Running 1,500 km along the Nile from Abu Simbel to Alexandria, you'll probably pick up a few things along the way: friends, blisters, rocks in your shoes, inspiration stories, some serious calf muscles, unnecessary Forrest Gump references, and a whole bunch of cheerleaders from across the country supporting you on your journey. That, some serious hospitality from strangers across the country, as well as the unconditional support of sugar cane juice have been Omar El Galla's driving force on his 1,500 km journey that wrapped up this morning as he finally reached Alexandria! Once he reached Cairo, and after a long overdue shower and some comfortable rest, he could see the finish line. "I've become so much sleepier since I've reached Cairo, and I sleep a lot more too. There was this survival mode I had on since the start of my journey, but now it feels gone," he says. This is Omar's second cross-country adventure after he cycled 6,500 km around Egypt in 65 days, so he's no stranger to life on the road – but, still, it's no easy feat.

Countless street-side naps and a million blisters later, he finds himself closer than ever to his target, but it was never a walk in the park. "The biggest challenge was my feet. Sometimes it'd get so swollen I wouldn't be able to stand on them," Omar adds. As much as a physical crucible his journey was, he wasn't really alone all the way. People offered him umpteen meals and a bed whenever they could spare one, but that wasn't always the case. "I've slept in an abandoned house, jumping through the balcony for some rest, I've slept inside a ceramic store, and I've slept in front of strangers' houses on a mastaba waiting for them to wake me up," he says. Throughout his experiences Omar continues to insist that Egyptians are approachable and friendly, even those who found him extremely bizarre. "I was sleeping in front of a mosque one day, and I woke to find this guy staring at me. He approached with a knife in hand and asked me what I was doing there, and wanted to see my ID. I wasn't really afraid he might hurt me because people around there are all cautious of strangers, so I diffused the situation and explained what I was doing to him, and he even offered to have me for breakfast," Omar recounts. Along the way from Aswan to Cairo, passing by several Upper Egypt cities, people constantly warned him about what's to come, advising him not to tread alone in the upcoming place. Yet, Omar believes these are irrational fears people have, and he did just fine for hundreds of kilometers. "I believe that people would never hurt anyone just for the sake of it," he explains. The roads weren't exactly paved and the beds weren't 5 stars, but he knew he had to make it through. "There was never any going back. Ever since I started, I knew that if I made it to the start line, I'm going to make it to the finish one, even if it took me a year," he adds. Running hundreds of kilometers with a full bag in deserted roads among nature's wildest creations isn't exactly most people's idea of fun, but Omar sees it differently: "I'm really happy I'm doing this. You do this sort of stuff in search of something – a certain bliss. I'm doing this to live; or, rather, I'm doing it to feel like I'm alive."

One thing that kept Omar going – and almost "brought [him] to tears" – was the overwhelming support he got from friends and strangers alike. "My father met me when I reached Cairo, and he kept taking photographs of me and was very happy. Some people even joined me on the run from Helwan to Kasr Al Nile!" This support meant the world to him, so much that when he reached his Cairo bed, he couldn't contain himself. "I just sat on the bed, alone, and kept laughing out loud like a madman. I was beyond exhilarated, and in complete disbelief I made it this far, despite having faith I would when I started," he recounts.

Support came from unexpected sources as well, and Omar received words of encouragement from Omar Samra himself that meant a lot to him. "He texted me for the first time when I was in Asyut, and then again in Cairo. He got to me in a way; it's like he understood everything I was going through," he says.

Omar's journey from Cairo to Abu Simbel took exactly 24 hours, and the way back took 31 days to cover those 1,300 km. But does it really end now that he's in Alexandria? Probably not. "I know I'll come back, chill for a week or two, and then ask what's next," Omar admits. "It won't be long before I forget all the pain of this one and start planning for the next adventure."

All photos courtesy of Omar El Galla