It's time for adventure.
The "micro" doesn't have to be the adventure of a lifetime, it is certainly less ambitious but no less fun and much more accessible.
The one that awaits you at the end of the street, for a few hours or a few days; an evening of the week or a long weekend.
And for the spell of the micro-adventure to work, it is preferable to prepare it, a little.
Before leaving, you need to choose.Choose to discover what is hidden outside your city, choose to climb the mountain that's winking at you from your balcony, choose to walk the paths of your childhood with your friends, choose to canoe on the river next door to your house and be happy, choose the place, the natural resources near to you, and how you want to build your experience ...
The first challenge is to find the destination that combines your desires with your busy schedule.You haven't got a lot of time?Be ambitious, hunt for surprises near you. You don't need to go far to make your mini-adventures fun.It's a matter of state of mind.
Your immediate environment like your neighbourhood, your city, your region always contains little treasures you can discover.An architectural detail, a very unique view, a charming landscape, a curious path, let yourself be carried away by these little desires and you will have found your destination, at home or almost!
With a little more time, two, three or four days, the possibilities for nature getaways multiply. Again, follow your desires, they are good advice to designate the place or places where your mini-adventure will provide its benefits.
And if your desire for escape is not tied to a particular place, surf the internet, and take a look at the list of national and regional parks to help you. Or, unfold a map, and, locate green areas, natural parks, forests, lakes, mark the altitudes, the density of the road network, the number of villages and you will have a small idea of the areas where it will be possible to listen to birds and admire the stars. Finally, to refine your searches and polish your appetite for greenery, consult the websites of the tourist offices corresponding to these areas, they are often very useful for detecting points of interest.
There's paperwork lying around on the coffee table, laundry drying slowly, a few books scattered around which contribute to a bit of a mess and, of course, the dishes to be done, a mountain of ceramic.Ah yes, there's also this bike, hung on the wall rack and its rack that's shining more than usual. Hang some saddlebags on it and peddle away from the city, that would be great … ok, let’s go!
A mini-adventure starts from nowhere, just a sudden desire to get away from the ordinary and go somewhere else, where ever our desire leads us without thinking, or almost.So this good old bike comes down from its pedestal and gets ready to see some scenery. If there had been hiking boots, it would have been a backpacking mini adventure. If there had been a kayak, a climbing harness or the Objective Moon rocket in the middle of the living room, it would have been a question of aquatic, aerial or even space mini-adventures but it is not, it is. is a bicycle that is in the living room. So let's get on our bike.
What makes the micro-adventure special is its spontaneity. Combine what you have on hand with your desire for nature. For example, you have an inflatable stand up paddle in your garage and a lake within reach, check the conditions and if it's ok, take the train to your destination with your paddle in a backpack or slide it in the boot of the car for an experience you won't forget. If you don’t have a paddle board, you have at least a pair of shoes and a desire to explore, so the combination works every time.
Not with just anyone, of course. Unless you prefer to go it alone, fine, no rule goes against a good deal of solo air. But if you want to show off - jump on a bike - with friends explain roughly what you plan is, the place you want to discover, the planned route, the expected difficulty and ask them if they really fancy coming and if they feel able to do it.The mini-adventure is made for relaxing, enjoying, forgetting, but it can also be sporty, it is better for participants to be on the same wavelength before boarding.
Once the small team is ready, it's a collective adventure that's off to a start. Spending a few days away from your home sweet home in a green theatre can quite easily trigger a concert of emotions. And that's precisely why you shouldn't hesitate to go There are the euphoric, playful, peaceful moments and others where doubt, fatigue and nervousness are present. All this makes for an intense, precious individual and collective experience. The time for the mini-adventure is packed, it does not slip through your fingers, it imprints itself deeply on yourself, which is why the memories collected will remain in your mind for a long time.
If you have no idea where to go, just realize that next to your home is somewhere to discover. Why? Quite simply because this starting point is the most convenient. No transport required, no costs and therefore no carbon footprint. Not bad.
Get on your bike and off! An often effective way to leave the city without taking a deep breath of exhaust fumes is to walk along the major waterways (canals, rivers, streams) that cross it. They are often lined with towpaths reserved for walkers and cyclists. They are also an opportunity to see your city from a different perspective and, often, to unearth some curiosities. Then locate the green ways or small roads that will take you to conquer the beauties around.
If you are planning to start your mini-adventure a little further from home, explore the twists and turns of your memory, think of pretty places you would like to gaze at, point to one of them on a map and off you go...By train, car, balloon, it's up to you to decide which means of transport is best suited to approach this little piece of land that you want to go to. The idea is to place the starting point a good distance from the place of your dreams.
Example:you leave for two days walking and you have this small lake perched high in a corner of your head to bivouac, so place the starting point at 15/20/25 km from the lake depending on the difference in altitude, your shape, the weather, people accompanying you, etc. By bike, count between 40/80 km between the starting point and the finishing point. Everything will depend on the same factors as above, but also on the quality of the terrain. You will not escape the fact that you drive much slower on a stony road than on an tarmac velvet strip.
To go on a hike it's better to plan out your route on a scale of 1: 25,000 map where each centimeter corresponds to 250 m. Take those which identify as much information as possible (rivers, forests, trails, roads, villages, etc.). Once unfolded, your map is perfect to see your route with a clear overview.
In the absence of paper version maps viewranger.com or openrunner.com sites will allow you to plan your route precisely and easily, by having the details of the altitude difference and the distance to adjust the difficulty of your escapade. The iOS and Android applications corresponding to these two sites will allow you to follow the trail on your phone screens during the mini-adventure.
To plan a cycling route, it is best to use a map with a scale of 1 / 200,000 (1 cm = 2 km) or 1 / 400,000 (1 cm = 4 km). They are particularly suitable for cycling on the road.
In digital version, the Open Runner and Komoot sites and applications will allow you to easily plan and follow great routes, with all the expected data.In, the details of the surfaces (tarmac, gravel, earth) and the points of interest for cyclists are indicated by a red and white pictogram.
Ideally a mini-adventure is: spiced up with surprises (?!) Is embellished with unexpected detours (...), discovering all kinds of things (?) And if possible, it ends with a beautiful end (.). For example, take a nice hike with friends, have fun on the trails, with more or less elevation, and then end this odyssey with the climax of a summit or a mountain pass, the highest point of your day. Magnificent view!!!
Is your mini-adventure a loop which starts from your living room? No problem.It ends where it started, the bike can resume its vertical position.
On the other hand, if your getaway place is a little further from home, be sure that your return trip is not an extra adventure! Finishing on a high note therefore implies that between the departure and the return point, things are simple. You go a few kilometres to take a train, a bus, a carpool and that's it! The spirit of a mini-adventure implies that there's a taste for simplicity, including the transport. Three train changes to return home do not really fit with “mini" -adventure.
If it's a mini-adventure with one or more night (s) camping / bivouac, pack clothes for the cold, wind and rain so that you're prepared for all eventualities. The stove and its fuel, meals, cutlery, a fire stone, a knife... The tent, the sleeping bag, the groundsheet, a headlamp, a small bag for dirty laundry guarantee a cocooning spirit. A first aid kit * in case of ailments and an additional phone battery, useful if you cannot disconnect completely.
For a bike trip, remember to clean and oil the chain as well as the bearing points such as the crankset, the derailleur and the disc brakes. Also check the screws, the tension of the brake cables or the wear of the disc brake pads.
Finally, you want to go kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, packrafting, surfing or climbing, a hike with pulka or a fishing session (you want to do a lot of things) but you do not have the material, maybe a friend can lend it to you. Not having the equipment doesn't mean the mini-adventure is impossible. Check out your network! Better to borrow or possibly rent equipment rather than impulse buying.
We can venture out and eat well too. Yes.Especially when walking in the nature you can get very hungry.
During the day, indulge yourself, eat what you like as long as you don't eat too much.Some fruit, almond paste, hazelnuts and goji berries for energy and for the meal some good bread with local cheese, water, a beer or wine, Enjoy!
Over several days, try to start light by finding the right weight / energy compromise, for this, we recommend dehydrated and freeze-dried meals. Nice surprises of a mini-adventure can also be on a plate.
Tea, instant coffee, hot chocolate will wake you up and / or warm you up. A little water with oatmeal, condensed milk, almonds, raisins, dried peaches and bananas will meet your calorie expectations for breakfast. Unless you prefer chocolate almond coconut muesli for dessert or in the morning, it's up to you.
Here are some of our recipes designed camping / bivouacking beyond the necessary purchases to refuel.
Finding a nice bivouac spot or a nice campsite is not that easy to find. Take the lead.As you plan the route, take a look at the accommodation near your route. To do this, consult the maps in your possession, the guides, the websites of the tourist offices. You can also call them for more details.
Depending on the pace of your getaway, the weather, minor setbacks ... the distance travelled may not be at all what you imagined before the departure. So consider a place to sleep, it will allow you to be more flexible and serene if the trip deviates from the theory! Mark the bivouac areas, campsites, shelters, guest houses and other types of accommodation on the map you are taking and / or write their contact details on a piece of paper. History of falling into the arms of Morpheus in peace.
You are now ready to touch the landscapes of your region, your country, oh my country! Ready to embark on an adventure qualified as "mini" for its sobriety, but which could well have great effects on your life as it is good to absorb your body and mind in this immense and majestic thing that makes us and makes us live, nature!
*In any case, it is better to take a small first aid kit with paracetamol, dressings, compresses, straps, plasters for blisters, cream for insect bites, a tick remover, scissors, needles and a survival blanket.
Micro-adventure lover
