Contributor: Daniel Baines
Hello everyone, my name is Daniel Baines. I’m originally from Lincoln in the UK, and I’ve recently set out on a solo cycling adventure across Europe.
I’ve given myself the challenge of cycling through 14 countries in 3 months, which I’m calling #14in3. The idea came to me while I was in Valencia. Originally, I’d only planned to cover Spain, France, Italy, and then head home, but one night I woke up and thought: why not push myself further, create a real challenge, and try to see just how far I could go within the Schengen visa time limit.
So far, the journey has taken me from Bilbao to Madrid, across to Valencia, then up the coast through Barcelona, into Andorra, down through the Pyrenees to Montpellier, and today I’ve arrived in Marseille. That makes three countries so far, with plenty still ahead.
Most of the time, I’ve been camping or staying at hostels; however, tonight will actually be my very first stay with a Warmshowers host. I’ll be spending two 
nights here in Marseille, and I’m really looking forward to the experience. The chance to meet people through this community, share stories, and have a roof over my head for a couple of nights feels like something really special.
The cycling itself has been both challenging and rewarding. There have been hot nights in the tent and long climbs in the mountains, but also incredible highlights like swimming in the sea mid-ride along the Mediterranean, the ascent into Andorra, and a breathtaking 20-mile descent through the Pyrenees.
From Marseille, I’ll continue east along the coast toward Monaco and then into Italy, as I work my way toward the 14-country target.
I am particularly looking forward to tackling the Alps and ticking off a number of countries I have never previously visited. I am sure I will miss the coastline, but the adventure is filling me with immense joy.
This is my first time really bikepacking on this scale, and I think what makes it so meaningful is not just the riding, but the people you meet along the way. That’s why I’m so excited to now be connecting with the Warmshowers community, and I hope to share more stories as the journey continues.
Thanks to Warmshowers for giving me the opportunity to share this adventure, and here’s to many more connections as the journey continues.
If you’d like to follow along, I’m sharing updates here:
