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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 kinds, nonetheless, 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 advised 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 received to find the nation by myself phrases,” he mentioned.
“That was an superior expertise — nearly 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 energy and endurance whereas volunteering at a nonprofit in Beirut, the place he spent 4 days every week doing handbook development labor and biking throughout his free time.
Abouhamad contemplated what to do subsequent. He learn a ebook by English creator 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 precise tools 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, protecting 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 stream.”
He mentioned: “I believe it’s arduous to completely plan a visit like this too far prematurely as a result of issues are simply going to vary alongside the best way, and so the best way I considered it was I’d simply take it daily.”
On-line sources have been a large assist for Abouhamad, for all the pieces from route planning to discovering locations to sleep for the night time.
“I don’t get how folks did it 20-30 years in the past. There are such a lot of sources as we speak, 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 via the day. Easy objects like granola, oatmeal and even bread have been a staple — as a result of “whenever you’re biking, all the pieces tastes good,” he mentioned with fun.
Abouhamad traveled solo for many of his journey, however alongside the best way 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 energy, but in addition psychological energy 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 power to cycle the following day, however each 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 wrestle, he mentioned. And so, biking turned his personal private wrestle not directly. Going to mattress each night time — whether or not it was in a tent or a mattress and breakfast — exhausted from the wrestle of the day, introduced him a sure form of happiness.
“You place your head down and also you simply sleep instantly,” he mentioned. It’s the form of drained that comes from “utilizing your physique as an alternative of being drained from taking a look at your display 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 every kind of challenges, from unhealthy climate to damaged gear.
In Peru, for instance, there have been nationwide protests going down as Abouhamad handed via the nation.
Particularly from the town of Cusco to the Bolivian border, there have been checkpoints each 10 to fifteen kilometers and automobiles have been forbidden from passing. Nonetheless, cyclists must cease and clarify themselves to authorities. Typically, they have been even requested to guide a chant earlier than they might go via.
“It was tiring within the second, but it surely’s reminiscence,” he mentioned.
As he displays on this final 12 months, it’s arduous for Abouhamad to crystallize one of the best components 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 folks.
For the previous 12 months, Abouhamad’s id has been his bike. “I received so used to the liberty of simply waking up every single day and hopping on my bike and being exterior,” 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 folks, 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 trip to Lebanon. From there, he’ll both trip 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 a little bit 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 technique to encourage different folks to go on the market and go on a visit like this, too,” he mentioned.
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