Contributor: Tiffany Sharp
I have one week to go, and I will have completed a 14-month ‘Gap Year’ in Europe/UK. I started out with a dream to cycle the Eurovelo 6 route from the Atlantic in France, following the rivers Loire, Rhine, and Danube for 4,000 km to the Black Sea in Romania. The trip would take about 3 months, which would fit within my 90-day visa allowance for Schengen countries as an Australian.
I had a list of reasons why I couldn’t do this trip, from affordability, I have a mortgage, I have a job that gives 4 weeks’ holiday a year, elderly parents, 3 adult sons, what if I get a mechanical I can’t fix, etc.
I had the dream for about 4 years and then got serious about it. I made a list of all my objections and, next to each one, wrote what I would be prepared to do to address it.
I sold my modest 4-bed home, which I had scraped together enough funds for a deposit after my husband left 14yrs ago, and downsized to a 2-bed townhouse, becoming mortgage-free. I had just enough money left over for some renovations. I signed up for a credit card that gave frequent flyer points and searched for a date that let me buy my ticket with points (a Tuesday night flight from Australia, the long way via the USA to London). I realised that taking 3 months off work was not really feasible, whereas taking a year off would allow me to rent out my place for some income (with fewer expenses at home). I resigned from work, and amazingly, my employer said they would take me back when I returned. 🥰 I 
watched and downloaded some YouTube clips on the most common bike mechanical issues and read blogs.
And so here I am with a week to go, reflecting on the most incredible low-budget trip that wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but has filled my cup. 😊
I have visited 22 countries, cycled over 8000 km, camped in my tiny tent most nights, and worn the same limited clothing for over a year. I have cooked my own food on my tiny stove, saved money by drinking only the occasional alcoholic drink, and I don’t drink coffee either; gelato is my treat. I had the incredible opportunity to stay in other cycle tourists’ homes using the Warmshowers network. I met wonderful, generous Europeans and British who passed on local tips and knew just what I needed as a long-distance traveller – bed, charging devices, ability to wash clothes, a full-size towel to use, wifi, and a meal – all with great conversation.
Over the colder/rainy winter months, I housesat via Trusted House Sitters (free accommodation and a pet to love) in iconic locations in the UK, including London for Christmas & NYE, Oxford, Salisbury, Brighton, the Cotswolds, Cheshire, Cardiff, and even Vienna. I would walk the pet, then go for a few hours of cycling exploration, and then head back home for pet cuddles, often to incredible manor houses! I used my downtime there for route planning and logistics, with free Wi-Fi and the luxury of a bed and a kitchen.
I volunteered through Englischhausen, an immersive English program for Germans, and through Work Away, working 5-6 hrs a day in exchange for free accommodation and food. In the Swiss Alps on an organic farm picking and weeding vegetable gardens on the side of a mountain with Alps views, a kitchen hand in a hotel in Fethiye in Turkey, a kitchen hand in a boarding school in Denmark, and an activities helper at a summer camp in Northern Ireland. I would do my shift and then cycle explore the area. This usually involved staying in shared accommodation with fabulous, like-minded, adventurous people. I volunteered for the UEFA Euros, based at the Cologne stadium, for a month and cycled between matches.
I’ve stayed in hostels on a few trips without my bike. I signed up for notifications for the budget airlines and picked up 15-20 pound bargain flights to Albania, Turkey, Denmark, Belfast, just to name a few.
My bike and gear weigh between 37-40kgs and it’s hard to ride up hills. I ride 60-80 km a day on average and have embraced slow travel, stopping to see all the free sights along the way. I’ve become an expert in stained glass windows (churches are usually free), I’ve looked at castles from the outside, gone to museums on their free day, I’ve sat by rivers and immersed myself in forests, I’ve climbed mountains, chatted with people as my Aussie flag and touring bike attracts questions.
The kindness of strangers has been the biggest takeaway. There are wonderful people all over the world. Most people want to help, want you to succeed, will laugh with you, and give directions. There are dodgy areas in most cities, and I don’t go there in my own city either. Trust is a characteristic that will serve you well. Trust people, Google Maps, signage, etc. Life is too short to be suspicious and to expect the worst from people. The news is full of things going wrong around the world. These stories are newsworthy because they are not the norm. Go explore, trust but don’t be naive.
I’m finishing my trip in Paris for the Olympics. I bought cheap seats over a year ago, not knowing where I would stay. I met a lady at one of my volunteer opportunities who lives in Paris and has let me stay at her place for free. I have cycled all over Paris (free transport) with a small pastry as my daily treat, cooking my dinner instead of eating out.
Have I been lonely? At times, yes, but that happens at home too. When that hits, I choose to reach out to others at home to encourage them, which helps me turn my thinking around, or I try to chat with someone wherever I am.
My trip souvenirs have been photos.
I’m at the end of my trip, with hardly a cent left, but incredibly rich in memories to last a lifetime.
My favourite apps: Travelspend (for tracking my daily budget), Citymapper (the best big-city transport app), Komoot (for cycle route planning), Google Translate, Trusted Housesitters, and Warmshowers.
As I go home, my elderly father is not well, and I have two of my son’s weddings within 3 months. At 55, I didn’t wait for retirement and feel I picked the right gap! I’m looking forward to hugs with my darling family and cat. 🥰
It takes effort and planning to pull it off, but then, I had all day. 😊
Follow Tiffany’s travels on her blog, Tiffs Travel Tales
