35,000km, 29 Countries, & One Muppet

Jerry Kopack [00:00:02]:
Welcome to Bike Life, a podcast from the Warmshowers Foundation. Here we celebrate our global community of touring cyclists and hosts who make life on the road unforgettable. Through stories, insights, and shared experiences, we explore the connections that fuel every journey. Whether you're pedaling across countries or welcoming travelers into your home, you're part of a movement rooted in generosity and adventure. Discover more and join the community at Warmshowers.org. Now let's hit the road together. Hey, everyone, this is Jerry Kopeck, the host of Bike Life, coming to you from the Rocky Mountains in Breckenridge, Colorado. Today I'm talking to Colleen Bardet, a French cyclist who finished school in 2021. But instead of stepping straight into that office job, she left home to live life on a bicycle.

Jerry Kopack [00:00:57]:
For four years, she's ridden over 35,000 km through 25 countries. We'll talk about what lessons she brought home from that adventure and what happens when you choose to truly see the world with a bike, an open heart, and even a Muppet companion along for the ride. Colleen, welcome to Bike Life.

Coline Berret [00:01:18]:
Thank you.

Jerry Kopack [00:01:19]:
Now, I have to tell you, I love stories like yours, where people choose adventure and curiosity and the unknown over traditional norms and expectations. Now, do you remember when you're in college, there was a moment where you're finishing school and you thought, nah, I'm going to get on my bike and go see what's out there?

Coline Berret [00:01:41]:
Yes, definitely. Just when I graduated, I think two weeks later, I was already on my bicycle for a first trip. But the only thing is that the pandemic started just the year I graduated, so I could not travel right away. So it was quite frustrating at first, but since when the border opened, I just took the bicycle and left. For me, it was impossible to stay beyond a desk.

Jerry Kopack [00:02:10]:
So was this a. Was this an impulse or something you've been planning as your graduation was nearing?

Coline Berret [00:02:16]:
Yeah, I've been traveling by bicycle since I'm kid with my parents, so it's like usual way of traveling for me. So when I graduated, I studied geography, so it kind of makes sense because I love maps and I love seeing the world through maps. But I thought, okay, it's nice on the map, but I would love to see it for real. So, yeah, I just had planned. I had a map of Europe and I draw a line and I was like, this looks great, I want to try.

Jerry Kopack [00:02:49]:
So you had kind of a rough outline or a plan of where you wanted to go?

Coline Berret [00:02:53]:
Yeah, like the main cities and a rough line. But then I Was improvising on the way for the details. But main cities and routes. Yeah.

Jerry Kopack [00:03:04]:
Based on maybe new information. Maybe people you met, maybe gave you an idea like maybe you should check out this place.

Coline Berret [00:03:11]:
Yeah, I've read some books about French travelers that been around the world or in South America, Asia and Europe. And then, yeah, I haven't been traveling a lot before, so I didn't knew Europe at all. So for me, every part of Europe was interesting. And then I was planning according to the seasons and Eurovillas a bit, trying to follow the Eurovillas. But the plan was to travel for one year. But after one year I was only in Switzerland, so really close to home. So yeah, it took a bit longer than expected.

Jerry Kopack [00:03:54]:
Tell me why it took you a year to get to Switzerland.

Coline Berret [00:03:57]:
Because it's.

Jerry Kopack [00:03:57]:
That's a common border there.

Coline Berret [00:03:59]:
Yeah. Well, I went around Spain and Portugal.

Jerry Kopack [00:04:02]:
Okay.

Coline Berret [00:04:02]:
And then back in France and then Switzerland. Like I crossed France from Paris to the south in two weeks. And then I crossed to Spain and I start to meet new people, talk a new language, see a new culture and like, okay, this is great. Why do I have to rush? So I, I started to listen people and. Do you want to come to see my grandfather in this village and stay one week at my place? Yes. Okay. And then, you know, you start going in zigzag and it takes four years to go back home.

Jerry Kopack [00:04:38]:
Now, did you have a. An end date? Because you said initially it's just going to be one year, but you said it sounds like it was four years. So was there a date you had to be home by?

Coline Berret [00:04:48]:
No, I quit my job. I left my flats, I left everything when I left. So it was like, until I like traveling, I would go. I had no responsibility, no obligations. So yeah, I could come back when I want. I saved a little bit of money, but then I had to find other ways to finance my trip. But yeah, the two first years I could travel on my savings.

Jerry Kopack [00:05:13]:
What you mentioned you had some other ways to finance your trip. Tell me about those.

Coline Berret [00:05:18]:
So I started crowdfunding online and sharing my story a bit on social media. And then I was painting some postcards with watercolors and selling in the streets to the people telling about my story, what I want to do, putting some pictures, my Muppets and yeah, people just make some donations and they get inspired by what I did and like, yeah, keep going. And I also volunteered a lot in some farms or helping people around. And you don't need a lot of money to travel on bikes. So I Could keep doing it for another two years.

Jerry Kopack [00:05:58]:
So let me ask you that then. So you said you would travel as long as it, I think felt good. Right. So was there a point when you thought I was ready to be done or I should go home? What was that like?

Coline Berret [00:06:11]:
There were of course some few down moments because I traveled alone. So sometimes you really miss family and friends. And I didn't want to come back home because I don't want to take the plane anymore. So sometimes I was very far away and like I wish I was with my close ones. So that was hard. I found it was more difficult in the north of Europe because there it's colder and it's not so populated, so it's not easy to meet people. And I felt sometimes a bit lonely. And I was like, it would be nice to go back.

Jerry Kopack [00:06:48]:
So were you gone the entire four years or did you come back periodically for holidays or to restock?

Coline Berret [00:06:55]:
No, I came back the first Christmas, but then I didn't came back for the four years. But my family came and visited a few times, but I didn't want to, to come back. So no.

Jerry Kopack [00:07:07]:
Where do they visit you?

Coline Berret [00:07:09]:
My dad, he came cycling with me for 10 days in Italy. Yes, yes. That was really crazy. And my mom and my brother, they came in Istanbul and we visited Istanbul together. That was also great.

Jerry Kopack [00:07:23]:
Amazing, because you mentioned that you've always been cycling with your family. What was it like cycling with your dad after cycling alone?

Coline Berret [00:07:32]:
It was just bringing back all the memories from my childhood. My dad is a crazy cyclist, is really, really is 63 now, but is really in good shape. So it was very hard for me to follow him on the bike. But yeah, we were just planning the route together, camping together, making the food together. So it was like being back in my childhood when we were doing it all together with my brother and sisters.

Jerry Kopack [00:08:02]:
Ah, that's amazing. What a great way to grow up. Now, did you cycle out your front door? Because you said you didn't want to take planes. Right, so you've left out your front door.

Coline Berret [00:08:13]:
Yeah, exactly, yeah. Suburbs of Paris and then came back to the front door.

Jerry Kopack [00:08:20]:
Was there, were there a list of places or countries that were definitely on your list, places you wanted to see?

Coline Berret [00:08:27]:
Turkey was really my goal. Initially I wanted to go to Istanbul. That was really my dream, to go to this city. And then the trip was longer and I could go to Scandinavia, a bit higher up in the north, which was not my plan. But yeah, Turkey definitely was on my list. Definitely.

Jerry Kopack [00:08:48]:
What is it about Turkey that was so interesting to you?

Coline Berret [00:08:52]:
I guess it's like the start of being on another continent and the change of culture is bigger than in the rest of Europe. And I've been hearing cyclists telling me stories of the hospitality, how it is incredible there. And. Yeah, the culture, the food, the language, the. Everything. And it. It was as I was expecting. So, yeah, it was really great to cycle there.

Jerry Kopack [00:09:18]:
Yeah. I've been to Turkey. It is one of my favorites as well, as you mentioned, it's. It's the country where literally east meets west.

Coline Berret [00:09:25]:
And it is.

Jerry Kopack [00:09:26]:
You're crossing into another continent right there in Istanbul. So. Wow. How was that just. Was it kind of a culture shock or. How did you feel when you got there?

Coline Berret [00:09:36]:
I was just smiling all the time and crying of joy, like, oh, my God, I'm cycling along the Bosphorus, and wow. It was like all this emotion of, I did it with my bicycle and my frog and I'm there and it's chaotic, it's beautiful, it's full with people. The markets, like, oh, it was such incredible feeling, honestly, to get there.

Jerry Kopack [00:10:01]:
The energy is. Is intense. Right, in the markets, in the city.

Coline Berret [00:10:05]:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Jerry Kopack [00:10:08]:
Was it your. The first Muslim country you had visited?

Coline Berret [00:10:13]:
Yes. Even though in Bosnia, it was also Muslim culture, but yes, was the first. First time. Yeah.

Jerry Kopack [00:10:22]:
So you keep talking about your Muppets and your frog. What's the connection? I could see Kermit back there on the shelf behind you.

Coline Berret [00:10:30]:
Yes. It's actually a joke from my friends. The day I left, I asked them if they could find for me something I could carry with me during my trip. And the day I left, they bring this huge frog because we were all the time joking about Kermit. But it's enormous. You know, when you travel with bike, you must have maybe a little. People often have a little Muppet, but this one is very big. But I said, okay, guys, I will take it.

Coline Berret [00:11:00]:
And it's been very funny. People have been talking to me just because of the frog. The kids, of course, were laughing and. Yeah, I think it's great to have this little thing on your bicycle that people can recognize you and say, oh, this is the girl with the frog on the bicycle. And it's been funny, you know.

Jerry Kopack [00:11:20]:
Now, where did Kermit ride on your bicycle?

Coline Berret [00:11:24]:
On the back.

Jerry Kopack [00:11:25]:
Okay.

Coline Berret [00:11:26]:
It was like he had a little safety belt and everything. A little scarf for the winter. No, no, he got proper good experience. Did nothing. Just relaxing and enjoying the view all the time.

Jerry Kopack [00:11:41]:
Now, how did he fare in the. During different Weather conditions, when it snowed, when it rained. Did he get wet? Did you bring him inside?

Coline Berret [00:11:49]:
No, no. He experienced everything. It's a frog, so he can handle a lot of weather. And when I was in the north, it got really frozen, so it was hard as rock.

Jerry Kopack [00:12:01]:
No, I have to. I have to admit, I love the fact that you have a Kermit story, because I have a definite connection to Kermit as well. So my bike packing bicycle, it's a steel frame, and it came black, and I thought black is a. Is an okay color, but I wanted something more unique. And so I found a place that would paint cars. They also turns out they paint bicycles. And the guy said, what color do you want? And my eyes are immediately drawn to that. Kermit Green.

Jerry Kopack [00:12:31]:
And so my bicycle has been named Kermit for 12, 13 years now. So. And the reason. And maybe you remember this too, about Kermit. He's famous for saying it isn't easy being green. And my thought with that is, the places that I'm going to go, the places that you went, it may not always be easy. And so I sort of want that mindset of Kermit. It's not easy being green.

Coline Berret [00:12:55]:
That's amazing. Yeah. And in Italy, frogs are meant for good luck, so. Yes. It's a good sign to have a green frog with you. So. Yeah. Yeah.

Coline Berret [00:13:08]:
It's a good symbol. It's funny that your bike is named Kermit.

Jerry Kopack [00:13:13]:
Yeah. It's the one material. Material item in my entire life that I. I truly love, because nothing else is. And you. You probably know this too, just by traveling. It's not about stuff. Right.

Jerry Kopack [00:13:24]:
It's about experiences. I mean, think about the experiences that you had. We talk about. You could. You could have gone to. To Paris, to the Eiffel Tower. You could go to Istanbul, to the Shooks and the markets there. And you could have gotten there by, say, a bus or a plane or a car.

Jerry Kopack [00:13:40]:
But look at the stories that you gain, the people you meet along the ways, right?

Coline Berret [00:13:45]:
Yeah, definitely.

Jerry Kopack [00:13:47]:
So with that, I think you probably stayed in a few Warmshowers. I know that Warmshowers network is. Is pretty extensive through. Through Europe. Tell me about a crazy place you slept or something that would have only happened because you were traveling by bike.

Coline Berret [00:14:03]:
So so many stories. I've been counting recently. And I. I stayed with like 60, 61 showers in Europe. So that's 60.

Jerry Kopack [00:14:13]:
Six. Zero.

Coline Berret [00:14:15]:
Yeah, six zero. Wow.

Jerry Kopack [00:14:16]:
Okay.

Coline Berret [00:14:18]:
And which one? I remember in Lithuania, I slept in a sauna.

Jerry Kopack [00:14:28]:
So was it warm?

Coline Berret [00:14:30]:
Because actually when the guy wrote to me, are you okay if you sleep in the sauna? I was, yes, of course, it's better than my tent. But actually the sauna is like a room where it's getting very hot, like 80 degrees. But then on the side there is a living room with a couch and a table. And so it meant this room. But the guy was really incredible. He prepared this sauna for like five hours because you need to eat up the stones with the fire. So I arrived from one day of bicycling in the rain. It was October, I think, in Lithuania.

Coline Berret [00:15:06]:
So very gloomy. And you just want to be sitting by the fire and drinking tea. And the guy had made, prepared the sauna and we did sauna together for like two hours, telling stories and drinking beer and oh, yeah, it was really comforting to ride there and being taken care of by a stranger and immediately going to Isana. And yeah, I felt so, so grateful.

Jerry Kopack [00:15:32]:
So cool. So cool. So do you remember your. Your very first Warmshowers experience? And what was that like? Because I'm guessing you maybe had never stayed in someone's home that you didn't know.

Coline Berret [00:15:46]:
I used it before this trip, in another trip.

Jerry Kopack [00:15:49]:
Okay.

Coline Berret [00:15:50]:
And I, I hosted home some people before I left. Yeah, I felt it was very natural because in my home we always had people coming and going, being invited, friends or family and. But I'm very surprised how much people can trust you. In many places, people were not there and they say, yeah, the key is in the flower pot. Just take it and make yourself at home. They never met you, they just trust you completely because you are a cyclist and they, they think you are a good person because you are a cyclist. And this was every time I was just amazed how generous and people trust you. It's crazy.

Jerry Kopack [00:16:36]:
Yeah, I love that statement. Just sort of this embedded network of trust and hospitality that Warmshowers is really based and founded on. So, so, so cool. Was there ever a time when you thought, like, I'm starting to me, let me back up. So I, I know that with a trip like yours, four years, people think maybe romantically that it's all rainbows and unicorns. Every day is sunny, every day is easy. Was there ever a time when you thought, wow, this is really hard, or how am I going to push my way through this?

Coline Berret [00:17:13]:
Of course, yes. I would say the three first year were okay because I was mostly in the south of Europe, so life is mostly rainbow and beach and sun, and even in the winter, you don't really feel like it's winter. So you can really improvise. People are really talkative and they invite you a bit everywhere because of the bicycle. They say, where are you coming from? And start the conversation very easily. But then in the north, I found it pretty harsh because it was night very early. It's very cold every night. You need to find a shelter.

Coline Berret [00:17:51]:
It's a bit more survival mode. So, yeah, it was definitely a time I thought I have to stop my traveling because it's too difficult and I'm not capable of doing this much extreme weather stuff. But I ask advices from other cyclists and write on some forums and get the help of farm showers for hosting in the winter. And yeah, actually it's possible. Thanks to this community of cyclists. It's. It's possible, yeah.

Jerry Kopack [00:18:29]:
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Coline Berret [00:19:04]:
I think it's 29.

Jerry Kopack [00:19:06]:
29. Okay, was. Was Turkey the farthest east that you got?

Coline Berret [00:19:13]:
Yes, to Capadolcia with the first for this east high winds.

Jerry Kopack [00:19:17]:
Okay, so it sounds like I don't know how many countries there are in Europe, but did you travel through all of them?

Coline Berret [00:19:23]:
I think almost. I missed Ukraine, of course, and then I think Serbia. I was not there. And maybe Luxembourg or some other small countries. I was not. But yes, I went like further points in our south and west and east was Cappadocia.

Jerry Kopack [00:19:42]:
So is there a country that you kind of missed that you wish you'd have gotten to on your travels?

Coline Berret [00:19:52]:
When I reached Turkey, I was also thinking going more east to Iran or these kind of countries, but then I questioned, do I want to keep traveling for another 10 years? Because if you start going east, then it's another type of traveling. And then alone again. I was not sure if I wanted to keep traveling alone for so long time, so I went north instead.

Jerry Kopack [00:20:16]:
Okay, so let me ask you this. I know that you traveled alone. Did you meet people along the way to travel with maybe a day, a week or a month at a time?

Coline Berret [00:20:26]:
Yes, actually, I've been traveling for eight months with a Spanish guy and this guy was traveling with his Dog. So during eight months, we were with the dog. Like the three of us with a dog. And that was pretty cool. He had a little trailer and the dog behind. And for eight months, we would maybe cycle 10 days together, and then I would take another route and then we would meet again. And, yeah, it was nice to have company for some time. But I must say, I love traveling alone also.

Jerry Kopack [00:21:01]:
Yeah. Just because you can travel at your own pace or. What was the reason for traveling alone?

Coline Berret [00:21:07]:
Yeah, because also because of this dog, we had to adapt the rhythm and the distances to the dog. And sometimes I just wanted to be by myself and do stuff that I like drawing or writing. And sometimes it's hard when you travel with someone that it's 100% what he wants or she wants to do. So sometime I preferred, okay, I take my time and we can meet again later. And it worked better this way.

Jerry Kopack [00:21:36]:
Yeah. The fact that you did go your separate ways but then come back together several times, that's pretty interesting because you were probably going in the same general direction.

Coline Berret [00:21:45]:
Yeah, basically. Together we went around all Italy, like coast, both coastlines. But he would choose places that were mostly flat because of the dog. And the weight of his bicycle was like over 100 kilo. And I would love to go through mountains and.

Jerry Kopack [00:22:08]:
Wait, you said over a hundred kilo.

Coline Berret [00:22:11]:
Okay, maybe I exaggerated, but he had ton of stuff. It was really crazy. It was a big dog, a big man, and this guy was traveling for, I think, eight years already. So he had his whole life on the bicycle. He carried, like a barbecue creed, like, everything you could want. This guy had it on his bicycle. So this was insane. But I prefer the mountains, so I prefer going up and down.

Coline Berret [00:22:41]:
So I would choose the mountain way, it would choose the seaside, and then we would meet again after. And.

Jerry Kopack [00:22:48]:
Yeah, that's really funny. So much more weight and load than, say, Kermit then, right?

Coline Berret [00:22:56]:
Yeah, Kermit is lightweight compared to this guy.

Jerry Kopack [00:23:00]:
Even with this rain jacket and a scarf.

Coline Berret [00:23:03]:
Exactly.

Jerry Kopack [00:23:04]:
So I love this statement. You've said that the places you loved most were shaped by the people that you met. So give me an example of a special place that you were, where you stayed.

Coline Berret [00:23:17]:
I don't know if I mentioned, but one of my idea of this trip was to visit some eco communities, which are places where people, they live together and they try to grow their food and to build houses in a more sustainable way. And I wanted to learn about this way of living. So I visited maybe 15 of these places. And each time I would stay maybe for Two weeks or sometimes one month or two. And yeah, each time it's really nice to stay in these places because you can learn about all these things and you are with other people. And living in a group is not easy. We are not used to it anymore. So I really love this challenge of, okay, I will try to be living with 15 or 20 other people and we eat together, we work together, we have project together.

Coline Berret [00:24:13]:
And how does this work? And in Greece, there was this community called Hopeland which was hosting young people from all around Europe. And together we were. We were working on this. On this stuff. And I stayed there three months and yeah, I really, really had a great time there. It was different.

Jerry Kopack [00:24:37]:
Three months is a long time to spend someplace. Was it hard to leave because you probably made some good friends there at that point?

Coline Berret [00:24:44]:
Yeah, Yeah. I would say it's the harshest stuff when you do a trip. It's like when you make friendships and you meet new people all the time, but you have to say goodbye because you have this idea of you want to do this trip. So, yeah, after three months, it's hard, but you make friendships and maybe you will see them again sometimes. You never know. So, yeah, it's harsh when you live in. Suddenly you pass from being 30 people to being you and your frog on the bike and you're like, what am I doing in my life? I want to be surrounded by others and not being alone on the. All the time.

Coline Berret [00:25:23]:
Yeah, but it's choices. It's choices, yeah.

Jerry Kopack [00:25:27]:
Have you stayed in contact with some of those close connections you made?

Coline Berret [00:25:31]:
Yeah, actually. Yeah, I'm planning to visit them again, I hope.

Jerry Kopack [00:25:35]:
Good. I love that. Now, when you are nearing the end of your trip, you were cycling home to your front door. Take me through the emotions. Were you excited? You're relieved, Kind of sad that it was over.

Coline Berret [00:25:49]:
It's very strange feeling. I don't know. Maybe you can also tell how you felt when you came back. But I felt really strange, like disconnected from everything. Of course, it was a lot of joy to see my friends and family again and. But to be in places you've known when you were a kid and you've been away for so long and then you come back and life didn't change for many people, but you see things with new eyes because you've been traveling and meeting people. So I had a very strange feeling. I felt like a computer that is rebooting.

Coline Berret [00:26:32]:
Something wrong was happening in me. It was not sad, but it was weird. Very weird feeling. I don't know how you experience coming back from, from trips.

Jerry Kopack [00:26:43]:
Yeah, that's. I love that you brought that up because I traveled for maybe two years, not quite four for sure, but for me we call it re entry. Right. So maybe like when astronauts come back from space, they experience re entry because things are different. And you mentioned that for most people life was the same because they were doing the same things. Nothing had changed for them. But to you, you had experienced this, this major shift in your mindset and your mentality. And I remember thinking to myself when I was coming back that I almost felt like I didn't fit in in certain places because to your point, my mindset had changed and people had talked to me about certain places that maybe I shouldn't go, or certain countries or certain cities.

Jerry Kopack [00:27:29]:
But I'm stubborn and I went anyways. And I'm curious to know your answer to this. But for me, I felt no matter where I went, people were just people. They were kind, they were generous, they were curious, they were helpful. Everyone has their own stresses in deadland life, their own aspirations. Tell me about that. What did you bring back with the people that you met?

Coline Berret [00:27:51]:
Yeah, that's. That's true that everywhere people are incredible. And when you are a girl alone, people always tell you you're not afraid to go out there and travel. But then you meet people and they are so helpful and kind. And I would say 90, 90% of the people are kind and generous. And when I came back also I noticed that a lot of people, they are watching too much tv, I don't know. And they are stressed by everything. They don't want to open their doors.

Coline Berret [00:28:24]:
They are. No, no, no. This stranger I would not. And for me it's. It's very sad. But I hope that people would understand that in the world there are many more great people than. Than bad. That's for sure.

Jerry Kopack [00:28:38]:
Yeah. And I love that sentiment that you just shared because that's for me at least, that's. That's why I travel and that's why I hope more people travel. Because it does allow you to see the world through different eyes, through different lenses, and just to realize that there's. There's good people out there. For sure.

Coline Berret [00:28:57]:
Yeah, yeah, yeah. But you need to step out outside and see it for yourself, I think.

Jerry Kopack [00:29:03]:
Yeah. Now I have a little game that I want to play with you and I hope you're up for it. It's just a kind of a series of so what I call rapid fire travel questions. So just kind of gut reaction. Give me your answer. And then we'll just kind of go through a couple questions here. Sound cool?

Coline Berret [00:29:22]:
Sound cool.

Jerry Kopack [00:29:23]:
All right. So easy one first question. Hope this is easy one because I already told you my answer, but does your bike have a name?

Coline Berret [00:29:31]:
It's called Francine.

Jerry Kopack [00:29:33]:
And what is that?

Coline Berret [00:29:34]:
It's my. It's my grandmother's name.

Jerry Kopack [00:29:37]:
I love that. So you were close with your grandmother?

Coline Berret [00:29:41]:
Yeah, and she. She passed away a few months before I left.

Jerry Kopack [00:29:45]:
Oh.

Coline Berret [00:29:45]:
So it was kind of for her to be with me in this trip. So. Yeah.

Jerry Kopack [00:29:51]:
Wow. That. That gives me goosebumps. That is amazing. I love that. Who? Okay. I take a minute there.

Coline Berret [00:29:59]:
Sorry.

Jerry Kopack [00:30:00]:
So. No, that's. That's a beautiful story. I love that. Now, the next question. I realize it's maybe a bit cliche because some people have already asked you this, but I'm going to ask you anyways. Every place is different. Every place is unique.

Jerry Kopack [00:30:13]:
Did you have a favorite place that you went to?

Coline Berret [00:30:18]:
I think I would say Naples in Italy.

Jerry Kopack [00:30:24]:
Why?

Coline Berret [00:30:25]:
Because it's very alive, and it's a bit like Istanbul for me. Like chaotic and alive, and it has smells and colors. I love this kind of city that you can see, people are living in. I really loved Naples.

Jerry Kopack [00:30:41]:
Yeah. Now, was there a place that was particularly challenging for you?

Coline Berret [00:30:48]:
I would say Finland in general because of. It's very monotonous to cycle there because it's mostly pine trees and lakes. And it was challenging for this big distance to have a bit monotonous air, landscapes. Yeah, it was hard.

Jerry Kopack [00:31:06]:
Okay. Okay. Was there a country that surprised you, that maybe you had expectations for, but you were caught off guard?

Coline Berret [00:31:14]:
Bosnia was surprising. I had no idea what the country would look like. And it was beautiful and welcoming country.

Jerry Kopack [00:31:22]:
Okay. And people were friendly?

Coline Berret [00:31:24]:
They were very friendly. Yeah. Offering raki, like the local alcohol, really often. Yeah.

Jerry Kopack [00:31:31]:
I have traveled through Bosnia and through the Balkans, and it's. It's definitely a very unique experience. How about this one? Did you have a favorite food country? We just. You loved the cuisine?

Coline Berret [00:31:43]:
Yeah. Italy, I guess. Definitely. Yeah.

Jerry Kopack [00:31:48]:
All the pastas and all the pizzas.

Coline Berret [00:31:52]:
The street food, like the fried stuff in Sicily, everywhere is just so delicious.

Jerry Kopack [00:31:59]:
Excellent. Now, I think I know the answer to this question, but I'll ask anyways. Do you have a favorite landscape, whether it's desert, coastal, mountain?

Coline Berret [00:32:09]:
I think it would be mountain.

Jerry Kopack [00:32:11]:
Yes. I knew it. Knew it. Let's see. Did you have a. A splurge item that you carry, something that you probably didn't need, that you brought along with you anyways, besides Kermit of course.

Coline Berret [00:32:27]:
Well, I had a chair, but a lot of cyclists have a chair.

Jerry Kopack [00:32:30]:
Okay.

Coline Berret [00:32:32]:
Yeah. My chair is very important.

Jerry Kopack [00:32:34]:
Okay. Was there anything that you wish you had?

Coline Berret [00:32:41]:
No, not. Not really. I think I had everything I could.

Jerry Kopack [00:32:45]:
Okay. Anything that you realized at the end you didn't need?

Coline Berret [00:32:51]:
No, not really. Okay. Yeah. I mean, I got rid of stuff. Yeah. After the first month.

Jerry Kopack [00:32:57]:
What'd you get rid of?

Coline Berret [00:33:00]:
Clothes, food. I mean, gears for food or bicycle spares that I thought I would need, but then I would never need. So. Yeah, I got rid of like two kilos or something.

Jerry Kopack [00:33:12]:
That's a lot. Two kilos adds up for sure. Especially going through the mountains.

Coline Berret [00:33:17]:
Yes.

Jerry Kopack [00:33:18]:
How about this one? Your favorite snack food that you carry with you.

Coline Berret [00:33:23]:
I love dates like the. Yeah. They really boost and sweet. It's perfect.

Jerry Kopack [00:33:30]:
Yeah. And especially think of all the snacks that you probably got from the Shooks in. In Istanbul, Right?

Coline Berret [00:33:36]:
Oh, like, you mean the, the lucuma or this kind of stuff?

Jerry Kopack [00:33:39]:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Coline Berret [00:33:41]:
This delicious.

Jerry Kopack [00:33:42]:
Yeah. The. The dates and the dried fruits and all those things.

Coline Berret [00:33:45]:
Yeah.

Jerry Kopack [00:33:46]:
Yeah. For me, I'm a peanut butter person. I have to carry peanut butter with me all the time. I just. I just carry a jar and I throw it in my frame bag. And if ever I start needing calories, big spoonful of peanut butter and I'm good.

Coline Berret [00:33:58]:
This is very American.

Jerry Kopack [00:33:59]:
It is very American. Yes.

Coline Berret [00:34:02]:
But I also had. I also had some peanut butter.

Jerry Kopack [00:34:05]:
Ah, good. Okay, so let me see. Anything you might do differently on your next trip?

Coline Berret [00:34:15]:
I think I want to travel slowly as I did, because I really love. I prefer traveling slowly than just crossing the places. So I think this I would keep for sure. Maybe I want to try to travel with other people.

Jerry Kopack [00:34:33]:
Okay.

Coline Berret [00:34:34]:
To challenge myself in being with others while traveling by bicycle, because it can be also great.

Jerry Kopack [00:34:41]:
Yeah. Do you have. Do you have friends who cycle?

Coline Berret [00:34:44]:
I'm trying to convert them to cycling and some of them also did. Came to bicycle with me. They didn't. It was their first time traveling on bike and some of them really. They had great time and they did it again by themselves. So I'm proud of that.

Jerry Kopack [00:35:04]:
Maybe. Yeah, Maybe another trip with your dad?

Coline Berret [00:35:08]:
Yeah, for sure. For sure. I just moved with him in the mountains and I think we're going to go soon in another bike trip, probably together.

Jerry Kopack [00:35:19]:
Yes. I love that. So two more questions. Next one. What's on your list? Do you want to go further east into Asia or South America or where would you want to go?

Coline Berret [00:35:32]:
I would love to go everywhere, but as I love to travel slowly. It's also a big decision if I decide to move again to travel, but definitely east. Like Central Asia and Southeast Asia are definitely on my list. Yeah.

Jerry Kopack [00:35:54]:
Okay. Like maybe Kyrgyzstan or Thailand or places like that.

Coline Berret [00:35:59]:
Yeah. Like the Silk Road and Kazakhstan. All this mountain area. I would really love to see. It looks incredible. Yeah.

Jerry Kopack [00:36:07]:
Yeah, I've. I can say that I've been there, and it's amazing. And just in the time that you and I have talked, I think that you would truly, truly love it.

Coline Berret [00:36:16]:
Yes, I guess so. Yeah.

Jerry Kopack [00:36:19]:
Last one. Why should people do a big trip like this?

Coline Berret [00:36:25]:
Because it would change your life. Definitely you. Yeah, I changed my life completely. I was having office job and regular 8 to 5 job, and now I will totally live my life differently thanks to this bicycle trip. So just. Just do it.

Jerry Kopack [00:36:45]:
Yes.

Coline Berret [00:36:46]:
Yes.

Jerry Kopack [00:36:47]:
Ah, I love that. That again, has given me goosebumps. Wow. I want to thank you so much for taking time out of your day to hang out with me. How can the people listening find out more about you or your adventure through.

Coline Berret [00:37:03]:
Instagram or my website?

Jerry Kopack [00:37:05]:
Okay, it's there. And we will post links to that in our show notes. All right, Colleen, thank you so much. Yes. I want to thank everyone for listening to my conversation today with Colleen. Stories like these hopefully will inspire you to set off on your own bicycle adventure and maybe make the world feel a little bit smaller, one pedal stroke at a time. Until then, keep the wheels rolling. And the story's coming.

Jerry Kopack [00:37:31]:
Thanks for joining us on Bike Life. I'm Jerry Kopak, and I hope you enjoyed today's episode as much as we enjoyed sharing it with you. Please leave us a rating and review or just tell your friends. This helps us reach more cyclists and hosts around the world to learn more or become part of this amazing community. Visit us at warmshowers.org or follow us on Instagram at warmshowers_org. If you'd like to be a guest on the show or have a question you'd like us to explore, email us at podcast@warmshowers.org.