Jenny & Ahmed's Cycling Adventure

Paths 2 The Soul - Episode 004

From Titisee-Neustadt to Feldkirch (27 March to 01 April 2025)

Countries Visited:

The journey continues...

From the Black Forest to the peaceful shores of Lake Constance, from improvised bivouacs to warm welcomes, each day brings its share of challenges, encounters, and unexpected emotions. Europe transforms as we move forward, but the essence remains: this quest for connection, simplicity, and beauty in the present moment. Between the silence of forests, shared smiles, and the fatigue of fasting, this stage has left deep marks in our hearts... and unforgettable faces.

From Titisee to the 3 Gorges, nature, bivouac, and an unforgettable encounter 🥰
Titisee-Neustadt → Bachheim - 25.9 km 🚴 + 11.9 km 🚶

It’s our last wake-up in the cozy bed of Ulrike’s guesthouse. The departure is prepared in the calm of the morning: tidying up, bags brought down, bikes loaded… and a souvenir photo before hitting the road again. Heading toward Löffingen, with two good climbs in the heart of the Black Forest, in a setting of farms and meadows under a cold, grey sky. Along the way, we meet Peter "the Fox", passionate about local history, in front of a splendid Romanesque church. He tells us about the Benedictines, the Cistercians, and recommends a museum. In Löffingen, Jenny goes on a mission to the town hall to find a place to camp in Bachheim. We finally get permission to bivouac near the parking lot, and it’s off for our first hike! We entrust our bikes to a lovely couple, then head into a lush forest, where snowflakes of spring carpet the ground like a sea of white flowers. The colors, the smells, the sounds of the river reconnect us with a nature we’re rediscovering. The trail runs along rocky gorges, crosses wooden bridges, winds through an almost untouched forest. We even spot beaver marks on the tree trunks. Further on, deer appear, fleeting and graceful. Back in the village, we retrieve our bikes, chat a bit more, then settle in at our bivouac area: a spacious spot, with barbecues, shelter, tables, and even a two-level cabin. Perfect for our first night in a tent. We then start filming a video for aloSIM, an eSIM provider that has kindly agreed to support our journey with unlimited data across all the countries we're going to pass through. We must take a moment and say how, even in the quietest forests, on the coldest mornings, or deep in these winding gorges, aloSIM has truly been our invisible thread to the world. Whether it’s uploading or downloading content, video calling family and friends, planning the logistics of our travel, or simply sharing what we feel on our social media and blogs, aloSIM’s eSIM solution lets us stay connected without borders or worries. It’s become a true partner in our adventure, wherever we are. Jenny then gathers wood for a small fire while Ahmed sets up the tent. That’s when Christine enters the scene in the early evening, with her little black dog, Elisa. She entrusts us with her companion while she runs errands… and comes back loaded with unexpected gifts: dried fruits, yoghurts, cheeses, strawberries. She’s decided to start a fast and wants to offer us her food. We invite her for tea. The evening becomes unforgettable, around the fire, under the stars. We talk about everything: spirituality, inner quests, and her incredible journey from teacher to manager of a diving center in Bali. We feel in her the same soul-searching, the same sensitivity. The night promises to be cold, fasting makes things more difficult… but our hearts are warmed by this day full of nature, kindness, meaning, and a wonderful encounter.

Warm farewells, stunning landscapes, and a house full of life...
Bachheim → Engen - 42.3 km 🚴

Waking up is tough in the cold of our first bivouac, but Ahmed is already up and getting things organised. The tent is soaked with moisture, and we try to dry it in the sun while a small fire warms our hands. Christine and Elisa, already awake, come to greet us. Christine settles in the sun to meditate. Before we leave, she gives us a beautiful poem and a Saint Francis of Assisi rosary for Ahmed, his favourite Saint, what a striking coincidence. A deeply touching gesture, just like this memorable encounter that found a place in our hearts. We hit the road again under a bright sun, through luminous German countryside and charming villages. We take a break to call our former colleagues (still in the office!) and have a lovely surprise: Volker, a farmer, stops his tractor right in the middle of the road to talk to us and promises to follow our journey with his children. Later, in the middle of filming for aloSIM, we’re approached by two other cyclists, Gert and Hendelgar, who are very enthusiastic about our project. But soon, the hills force us once again to push our bikes. The effort is intense, and fasting starts to take its toll. The sun disappears, the cold returns. For the first time, we feel the desire for Ramadan to end. Fortunately, the beauty of the path remains. Upon arriving in Engen, we take brief refuge in a Lidl to warm up before meeting Daniela, Bernd, and their two lovely daughters, Judith and Annika. Their huge house is somewhat under construction, a colossal project the couple is managing themselves. We quickly discover their warm simplicity, a mix of generous hospitality and the lively rhythm of family life. Bernd prepares delicious vegetarian spaghetti, and for dessert, a perfect improvisation with blueberries, cheese, honey, and almonds. We’re delighted. The girls are full of energy and enthusiasm. Judith shares her passion for languages and her trip to Paris. We talk, we laugh, we read... A sweet and lively moment. By 9:30 p.m., everyone is tired. We return to our room, nice and warm. After a day of stark contrast between a freezing bivouac and a buzzing household, sleep quickly takes over.

From the spring to the lake...
Engen → Markelfingen (Radolfzell) 32.7 km 🚴

The night was good in the warm room of Bernd and Daniela. A little gourmet break for Jenny at 4 a.m. with a bowl of homemade cereal and a peanut butter-honey toast. The morning continues gently: Judith and Daniela leave early for a workshop on resilience. Judith is curious, brilliant, identified as gifted. With Annika, it’s games, cuddles, and laughter. We enjoy this morning of bonding with Annika. A few board games shared with Bernd and his daughter punctuate our morning, then everyone goes about their activities. As for us, we hit the road again for a short stage of 20 km. First stop: Aachquelle, the largest water spring in Germany. It’s impressive to see this water gush forth from Lake Constance through the depths of the Hegau. Further on, Ahmed is drawn to a food truck… and his intuition is spot on: the cook is Syrian! Rabee warmly welcomes us and insists on offering us two falafel sandwiches scented with mint. A true delight. We chat, we connect, we take a photo together. Another unexpected and touching encounter. The road is pleasant, with no climbs, and we head towards Steißlingen where we admire the flower-covered town hall. We are nearing Lake Constance. A short stop at Hotel K99: we ask if we can settle in their lobby to work. Warm welcome, direct view of the bikes, and over 3 hours of aloSIM video editing in a calm and bright setting. Final kilometres before arriving at Thomas and Alice’s, who are hosting us tonight. On the way, we buy and send postcards. We are approached by Klaus, then further on by Alex and his friends: curious about our adventure, all promise to follow us online. At Tom’s, we’re welcomed into a thoughtfully designed home. Tom, a French and geography teacher, prepares a delicious vegetarian dinner while Ahmed gives him a hand. Alice, originally from Rennes, joins us, along with their son Matis, for the meal. The atmosphere is relaxed, the meal delicious: vegetable stir-fry, crunchy radishes, wild garlic toasts, apples… We sign the guest book before heading downstairs to sleep in the office converted into a bedroom. It’s a bit cold, but under the covers, everything is perfect. A peaceful day, full of encounters, sharing, and simple little pleasures.

On the shores of Lake Constance, gentle Switzerland
Markelfingen (Radolfzell) → Roggwil 51.9 km 🚴

Early wake-up in Tom and Alice’s house, despite the time change. We share one last quiet moment before hitting the road again. It’s Sunday, the atmosphere is peaceful, and the sun lights up the shores of Lake Constance. We pass through charming little towns before arriving in Constance, where a break by the lake lets us enjoy the light and the fresh breeze. We continue our ride along beautiful cycle paths lined with orchards, train tracks, villas, and campsites, regularly approaching the lake to take in the view. In Romanshorn, we admire the snow-capped peaks on the horizon. A man approaches us: Peter, of Romanian origin, full of historical anecdotes and deeply moved by our project. He talks to us about General de Gaulle, the arrival of coffee in Europe… A true moment of sharing. He even offers to treat us to a coffee, but the fast continues. We then leave the lakeside to head inland. Two kilometres before our destination, we discover a self-service farm shop, based solely on trust. Customers take what they need and leave the money in a piggy bank. A real breath of hope, do you think that would work in Brussels? 🤣 We buy yoghurts and apple juice, which we’ll enjoy with our host for the day. At exactly 5:29 p.m., we arrive at Matthias’s place, from Warm Showers. He lives in Switzerland where he works as a doctor in a hospital-hotel. His apartment is elegant, well-designed, and he welcomes us warmly with a private bedroom and en-suite bathroom. We cook together: Ahmed prepares pasta, Matthias takes care of the salad. A simple and perfect meal, accompanied by homemade sparkling apple juice. We click instantly: Matthias is passionate, cultured, athletic, and artistic all at once. He plays tennis at a high level, loves cycling, painting, music… A real pleasure to exchange with him. After dinner, the evening turns playful: sports quizzes, music quizzes, viewing his amazing cycling photos, and a game of darts around the world. Matthias’s paintings are fascinating, reflections of a curious and sensitive mind. The night will be short, departure at 7 a.m. tomorrow, but our hearts are full of warmth. A precious encounter, blending laughter, games, and natural connection. Matthias, you are a beautiful soul, never change 🥰

3 countries in one day...
Rogwill → Feldkirch 57.3 km 🚴

Wake-up at dawn for the last real day of fasting. At exactly 7 a.m., we leave Matthias’s apartment with his words of encouragement, after a souvenir photo in front of our loaded bikes. We head towards Lake Constance and then the Rhine, which we follow for most of the day. The cycle path is beautiful, often close to the lake and then the river, lined with charming houses, forests full of wild garlic, and blooming orchards. We stop in the forest to pick a few garlic leaves for our dinner. A little further on, a class having an outdoor lesson catches our attention, sitting in a circle inside a forest hut. We briefly enter Austria before returning to Switzerland. The landscape opens up to 180° mountain views, framing a wide plain through which our path winds. In Kriessern, we separate for a bit. Ahmed chats with a couple aged 75 and 78 on a tandem bike, former cycle travellers. I come across Peter, a lovely man who proudly announces our journey to all the passers-by. At the village’s post office-bakery, we finally find postcards (a miracle!) and a few treats… despite the painful Swiss prices. We continue along the Rhine and re-enter Austria, heading to Feldkirch. With almost 60 km on the odometer, it’s quite a performance during fasting. No Warm Showers solution for tonight: we try our luck at hotels. A mistake leads us to a 3-star hotel, where a very kind receptionist tries to help. In the end, chance leads us to Taylan, manager of an apartment-hotel with his brother Cihan, who spontaneously offers us a solidarity discount. A real relief. We drop off our bags, then head towards Liechtenstein. We push as far as Nendeln, where we visit a ceramic workshop founded in 1836. Petra at the reception is impressed by our journey. Back in Feldkirch, perfect coincidence: our apartment is right next to an Afghan supermarket. Ahmed finds fouls and tahini. For dinner: jacket potatoes, spiced onion compote, cheese and wild garlic omelette, followed by our Swiss pastries. It’s the second to last meal of Ramadan. Jenny is exhausted. Tomorrow, another stage… but tonight, she falls asleep deeply, her heart still full from this day between three countries and a thousand smiles.

Rest day in Feldkirch...

Last day of fasting. Very early wake-up for Jenny and her pre-dawn meal, then a whole day dedicated to tidying and our blog: laundry, organising the bags, updating the journal, sorting photos and backing them up. The sun shines over the clear mountain peaks, but the cold is still very much present. A short stroll around the neighbourhood and final shopping at the Afghan grocery store. Tonight, Ahmed cooks delicious fouls with Egyptian-style homemade tahina sauce, while Jenny works on a first selection of photos. For dessert, French toast. After dinner, we fall asleep deeply in front of old Egyptian films, with no 4 a.m. alarm this time.
Eid Mubarak!

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Jenny & Ahmed