The Great Homecoming - Solo Bikepacking Europe

This is the story of how I cycled to my hometown in Italy and then back to my home in the Netherlands. A solo trip across 8 European Countries of 25 days, 24 of which were spent on the bike. The start and ending points of each ride are dictated by where I could find a place to pitch my tent and sleep, the pace is low to enjoy the new places I could see from my bike.The biggest challenge was definitely the heat, which became unbearable in some long uphill sections. The heavy bike stopped being an issue after day 4, when my body adapted to the rhythm of the trip: wake up early (often just to avoid heavy rain), pack the bike, ride for 8 hours, find food, find shelter, sleep, repeat. The first 3 days were when my willpower was put to the test. Very warm days, very steep uphill sections that made me question my fitness, and a forecast for thunderstorms. I genuinely considered quitting, turning my bike around, and staying at home for the full month. I am so glad I didn't. Then I got to a phase where my body started feeling better, my mind was not so scared about dragging the bike uphill for hours at a ridiculously slow speed. This is when I started following the German and French border to then approach the Black Forest. The stunning scenery was enhanced by the near absence of people around me. Even though I was biking across a populated area, I spent days without really meeting a soul. To avoid the rain, I was often waking up very early and essentially racing the storm to keep it behind me and stay as dry as possible. Once the camp was set again, I had to endure the downpour and repeat the process. This is when I started approaching the Alps, I saw where the Danube becomes a river, and briefly crossed Switzerland. Then finally what I was preparing for: crossing the Alps. It took me a couple of days to cycle uphill from Switzerland to Austria and then to Italy. A couple of mountain passes that I finally showed me that this trip was really possible, that it didn't matter that the bike was 45 kg, or that it could be very cold or very warm (I experienced both 2 and 40 degrees on the same day). That view was all I needed to stay motivated and focused on crossing the Alps. 3 more days of riding in Italy to finally conclude the first half of the trip: my Italian homecoming. From the mountains to the flat, car-infested, countryside around Milan. From the stress of being almost hit by several cars, to the joy of seeing my family. After a day or rest, I started my trip back home. The Alps were waiting for me one more and final time. It took me a day to approach the border, leaving behind the densely populated Italian regions. Then the hardest ride to cross the Alps on the French border. An endless climb, more than 50 km, at times so steep (up to 20%) that I had to push the bike. I reach the highest point of the trip at 2100 m above sea level and then descent towards the French hills for a full day of recovery While the hardest ride was behind me, the hardest part of the trip has just started. The French hills were gifting me with beautiful views and solitude, but were also coming with brutal days of climbing up and down the hills. In three days I cover 330 km and well above 5000 meters of ascending (and descending). The added challenge was coming from the nasty headwind that every day was picking up around 1 pm, a characteristic of early September in that part of France. The hill climbing continues until I reach a nice river to follow and approach Luxembourg. 2 rides to cover more than 270 km and 2000 m of elevation gain. 2 very different rides: one sunny and hilly, one flat and very stormy. A mental challenge more than anything but I am finally in sight of Benelux, which makes me feel more at home The final 3 days of riding, at this point I only want to get home so I stop listening to my body and just push through Luxembourg, Belgium, and then the Netherlands. I cross the Ardennes, do half of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege, kill a snake in the process, feel all the pain that 25 days sitting on a heavy bike can bring, but I get home, I finally get home