Such a journey is not prepared on a whim. “The idea came to me about a year ago. I have saved since and I have prepared a great frame of the trip even if there will necessarily be unforeseen events on time, “knows the young man who is thirsty for discoveries, adventures and who has ants in the legs. “Why do this?” The idea came to me and it did not leave, so I am my instinct ”.
A good twenty countries
This Friday, he will therefore ride his bike towards Saint-Malo from which he will follow the whole north coast of France to Dunkirk. It will then be, in order, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark where he will take the ferry for Oslo (Norway), Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bosnia, North Macedonia, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia Slovenia, Italy, Spain (by the south of France), Portugal, again Spain, before a return by the west of France. No less than 24 countries in total. “It is in Norway and Finland that I should stay the longest, it’s mountainous and that’s where I will have the longest distance to go. I have of course chosen to do these countries in summer because the climatic elements count ”. Next winter, he hopes to be in the south, towards Greece.
17 700 km
“It is a tour of Europe of around 17,700 km. I will also give myself time to visit. I planned to pedal for 270 days, that makes an average of less than 70 km per day ”. For accommodation, he hopes to vary the pleasures. “Tent, hammock, youth hostels, guest rooms or the locals. I consider everything. By traveling alone, I should meet people and improve my English ”.
-The strict minimum
Friends have planned to join him a few days when he is in Poland, Norway, Italy and Spain.
Jonathan will embark, on his bike, the bare minimum. “I don’t need much. I will have four outfits, a stove, a bowl, a first aid kit, that’s almost everything! ».
The return is scheduled for May 2026, “even if I think it will be a little before,” says the young adventurer who has already participated in the “velodyssée” (bicycle descent to Bayonne), two years ago, and who went up the Nantes canal in Brest (370 km) in kayak, a year ago.
