All that’s left to do is go. You can prepare routes, scope out lodging, check out the must-see sights, but in reality, none of that matters. Once you reach your starting point, it’s a whole new ball game. Nothing will go to plan. Your flight will be delayed. Your connection flight will be missed. Your bike will arrive a day late. The weather will not be stellar. The GPS will send you in the wrong direction. But that’s okay. It’s part of the journey.
Know that with difficulties will come happy surprises. Someone will see you taking a break alongside the road to ask and marvel about your trip and send you off with a warm smile. Someone else will lend a helping hand when you find the bridge you were supposed to cross has been washed away. Or a stay at a monastery will offer you a gentle respite when the wind has battered you relentlessly.
With every road that puts you alongside a speeding highway, there will be a road that winds through an olive grove. With every day of rain and wind, there will be a day of sparkling sunshine. With every car that speeds by you with inches to spare, there will be dozens of road cyclists that will give you a hearty thumbs-up of respect.
There will be days of frustration. Moments of doubt. Loneliness will creep in. I will not lie, solo cycle travel is hard. You are the sole decision-maker, the sole bike fixer, the sole route planner. On the flip side, you do not have to compromise and you do not have to wait for someone else. You can go where you like, you can stop when you want, you can go slow or you can change your route as you please.
There is nothing left to do, but go.