FINISHER #33

Name: Tom Morgan

Residence: London, UK

Year of birth: 1995

Bike: Specialized Epic HT

Riding period: May, 3rd – July, 23rd 2024

Most favourite part:

This is an almost impossible question to answer…

Lake hopping through the wilderness of Sweden was special. Felt like I was riding through Narnia with the amount of snow there was still. Camping by a different lake almost every night was amazing, being able to go for a swim every morning and night was definitely something that I missed when things heated up further south.

The Jura was another highlight. Technical terrain and demanding riding made it tough, but gave a true sense of adventure.

Thirdly, Spain has to be right up there. The ever changing landscape, expansive buena vistas and mountain ranges that made you feel oh so small. Truly humbling experience. The heat added another factor for sure. A real test of mental fortitude.

But to generalise. Every mountain range was special. By their very nature you’ve got to go up them to go down them. Each one is different. Challenging and rewarding in their own way. I’ve come to believe that’s why I do it, for the physical and mental ebbs and flows that the mountains incite.

Random thoughts:

Those are definitely not a large dog’s footprints coming out of the woods.

I thought I’d left Narnia, turns out, I must still be on the wrong side of the wardrobe.

So I’m out of the snow, but definitely not out of the woods yet.

Does a bear shit in the woods? Well, me too.

How did I forget about the Swedish Mosquitos?

How many millions/ billions of trees have I passed?

Is the grub round here all Michelin Star or am I just that hungry that everything tastes so damn good?

Skinny dipping and talking to frogs…have I gone full Will Feral?

There’s only so much pain ibuprofen gel can mask then eh?

They say you can’t live on bread alone. But, bread and tomatoes, freshly squeezed orange juice and coffee on the other hand.

Not to sound like another cliche brit abroad, but I think it’s a bit too hot.