Leaving without knowing exactly what to expect, just with a bicycle and the desire to discover the world.

This is how my journey began, solo, from Málaga, in southern Spain, with the goal of cycling to the Arctic Circle and then heading south again through part of the Balkans.

Six months, 10,300 km, hundreds of encounters, incredible landscapes, and an infinite number of experiences that have deeply shaped me.

The first kilometers were exciting. I felt the energy of departure and the freedom of having no schedules or precise destinations. After crossing Spain, I continued through France, then Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.

For two weeks, a friend joined me with his bike, an experience that broke the routine and made the journey even more special.

From Germany, I entered Denmark, then took a ferry to Kristiansand, Norway. From there, the long journey north began: Oslo, Stockholm, and finally Finland.

I met other cyclists along the way, some traveling in opposite directions, others following a similar route to mine, and so I shared parts of the journey with them.

The goal was the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi. Cycling to that point was a mix of excitement and satisfaction.

After Rovaniemi, the journey changed direction: I began the descent towards the Balkans. I reached Helsinki and from there took a ferry to Estonia. Crossing the Baltic capitals Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, I discovered fascinating cities and cultures rich in history.

Then Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria, until I reached Croatia, where this incredible journey came to an end. Every night was an adventure. I almost always slept in a tent, often in places surrounded by nature, under starry skies or incessant rain.

Other times, I was hosted through Warmshowers, a network of cyclists who welcome other travelers, showing me incredible generosity. The journey taught me a lot. I saw spectacular landscapes, from the forests of Scandinavia to the plains of Northern Europe, from the historic cities of the East to the most remote villages.

I cycled in the rain for days, challenging the wind and the cold, but I also experienced the gratification of reaching places I never thought I would. In the first months, I covered between 60 and 80 km a day, but over time, my body adapted, and in the final stretches, I was doing between 100 and 140 km daily.

I never took a bus or other forms of transportation: the entire journey was by bicycle. Besides the landscapes, the people were the most beautiful part of this experience. I met cyclists, travelers, and locals who offered me a warm meal or a place to sleep.

Each encounter left a mark, every border crossed added a piece to my adventure. This journey was much more than just moving from one point to another. It was an experience of growth, discovery, and absolute freedom.