 September 1999 - Arica Desert, Chile |
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Matthieu and me have been waiting for hours in the sun, waiting for a lift to Peru, 30km North.
It is noon, and it seems that we are alone on the moon. Who would cruise through this desertic plateau at the hottest hour of the day ?
When suddenly, two golden-haired, crimson-faced swedish girls appeared on their overloaded bikes, out of a 15km-ascent up to the plateau where we were standing... We thought " if they can do it, we could ! ". This is how et when - a millenium ago - we made up our mind that our next trip would be by bike between Central America and Tierra de Fuego...
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| 2000 - 2004 - First work experiences |
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After graduating and traveling through South America, it is time to settle a little and get a taste of adult life. Interested in Energy, I specialise in Wind Power.
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| December 2001 - Mount St Michael, France |
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First solo trip : 300km between Paris and Mt. St. Michael in Normandy in 4 days before New Year's Eve, sleeping outside.
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| August 2004 - French Alps |
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Matthieu dies in the mountain. The project of pedaling through Central and South America fades away, but traveling stays an idee fixe.
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| November 2004 - Canal of Brittany, France |
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First attempt, between Redon and Brest with my friends Capucine and Mathieu. My serious gaps in bike settings and some strong face wind cause me a tendinitis to the left knee and we need to give up after one day only.
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| April 2005 - Canal du Midi, France |
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200km with Mathieu a few days before Easter along the famous Canal du Midi linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. We ride half of the Canal, from Toulouse to Narbonne, sleeping oustide and eating fabulous food.
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| May 2005 - Paris, France |
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I get my first ever first-hand bike. And guess what : this is a traveling bike !
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| July 2005 - Canal of Brittany, France |
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Second attempt with the same team, between Redon and Brest. 500km in 9 days of fantastic holidays.
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| August 2005 - Canal de Bourgogne, France |
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300km in 5 days with Anne-Claire, Estelle et Mathieu between Tonnerre and Dijon through the Burgundian countryside and worldclass wineyards.
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| September 2005 - London |
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I move temporarily in London.
This is the first time I have mentionned my wish to go traveling for a long period of time in the frame of a leave of absence to my management.
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| November 2005 - London |
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I devote my time and energy to my expat life in London. These months are extremely important in terms of preparation and project gestation.
Formal authorisation are given. My management supports my project.
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| February 2005 - London |
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Re-focus on the dream of traveling. I decline the opportunity to be based in Beijing (China) for a few months in order to undertake my project.
I go to swim one hour a day to the swimming pool as part of my physical training.
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| March 2006 - Paris, France |
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My leave of absence is formalised. I leave my apartment in Paris. The moorings are eventually and smoothly being cast off.
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| March 2006 - Last week in London |
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Emotion replaces Preparation.
It feels like as a strange Tetris game, where the bricks would fit perfectly into each other by magic.
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