MINA MÖTEN

Je suis tombé sur Annette et Jan un jour où j'ai eu de très gros dégâts sur mon vélo. L'ergot du moteur, sur lequel s'accroche la fourche du vélo, a cassé et je me suis retrouvé en pleine campagne au Danemark, à proximité d'un hameau de quatre ou cinq maisons. Et je dois dire que j'étais un peu paniqué, parce que j'étais loin du camping le plus proche, qu'il n'y avait aucun commerce à proximité et que je ne savais pas trop quoi faire. J'ai passé beaucoup de temps à essayer de trouver une solution pour réparer, au moins temporairement, et c'est à ce moment-là que Jan s'est arrêté pour me proposer son aide. Et quand j'ai enfin réussi à faire en sorte que le vélo puisse rouler, au moins quelques mètres, il m'a proposé de pousser le vélo jusque dans son jardin, de dormir chez eux et même de dîner avec eux. Franchement, un grand merci à Jan et à Annette, parce qu'ils ont été la lumière au bout du tunnel. J'étais dans un moment de grande fragilité et ils ont été extrêmement généreux. Au final, j'ai pu dormir deux nuits chez eux. Ils m'ont invité à manger et ont même tenu à ce qu'on échange nos numéros de téléphone pour avoir de mes nouvelles et s'assurer que tout se passe bien pour moi. Donc franchement, un immense merci à eux deux. Je pense que je ne les oublierai jamais.

Je suis arrivé chez Barbara et Anya, qui avaient invité leur amie Karen à dîner. Je suis tombé sur trois personnes passionnées par les langues ! Barbara parlait très bien français, et Karen et Anya se débrouillaient vraiment bien aussi. J'ai passé une excellente soirée en leur compagnie, autour d'un très bon repas. Et en plus, j'ai eu la chance de pouvoir dormir à l'intérieur, bien au chaud ! Franchement, je suis vraiment heureux d'avoir vécu ce beau moment de partage et de convivialité. Ce sont des rencontres comme celles-ci qui rendent mon voyage si particulier.

I was feeling a bit down because I was having quite a few technical problems with my bike. I stopped at this pizzeria and met two incredibly kind people, Luigi and Antonella. It was genuinely a pleasure to meet you both. They treated me to lunch and dinner. I was also able to plug in my bike for a little while to recharge it. And Antonella even insisted on giving me some apples. A huge thank you to both of you. It was a really lovely encounter, and I truly wish you both all the best for the future.

Idag var utan tvekan en av de viktigaste dagarna under hela min resa. Jag träffade Vardan, Serjoscha, Hovhannes, Tamas och Michail efter att ha upplevt förmodligen den svåraste dagen sedan jag gav mig av. Jag hade haft sönder min telefon när jag tappade den, och sedan hade även framgaffeln på min cykel gått sönder. Jag var helt fast. Jag hade ingen lösning kvar, egentligen inget alternativ för att kunna fortsätta. Och så hade jag turen att hitta verkstaden VS KFZ-Service i Göttingen. Hela teamet gjorde allt de kunde för att reparera framgaffeln på min cykel. De riktade den, rengjorde den, förberedde den, slipade och svetsade ihop den igen, innan de målade om den och monterade tillbaka allt. De tog sig tid att försäkra sig om att allt fungerade som det skulle. Allvarligt talat, grabbar, jag kommer aldrig att glömma er. Utan er vet jag att min resa hade tagit slut idag. Så tusen tack för er hjälp, er tid och er generositet. Jag kommer aldrig att glömma vad ni har gjort för mig. Och jag glömmer inte Giggo heller.

Marco har varit min kontaktperson här på Rohloff, och Nicole är kommunikationsansvarig. Två personer med stora hjärtan, verkligen mycket trevliga och framför allt med genuina mänskliga värderingar. Det här mötet och våra samtal har gett mig särskilt mycket ny energi. Stort tack till er båda för ert varma mottagande, er vänlighet och er omtanke.

Sacha är personen som arbetade med mitt hjulnav. Och det måste jag erkänna, det hade verkligen fått sig en rejäl smäll! Han gjorde verkligen ett fantastiskt jobb: efter att han hade tagit hand om det fungerade allt på första försöket. Ett enormt tack till dig, Sacha. Du har gjort ett enastående arbete och verkligen hjälpt mig ur en riktigt besvärlig situation. Tusen tack!

Jag hade en ganska ensam dag, eftersom jag träffade väldigt få människor som jag kunde prata engelska med. Idag hade jag hittat en offentlig laddstation för cyklar och höll på att ladda mina batterier när Lisa och Marcus kom dit. De ville fylla på vatten, men tyvärr fungerade systemet inte längre. Eftersom jag hade en oöppnad vattenflaska i min cykel gav jag den till dem. Vi kunde utbyta några ord och prata en stund, och efter den här ganska ensamma dagen gjorde det mig verkligen gott att få prata med någon. Så tack till er båda, Lisa och Marcus, för den lilla stunden som betydde så mycket för mig.

Jag träffade Katya och Thomas via en webbplats. Ursprungligen var tanken bara att jag skulle få slå upp mitt tält i deras trädgård. Jag har förstås inget tält eftersom jag sover direkt i min cykel! Men eftersom det var kallt erbjöd de mig att sova inomhus, varmt och torrt. Och deras generositet slutade inte där: en dusch, en måltid tillsammans och framför allt en väldigt trevlig stund i varandras sällskap. I morse, när det var dags för mig att ge mig av igen, gav de mig till och med blommor. En omtänksam gest som gjorde mig otroligt glad. Ett enormt tack till er båda. Det var en verklig glädje att träffa er och få dela den här stunden med er. Ni är människor med stora hjärtan och jag önskar er verkligen allt gott framöver. Och tack också för alla era rekommendationer om Estland!

Jag träffade Christian och Yvonne, som välkomnade mig till sitt hem för natten och erbjöd mig en dusch. Jag tror att Christian och Yvonne hittills definitivt är mitt finaste möte med människor som inte talar franska. Varken de eller jag kände oss särskilt bekväma med engelska, men det hindrade oss inte från att prata med varandra och dela väldigt fina stunder. Christian tog sig också tid att titta på mitt problem med hjulet, eftersom de mekar med mopeder. Han upptäckte till och med ett ställe där jag hade tappat en skruv och tog sig tid att laga det åt mig. I går kväll kunde vi två prata länge, och i morse pratade vi alla tre tillsammans med Yvonne. Vi pratade om mitt projekt, men också om fetma, vad det innebär i vardagen och många andra saker. På ett mänskligt plan var det verkligen ett väldigt fint möte. Jag är mycket glad över att jag stannade hos dem och fick dela dessa stunder med dem. Tack till er båda för ert varma välkomnande, er hjälp och dessa fina samtal. Jag önskar er verkligen allt det bästa framöver.

Jag träffade Matthias lite av en slump. Han lade märke till min ganska ovanliga cykel och eftersom han pratade franska stannade han längs vägen för att komma fram och prata lite med mig. Han är en verkligen väldigt trevlig och sympatisk person. När vi pratade förstod han att jag tycker om iste, och han råkade ha med sig istepulver, sådant som man ser mycket av just nu och som man blandar ut med vatten. Han gav mig lite, så nu har jag ett ordentligt förråd av iste för vägen framöver! Stort tack, Matthias, för det här mötet och den lilla presenten.

Sedan jag kom till Nederländerna har jag tänkt att det finns en specialitet som jag absolut måste smaka: ost. Jag har varit i flera butiker, men jag hade ännu inte hittat någon riktig ostbutik. Och så, i Nijmegen, råkade jag av en slump hitta den här butiken. Jag tyckte att den var fantastisk, med alla dessa ostar överallt. Jag går in och förklarar att jag inte pratar nederländska. Och då svarar Antoine: « Men pratar du franska? » Jag säger ja. Det visar sig att Antoine är fransman och arbetar här i Nederländerna. Jag blev så otroligt glad över att träffa honom och framför allt över att kunna prata franska, prata snabbt och flytande och säga precis det jag ville säga. För på engelska, även om jag kan prata med människor, måste jag ibland uttrycka mina tankar på andra sätt, använda synonymer, och jag har ofta känslan av att jag inte riktigt lyckas säga exakt det jag skulle vilja säga. Och det kan ibland vara frustrerande. Så att få prata franska med Antoine gjorde mig verkligen väldigt gott. Och dessutom träffade jag en otroligt vänlig person. Stort tack, Antoine, för din generositet, dina råd om ostarna och den väldigt fina stunden. Det var verkligen ett nöje att träffa dig.

I met Sam because it had probably been about a week since I last checked my tyre pressure. When I saw his garage, I stopped and asked if he could check it for me. Sam immediately told me he would do it free of charge. And it’s a good thing we checked: the front tyre was one bar below the correct pressure, and each of the rear tyres was a little low as well. A huge thank you to you, Sam. Without you, I could have run into serious problems on the road.

I met Wem and Korina at De Tempelier bar. I was exhausted after cycling several kilometres without electricity. I asked them if I could plug in and recharge for an hour at their bar. They decided to treat me to a tosti, the Dutch equivalent of a French croque-monsieur, as well as something to drink to help me cool down. Thank you so much for your generosity. I wish you both all the best.

Marcel is the owner of the campsite where I stopped. It’s a really lovely four-star campsite with all the facilities, including a washing machine, which isn’t something you find everywhere on the road. And above all, the people here are incredibly kind. Marcel was touched by my story and decided to offer me the two nights I spent here free of charge. So a huge thank you to you, Marcel, for your kindness and this wonderful gesture!

My last stop in Belgium. I stopped at a small restaurant-brasserie and happened to meet Ando and Fred. I have to say that meeting these two men will stay with me, especially Ando, a man with strong values and a big heart. He insisted on treating me to lunch, so I decided to try a local speciality: boulet chasseur, also known as “boulet sauce chasseur.” Thank you, gentlemen. And thank you, Ando, for this wonderful moment.

Cédric came to meet me on the RAVeL and offered to ride with me for a few kilometres. It was really nice! He showed me around the area a little and accompanied me to where I needed to go. On top of that, he shared some of his experience in bike repair with me. And his name is Cédric, just like my little brother, so naturally that creates a special connection. Thank you, Cédric, for this lovely moment. I wish you all the best for what lies ahead.

Johanne and Nicolas welcomed me into their lovely family, along with their children, Théophile and Sébastien, two endearing boys full of life. I really enjoyed spending the evening with you and the children. It was truly refreshing. Thank you for your warm welcome and for such a lovely time. I wish all four of you the very best!

I met Héloïse quite by chance in the old town of Namur. She was already following me on social media and immediately offered me a place to stay. When I explained that I had already found somewhere to stay in a small village near Namur, she offered to accompany me for part of the way instead. It gave us the chance to spend some time together, chat, and travel a little way together. It was a really lovely encounter. Thank you so much, Héloïse, for your kindness and for this moment we shared.

Fabienne and Florence are from the area and already knew me through social media. They immediately offered me a place to stay, but I had only just left my hosts and still needed to make a little progress that day. So I got back on the road, but not before taking advantage of their valuable advice on the best route to Namur. It was a really lovely encounter: simple, warm, and above all, very human. Thank you both for this wonderful moment, your kindness, and your thoughtfulness.

Christine follows me on social media and had offered me a place to stay the night before. In the end, it wasn’t possible that evening, but she still found a solution for me. Christine is a lawyer, and she made a little space for me in the garden next to her office. Christine and Sophie are two people with enormous hearts. It was such a lovely encounter. They even shared their meal with me, and I have to say, it was absolutely delicious! Some days, having a safe place to sleep with access to electricity is simply reassuring. And then there are days when it is genuinely very important to me. That evening, it was exactly what I needed, in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. So thank you both a thousand times for your hospitality, generosity, and kindness. Thank you so very much.

Martin, Jessica and Mathias are educators whom I met along the way, accompanied by their dog Roxy. They immediately took an interest in my project, and we spent quite a while talking about my journey and this adventure. It was a simple, warm encounter and one of those wonderful moments of connection that the road sometimes brings. Thank you to all three of you for your interest, your kindness, and the lovely time we shared together!

Daniel spontaneously stopped when he saw that I was having trouble with my bike. And he didn’t just lend a quick hand: he stayed by my side throughout the entire wheel repair process, even though I had to remove and reinstall it several times. It was the kind of spontaneous and selfless help that is always wonderful to encounter on the road. So a huge thank you, Daniel, for your time, your patience, and your invaluable help!

I met Anthony on the road just as I was about to cross my very first border. We chatted for a few minutes, and then he said, “I’d love to treat you to your first Belgian fries!” Well, let’s do it! We headed to the first Belgian chip shop along the way, where Anthony treated me to my first fricadelle and my first portion of Belgian fries. It was generous and delicious! Thank you, Anthony, for this moment and for my first Belgian experience! And I can confirm: SPA is definitely not dry!

Sandra, Sylvie and Mélanie were my rays of sunshine that day! Mélanie, in particular, seemed so happy to cross paths with me that her good mood was contagious. We met on the RAVeL, former railway lines that have been converted into cycle paths and are especially pleasant to ride along. It was a simple encounter, full of smiles and good vibes. Thank you to all three of you for this lovely moment!

Rayan is a hero! A globetrotter himself, when he heard that I was having technical problems with my bike’s brakes, he didn’t hesitate for a second. He grabbed a few tools and came to meet me on his electric unicycle in the centre of Mons to try to help me. Unfortunately, the problem was too serious to be repaired on the spot. But Rayan still managed to remove the brake caliper and temporarily secure it to the side so that I could keep moving forward. Thank you, Rayan, for coming all the way to find me and for doing everything you could to help me!

Antoine is a very kind person, and you can immediately tell that human connection is important to him. I stopped at Le Longchamps bar to update my website and have a glass of water with syrup. He took an interest in my project, we spent some time chatting, and in the end, he decided to treat me to my drink. Thank you so much, Antoine, for your warm welcome and kindness. I wish you all the best for the future!

Jacky ist der Inhaber von Aux Pains d’Avesnes, einer Bäckerei, Konditorei und Snack-Bar. An diesem Tag war es kalt und ich hatte wirklich Lust, etwas Warmes zu essen. Jacky erfuhr von meinem Projekt und beschloss, mir ein warmes Hähnchensandwich und eine Flasche Wasser zu schenken. Was mich aber besonders beeindruckt hat, war seine Großzügigkeit: Obwohl ich nichts Weiteres wollte, bestand er darauf, mir noch ein Sandwich, eine Limonade oder einen Kaffee anzubieten. Ich lehnte ab, weil ich darauf achte, was ich esse … aber einen guten heißen Cappuccino habe ich dann doch angenommen! Vielen Dank, Jacky, für deine Großzügigkeit, und auch vielen Dank an Emeric für euren herzlichen Empfang!

Antoine and his colleagues were super nice! I wanted to have my tire pressure checked, so I stopped at the Renault Minute in Caudry. Antoine took care of it for free, and we took the time to discuss the technical issues with my bike. They also recommended a bike shop a little further along my route to try to find some solutions. Thank you to all four of you for your warm welcome and your help!

I had just stopped because I had spotted an old-fashioned trailer, beautifully decorated with flowers. I thought it looked really nice and wanted to take a photo for my website. That’s when Benjamin arrived. He recognized me because he was already following my TikTok account, and as luck would have it, he had some cold water with him and offered me some. I have to say, when you’re on the road, cold water is always a little treat! Thanks to him, I was able to fill all my water bottles and set off again feeling reassured for the rest of my day. A huge thank you to Benjamin for such a simple gesture, but one that meant so much to me!

Christelle and her family, Rodrigue, Rémy and Raphaël, who did not wish to appear in the photo. I met them through my website. Christelle had signed up there and wanted to meet me when I passed through the region. So I stopped to chat, talk and spend some time with them… and I came across a close-knit, welcoming and truly lovely family. Christelle has been following me for a long time and we had already spoken several times, so I was especially happy to finally meet her in person. Before I left, she gave me some nice cold water, because she knows how precious it is to me on the road, as well as some mirabelle plums. But she also gave me a very personal gift: Christelle is an artist who paints pebbles, and she decided to give me two of them. They are truly beautiful, and I am very happy to leave with these souvenirs of this wonderful day spent with her and her family. Thank you, Christelle, Rodrigue, Rémy and Raphaël, for your warm welcome, your kindness and this moment we shared. I am truly happy that our paths crossed.

Margot, Kenny, Léonie and Marceau, I’m definitely going to miss you. When I arrived at your home, I was having serious technical problems with my bike, and you immediately offered to help me. In the end, I stayed with you for four nights. During those few days, you gave me so much more than just a place to sleep. You made me feel safe, took me to the shops I needed to visit to repair my bike, provided me with meals and laundry, but above all, you gave me your warmth, generosity and kindness. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this little interlude in my journey, and I sincerely hope I’ll have the chance to see you again one day. A huge thank you to all four of you for these few days that I will remember for a very long time.

Pelo is the owner of the breakdown recovery company who decided to cover the cost of transporting me from where I broke down to the home of some of my followers, a few kilometres away. A huge thank you to you, Pelo! And thank you as well for driving slowly, because I was worried that something might happen to my bike during the journey.

This is the second time I’ve met Fred. Yesterday, I ran into him in Tergnier. Today, he saw that I was struggling and came over to offer his help. And what I appreciated most is that he’s one of those people who truly understand the scale of the project I’ve embarked on. And I have to say, that feels incredibly good. Thank you, Fred!

I met Isabelle somewhat by chance today. I was at a laundromat when she spotted my bike by the side of the road. She came over to see me and simply invited me to come and eat at her home. I’d had a bit of a difficult day and, I have to admit, her offer felt like a real gift. Unfortunately, I had just bought some food that was due to expire that same day, and I really didn’t want to waste it. So I had to turn down her offer, somewhat reluctantly, because I would have loved to spend more time with her and her family. Even so, it will remain a wonderful encounter, full of kindness and spontaneity. Thank you so much, Isabelle, for this offer that truly warmed my heart.

Tonight, I had already paid for the place where I was going to sleep, but Mélanie still offered to welcome me into her home. She told me that if I needed anything, whether it was help with technical issues, a shower or simply something to eat, I could come to her place. She immediately gave me her phone number and address. And I almost regret having already paid somewhere else, because she and her son Johan seemed so kind and lovely. Especially since, if I had known how difficult the place where I’m sleeping tonight would be to access, I would have preferred to lose the money I had paid for the booking and stay with them! But it was still a wonderful encounter, and I’m truly happy that our paths crossed. If you happen to read this: Mélanie and Johan, I truly wish you both all the best.

Pierre is the kind of man who is deeply committed — committed to his community, his neighbourhood, his city, future generations, and above all, to people. I’m truly glad our paths crossed and that I had the chance to spend some time with him. Thank you, Pierre, for your warm welcome, and thank you for everything.

I met Agnès and Fabrice in Preuve, after knocking on their door. I was quite tired, I had just left Paris and I was looking for a safe place to sleep. I knocked on their door, told them my story, and they immediately agreed to welcome me. They provided me with electricity and even a hot meal: some grilled food, which really lifted my spirits. And above all, I met two truly lovely people. I definitely don’t regret stopping at their place. I had an excellent evening. Thank you both.

Christelle and Patrick are incredible people! Full of heart, commitment and kindness. Several times during my journey, I’ve felt so comfortable with people that I felt at home, but with Christelle and Patrick, I even felt like I was their son. I wish you both all the best, and my thoughts are with your son as well as Christelle’s niece.

I came across Jean-Jacques at a critical moment. I had just travelled along the same road for a while and, when I reached the end, I realized that the exit was narrower than the entrance. A surprising urban design concept! But Jean-Jacques, who knows the area well, decided to take some of his time and retrace my steps with me to guide me along a side road he knew that had very little elevation gain. Thank you so much, Jean-Jacques!

Jonathan and his son Antoine saw that I was passing through the area, so they went looking for me and found me! Jonathan offered to go and get me a sandwich from a bakery because I hadn’t come across one all day, and he came back with a sandwich, a baguette and a bottle of cold water. He insisted on paying. Thank you a thousand times to both of you =)

Ludo is the owner of the bar La Belle Eugénie. I had spotted the bar in the distance and really wanted to treat my cousin to a refreshing drink, especially since I knew it was our last day together. I was parking when Ludo came out of his bar and said to me, “Are you the man from TV?” I said yes, and he immediately replied, “Let me buy you a drink!” What a stroke of luck! I went inside, and he told me to choose whatever I wanted. I asked for a nice cold beer, and he also offered one to my cousin. That was the start of a long conversation with Ludo and his customers about my project. A simple, spontaneous and truly warm moment.

Nicolas was my manager’s manager at Macif for five years. He’s the one who gave me my chance. It’s also thanks to him that I was able to have a certain amount of stability. I learned and discovered so much working alongside him. He’s not the kind of boss who needs to shout at you to earn your respect. He’s the kind of boss who, through his actions and the way he carries himself, naturally commands respect and makes you want to become someone like him one day. So when he offered to come and see me, driving three hours from Niort simply to bring me a little comfort, I can tell you that I was incredibly touched. Nicolas, if you ever read these few words: a huge thank you.

Richard is one of my very first partners, ACMB. Running into him like that by chance on the side of the road just outside Amboise, I was so surprised and happy to see a familiar face!!!

Romane is the owner of the campsite, and I met a dedicated, selfless man who is deeply committed to what he does. An inspiring person who has chosen to put people before money. Naturally, that comes with great sensitivity, but one thing is certain: it’s for the best! Thank you, Romane, for your warm welcome, your generosity and, above all, for the wonderful person you are.

Sandra is the kind of person who makes you believe in humanity. When I met Sandra, the first thing I saw was her heart. She decided to give us some peaches and a Sainte-Maure cheese, the same one my mum buys at Christmas because she knows how much I love it. Sandra, thank you. When I created this section on my website, it was because I hoped I would meet people like you.

Pierre was an unexpected encounter. This morning, it was very hot. I spotted this little restaurant, Le Marmiton, by the side of the road and thought they probably had a tap with fresh water. The door was open. I called out a timid “Excuse me?” and Pierre appeared in his chef’s uniform. I explained my project to him and, without hesitation, he agreed to get me some fresh water to fill my two bottles. He came back, then asked me, “Would you like a melon?” I really wanted one, but my usual shyness couldn’t help but make me reply that it was very kind of him, but that he shouldn’t feel obliged. He insisted. I accepted. So, melon for lunch today! =)

Stéphane, co-gérant de la boutique Terre de Running avec sa femme Corine, m'interpelle alors que je suis sur mon trajet. Je ne savais pas du tout que ma route passait près de chez eux. C'était un vrai plaisir de les voir. Ils nous ont offert de l'eau et un accueil plein de gentillesse. Merci