signed up" for Portugal Divide.
You need to prepare the route, you need to prepare your material, food, and on my side the trips for going to the north of portugal and coming back from south with a bike (in Portugal is not that easy).
Well..first is the preparation of the route...I am that kind of guy that can be lost in his street...so preparing about 1300kms took some time and learning... Needless to say that sometimes I almost ended up going to a highway...but all was solved!
I needed to manage the training: well, I cycled to the beach to drink some beers... And the rest was adventure...
Adventure is really right world...42C...lots of climbing...some desert places...but I was living! Forgot to say that I tried to fundraise 1eur per km for "From Kibera with love", a kids association in Kenya...and by the middle of the adventure (and the end for me..at 600kms) I got it all!
The learning was immense, the overcoming of fear, the sensation that you are almost invincible is within you when you are solo bikepacking. 2020: The year of big changes. Professional change, country change, corona and their issues.
I re-discovered bikepacking...mostly with people that shared my passion..bikepacking with friends became like a sweet to me.
But one of these weekends I was alone...I felt the urge to go...but I was surrounded by fears: in the nord of France temperatures are low, the weather is inconstant, I don't speak very well the language, I don't know the dangers, I don't have much people to contact in case something was wrong.
Still..I decided to go! Picked a route given by my friends Louise and Rémi, and went to Parc d'Olhain. I couldn't explain...all day I felt fear..I felt it was doing something wrong (maybe because there was already couvre feu on Lille).
But I couldn't. My head couldn't stop thinking "what I am doing here! I should be at home! But I am at 50kms from home..there are no trains at this time...and I don't feel like cycling at night".
Then it started to rain...What?! It wasn't supposed to rain! I checked the Meteo! But it was raining. Softly, and then...hard!
Just moved under the balcony of a wooden house... I haven't seen anyone in that house for hours, so I guess it was empty...but still..my mind couldn't stop asking me stupid questions: what if there is anyone inside and kick you off?
What if the security of the camping site comes and kicks you off?
Needless to say those are dumb questions, that if you manage to answer, you will understand that there is always a solution, and everything will work out well.
And that was the case: I had a good night's sleep, woke up very well, had my breakfast, went to reception, explained my situation and I got the question: "But why did you sleep here? Camping site is closed in winter..."
Then it started to rain...What?! It wasn't supposed to rain! I checked the Meteo! But it was raining. Softly, and then...hard!
Just moved under the balcony of a wooden house... I haven't seen anyone in that house for hours, so I guess it was empty...but still..my mind couldn't stop asking me stupid questions: what if there is anyone inside and kick you off?
What if the security of the camping site comes and kicks you off?
Needless to say those are dumb questions, that if you manage to answer, you will understand that there is always a solution, and everything will work out well.
And that was the case: I had a good night's sleep, woke up very well, had my breakfast, went to reception, explained my situation and I got the question: "But why did you sleep here? Camping site is closed in winter..."
After explaining...the lady just said with a smile: you don't have to pay anything, enjoy your day!.
And I pedaled home, with a great sense of gratitude listening to PJ Harvey's "A place called home". It was good to be there, to enjoy the sightseeings and to pass for this.
And that is my message to all of you that maybe still didn't find anyone to pedal with, or are afraid to do it: DO IT. With what you have, with what you know...embrace your state, be positive, workout on a backup if you can, take risks, and in the end enjoy!
And I pedaled home, with a great sense of gratitude listening to PJ Harvey's "A place called home". It was good to be there, to enjoy the sightseeings and to pass for this.
And that is my message to all of you that maybe still didn't find anyone to pedal with, or are afraid to do it: DO IT. With what you have, with what you know...embrace your state, be positive, workout on a backup if you can, take risks, and in the end enjoy!
