Janick and Pierre have shared a life on the road since 1997. Together, they have ridden more than 200,000 kilometres through around 60 countries of the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania. A few months ago, they left their Charlevoix (Quebec) basecamp, where they had enjoyed a lengthy break from the Road, to embark on their second major bike expedition together – cycling from Northern Norway to Cape Agulhas, the southern-most point of Africa. On their first tour, they spent six years riding around the Pacific Ring of Fire and, following that journey, vowed to dig deeper into a subject or common thread on future expeditions…
The aim for our current expedition – our Nomads Tour – was to seek and meet with the various nomadic peoples between Europe’s most northern point, and Africa’s southern point. From our research, we outlined around eighteen groups en-route, including: Sami; Yoruk; Bedouin; Afar; Masai; and Tuareg. This three year, 35,000 kilometre tour should provide plenty of opportunities to reflect on our own cycle touring nomadism and enable us to collect stories as we go – an epic ride and true exploration for us.
To begin, we flew to Stavanger in Norway with our trusty Surly touring bikes and pedalled off up the Norwegian coast to reach our northern–most ‘starting’ point – Nordkapp. The route took us via Trondheim, the famous Trollstigen pass, and Mo I Rana – hugging the coastline, and hopping on ferries when needed.
Over the course of the first few days, we were reunited with the ways of the Road – a tad dizzying after nearly five years of lecturing, micro-adventuring, researching…and universal lounging off the bikes! Our route North through Norway was a good way of whipping ourselves back into shape; snaking our way up amidst its jaw-dropping fjords and plateaus jutted with glaciated summits, all the way to the Lofotens and Sápmi’s doorstep (Lapland) – traditional territory of the first group appearing on our list of nomadic groups. Out of breath and aching after only 265 kilometres, we recorded that we had already climbed over 4,300 metres with our 50+ kilograms loaded touring bikes!
But, it felt so great to be back on the Road; back at home…
