Day 15 of my cycle to a friend’s wedding in Italy 🚴♂️ Today I found myself near Sedan in northern France, a pretty remote stretch of the journey. I’ve been covering close to 80 km a day, pushing steadily through long roads and small villages, and this was one of those moments where travel reminds you how vulnerable and simple life can be on the bike.
Halfway through the ride I ran out of water. No shops, no fountains, and the sun beating down. I had two choices: fill up from a stream and risk getting sick, or knock on a stranger’s door. These are the kind of small decisions that make or break a long bikepacking trip. After a few minutes of hesitation, I took the second option — walked up to a farmhouse and asked. The farmer smiled, filled my bottles without hesitation, and sent me on my way. A small act of kindness that meant I could keep riding strong for the rest of the day.
Moments like this are what I love most about bikepacking. It’s not just the cycling to Italy, or the kilometres stacked up each day, it’s the unexpected human connections along the velo route. When you strip life down to a tent, a bike, and the road ahead, every gesture of kindness stands out. It’s a reminder that travel isn’t just about the places — it’s about the people who help you along the way.
I’ll be sharing more of these travel shorts from the road as I push further south, crossing France and into the Alps before reaching Italy. If you’ve ever thought about doing a bike journey yourself, hopefully these clips give you a glimpse of the highs, the challenges, and the real moments that keep the pedals turning.
Thanks for following along — every view, like, and comment helps keep me motivated to keep sharing this ride.
#bikejourney #tentlife #minimalisttravel #bikepackinglife #bikepackingfrance
2 Comments
Would you find knocking on a door for water difficult? 😅 Let me know what you think
Been in that situation plenty of times 😅 Nothing wrong with asking for water!