Day 1,413
We did it!
Now as I'm sure most of you will remember from your days at school, the circumference of planet Earth is 24,901 miles. Well yesterday, whilst cycling along a hot and dusty road somewhere in Romania, our total cycled mileage of the trip reached that momentous total. We've done it, we've cycled around the world! Well yes, but actually no.
We have done the miles but not the countries, so plenty more to ride and see. It's not all been smooth rolling. Two trips home, which though enabled time with friends and family, broke the flow. Twice we've tried to finish South America and twice we've had to stop. Third time lucky! The time of year meant it made sense to cycle back there the long way round, rather than fly straight back to La Paz. We hope to make it to Bolivia late summer 2026, with plans to reach Ushuaia in February 2027. We are debating our route ahead from Europe. Our plan has always been to ride the Pamir Highway, along the old Silk Road trading route to China. The heat this year is making us wonder if it makes sense. Plus land borders are closed in Azerbaijan, and are our hearts really fixed on months of remote dusty hills with all that riding the Pamirs entails? Or should we have a complete change of plan and cycle Japan? South Korea? We're mulling over the options.
We're both thinking back on all we have experienced so far. From that farewell set off in June 2021, Tom so nervous and excited he could barely speak, me so relieved to be on our way but worried I wouldn't actually be able to ride my laden bike up any hills.
Our wonderful neighbours at Ridge Green at the ‘Fish & chips farewell’
The countries we have ridden through, the people we have met. I have just closed my eyes and let my mind wander and recall the trip. What are my highlights? The awesome beauty of the Republic of Ireland, Yellowstone National Park, the ride along the Icefield Parkway in Canada. Peru, though stunning, remains a favourite but more because of our ability to overcome the harshness of the terrain and then all the wonderful people we spent time with there. Silvan, Jeff and our adopted cycling daughter, Heleńe, Ferdi and Viki, and so many more.
That's the thing, it's more about the people we meet than the places we see. From day one we met and chatted to people, many of whom still send us messages of support. All those other cyclists, who for a few minutes, hours or days we cycled with, who became part of our journey. Stefan in Spain on our way to visit Niall, Kate in Canada, who spotted our blog and suggested we visit. That message changed our route completely and without it we'd probably never have visited Canada, ridden the Icefield Parkway, met Don, burnt my cap, met our beloved Carla whose spirit we take with us still, or ridden Route 101 and met our ‘gang’. Matt, Brian and Rosel with whom we survived the roughest boat trip I will ever go on!
So today we reflect, and tomorrow we return to the road to ride further than the total circumference of the earth! Our focus is changing, we're not ready to stop and aren't sure how we will cope when we do, but the end isn't as far away as it once was.
