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Lebanese-American goes from biking indoors to driving to ‘the tip of the world’
DUBAI: In April 2023, Samer Abouhamad made it to Ushuaia, a small city in Argentina, nicknamed “the tip of the world” due to its place on the southernmost tip of South America.
His journey began within the US a 12 months earlier … on a motorbike.
Abouhamad’s religious path, of types, nevertheless, began three years in the past. He was working remotely within the US, and when COVID-19 hit, moved to his homeland, Lebanon, to be with household.
His father, who likes biking, motivated him “to get out of the home,” which was “superior,” Abouhamad informed Arab Information from Buenos Aires, days after he accomplished his year-long journey.
After arriving again in Lebanon amid the pandemic, Abouhamad found his nation by bike.
“I’ve all the time been Lebanese, however I by no means actually received to find the nation alone phrases,” he mentioned.
“That was an superior expertise — virtually religious. And I used to be hooked.”
The next 12 months he took half in his first biking journey: A ten-day tour of France with no skilled coaching.
He constructed his bodily energy and endurance whereas volunteering at a nonprofit in Beirut, the place he spent 4 days per week doing guide building labor and biking throughout his free time.
Abouhamad contemplated what to do subsequent. He learn a guide by English writer Alastair Humphreys, who chronicled his adventures biking the world for greater than 4 years.
“It simply made me understand if somebody might do this type of journey again then (2011); it’s a lot extra accessible now with all of the sources,” Abouhamad mentioned.
He began engaged on getting the suitable gear and returned his house in Boston in early 2022. In April final 12 months, he cycled coast to coast to Los Angeles, then on to San Diego, and throughout the border to Mexico, protecting a complete of 14 international locations and greater than 25,000 kilometers within the subsequent 12 months.
Abouhamad needed to resolve which cities to cycle to each week and when to cease to refuel, however for probably the most half, he “simply went with the circulation.”
He mentioned: “I believe it’s onerous to completely plan a visit like this too far upfront as a result of issues are simply going to alter alongside the way in which, and so the way in which I considered it was I might simply take it daily.”
On-line sources had been a large assist for Abouhamad, for all the things from route planning to discovering locations to sleep for the evening.
“I don’t get how individuals did it 20-30 years in the past. There are such a lot of sources right this moment, so I by no means needed to fear actually,” he added.
He would cease at eating places to eat however would additionally purchase meals that could possibly be cooked simply. He additionally carried snacks to get him by way of the day. Easy objects like granola, oatmeal and even bread had been a staple — as a result of “once you’re biking, all the things tastes good,” he mentioned with amusing.
Abouhamad traveled solo for many of his journey, however alongside the way in which met fellow cyclists with whom he would spend a couple of days.
Though he likes touring with others, he mentioned that there are execs and cons to each solo and group journey. “It’s good to share moments collectively (with others) however there’s a sure freedom to touring solo, which is fairly liberating.”
That freedom additionally comes with many highs and lows. A visit like Abouhamad’s requires not solely bodily energy, but additionally psychological energy and resilience.
“Even every day, the highs are so excessive and the lows so low,” he mentioned.
There have been occasions when he would lack the vitality to cycle the following day, however day by day moments reminded him of how a lot he beloved what he was doing.
Abouhamad has led a comparatively straightforward life, freed from any main adversity or battle, he mentioned. And so, biking turned his personal private battle not directly. Going to mattress each evening — whether or not it was in a tent or a mattress and breakfast — exhausted from the battle of the day, introduced him a sure form of happiness.
“You set your head down and also you simply sleep immediately,” he mentioned. It’s the form of drained that comes from “utilizing your physique as a substitute of being drained from your display screen or Excel.”
Furthermore, he mentioned, “bikepacking” is just half about biking; the opposite half is about adapting to issues you face on the street. Though his life was by no means in danger, he confronted all types of challenges, from unhealthy climate to damaged gear.
In Peru, for instance, there have been nationwide protests going down as Abouhamad handed by way of the nation.
Particularly from the town of Cusco to the Bolivian border, there have been checkpoints each 10 to fifteen kilometers and vehicles had been forbidden from passing. Nevertheless, cyclists must cease and clarify themselves to authorities. Generally, they had been even requested to guide a chant earlier than they might move by way of.
“It was tiring within the second, but it surely’s a superb reminiscence,” he mentioned.
As he displays on this final 12 months, it’s onerous for Abouhamad to crystallize the most effective components of his journey, but when he needed to, he would choose the mountains in Peru for his or her magnificence; Mexico for its meals; and Argentina and Colombia for its individuals.
For the previous 12 months, Abouhamad’s identification has been his bike. “I received so used to the liberty of simply waking up on daily basis and hopping on my bike and being outdoors,” he mentioned. However now, whereas he’s excited to get again and see his family and friends, he’s additionally questioning his identification.
One factor he is aware of for certain is that this isn’t the tip. “The toughest a part of my journey was beginning it,” he mentioned. “Telling individuals, quitting your job, after which really doing it … that’s the toughest half.”
Abouhamad is already planning his subsequent biking journey. In August, he’ll journey to South Africa and experience to Lebanon. From there, he’ll both experience to Norway or to some a part of Asia.
His thought of biking from South Africa to Norway — or “cape to cape” as he calls it — sounds poetic, if somewhat daunting. In actuality, it is just 18,000 kilometers in comparison with the 25,000 kilometers he rode throughout his American journey, so “in principle, I might do it in a 12 months,” he mentioned.
Within the quick time period, Abouhamad is looking for methods to share extra about his journey. “I’d like to discover a option to encourage different individuals to go on the market and go on a visit like this, too,” he mentioned.
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