Bikepacking
Roamin'Goats GT365 Tour 🐐
Contributed by Stephen Ashwin
Europe
Stephen embarked on a year-long bicycle expedition across Europe toward Asia, riding and wild camping from the UK through France and Italy to the Balkans.
Still under way
- Stages
- 22
More at YouTube
At 51, I set out from the UK on a year-long round-the-world bicycle journey, heading south and east to chase the good weather across Europe toward Asia and Japan. Living off the bike with a tent and hammock, the plan was to leave behind the daily grind, embrace a nomadic life, and document the miles, camps, and historical sites along the way while navigating the constraints of the ninety-day Schengen limit.
France Italy Greece Turkey Asia #Napoleon #Bike #ride #adventure #touring
Stage 1: Departure from the UK
It was time to leave and get on the road. I set off on the bike to begin the tour.
Finally on the Ferry!!! France here I come!!!! Can't Wait # #ride #adventure #bike #asiatour
Welcome!!! welcome indeed this is my YouTube Channel Roamin'Goats #world cycling #touring #adventure
Stage 2: Avranches Rest Day
It had been almost a week since I left the UK, and it had been a full-on adventure so far. Every day was flowing like life should be. I was embracing this new life with positive action and feelings. It was not how I thought it would be at 51, but it was what I hoped to do ten years ago. Everything I thought of and every place I wanted to see, I was seeing. I was moving south and east into the summer, chasing the good weather around the globe. I enjoyed every moment on the bike, whichever route I chose that day. Every camp I did, I was in the moment. It was real, raw, and made life feel full of meaning and purpose.
I took a rest day because I could. I was at an eco camping farm in Avranches where we had been before; it had a relaxed, chilled-out vibe. After an incredibly hot and hilly day, I took time to reflect on the miles and smiles. I sat in my comfy chair surrounded by small birds, bees, and other like-minded travellers.
France Italy Greece Turkey Asia #Napoleon #Bike #ride #adventure #touring
Amazing views and Wildcamp spot #wildcamping #bikelife #worldtour #christian #christianmotivation
Stage 3: Domfront to Jublains
Another good day's innings, riding from Domfront to Mayenne and on to the Roman city at Jublains.
Avranches Beautiful Basilica #history #brittany #normandie #normandy Architecture #church
Stage 4: Sainte-Suzanne
They were right, Sainte-Suzanne was beautiful. A hilltop medieval town. I was pleased I diverted the extra miles to see it, and it was definitely worth a visit in this area.
Market Saturday in St. Suzanne.... Normandy... is it beautiful!???? #history #brittany #normandy
Stage 5: Arrival in Le Mans
- Ascent
- 1524
- Calories
- 5000
I made it to Le Mans eventually, but it took all day to get there. Seeing everything on the way added many miles, but it looked amazing. The place was the biggest city so far, a fairly substantial place. Absolutely done and with energy spent, I rode in at about 7pm. The hills just kept coming. Most tourers just keep to the greenways and the flat canal paths, which makes the load much easier, but I had cut across the land moving south and eastwards.
The elevation statistics on Garmin and Strava estimated about five thousand feet of climbing on the bike. Rolling climbs soon add up. Hot weather and hills made for lots of fatigue, and I realised I needed to lose a few things off the bike, including two books.
All my electronics were almost flat, so I got a budget hotel. I felt pretty tired in the morning. The Roman walls were huge. I ate as much as I could, probably burning through five thousand calories the day before, and went through all my drinks twice, which was eight litres of water plus coffee. I met an English rider named Dylan who was riding to Toulouse.
Camp of the English ... William the Conqueror Siege Camp in Normandy
Quick Recap Of The 365 Day Tour So Far... #history #camping #wildcamping #letsgo #ride #explorer
Stage 6: The Loire Valley and Amboise
- Avg temp
- 37
Another fabulous sunny day on the riverside. It was balmy, basking weather, sliding in at 37 degrees Celsius. I left Amboise after a night of hammock camping. It was still 23 degrees outside and quite warm. The high street outside the castle was quite beautiful, a well-kept medieval marvel where only the paving made it modern.
I parted ways with Dylan, who went south toward the Dordogne and the Pyrenees while I headed east. We had had a good night and day exploring Tours, swimming or really just lying down in the extremely low river, which was pure bliss in the heat. The plan was to move along to Blois, Orleans, and up to Paris, camping outside the city and taking the bus or hiking in.
Amazing Sculpture in Tours Fine Arts Museum #adventure #musuem #fineart #lovesong
Stage 7: Fontainebleau Forest
- Distance
- 100
Back in the forest being a womble forager. Goodbye Paris, now riding 100 kilometres south into Fontainebleau on day 18.
World Cycle Tour - 365 Days - Day 14 #museum #cyclingtour #globalcycling #cyclingculture #tourblog
Stage 8: Canal Camp to Auxerre
I was camped right on the side of a canal headed south towards Lyon and the Alps. It had been a great few days since leaving Paris. I travelled down the canals and cycle routes and finally made it to Guédelon Castle. I had waited roughly five years to visit, and it was spectacular, with huge crowds interested in the experimental archaeology.
After another week of cycling in clear sunshine every single day, the last two days brought small showers. I got caught out five miles away from my destination town and ducked under a roadside tree, getting a little soaked, which was a welcome fresh wake-up before reaching Auxerre. From there the direction was set for Alésia, Autun, Lyon, and Lake Annecy before crossing the Alps into Italy.
Amboise - France - Beautiful Morning #adventure #ride #wildcamping #touring #history #cycling
Stage 9: Alésia and Dijon
- Distance
- 112
I took a little apartment in Dijon to get a broken spoke repaired on the bike wheel. Since my previous stop, I had made it to Guédelon, Auxerre, and over to the battle site at Alésia. Once I arrived there and set up camp, I realised I had a pain in my sit bone. I stayed at Alésia for two days to allow it to heal, and then rode to Dijon. It was further than estimated, about 70 miles, and that caused the swelling to flare up again. I took the flat to get the wheel fixed and let the swelling go down, preparing to visit a pharmacy and clinic to check it over.
The Morning After Hammock Camping on de l'ile d'Or at Amboise #wildcamping #hammockcamping
Stage 10: Resting Before the Alps
Taking a nap and resting up in the valleys, focusing on recuperation. It was a classic touring injury from too long in the saddle, forcing me to sit still and recover before heading on to northern Italy, Rome, and Tuscany.
Sunshine Makes All The Difference
Stage 11: Lake Annecy Medical Check
I arrived at Lake Annecy, enjoying the beautiful scenery, the lake, and the city, but under total rest. I went to the hospital to get checked out. At first the doctor ultrasound-scanned the lump and thought it was an abscess, mentioning possible surgery. An hour later they reviewed the data and confirmed it was an uguinal muscle strain. The riding had simply taken a toll, and the new Brooks leather saddle had bashed the pelvic bone, causing inflammation and trapping or damaging the muscle. It required total rest and painkillers. I waited for Graeme to arrive with his car for a few days of exploring.
Rare Sights Along The Seine...
Stage 12: Randonnée du Taillefer
Took a break from the bike to do the hike up along the Taillefer ridge above Lake Annecy.
Mountains Lake Annecy #travelvlog #adventure #history #bike #wildcamping #touring
Stage 13: Flixbus from Chambéry to Genoa
- Distance
- 483
I packed the bike underneath a Flixbus coach from Chambéry in France to Genoa in Italy. I dropped my phone and cracked the screen right as I loaded it. The bus ride covered around 300 miles for thirty pounds. Because of the injury I could not climb over the high alpine passes, so this bus jump bypassed the mountains to save Schengen time before heading down toward the Balkans.
City Walking Genoa - 12 Miles of Tourism -#travelvlog #adventure #history #aroundtheworld
Stage 14: Sestri Levante
- Distance
- 32
Roughly day 50 of the trip, resting in Sestri Levante. I pedalled twenty-odd miles, but still felt sharp pain occasionally. Local trains were very cheap, around three to seven pounds, making it easy to hop between coastal towns while testing whether the injury was healing.
Lucca is Much Better Than Pisa #travelvlog #adventure #travelshorts #cycletour
Stage 15: Sestri Levante to Pisa
Finally moving forward again down from Genoa through Sestri Levante and Luni Mare, making it all the way to Pisa. A few days back in the saddle showed the injury was coping. It was hot, still rocking temperatures in the thirties by teatime, but the legs were turning over nicely along rolling plains and subtle hills.
Via Garibaldi Genoa Museums #adventure #travelvlog #history
Stage 16: Lucca and Pistoia
Arrived in Pistoia for a quick look around. It was quiet with no crowds. I had spent the previous night in Lucca after coming from Pisa; Lucca was really nice and far less busy than Pisa. Warm sunshine continued and the legs were working well, two months into the nomadic journey. The route headed onwards toward Florence and Siena, aiming for wild camps in the woods.
Pisa at Night #travelvlog #cycletouring #adventure #tuscany #pisa #bikepackinglife
Stage 17: Wild Camping in Tuscany
Pitched up again doing a wild camp. I had been flying along for three days of great rides, clocking 50 to 60 miles a day. At 10.30pm in pitch-black conditions, a proper wild boar almost came right into the tent. It heard my phone playing Sicario at the last minute, bellowed out a squeal, and shot off like a train through the bushes.
Laterina in Tuscany #travelvlog #camping #cycletouring #ww2history
Stage 18: Lake Bracciano
- Distance
- 68
- Avg temp
- 28
Arrived at Lake Bracciano, just outside Rome. It was a 42-mile ride reminiscent of cycling in the Peak District or Lake District, with lovely weather and smooth tarmac. Just as it got dark, I checked into the Parco del Lago campsite. It had a lively bar, pizzas, and campers socialising, making for a great evening in 28-degree heat.
Inspirational Architecture #travelvlog #rome #wondersoftheworld #epic
Angels and Demons #travelvlog #slowcycle #cycletouring #camino #cyclelife #campinglife
Stage 19: Naples and Herculaneum
Made it down to Naples on day 72 after a hot blast through coastal towns. Getting through the traffic into Naples was intense. I visited Herculaneum, which was deeply impressive, before planning to see Pompeii. My shoes were falling apart and shirts were worn out, so I fitted new brake pads and restocked stove gas, getting ready to catch the ferry across to the Balkans to save costs and Schengen time.
Amazing Sculpture in Tours Fine Arts Museum #adventure #musuem #fineart #lovesong
Stage 20: Bari and the Adriatic Crossing
Rode across to Bari, where I stopped for coffee and a great conversation with a local barista before boarding the ferry across the Adriatic to Albania. I arrived into the country waiting for a low-pressure rain system to blow over before tackling the mountain interior.
Beautiful Camino Riverside #travelvlog #adventure #camino #cycletouring
Stage 21: Albanian Mountain Passes
Woke up in the Albanian mountains aiming to cross into North Macedonia. The previous day on the SH3 road was absolute carnage, where crews were blasting through the mountains to build a new autostrada with heavy construction machinery and trucks everywhere. I opted to take off-road trails higher up. It got dark by 6pm and the temperature dropped to 8 degrees at night, about ten degrees cooler than the coast, before heading toward Lake Ohrid.
Old Watermill on Camino #camino #viafrancigena # #travelvlog #wildcamping
Stage 22: Bitola, North Macedonia
- Distance
- 338
- Ascent
- 4572
Arrived in Bitola on Monday evening after coming around the mountains. It had been a long and winding road and trail following the ancient route from Italy toward Istanbul. Over the leg I covered just over 210 miles with about 15,000 feet of climbing. I stopped in Bitola for a good night's rest, cooked a big batch of farfalle pasta, and rested the quads. The people were very friendly, the atmosphere peaceful, and the cold snap had warmed up before the upcoming push toward Greece and Troy.
7am Wildcamped Mona Lisa Bridge #wildcamping #travelvlog #cycletour #bikepacking #soloadventures
Mona Lisa Bridge on Camino #history #bikepacking #eurovelo # #travelvlog
Highlights
- Visiting the experimental medieval archaeology at Guédelon Castle.
- The Roman city ruins at Jublains and the historic hilltop town of Sainte-Suzanne.
- Exploring historic towns across France and Italy, including Amboise, Tours, Lucca, and Herculaneum.
- Camping by Lake Bracciano outside Rome and riding through the quiet mountain valleys of North Macedonia.
Whereabouts
- The route heads south from the UK into Normandy, across the Loire Valley to Paris and Burgundy, before descending toward Lake Annecy.
- From the French Alps, transport links into northern Italy along the Ligurian coast and down through Tuscany to Rome, Naples, and the ferry port at Bari.
- Across the Adriatic, the journey resumes through the mountains of Albania and North Macedonia toward Greece and Turkey.
Must-Know
- UK travellers are constrained by the Schengen Area ninety-day limit, which strictly dictates route pacing across France, Italy, and Greece.
- Road work in mountainous regions can be severe, such as construction and heavy truck traffic on the SH3 highway in Albania.
- Breaking in new leather saddles like a Brooks requires care to avoid severe pelvic bruising or muscle strains.
Camping
- Wild camping with a tent or hammock is possible along canals and forested stretches in France and Italy.
- Beware of wildlife when wild camping in Italy; boars forage close to tents after dark.
- Official campsites in Italy can be expensive, though spots like Parco del Lago at Lake Bracciano offer good facilities and social atmosphere.
- Eco-campsites like the farm in Avranches provide relaxed places to recuperate.
Trail Notes
- Sticking to flat canal towpaths and greenways saves substantial energy compared to crossing rolling terrain.
- Cutting across hilly inland topography can add up to 5,000 feet of climbing in a single day.
- Local trains in Italy are inexpensive and bike-friendly, costing around 3 to 7 pounds for short hops.
- Long-distance coaches like Flixbus carry bicycles in luggage compartments beneath the coach for cheap mountain bypasses.
Gear
- A reliable touring bicycle with sturdy wheels, as broken spokes can occur on loaded runs.
- Hammock and wild-camping bivvy kit.
- Keep luggage minimal and shed extra books or spare weight before mountain passes.
Hazards
- Excessive saddle pressure can cause inguinal muscle strains and pelvic inflammation requiring complete rest.
- Summer temperatures can climb to 37 degrees Celsius, demanding careful hydration.
- Heavy construction traffic, blasting, and unpaved deviations on mountain highways in Albania.
Weather Window
- Mid-summer brings extreme heat in central France and Italy with temperatures reaching well into the 30s Celsius.
- Autumn in the Balkan mountains brings significant temperature drops, falling to single digits at night by mid-October.