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DUBAI: In April 2023, Samer Abouhamad made it to Ushuaia, a small city in Argentina, nicknamed “the top 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 motorcycle.

Abouhamad’s non secular 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 instructed 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 at all times been Lebanese, however I by no means actually obtained to find the nation alone phrases,” he mentioned.

“That was an superior expertise — virtually non secular. 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 power and endurance whereas volunteering at a nonprofit in Beirut, the place he spent 4 days per week doing guide development labor and biking throughout his free time.

Abouhamad contemplated what to do subsequent. He learn a ebook 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 proper gear and returned his residence 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, masking a complete of 14 international locations and greater than 25,000 kilometers within the subsequent 12 months.

Abouhamad needed to determine which cities to cycle to each week and when to cease to refuel, however for essentially the most half, he “simply went with the circulate.”

He mentioned: “I feel it’s exhausting to totally plan a visit like this too far prematurely 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 day-to-day.”

On-line sources had been an enormous assist for Abouhamad, for every thing 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 now, 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 might be cooked simply. He additionally carried snacks to get him by way of the day. Easy gadgets like granola, oatmeal and even bread had been a staple — as a result of “whenever you’re biking, every thing 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 number 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 power, but in addition psychological power and resilience.

“Even every day, the highs are so excessive and the lows so low,” he mentioned.

There have been instances when he would lack the vitality to cycle the following day, however day by day moments reminded him of how a lot he cherished what he was doing.

Abouhamad has led a comparatively simple life, freed from any main adversity or wrestle, he mentioned. And so, biking grew to become his personal private wrestle ultimately. Going to mattress each evening — whether or not it was in a tent or a mattress and breakfast — exhausted from the wrestle of the day, introduced him a sure sort of happiness.

“You place your head down and also you simply sleep straight away,” he mentioned. It’s the sort of drained that comes from “utilizing your physique as an alternative of being drained from taking a look at your display screen or Excel.”

Furthermore, he mentioned, “bikepacking” is barely half about biking; the opposite half is about adapting to issues you face on the highway. 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. Nonetheless, cyclists must cease and clarify themselves to authorities. Typically, they had been even requested to guide a chant earlier than they might cross by way of.

“It was tiring within the second, nevertheless it’s a great reminiscence,” he mentioned.

As he displays on this final 12 months, it’s exhausting for Abouhamad to crystallize the very best elements of his journey, but when he needed to, he would decide 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 id has been his bike. “I obtained so used to the liberty of simply waking up daily 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 id.

One factor he is aware of for positive is that this isn’t the top. “The toughest a part of my journey was beginning it,” he mentioned. “Telling individuals, quitting your job, after which truly doing it … that’s the toughest half.”

Abouhamad is already planning his subsequent biking journey. In August, he’ll journey to South Africa and journey to Lebanon. From there, he’ll both journey to Norway or to some a part of Asia.

His concept of biking from South Africa to Norway — or “cape to cape” as he calls it — sounds poetic, if just a little daunting. In actuality, it is just 18,000 kilometers in comparison with the 25,000 kilometers he rode throughout his American journey, so “in idea, 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 solution to encourage different individuals to go on the market and go on a visit like this, too,” he mentioned.