Nomadic Tales My perception of small countries is that the chances of finding a secluded spot to pitch a tent without being seen are very low. The land tends to be expensive and fully utilized, and I imagined that landowners wouldn’t appreciate tents on property they’ve paid dearly for. I resisted the temptation to try even a single night of wild camping in Switzerland, fearing a hefty fine. However, I did camp in Luxembourg, not one, but two nights. In Kehl, Germany, just across the river from Strasbourg, I managed one night of wild camping, but it was far from comfortable. Two men walking in the distance kept watching me for about half an hour. Despite my green tent blending into the grassy ground with a forested backdrop, and being 400 meters from the road, they appeared suspicious, stepping left and right, perhaps trying to get a better view. Since wild camping is generally frowned upon in Germany, I usually avoid it, but I wanted to try anyway. I had spent a full week near ...
Nomadic Tales A common mantra in the travel community says "It’s about the journey, not the destination!" I take this to heart, though not because I’ve found inspiration from motivational quotes. I just genuinely enjoy the ride. While I usually have a general direction in mind, I’m not too concerned with sticking to a schedule. This attitude traces back to my very first bike trip, when I was regularly clocking 150 km per day and stubbornly refused to take even the smallest detours. Back then, my only focus was covering distance; any distraction felt like a setback. I finished with some impressive numbers, but there was nothing to it except placing “I’ve been there” pins on a map and a hollow sense of achievement. Since then, my daily average has steadily dropped. These days, I’m perfectly content covering about 40 km a day, giving myself plenty of time to explore, sightsee, or simply enjoy the moment. Of course, this relaxed appro...