#ynomo

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Cycling Cliché! You can't have the joy, jubilation & sheer thrill of the downhill, without first putting in the hard work & graft for the uphill!!! A life lesson which is sometimes easier said than done to remember, or appreciate at the time. It's funny the random clichéd life lessons you learn whilst in the saddle solo for the whole day! #lifelessons #cliche #quote #quotes #quoteoftheday #inspirationalquotes #flyingsolo #motivationalquotes #motivation #mondaymotivation #myview #neuchatel #swiss #switzerland #cockpit #bikeride #bikelife #cyclelife #tourlife #aroundtheworld #charitybikeride #porqueno #ynomo #beautiful #nature (at Neuchâtel, Switzerland)

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Much needed photographic pit-stop after a mahussive hill! #dying #babysteps #slowlyslowly #swiss #switzerland #travel #adventuretravel #travellife #aroundtheworldbybike #porqueno #ynomo #charitybikeride #bikeride #cyclelife #cycletrip #touring #worldtour #travelgram #wanderer #wanderlust #cyclist #pitstop #muchneeded (at Lake Lungern)

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A postcard to my nanny, highlighting my ridiculous detour around Lake Constance - ¿Por Qué No? I've had a lovely time, made some wicked mates & had a great adventure, now heading towards Bern via 5 more lakes apparently!!! #detour #longway #wrongway #whichway #noplanplan #porqueno #ynomo #adventure #adventuretravel #overland #bike #bicycle #wanderer #cycler #cyclist #bikeride #bikelife #biketour #worldtour #aroundtheworldbybike #postcard #nanny #nannytime #lakeconstance #swiss #switzerland #germany #deutschland #austria #7countries #vamos #travelgram #live (at Vierwaldstättersee / Lake Lucerne)

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I just wanted to follow up from my last post with this incredible touch of kindness!!! After leaving Ronald McDonalds I was on the phone to my mate Dez having a wee catch up. I had to stop at a roundabout to make sure I was headed in the correct direction & not onto the motorway when a black van rocked up behind me, pulling completely off the road & blocking the path, I thought it was the police & that I must've gone through a set of red lights or something - which I may've done once or twice, but when I looked around I recognised the driver from having been in McDonalds, "ahhh what an idiot, what did I leave???" Nothing, the fella had pulled over solely to give me 20 Swiss Francs. We had not spoken in McDonalds, he knew nothing of me, my journey, my challenge or the charity, nor was it his intention to find out!!! Nick simply said that "this is for your next pit stop!!!" What an ABSOLUTE hero, gentleman & Good Samaritan, we maybe exchanged a smile or nod in McDonalds but that was it, I was and still am absolutely taken a back, further more having begrudgingly spent more than I wanted to for the day, I finished up having more money in my pocket than when I started the day!!! #hero #goodsamaritan #kindnessofstrangers #rare #treat #madeup #takenaback #thankful #greatful #blessed #lucky #broke #notsobroke #chuffed #charitybikeride #aroundtheworld #charitychallenge #whynot #ynomo #bikeride #cycletrip #safetyfirst #niceskidlid #cyclelife #vagabond #wanderer #cyclist #explorer (at McDonald Frauenfeld)

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There's been sooo much random, funny, interesting & obscure things going on the passed week or so & with limited internet/battery (on account of the wild camping) it's been hard to know what I should post next/first??? However, I figured this is a fairly significant milestone in the old challenge!!! Granted I've not been going particularly fast or far, but I've finally managed to chalk up 1000 miles under my own steam. Hopefully I'll be somewhere with Internet for long enough soon, that I can start sharing some stories and images of the trip, already so many incredible situations, moments & views it's really been an incredible journey thus far, both in terms of human spirit (mine & that of those I meet) as well as the trip itself! Here's to thousands of miles more!!!! 🙏😂🤔😢 #1000miles #milestone #bikeride #bikelife #biketour #cycletour #cycletouring #cycling #aroundtheworldbybike #aroundtheworld #charitybikeride #porqueno #ynot #ynomo #topeak #strava #travel #travelgram #vagabond (at Five Elements Hostel)

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Great introduction to Germany yesterday, the weathers been beautiful (if not too hot, 90 most of the day), the landscapes slowly changing & the scenery has been great. To top it off the Germans I've met so far have been awesome, just had a lovely 10 minute chat with a family about the ride/life whilst I grabbed a coffee & yesterday cycling through Kevelaer there was an annual fair on, so I "reluctantly" swung by to get some proper German grub, ended up having a curry bratwurst & when my search for a can of coke failed, I sided with a German beer, "one of your cheapest beers please!" (My German is VERY limited), by the time I'd got my money from the bike & turned back, it had been paid for by this lovely man, Ernest, who I spoke to for a while about his time hitchhiking the UK, he said that was German Hospitality! #hero #gentleman #kevelaer #germany #deutschland #adventure #travel #travelgram #biketouring #bikeride #bikelife #beer #energy #needed #aroundtheworld #bybike #porqueno #whynot #ynomo #instatravel #generosity #gooddeed #grateful (at Kevelaer)

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Another day of beautiful weather, another day setting off hours after intended, just wished I'd had more time to go down the slide! Next stop should hopefully be in Germany, on hunt for my Grandads plane which was shot down over Recklinghausen. #nederland #germany #deutschland #bikelife #biketouring #aroundtheworld #bybike #ihope #charity #bikeride #porqueno #whynot #ynomo #travel #travelgram #vagabond #wanderlust #instatravel #traveller #dreamer #beautifulday (at RecreatieParc de Witte Vennen)

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Everyday is a school day! Today I learned to surf, although I think I was meant to be learning yoga, either way namaste!!! #surfsup #yoga #beginneryoga #schoolday #learning #namaste #eindhoven #nederland #aroundtheworld #bybike #porqueno #whynot #yknot #ynomo #cycle #bikeride #bikelife #biketouring #travel #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #vagabond #dreamer (at Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant)

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Pizza? Good! Pancake? Good! Pizza/Pancake? Good!!!!!! First pizza, pancake I've eaten & certainly won't be the last! Also definitely the first pizza I've eaten with syrup #porqueno Hopefully post some more updates soon, but I've been wild camping the passed few nights, with no Internet, hence the radio silence! Needless to say the hospitality & kindness of strangers is still surprising me daily!!!! #pizza #pancake #pizzapancake #good #travel #traveller #travelgram #instatravel #aroundtheworld #bybike #whynot #porqueno #ynomo #happy #gratitude #thankful #joeytribbiani #friends (at De Pannekoekenbakker Thorn)

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Also not a bad view from my bed!!! However, picking the bed nearest the window, over looking a busy street maybe not the wisest of decisions in retrospect! Been kicking off a right coffufle on the street below me, but came at the end of a great day adventuring the city with my camera, snaps & shizzle to follow soon! Also just met & been chilling with Wim, an absolute hero of a street musician, I was photographising earlier, just spent 2 hrs, putting the world to rights over a coffee or two & an almighty thunderstorm! #antwerp #belgium #beautiful #city #architecture #travel #travelgram #bedwithaview #instatravel #streetmusician #hero #worldtorights #thunderstorm #thunderbuddy #porqueno #ynomo #whynot #bikelife #bikeride (at Antwerp City Hostel)

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Some of the very best advice I've had since being on this trip, was from Wym, a street musician I spent the evening with in Antwerp. He had himself cycle toured extensively & said "you should always camp somewhere, where you wish to wake up, regardless of what time of day that is!" Think my skills in this area have developed nicely on this trip. I found this little gem of a private beach about 8:30 last night, but decided to double back to utilise a portaloo next to some roadworks - when desperation strikes it can be rather luxurious to have a seat! I then doubled forward, just to make sure there was nothing slightly more favourable for the sunset, there weren't, not for camping at least. I took a few sunset photos then cruised back, pitched my tent, collected firewood & loads of it, then sat there all evening listening to the crackling roar of the fire & the soothing tones of waves lapping at the stony shore, my dream soundtrack to life!!!!! #roomwithaview #myview #mylife #happy #happyandhomless #vagabond #wanderlust #travel #travellife #travelbug #waves #lake #lakegeneva #francais #france #swiss #switzerland #beautiful #nature #camping #camplife #wildcamping #goodmorning #lucky #blessed #fortunate #thankyou #travelgram #instatravel #cycling #bikelife #charitybikeride #aroundtheworld #worldtour #bybike #whynot #porqueno #ynomo (at Lake Geneva)

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Hands down two of the most foolish, idiotic & dumb things I've ever done - which is saying something!!!! & I did them back to back! Firstly, having cycled 3.5 miles up hill, from a height of maybe 1000ft to 3300ft (nearly dying in the process!!!), I proceed to cycle down the other side of the pass, along one of the most beautiful, incredible & breathtaking roads I've ever had the pleasure of traveling on, with my GoPro securely mounted & set on my helmet - only, I didn't press record!!! What an absolute buffoon!!! I'm jabbering on throughout the recording & laughing about how pissed I'll be if the camera doesn't work, or doesn't record & that "if it didn't, I wouldn't go back up this mountain in a year of Sundays!!!! However, through sheer stupidity, a blatant disregard for personal well being & the pure enjoyment of this incredible road, I find myself BACK at the top of the pass, struggling for life, but with this beautiful looking beer as a commiserative reward!!! It best be good at 6.5 Swiss Francs that's over half my food budget!!!! #idiot #fool #crazy #loco #insane #pero #porqueno #ynot #ynomo #whynot #swiss #switzerland #mountains #waterfall #beer #happy #sortof #funny #gopro #nature #beautiful #aroundtheworldbybike #charitybikeride #bikeride #bikelife #crazylife #adventure #travellife #mylife #expensive #reward (at Gasthaus Brünig Kulm)

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Whilst I have a little wifi I wanted to share one of my many "proper" shots of the newly dubbed "Regal Beagle". This was whilst leaving Lindau, late, like everywhere else, but I'd not taken my anti-distraction tablets & I wanted a snap of the impending hills & horrendous looking clouds - turns out this was one of the better days for weather, things have got progressively worse & wetter since, I basically swam into Zurich last night!!! #regalbeagle #thelightblue #lindau #lakeconstance #deutschland #germany #roadtrip #bikeride #bikelife #cyclelife #adventure #travel #travellife #aroundtheworldbybike #charitychallenge #charitybikeride #whynot #ynomo #selfie #storm #mountains #dslr #photography #bicycle #cyclist (at Lindau, Bayern, Germany)

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I've had some pretty weird & wonderful days on this trip, but today has been one of the most surreal & mainly due to its "normality", which I appreciate is quite the contradiction in terms!!! However, for the passed week I've stayed at my friends fishing restaurant & fishing lake - The Forellensee, Zweisimmen. Initially I was invited to stay for a night in one of the sites Pod Houses, which was a lovely experience & welcome break to having to pitch a tent or sleep on friends floors. However, the weather changed & the following couple of days when I'd intended to leave, we had unrelenting rain & big storms, so my friend kindly invited me to stay for a little longer in the restaurants apartment. After a couple of lovely days, enjoying the scenery, eating exceptionally well & all for free, my friend mentioned in passing he was in a real pickle at the weekend & needed staff. After his kindness and hospitality, I figured the absolute least I could do was to offer to help out. As a result I've worked all weekend & done everything from cleaning Pod houses, to rowing boats, to catching, killing & gutting fish (for the first time), to running food, cleaning tables & taking drinks orders. Today this escalated into my friend leaving for a couple of days, giving me the keys to the apartment, the code & key to the restaurant & the responsibility of opening up, setting up, feeding the fish & dealing with the fishery - which includes giving people instructions on how to fish, fixing the lines they inevitably break, building the fires for them to cook on, as well as preparing their fish for the fire & all this without speaking a word of German or French, the two most prevalent languages in the region!!!! #hahaha #weird #wonderful #strange #mylife #surreal #normal #fish #fishing #work #working #switzerland #swiss #beautiful #nature #stunning #kindness #hospitality #karma #payitforward #help #porqueno #whynot #ynomo #lucky #happy #thatescalatedquickly #trust #responsibility (at Forellensee Zweisimmen)

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The most empathy I think I've felt towards a phone box! Both a "long way" (OK not so far) from home, both war torn, having seen better days, as well as maybe not smelling as fresh as they once have - relics in a society which is passing them by, or a society which is being passed by!?! Either way, I'm referring to myself and the phone box - the bikes been an absolute dream!!! - the newly dubbed "Regal Beagle" & my companion in all of this madness!!! #homefromhome #redphonebox #londoncalling #regalbeagle #dreamvehicle #bike #bicycle #bikelife #bikeride #cycling #cyclinglife #adventure #travel #wanderer #stblaise #swiss #switzerland #travelgram #traveller #traveling #aroundtheworldbybike #porqueno #ynomo (at St-Blaise beach)

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Today's view/campsite! I did find find a beautiful/normal area to camp yesterday, fully equipped with solid hut, fire pit & a beautiful view. I very much liked the prospect of waking up there, however, having just 1 bottle of water left, I sadly had to push on! It's fair to say that Sally-Sat/Nav took me a particularly "interesting" route yesterday, which resulted in two broken rear spokes & meant that it was nearly another 20 miles of rationing my water before my literal prayers were answered & I cycled through a village with a natural spring of fresh water. I had a couple of fresh strawberries from a local, before setting sail to find somewhere to camp for the evening. With the sun already setting, ideally I needed to find somewhere pronto! Luckily, after I got to the top of what was an exploratory hill climb on the Black Beagle, I saw a sign for what appeared to be viewing point, thought that would do perfectly!!! However, the viewing spot was in fact a religious spot or something to that degree, I didn't think Jesus would mind too much!!! It was such a beautiful evening I decided to do away with the tent & just face the elements & insects (of which there were a LOT) with my Vango Fuse -6 sleeping bag, glad I did, lovely night & rewarded with a beautiful morning & he fact I've not got to put my tent away! #winning #camping #wildcamping #waterrations #germany #deutschland #jesus #cross #hopehesnotcross #cyclelife #cyclediaries #bikeride #bikelife #aroundtheworldbybike #charitybikeride #whynot #porqueno #cambodia #sportscharity #ynomo #campsite #roomwithaview #brokenspokes #badtimes #cycletouring #bicycle #travel #traveller #travelgram #wanderlust #vagabond #random #funny #morning (at MT Baumaschinentechnik)