With no doubt, if I had to cross ONE country, i would choose the bicycle as transport. If it was for more than one country, maybe the story would change. And I say this talking form experience as you can read below….
Although I mentioned that I prefer the bicycle, I have also chosen and done it with a scooter or by bus, even hitchhiking… But it always depends on the time you have and the circumstances. For example, I went all around Taiwan using a Scooter with my good friend Louis. This is as we only had 2 weeks for it. But it was not as rewarding as Japan.
During my long trips around the world, one of the most fulfilling experiences (although not the easiest one for sure) was to cross Japan cycling.
This was a really hard experience. It took me almost 2.5 months full of mental and physical efforts. I chose to use camping as my main way of sleeping. Finding places in parks or wild nature for it.
The trip took a total of over 3,000 km and a gained elevation of over 24,000 m. That might not sound like a lot. But considering that the cycling days were 65 days….it was like every day climbing a mountain of 400 m and cycling 50 km. such a challenge!!
As I said, not an easy experience. After a hard breakup, it was like my personal Camino de Santiago. Trying to find myself again, and going over it. People in this situation, or other similar ones when they need a reflection moment, finish a Camino. Choose a pre-established route and try it. However, for me it was different. I had to set my own. Looking everyday what would be the route, where to sleep, what to eat and what to see on the way.
And this all happened under the rain, or under huge heat waves. Expose to wild life, beautiful or dangerous. Sleeping surrounded by bears, or wild boars, or aggressive wasps, or huge spiders.
All of it made the experience quite scary, but so challenging at the same time. Learning how to find the right way and places. Growing on making your decisions and finding your way around issues.
The most interesting part, is that I was not really prepared for this. I was backpacking in Asia. And one day I decided i wanted to take this challenge. I bought a second-hand bike, some camping gears, and 2 pannier bags to organize a bit better how to store things on the bike. But still I was not as prepared as I should be. As bikepackers that specially start their trip as such, with proper bike bags and with only the things they’ll need for it.
I was clearly overloaded with things. Things I didn’t use for the 3 months. But some of them made my life (if not easier as I had to carry them) more convenient and comfortable. I carried not just the basic equipment for camping, but some extra things.
- A chair to sit down anywhere I was after a long day cycling.
- A cooking set to prepare food anywhere i landed.
- A huge 3×4 m waterproof blanket to save my tent from heavy during some nights.
- A bottle to filter water from any source.
- A small folding table to avoid insects while cooking.
- Rainproof covers for while cycling.
- All my backpacking clothes, backpacks and accessories.
- Apart from all the common things like tent, sleeping bag, inflatable mattress, or tools for fixing the bike.
In summary, I can say that you learn from every experience you live. But this one made this learning happen in the hard way. But without any doubt, if i had to choose again one way to go across a country….a bicycle would take the victory in the choices.
Wonderer Cosmos 
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