1700 km, 5 weeks, 2 happy people

It’s official! We’ve reached the end of our cycling journey across Italy and France! To see the full route we completed, click here.

From Montélimar, we rode a long day all the way to Barbières, northeast of Valence. It was another truly lovely day, still filled with the sweet scent of blooming acacias. That said, a third consecutive day of over 90 km might have been a bit too ambitious. We arrived completely exhausted at our friends Laurent and Delphine’s place in Barbières. So instead of setting off again the next day, we treated ourselves to a well-deserved rest day with them.

On Friday, May 1st, we got back on the road, aiming for Lake Paladru, partly by train, then finishing the journey by bike. The arrival was incredibly exhilarating. It felt a bit like crossing the finish line of a trail race or a marathon, that moment when you finally reach a goal you’ve been thinking about for so long. The weekend ended on a high note with a fantastic celebration surrounded by friends, beautifully organized by Cécile and Boud.

And just like that, the journey came to an end. We finished happy, worn out, and completely fulfilled.

We were lucky to complete this trip without any major issues-  no injuries, no technical problems - just pure enjoyment from start to finish. We also learned a lot about organizing this kind of adventure, lessons we’ll definitely carry into future trips. For example, we carried all our camping gear… and barely used it! Next time, we’ll prioritize traveling lighter to make riding more comfortable, and opt for proper accommodation rather than camping. To keep our energy up over the long run, we’ll also plan shorter stages and include more rest days off the bike. After five intense weeks of cycling, we can definitely feel a deep, lingering fatigue that will require a few days of complete rest. Other than that, we wouldn’t change much at all.

I’d like to warmly thank all our loyal readers and friends who supported us and followed along with our adventure. We truly felt carried by your encouragement.

I’m not entirely sure what I was looking for when I set off on this journey, but I found so many things along the way.

First, a complete disconnection from everyday life. A real break that fills you with fresh energy before returning to daily routines at home and at work.

Time to think. Something we rarely allow ourselves, and never for long. The beauty of having so much time is that you can really go deeper.

The satisfaction of completing a physical challenge and feeling truly in tune with your body.

The joy of discovery, and a mind full of beautiful images. A reminder to return to basics: you don’t need much to live well and be happy.

And finally, an incredible time as a couple. We had never spent so much uninterrupted time together, 24/7, for so long, and it was truly wonderful. So many conversations, shared reflections about the future, and plenty of laughter.

In short, a fabulous adventure. To more!