Jenny and Ahmed's Cycling Journey

Paths 2 The Soul - Episode 002

From Bettembourg 2 Saint-Blaise-La-Roche (Jan 24-28, 2025)

Countries Visited :

The Journey Continues...

As the road unfolds before us, bringing new challenges, encounters, and unforgettable moments, each day adds another layer to this adventure, shaping our journey in unexpected ways.

Here’s a summary of days 6 to 10, our path continues...

From the Border to Meeting Jeff

Bettembourg → Metz - 60 km 🚴

We set off under a gray sky, with occasional bursts of light breaking through the clouds. Soon, we cross the border, we’re in France! Our first stop is a small village café, where we quickly strike up conversations with the locals at the bar. Right across the street, we spot a car wash, perfect for a quick bike clean-up. There, we meet Frédéric, a retired man and kean traveller himself, intrigued by our journey.

The scenery begins to change as we ride along the Moselle River. We spot swans, a kingfisher, and warm ourselves with a bowl of Korean instant Ramen by the water. But soon, the wind starts picking up.

Arriving in Metz, we take shelter at the train station while waiting for our host, Jeff. As soon as he arrives, we recognize him instantly, bike, orange jacket, and a intrigued gaze. He invites us to his place… on the 5th floor, with no elevator!

His apartment is incredible, a turret, exposed wooden beams, and a bright open space with 270° panoramic views of the train station and the city.

Jeff is quite the character: a long-distance cyclist, an organizer of swimming competitions, and the creator of a sports tracking tool. In 1999, he cycled across the USA using only paper maps. He shows us his travel journal, a treasure trove of stories and memories.

Another incredible evening, another unforgettable encounter.

Metz, Jeff, and Meeting Clémence

Metz → Nancy - 70 km 🚴

A royal breakfast at Jeff’s place, topped off with a surprise, he gifts us a souvenir water bottle. Before parting ways, he takes us on a final tour of Metz, guiding us through the cathedral and even pulling a prank by hiding our bikes for a moment. We laugh, take a last photo, and as a farewell, he leads us to the right road… with a bonus 5 km detour, but well worth it for the lasting friendship!

The wind is against us, our legs are heavy, but the beautiful scenery makes up for it. Lunch break? Trusted Ramen of course. By the afternoon, the rain catches up to us, and we arrive in Nancy completely drenched.

In Nancy, we take a quick coffee break before heading to meet our host, Clémence. She’s currently living alone with her cat Zoun, as her partner is off on a cycling journey through South America.

Clémence is driven and inspiring, she’s in the middle of launching her vegan restaurant. She whips up an improvised but amazing meal: a vegan burger, roasted beets, crispy potatoes, homemade tartines, and to top it all off, chocolate cookies.

We talk, play games, and laugh until 23:00 PM. Another precious encounter on this journey.

Sun, Rain, Wind, and Warm Hospitality

Nancy → Chenevières - 53 km 🚴

We wake up late at Clémence’s place, where she spoils us with a huge breakfast. We take our time, enjoying the cozy atmosphere before heading out.

The morning sun shines brightly, and we take a tea break near the saltworks. But by afternoon, rain makes its entrance. In Lunéville, we stop for coffee and éclairs, savoring a moment of warmth before riding towards the forest.

Along the way, we meet an elderly woman (89 years of age) out for a walk. She used to be a cyclist and would have gladly hosted us.

As night falls, the wind picks up, and we switch on our headlamps. Upon arriving in Chenevières, our hosts are not home yet, they’ll be back at 20:00 PM, but there, waiting for us under their porch is a welcome kit: a blanket, a thermos of coffee, various teas, a kettle and homemade banana cake. Hospitality, always.

When Alain and Béatrice return, they welcome us with hot soup and an evening filled with travel stories. They are true globe-trotters, and their house is a masterpiece of wood and pottery.

That night, we crawl under a warm duvet, in total darkness, feeling once again incredibly privileged.

A Peaceful Morning with Alain and Béa

Chenevières → La Petite Raon - 38 km 🚴

A slow, peaceful wake-up at Alain and Béatrice’s house. Ahmed is already up, chatting with our hosts, while I take my time to ease into the morning. I try to fix a small technical issue, my phone is off, and I don’t remember the PIN code. No panic, I’ll deal with it later.

Breakfast is pure comfort, homemade tartines with Béa’s delicious jam. After a nice chat, Alain and Béa offer to ride with us! As experienced cyclists, they set a strong pace, but we do our best to keep up.

Our first stop is in Baccarat, where Alain shares stories about his years working as an industrial designer. The town is stunning, especially with its beautiful glasswork displays.

We push forward to Raon-l'Étape, tackling a small climb on the way. The pace remains steady and challenging, but we keep pushing. In Étival, where the cycling path begins, we part ways after a wonderful day together.

After a quick snack break to refuel, we continue toward La Petite Raon. Léonard, Jenny's nephew, joins us for the final stretch.

Arriving at my sister’s home, we are welcomed warmly, ending the day in the best way, with family.

The Final Pass

La Petite Raon → Saint-Blaise-La-Roche - 15 km 🚴

After a restless night for Jenny and a peaceful one for Ahmed, we finally set off around 11:00 AM. The last mountain pass awaits, mostly climbed by bike, with a bit of walking, before the descent leads us straight into Saint-Blaise-la-Roche.

The arrival is emotional, we are reunited with Jenny's Mom and Dragi, her companion.

The journey is over. It felt almost unbelievable, but we did it.

And we are so proud of the spirit of adventure that carried us through the distance we covered.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post!
Feel free to leave a comment below, we’d love to hear your thoughts.

Stay tuned for more in our next post…

Jenny & Ahmed