Gwenaël Breton, a military veteran of the French Special Forces and resident of the Basque Country, is on a grueling trek across the United States with his son on bicycle. It’s part of a tour he is making around the world via cycling and rowing to promote a message of hope to wounded war veterans.
His 33,000-kilometer journey began in January 2021 on bike from the Basque city of Baiona in Iparralde. He has cycled through 12 countries in Europe from France to Russia.
He and his son started cycling across the U.S. in September 2023. UPDATE: As of the end of November 2023, the two had reached New Orleans, and his son had returned to France. By the end of December, Breton had reached Miami, Florida.
While Breton is not Basque, he has lived in the Basque Country for a long time, specifically the town of Ezpeleta, and he usually honors his adopted culture with a Basque flag on his vehicle, whether it be bike or boat. He also has the Basque ikurriña on his personal logo and world tour website, Rien que du Bonheur (Nothing but Happiness https://rienquedubonheur.com/).
Read our story about his trip here https://euskalkazeta.com/basque-country-resident-cycles-around-the-world-on-goodwill-trip/
Breton’s Instagram about the trip: https://www.instagram.com/rien.que.du.bonheur/
Gwenaël Breton: Action! Nancy Zubiri: So, I’m here with Gwenaël Breton. And he’s basically traveling around the world on his bike. His prototype bike he calls it. It’s a little bit electric. It has a little bit of electrical power. But mostly it’s run on his own two legs. And he’s traveling around the world.
He is also working with wounded warriors. I happen to have a Basque flag. And so I’m giving it to Gwenael because he really wants… He lives in the Basque Country, has lived there for… Espelette.
And I start my world tour two years ago from Bayonne. From Bayonne and go to North Pacific. and I cross all Russia in winter with my prototype bike. And I am very happy today. Because I make this…here But…American (flag) is beautiful for my project
Because my project is for meeting with veterans, wounded veterans But the problem, people come and they think I am American But my English, you understand, my English is a little bad…. But it’s ok I want make Basque Country…I love Basque Country
Ikurrina?…Ikurrina (the Basque flag) I am very happy. Thank you very much. Tomorrow it’s the birthday of my son. Greg. Come Yes, my son After my rescue, my son came to the U.S.A. San Francisco….after two weeks we arrived in Los Angeles
A little dream for my son coming to Los Angeles We are here with you . Thank you very much for your welcome OK so here is his bicycle This is my bed on the bicycle
His bed, yeah. He turns it into a bed every night You see my collection All countries I go, to police I say “give me a patch” Alright, so he sleeps here and this is his bicycle.
We’ll show you how later it turns into a bicycle He sets it up at night Like this And then this right here is a solar panel on top So what do you need the energy for? The electricity?
I need….because it’s electric, solar and electric. I have a little engine assistance But the problem…I cross Russia before with this In Russia, now my bike is a little broken The problem in the U.S.A. is for sleeping.
Because my son follows me with a little tent. And me, no problem, I can sleep anywhere But my son, with tent, sometimes it is prohibited. We need food… Always we go, but we don’t know where we are sleeping Music: Txiki Txikitik: Bidart Aita Alabak
Sometimes it’s a problem because it’s very big But the big advantage when I stay on the road People come and say “Oh, what’s that shit?” What’s that shit? It’s long. It’s solar. How you drive this? It’s too fat (heavy). 120 kilos
It’s good, because if you have a normal bike People…”oh, it’s normal” Not interesting. But people come and I talk with people And people afterwards say “oh, you need some food, you need space for sleeping? You need electricity? No problem. We can help you”
And it’s very good for connection with people When I stop, there are always 10, 20 people I crossed 12 countries France, Italie, Serbia, Romania, Ukraine You’ve already traveled across all those countries? Yes, but with Covid. With Covid it was crazy.
Oh, during the pandemic. Yes, so I needed adaptation. Yes, so this trip is about sending a spirit. For other people who are wounded. Because I am a French wounded warrior ambassador. Gueles Cassees,
It’s the centennial 2021 is the centennial for the wounded You have problems….in my adventure , I have many many problems Because of Covid, because of the weather in Russia I cross Russia in winter Many problems with my bike
But always I smile, I connect, I meet with many people Good people My association is “Only Happiness” Always “only happiness If you have a dream, take your dream, all is possible This message I want to sent to all people Because all people are wounded
So you’ve mentioned you’ve been to those 12 countries already And now you are in the United States Where have you been and where are you going? After my rescue, because before, with Japan to San Francisco I wanted to row alone, with no assistance
Row boat to San Francisco, but rescue in middle Pacific But now I am alive, I am very happy because I am not dead I said to my son, “OK, come with me To San Francisco across the U.S.A. There are many problems, because big roads in USA
Very big highways, freeways…oh, yeah Very dangerous. We take small roads But mountains, big mountains. It’s good experience for my son And to send message to other people And from Los Angeles you’re planning to travel to New Orleans, you said. And then to Miami
Yes, first objective because my son has a visa for three months And I have a visa for six months. I have time First objective for my son is New Orleans