4000km, 200 Days, 1 Home

European Adventure on Foot

"There are no problems, only solutions. They may not always be the solutions we want, but they are often the solutions we need." - Pierre Thibaut Franchomme

Pierre Thibaut Franchomme and his dog Spicy have spent the last several months living on the trail, walking thousands of kilometres with everything they need carried on their backs. What began as a personal challenge has become a way of life, built around simplicity, resilience, and the freedom that comes from moving at your own pace.

For almost 200 consecutive nights, one piece of equipment has been there through every mountain crossing, storm, and remote campsite: the DD SuperLight - Pyramid Tent.

About the Adventure

My name is Pierre Thibaut Franchomme, and I am currently undertaking a long-distance walking project alongside my dog, Spicy. We began our adventure on 16 August 2025 in Wissembourg, a small town in north-eastern France near the German border.

To date, we have covered more than 4,000 kilometres on foot and spent nearly 200 days on the trail. Our journey has taken us across the Vosges, Jura, Chartreuse and Vercors mountains, over Mont Ventoux, through Corsica and Sardinia, and along large sections of the French coastline.

Our current objective is to reach 10,000 kilometres on foot before continuing towards Rome and the Vatican.

Why I Started Walking

I live with a disability. I am missing two fingers on each hand and suffer from chronic pain that makes traditional employment difficult. Rather than allowing these limitations to define my future, I chose to keep moving forward.

Walking became a way to remain active, maintain a sense of purpose, and prove that ambitious goals can still be achieved, one step at a time. Spicy has been beside me throughout this journey, sharing every kilometre, every campsite, and every challenge.

A Home That Fits Inside a Backpack

When you spend months living outdoors, your definition of comfort changes completely. Comfort is no longer a hotel room or a soft bed. Comfort becomes carrying less weight, staying dry after hours of rain, and having a reliable shelter waiting for you at the end of a long day.

For Pierre Thibaut and Spicy, that shelter has been the DD SuperLight - Pyramid Tent.

"I chose this shelter because of its lightweight design, spacious interior and modular construction. The possibility of replacing individual components, such as the tarp or the mesh inner, is particularly valuable for a long-term journey where durability and budget both matter."

After carrying it for more than 4,000 kilometres, Pierre Thibaut says it has become much more than a tent.

"Compact, practical and dependable, it has become our home on the road."

Tested Across France and Beyond

Few tents experience the level of continuous use that Pierre Thibaut's DD SuperLight - Pyramid Tent has endured.

For nearly 200 consecutive nights, it has sheltered both Pierre Thibaut and Spicy through coastal storms, freezing mountain camps, persistent rain, forest humidity, snowfall and emergency bivouacs. Despite months of daily use and thousands of kilometres carried on his back, it continues to provide a reliable home wherever the day ends.

"Since the first day of the adventure, it has been our shelter every night without exception. Even after thousands of kilometres, it remains one of the most reliable pieces of equipment I own."

The People Who Made the Journey

Although the landscapes have been unforgettable, Pierre Thibaut says it is the people he has met who have left the greatest impression.

"Every region of France has been beautiful in its own way. Every day brings new discoveries, but what stands out most are the people we meet. Every person has their own story, personality and energy. These encounters fill us with happiness and have become one of the greatest treasures of this journey."

Throughout the journey, complete strangers have shown extraordinary generosity.

In the Vosges Mountains, Françoise invited Pierre Thibaut and Spicy in for breakfast and a shower after spotting them setting up camp. Later that day, she returned to collect them after their walk and treated them to dinner at her partner's restaurant.

In Corsica, Pierre Thibaut stopped at a restaurant to try the local speciality, figatellu. During a restroom stop, Philippe quietly paid for Pierre Thibaut's meal. Knowing a storm was approaching, he then made several phone calls until he found accommodation where Pierre Thibaut and Spicy could spend two nights safely under shelter.

One of the most memorable encounters came on the Normandy Landing Beaches, where Pierre Thibaut met Nathalie after she noticed Spicy proudly carrying her own backpack. They spoke briefly before continuing on their separate ways, but a few days later Nathalie reached out through social media and invited Pierre Thibaut and Spicy to stay at her home when they passed nearby.

What followed was far more than a place to spend the night. Nathalie joined them on part of the trail, welcomed them into her home, invited Pierre Thibaut to take part in one of her Pilates classes, and even arranged for a local journalist to cover the adventure. A week later, an article about their journey appeared in the local press.

Inspired by Pierre Thibaut's story, Nathalie later contacted the French hiking boot company Galibier to tell them about the adventure. Not long afterwards, Pierre Thibaut received a phone call from the company offering to sponsor the expedition – another unexpected act of kindness that began with a chance encounter on the trail.

For Pierre Thibaut, these encounters have become just as memorable as the landscapes themselves, reminding him that some of the greatest moments of an adventure come from the people who unexpectedly become part of it.

The Toughest Challenge

Not every stage has gone to plan. One of the hardest decisions came while crossing Sardinia.

After Spicy suffered an injury, the pair rested before continuing. Only days later, Pierre Thibaut badly cut his foot while protecting Spicy from livestock guardian dogs. The incident forced them to cross a river, climb a steep bank and treat the injury themselves.

Realising that the route was becoming increasingly inaccessible and unsafe, Pierre Thibaut made the difficult decision to abandon the Sardinian section of the journey.

"It was very difficult to accept, but it was the right thing to do."

Repairing Rather Than Replacing

After thousands of kilometres, signs of wear are inevitable. Some people would see damage. Pierre Thibaut sees memories.

A repaired seam, reinforced stitching or a small maintenance job represents another stage of the journey completed.

"I believe in repairing equipment whenever possible rather than replacing it. For me, this tent has become part of the story itself. It has shared as many adventures as we have."

After nearly 200 nights of continuous use, the DD SuperLight - Pyramid tent continues to accompany Pierre Thibaut and Spicy as they head towards their next milestone.

More Than a Walking Companion

From the very beginning, Spicy has been far more than a travelling companion. She has shared every kilometre, every campsite and every challenge alongside Pierre Thibaut, facing the same long days, changing weather and unexpected situations that come with life on the trail.

One of Pierre Thibaut's most unforgettable memories came while crossing the Agriates Desert in Corsica. After moving a bull from the trail several times, the animal suddenly charged towards him. Without hesitation, Spicy stepped in and diverted the bull's attention, changing its trajectory. The bull struck Pierre Thibaut's hand, causing him to fall backwards, but the outcome could have been far worse.

Reflecting on that moment, Pierre Thibaut says:

"At that moment, Spicy showed remarkable calmness, courage and loyalty. Despite the pressure and danger, she remained focused and attentive."

For Pierre Thibaut, that moment perfectly sums up the bond they have built throughout the journey.

"Since the beginning of this adventure, she has faced the same challenges as I have: rain, cold, heat, long days of walking and all the unexpected situations that come with life on the trail. Yet she continues to move forward with confidence, enthusiasm and an incredible ability to adapt."

It's a reminder that this expedition is not only about one man walking across Europe.

"This adventure is often told as my story, but it is just as much hers."

What the Trail Has Taught Me

Living outdoors for months at a time has changed Pierre Thibaut's outlook on life.

"I've learned to let go of things that are beyond my control. Whenever something unexpected happens, I simply tell myself, 'It's part of the journey, and it's how things are meant to happen.'"

Rather than resisting setbacks, he has learned to accept them as part of the adventure, choosing to focus instead on the next step ahead.

Looking Ahead

The first 4,000 kilometres are only the beginning. Many thousands of kilometres still lie ahead before reaching Pierre Thibaut's initial goal of 10,000 kilometres and eventually continuing towards Rome and the Vatican.

He doesn’t know where tomorrow's campsite will be, what weather awaits, or what challenges lie around the next corner.

One thing is certain: at the end of another day on the trail, Pierre Thibaut and Spicy will once again return to the place they have called home for almost 200 nights - their DD SuperLight - Pyramid Tent.