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I’m The First Romanian To Cycle North And South America (6600 Km So Far) After My Girlfriend Dumped Me
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I’m The First Romanian To Cycle North And South America (6600 Km So Far) After My Girlfriend Dumped Me

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In January of this year, a short while after moving with my Iranian girlfriend in Bucharest, Romania, I got dumped by her. Her situation was much more complicated than one of the average person. She was an unusual immigrant from Iran in Romania, and that made her more exotic in my eyes. As a matter of fact, this is part of the reason why I fell in love with her.

At the moment of break up, I felt my entire world collapsing before my eyes. We had made plans for marriage and then traveling the world together, and now everything was gone. She justified her decision out of a lack of love for me that she couldn’t tell in the beginning. But it was probably more than that, that has ended our long-term relationship. So, at the moment when that happened, I needed to embark on something else, something big. I needed to start on a significant project that would restore my self-esteem, the faith in myself, and mend my broken heart. All the things which have been partially harmed by this tough moment for me.

And what crazier project than that of deciding to take off to Alaska and start biking along the longest road in the world, the Panamerican Highway down to Argentina. So I convinced a few sponsors in Romania to back my road trip with the equipment needed and started an Indiegogo fundraising campaign, and I took off into the wilds of Alaska.

Since August 5th, when I started biking near the Arctic ocean I came a long way, and I am now approaching the Mexican border. 6600 km (4100 miles) cycled through the most remote areas of North America, through the wilds of Alaska and the Yukon territory and the vast prairies of Canada to Yellowstone National Park and Canyonlands in South Utah. This has been an amazing journey and life on the road experience so far, and as I am approaching Mexico, I am getting ready for the real cultural experience. I can’t wait for the hot-blooded people and the warm weather as I have been battling with the winter for the past month or so since crossing the border in Montana, in the United States.

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This journey is more than I could have expected when my girlfriend dumped me. I wake up every day in my tent with a new landscape, in a new part of the world. I get the meet amazing people that show me how humane this world can still be. Some people stop me and offer to host me for the night, some stop and hand me money in appreciation of what I do. One thing I will never forget is the day I got caught up in a terrible snowstorm in Utah. The very first family on whose door I knocked invited me in to take refuge and have dinner with them — what a beautiful moment.

I have a long way to go still – check the cool photos I took along the road. If you want to support my journey through the Americas, you can donate on my Facebook page through the donate button.

More info: Facebook

RELATED:

    Sleeping in my tent at -10°C in Utah, USA

    Cycling through the mountains

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    Cycling in winter conditions in Idaho, USA

    Reaching the Arctic circle in Alaska

    Above the clouds in the North Slope of Alaska

    Arches National Park near Moab, Utah, one of the most beautiful places I have ever been through

    Crossing the border to New Mexico

    Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA

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    Arches National Park, Utah, USA

    My faithful friend

    At 5574 Feet (1698 m) I crossed the border into the fifth state

    what-i-did-when-my-iranian-girlfriend-dumped-me-i-left-for-alaska-to-cycle-the-two-americas5

    The Canadian Prairies at sunset. Alberta, Canada

    i-became-the-first-romanian-to-cycle-north-and-south-america-after-my-girlfriend-dumped-me-9__880

    Cycling in the Winter time, Montana, USA

    Deadhorse, Alaska at dusk

    At Lake Louise in Banff National Park

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    Radu Paltineanu

    Radu Paltineanu

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    Explorer, Motivational Speaker, European Adventurer of the Year 2018

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    Radu Paltineanu

    Radu Paltineanu

    Author, Community member

    Explorer, Motivational Speaker, European Adventurer of the Year 2018

    What do you think ?
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    POST
    TracyMcMillian
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You remind me of Edward Abbey, author of "Desert Solitaire", who was in LOVE with Arches & Canyonlands Nat'l Park. He was strongly opposed to the idea of visiting the national parks by car - any motorized thing in fact- in fear of polluting and destroying them. Traveling on a bike, you must have been praised by Abbey. The book was published in 1968 and is still considered one of the most beautiful nature writings ever written. I am about to enter my 60's. Dumping and being dumped many times, I now know all the experiences with men has only enriched my life on earth. I hope you don't feel sad or disappointed, for you never know what's waiting for you during your life's journey. I truly admire your adventurous mind and your way of dealing with one of those heartbreaking moments nobody can avoid.

    Abby
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Truly inspirational man! And that's the way to handle a messy breakup :)

    ElizabethDaigle
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I liked reading it and seeing the pictures. So boom. The Internet would be empty if people didn't share. Why are you even on bored panda?

    Load More Comments
    TracyMcMillian
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You remind me of Edward Abbey, author of "Desert Solitaire", who was in LOVE with Arches & Canyonlands Nat'l Park. He was strongly opposed to the idea of visiting the national parks by car - any motorized thing in fact- in fear of polluting and destroying them. Traveling on a bike, you must have been praised by Abbey. The book was published in 1968 and is still considered one of the most beautiful nature writings ever written. I am about to enter my 60's. Dumping and being dumped many times, I now know all the experiences with men has only enriched my life on earth. I hope you don't feel sad or disappointed, for you never know what's waiting for you during your life's journey. I truly admire your adventurous mind and your way of dealing with one of those heartbreaking moments nobody can avoid.

    Abby
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Truly inspirational man! And that's the way to handle a messy breakup :)

    ElizabethDaigle
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I liked reading it and seeing the pictures. So boom. The Internet would be empty if people didn't share. Why are you even on bored panda?

    Load More Comments
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