After spending a month exploring Morocco and Spain by bicycle, I found myself standing inside one of the most remarkable bookstores I have ever visited. Livraria Lello, in Porto, Portugal, looks like something from a fantasy novel. There are towering bookshelves, a winding red staircase, beautiful stained glass, and carved wooden decorations everywhere you look. People from around the world come to explore this famous bookstore. It seemed like a fitting place to finish my Pedal to Port expedition.
For the past month, I have been exploring the world on two wheels. Now I was surrounded by thousands of books, each offering another opportunity to discover something new. It reminded me of something important: Exploration isn't just about where you go. It's about how you look at the world.
When I started Pedal to Port in Casablanca, Morocco, I was a beginner cyclist. I had never attempted anything like this before. I had a bicycle, some equipment, a route, and plenty of questions. More than 1,000 miles later, I arrived in Vigo, Spain, on October 17. Along the way, I crossed busy cities, farmland, forests, and mountains. I rode through rain, battled strong winds, climbed steep hills, and dealt with mechanical problems.
