~ The Crew ~
John, Jay, Jeff, John, Lisa, Chad
Phil, Leanne, Darla, Lori, Penny
Robert
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
"It's not JUST about the ride"...
Our last day of cycling.....
Last night was our last evening together as a group and we went out in style. We had a great meal at the castle restaurant complete with too many bottles of wine... We all ended up in the dungen which is also the bar. After some flaming drinks and toasts the music got switched.... (Jeff didn't like my choices...) Penny showed her Spainyard roots and treated us to a rumba or salsa or some kind of dance with our bartender.... I was a great way to top off our trip. With only one more day to go... and by the way ... it's a "shopping" day in Florence.... I couldn't help but wonder....
Sitting here trying to figure out what was the best part of our trip.... I can picture riding along the ridges of the hill tops and looking down both side of the mountains. The views are amazing and my descriptions don't do them justice. Or maybe watching the kids sing they're songs in front of the church as their families smiled from ear to ear with pride... Or maybe the food.... pasta like you've never eaten before... it just melts in your mouth.
And it came to me.... it's the people. The people around you.... It's the people on this trip and the people of Italy that have enriched my life.
Thank You to all of you for making this trip wonderful. You all make a difference in those around you ... a lasting impression that will "enrich" ALL of our lives.
Lance had it right... "It's not about the bike".... Well to sum up this trip in one sentence .... "It's not JUST about the ride"...
"Life's Short...Enjoy the Ride"
Ciao!
Last night was our last evening together as a group and we went out in style. We had a great meal at the castle restaurant complete with too many bottles of wine... We all ended up in the dungen which is also the bar. After some flaming drinks and toasts the music got switched.... (Jeff didn't like my choices...) Penny showed her Spainyard roots and treated us to a rumba or salsa or some kind of dance with our bartender.... I was a great way to top off our trip. With only one more day to go... and by the way ... it's a "shopping" day in Florence.... I couldn't help but wonder....
Sitting here trying to figure out what was the best part of our trip.... I can picture riding along the ridges of the hill tops and looking down both side of the mountains. The views are amazing and my descriptions don't do them justice. Or maybe watching the kids sing they're songs in front of the church as their families smiled from ear to ear with pride... Or maybe the food.... pasta like you've never eaten before... it just melts in your mouth.
And it came to me.... it's the people. The people around you.... It's the people on this trip and the people of Italy that have enriched my life.
Thank You to all of you for making this trip wonderful. You all make a difference in those around you ... a lasting impression that will "enrich" ALL of our lives.
Lance had it right... "It's not about the bike".... Well to sum up this trip in one sentence .... "It's not JUST about the ride"...
"Life's Short...Enjoy the Ride"
Ciao!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
I know they're not riding....
I know that their not riding... after tonight, i can't figure our why you would want to ride... I guess it really isn't about the bike.? Tonight was good times. We enjoyed each others company and enjoyed a great formal meal. I actually wore pants... jeans... but still, they were pants!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY "DARLOTTE" (that's Charolette and Darla combined... long story :))
YOU ARE TRULLY AN INSPIRATION... NICE CLIMBING WITH YOU....
As I toasted to my new found and old friends... I couldn't help but think of my kids back home... I MISS YOU BOTH VERY VERY VERY MUCH. I can't wait to get home and get into the routine of being "Dad" again.... it means sooooo much to me.
I thought I'd share a thought. You go through life thinking you've got it all figured out.... when really you just need to sit back and "soak" it all up! Because in the end, who really gives a shit....
Life's Short.....Enjoy the Ride"
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Loved every minute
Casabianca to Castello di Spaltenna Italy
This morning was tough for me... I finally fell a sleep about four am. I've woke up every morning to see the sunrise... not today. I was the last one to get breakfast and to be ready to ride. I contiplated not riding at all today. The thought of doing 70k in the hills just wasn't working with the few hours of sleep that I got.
But... I suited up and was glad when I hit the first decent. Right out of the gate there was a 15k decent that was a blast. Hitting 68k on the winding roads was leaving me with a grin ear to ear. I gotta tell you... fat cyclist (ME) live for the down hills. Then of course the up hills came... They weren't huge but short and steep. One of our ride mates John stayed with me and climbed with me the whole day. I know he climbs much better but it didn't matter... he stuck it out. It's nice to have company on the climbs. Most of the trip, I've been climbing alone... That sucks....
I still didn't feel like riding. Wasn't that I was hurting or suffering... I just didn't feel like riding anymore. So after about 40 k I decided to pull the "I'm on vacation" card out of the o'l back pocket. Very glad I did. Didn't miss a freak'n minute of the rest of the day's ride. I sat in the van and enjoyed the next 30 k drive and loved every minute.
At the end of the day we pulled into our destination, Castello di Spaltenna in the Monti Del Chianti region. Now we're in some serious wine country! Our home for the next few days in a midevil period castle. Our rooms are dotted throughout the property through winding walkways and cavern like paths. Jeff and Lori are staying in the turrit of the castle. Very cool experience.
This evening we all piled into a shuttle van and went to dinner in the next village over at someone's house... yes, someone's house. There's this Italian man that teaches us to cook dinner. We had a blast making pasta and sauce and drinking vino. The guy looked like he was a Disney characture. He didn't spkeak a lick of english... but was funny as hell!
This morning was tough for me... I finally fell a sleep about four am. I've woke up every morning to see the sunrise... not today. I was the last one to get breakfast and to be ready to ride. I contiplated not riding at all today. The thought of doing 70k in the hills just wasn't working with the few hours of sleep that I got.
But... I suited up and was glad when I hit the first decent. Right out of the gate there was a 15k decent that was a blast. Hitting 68k on the winding roads was leaving me with a grin ear to ear. I gotta tell you... fat cyclist (ME) live for the down hills. Then of course the up hills came... They weren't huge but short and steep. One of our ride mates John stayed with me and climbed with me the whole day. I know he climbs much better but it didn't matter... he stuck it out. It's nice to have company on the climbs. Most of the trip, I've been climbing alone... That sucks....
I still didn't feel like riding. Wasn't that I was hurting or suffering... I just didn't feel like riding anymore. So after about 40 k I decided to pull the "I'm on vacation" card out of the o'l back pocket. Very glad I did. Didn't miss a freak'n minute of the rest of the day's ride. I sat in the van and enjoyed the next 30 k drive and loved every minute.
At the end of the day we pulled into our destination, Castello di Spaltenna in the Monti Del Chianti region. Now we're in some serious wine country! Our home for the next few days in a midevil period castle. Our rooms are dotted throughout the property through winding walkways and cavern like paths. Jeff and Lori are staying in the turrit of the castle. Very cool experience.
This evening we all piled into a shuttle van and went to dinner in the next village over at someone's house... yes, someone's house. There's this Italian man that teaches us to cook dinner. We had a blast making pasta and sauce and drinking vino. The guy looked like he was a Disney characture. He didn't spkeak a lick of english... but was funny as hell!
Hang'n out with Monks
Pienza to CasaBianca, Italy
What an amazing day of cycling. Definately the hardest day of climbing for me.... I should always say "for me" because there are some "jack rabbits" on this trip the just climb anything in the big gear like they're on old 49 decending down to the confluence. The "goal" was about 70k for the day with what was probably 3000+ foot of climb... I'm guessing on the climbing but I swear I can't be far off....
We chose to the do the long loop because it was not as steep... again didn't matter to me... they're all steep. We made our way around the country side ending with (yes, another) climb to a beautiful Abby: Abby di Monte Oliveto Magglore. It was home to Saint Bennidict. Unbelievably breath taking ... and .. huge. It was like a traditional catholic church on steroids. This abby was home to monks and I believe the monks still reside there.
Our girls put out an awesome lunch at the front gates. We had ton's of traditional Italian food complete with wine and deserts. It's amazing how they can put up and tear down in what seems a matter of minutes ... The presentation was that of a small cafe with the tastes of your favorite restaurant.
After the great meal, the thought of climbing anymore hills for a few us would have ruined the rest of the day. We told ourselves ... "we're on vacation" and decided to take the van to the next hotel.
Pulling into the Borgo CasaBianc hotel was well worth the efforts we all put out during the days ride. Our "hotel" was a 100's village that had been restored to it's historic glory. HUGE rooms... actually multiple rooms per villa! www.casabianca.it After checking in and cleaning up we sat in the courtyard drinking morrities and bellinis.
We all got a bit dressed up for the evening because of a special meal as well as an evening of wine tasting with a simole' ( I know I butchered that! ) It was hillarious listening to this very serious Italian man trying to convince our table that we could actually taste and smell the different ingredients in each of the wine. So we played along and had a great time. In this region they have these huge white cows. Their meet is the "kobe" of the area. They will only serve it rare... the chef will NOT cook it any other way... period. So we tried it... When it came out, I TRULY THOUGHT LORI WAS GOING TO FAINT. When I say "rare", I mean uncooked. I think the outside was covered in seasoning just to look like it may have made it to the grill. If it actually got on the grill, it couldn't have been more than a minute... I'm not kidding! Anyway, Jeff and I ate most of it and it was not bad but I'm sure would have been better cooked! Lori somehow held it all together and survived dinner with I think 2 bites...
Night ended as we all went to our rooms with full stomachs and sore legs...
What an amazing day of cycling. Definately the hardest day of climbing for me.... I should always say "for me" because there are some "jack rabbits" on this trip the just climb anything in the big gear like they're on old 49 decending down to the confluence. The "goal" was about 70k for the day with what was probably 3000+ foot of climb... I'm guessing on the climbing but I swear I can't be far off....
We chose to the do the long loop because it was not as steep... again didn't matter to me... they're all steep. We made our way around the country side ending with (yes, another) climb to a beautiful Abby: Abby di Monte Oliveto Magglore. It was home to Saint Bennidict. Unbelievably breath taking ... and .. huge. It was like a traditional catholic church on steroids. This abby was home to monks and I believe the monks still reside there.
Our girls put out an awesome lunch at the front gates. We had ton's of traditional Italian food complete with wine and deserts. It's amazing how they can put up and tear down in what seems a matter of minutes ... The presentation was that of a small cafe with the tastes of your favorite restaurant.
After the great meal, the thought of climbing anymore hills for a few us would have ruined the rest of the day. We told ourselves ... "we're on vacation" and decided to take the van to the next hotel.
Pulling into the Borgo CasaBianc hotel was well worth the efforts we all put out during the days ride. Our "hotel" was a 100's village that had been restored to it's historic glory. HUGE rooms... actually multiple rooms per villa! www.casabianca.it After checking in and cleaning up we sat in the courtyard drinking morrities and bellinis.
We all got a bit dressed up for the evening because of a special meal as well as an evening of wine tasting with a simole' ( I know I butchered that! ) It was hillarious listening to this very serious Italian man trying to convince our table that we could actually taste and smell the different ingredients in each of the wine. So we played along and had a great time. In this region they have these huge white cows. Their meet is the "kobe" of the area. They will only serve it rare... the chef will NOT cook it any other way... period. So we tried it... When it came out, I TRULY THOUGHT LORI WAS GOING TO FAINT. When I say "rare", I mean uncooked. I think the outside was covered in seasoning just to look like it may have made it to the grill. If it actually got on the grill, it couldn't have been more than a minute... I'm not kidding! Anyway, Jeff and I ate most of it and it was not bad but I'm sure would have been better cooked! Lori somehow held it all together and survived dinner with I think 2 bites...
Night ended as we all went to our rooms with full stomachs and sore legs...
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
"Down Hill" is my new favorite saying!
THIS PLACE IS AMAZING! This is definately the place to come to see what life is REALY like... If you've got a "bucket list" ... Italy better be on it!
Today started by meeting out travel mates. There's 10 of us... all from the US. Wisconsin, Boston, Sacramento, New York, New Mexico. Our guides are great! Penny from Spain and Leanne from Canada. They're cute, funny, knowlageble and stud-ets on a bike. Think about it.... they get paid to travel the world, riding a bike, dragging lard butts up hills (that would be me) and they still have a smile on their face.
We took a small bus out about two hours into the countryside of Tuscany. It kinda of felt like taking a drive to "Jackson" but with a bunch of castle like homes on the hillside. EVERY home is made of stack stone or stucco... They look like they've been here for ever. We winded up the hills to the little village or town of Pienza. The villiage is so small, they don't let cars inside. Well, not on a regular basis, they actually let us drive in and drop off our gear. All the streets are like alley ways... We kept saying to each other ... it looked like a "Disney" ride or movie studio. People ACTUALLY live like this. It is truly amazing. I swear to you ... if you've seen the movie " Under the Tuscan Sun"... it's just like that. Wine vineyards and olive trees as far as the eye can see. I have know idea how i'm going to go home and work after experiencing this... Actually this area doesn't produce much wine. It's know for it's cheese made from sheep's milk... Wow, the smell and the taste of their cheeses is a meal in it's self. Of course I purchased a big-o-block of cheese ... Lori did her damage as well. We bought so much stuff the shop owner shipped it back to the states for us. Yeah right, they're having a dinner of all our goodies right now! (hope not)
After getting fitted and getting our "don't get crazy" on the ride lecture, we rode throughout the country side to another small small town. It was our turn around point ... As I rode into town (only one lung hanging out) I noticed this little o'l man walking down the street. He looked about 90, wearing slacks and a tweed sports coat. I almost had to pinch myself? It all seems surreal. I sat in the town square ... about the size of my driveway eating a scoop of Gelato and watched a group of old and young men playing cards. Wow, what a life... I couldn't help but think... what in the world do these people do for a living? Obviously, they all work in the town. The money just keeps circulating around and around to each other. My little gelato purchase just "stimulated" their little economy microcosum. You just wait for the pictures.... they will just floor you how beautiful this world is... Of course, the little train was in full force! Lori and Jeff just chugged up the hills like it was a ride around Lake Natoma... not little (that word makes me feel good) Johnny. With one lung hanging out of my mouth, my thighs burning and my calfs knotting up... I had a revelation... "maybe riding my bike a bit prior to this trip would have been a good idea"? Word of advise.... don't NOT ride your bike for a couple of months prior to going to Tuscany... it's hilly... Today was the easy day!
Tomorrow is the work day... 72km and a ton of steep climbs.... this is definatley going to be a throw up day! Hope it's only one :~0
Our hotel II Chiostro once was a convent in the 15th century and right in the heart of the village. I have a breath taking few of the valley from my window over looking the hotel court yard. I know I keep saying this ... but it's is just amazing ... The streets were packed tonight in the town square. There were kids singing in front of the church .. obviously a school project. Ton's of parents and grand parents standing around with smiles on their faces as they watched their kids perform. Made me teary eyed missing my kids. I can't wait to get home to give them a big hug!
We went to dinner at a little restaurant owned by two brothers... 5 course meal! Good thing I burned off a few calories on the 1200 foot climb day. ....
Pray for my survival on tomorrows ride!
also.. bad news... I don't have the download cable to my camera to upload photo's.... Know that I'm taking plenty of photo's and will upload as soon as I find a cable.
Today started by meeting out travel mates. There's 10 of us... all from the US. Wisconsin, Boston, Sacramento, New York, New Mexico. Our guides are great! Penny from Spain and Leanne from Canada. They're cute, funny, knowlageble and stud-ets on a bike. Think about it.... they get paid to travel the world, riding a bike, dragging lard butts up hills (that would be me) and they still have a smile on their face.
We took a small bus out about two hours into the countryside of Tuscany. It kinda of felt like taking a drive to "Jackson" but with a bunch of castle like homes on the hillside. EVERY home is made of stack stone or stucco... They look like they've been here for ever. We winded up the hills to the little village or town of Pienza. The villiage is so small, they don't let cars inside. Well, not on a regular basis, they actually let us drive in and drop off our gear. All the streets are like alley ways... We kept saying to each other ... it looked like a "Disney" ride or movie studio. People ACTUALLY live like this. It is truly amazing. I swear to you ... if you've seen the movie " Under the Tuscan Sun"... it's just like that. Wine vineyards and olive trees as far as the eye can see. I have know idea how i'm going to go home and work after experiencing this... Actually this area doesn't produce much wine. It's know for it's cheese made from sheep's milk... Wow, the smell and the taste of their cheeses is a meal in it's self. Of course I purchased a big-o-block of cheese ... Lori did her damage as well. We bought so much stuff the shop owner shipped it back to the states for us. Yeah right, they're having a dinner of all our goodies right now! (hope not)
After getting fitted and getting our "don't get crazy" on the ride lecture, we rode throughout the country side to another small small town. It was our turn around point ... As I rode into town (only one lung hanging out) I noticed this little o'l man walking down the street. He looked about 90, wearing slacks and a tweed sports coat. I almost had to pinch myself? It all seems surreal. I sat in the town square ... about the size of my driveway eating a scoop of Gelato and watched a group of old and young men playing cards. Wow, what a life... I couldn't help but think... what in the world do these people do for a living? Obviously, they all work in the town. The money just keeps circulating around and around to each other. My little gelato purchase just "stimulated" their little economy microcosum. You just wait for the pictures.... they will just floor you how beautiful this world is... Of course, the little train was in full force! Lori and Jeff just chugged up the hills like it was a ride around Lake Natoma... not little (that word makes me feel good) Johnny. With one lung hanging out of my mouth, my thighs burning and my calfs knotting up... I had a revelation... "maybe riding my bike a bit prior to this trip would have been a good idea"? Word of advise.... don't NOT ride your bike for a couple of months prior to going to Tuscany... it's hilly... Today was the easy day!
Tomorrow is the work day... 72km and a ton of steep climbs.... this is definatley going to be a throw up day! Hope it's only one :~0
Our hotel II Chiostro once was a convent in the 15th century and right in the heart of the village. I have a breath taking few of the valley from my window over looking the hotel court yard. I know I keep saying this ... but it's is just amazing ... The streets were packed tonight in the town square. There were kids singing in front of the church .. obviously a school project. Ton's of parents and grand parents standing around with smiles on their faces as they watched their kids perform. Made me teary eyed missing my kids. I can't wait to get home to give them a big hug!
We went to dinner at a little restaurant owned by two brothers... 5 course meal! Good thing I burned off a few calories on the 1200 foot climb day. ....
Pray for my survival on tomorrows ride!
also.. bad news... I don't have the download cable to my camera to upload photo's.... Know that I'm taking plenty of photo's and will upload as soon as I find a cable.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Wow...I should have rode my bike?
Monday Pienza to Montalcino, Italy
Woke to the sun rising right out my bedroom window with the sound of pigeons. I had left the window open and it seems that maybe my little friends enjoyed my snoring!
While setting up our bikes in the piatza this morning, I happened to glance at todays rid profile. OPPS, it didn't look fun... The plan was 76 km with alot of hills. If the profile were heart rate graph....There would be some big spikes on it. I probably shouldn't have seen it because it left me discourged. About a quarter into the ride, four of us where freight training behind our guide Penny. In a split second she hit the breaks with no notice and we all piled into each other.... We all stayed up except Jeff. Jeff hit the breaks to avoid plowing into the back of Lori. And with a score of almost a perfect 10 he avoide hitting her but ended up flipping over the bars and into the road side ditch. After brushing off and realizing that it did really happened, we were on our way again. Lori clearly shaken and Jeff with some road rash and blood trickling down his leg, we made the small climb to the hot springs.
We hung out at the hot springs a bit to decompress and then proceeded to THE big heart rate spike... I decided to sit this climb out in the van. Great call because I got to really enjoy the views without tucking my lung back in half way up the climb. Our guide Leanne dropped me off on the other side to enjoy the rest of the days ride. Right out of the van I started climbing.... seems that second big heart rate spike was actualy bigger. Nice thing is that I climbed it alone and seemed to handle it all fine. Soon we all reached the top and stopped for lunch ... I decinded
that I couldn't sit too long so a slice of pizza would have to hold me over for the next couple of hours of riding.
Lori decided that she needed a breake and would ride in the van. She was still kind of emotionaly shaken up seen her hubby bleeding in a ditch on the side of the road. HE'S FINE.... but still a bit traumatic. After lunch Chad from WI and I decided to head out and
let the rest of the group catch up. Luckly there was a HUGE decent ... this is where my belly realy helps... I was hitting 60-70 km and loving every minute of it. That's fast for me!! As we navigated this valley all was good... Of course we hit the first climb and Chad asked.... "Do you want me to wait?"... It was cool of him but I knew he wouldn't enjoy my climbing pace. I told him no need to wait and he was gone from view in about 4 minutes.... litteraly! I hate skinny people sometimes! After a long grunt of riding I pulled into town alone. I was proud of myself for pushing through the payne and also not listening to the voices in my head telling me to just stop and get in the van... I was also proud to know that the only rider that was in the hotel was the jackrabbit, Chad. Everyone waas still behind me... that was a good feeling.. The other very very cool thing was that Leanne was at the finish cheering me on and giving me the "that-a-boy's". It felt great to accomplish this days ride. This damm Parkinson's not going to get me
yet.
I'm going to keep checking off my "bucket list" in the morning.
Woke to the sun rising right out my bedroom window with the sound of pigeons. I had left the window open and it seems that maybe my little friends enjoyed my snoring!
While setting up our bikes in the piatza this morning, I happened to glance at todays rid profile. OPPS, it didn't look fun... The plan was 76 km with alot of hills. If the profile were heart rate graph....There would be some big spikes on it. I probably shouldn't have seen it because it left me discourged. About a quarter into the ride, four of us where freight training behind our guide Penny. In a split second she hit the breaks with no notice and we all piled into each other.... We all stayed up except Jeff. Jeff hit the breaks to avoid plowing into the back of Lori. And with a score of almost a perfect 10 he avoide hitting her but ended up flipping over the bars and into the road side ditch. After brushing off and realizing that it did really happened, we were on our way again. Lori clearly shaken and Jeff with some road rash and blood trickling down his leg, we made the small climb to the hot springs.
We hung out at the hot springs a bit to decompress and then proceeded to THE big heart rate spike... I decided to sit this climb out in the van. Great call because I got to really enjoy the views without tucking my lung back in half way up the climb. Our guide Leanne dropped me off on the other side to enjoy the rest of the days ride. Right out of the van I started climbing.... seems that second big heart rate spike was actualy bigger. Nice thing is that I climbed it alone and seemed to handle it all fine. Soon we all reached the top and stopped for lunch ... I decinded
that I couldn't sit too long so a slice of pizza would have to hold me over for the next couple of hours of riding.
Lori decided that she needed a breake and would ride in the van. She was still kind of emotionaly shaken up seen her hubby bleeding in a ditch on the side of the road. HE'S FINE.... but still a bit traumatic. After lunch Chad from WI and I decided to head out and
let the rest of the group catch up. Luckly there was a HUGE decent ... this is where my belly realy helps... I was hitting 60-70 km and loving every minute of it. That's fast for me!! As we navigated this valley all was good... Of course we hit the first climb and Chad asked.... "Do you want me to wait?"... It was cool of him but I knew he wouldn't enjoy my climbing pace. I told him no need to wait and he was gone from view in about 4 minutes.... litteraly! I hate skinny people sometimes! After a long grunt of riding I pulled into town alone. I was proud of myself for pushing through the payne and also not listening to the voices in my head telling me to just stop and get in the van... I was also proud to know that the only rider that was in the hotel was the jackrabbit, Chad. Everyone waas still behind me... that was a good feeling.. The other very very cool thing was that Leanne was at the finish cheering me on and giving me the "that-a-boy's". It felt great to accomplish this days ride. This damm Parkinson's not going to get me
yet.
I'm going to keep checking off my "bucket list" in the morning.
Ohh yeah... the night was all the same stuff... Great Food. Great Wine. Great Friends.
SORE LEGS
Sleepless in Italy
Friday/Saturday Florence
The trip started with a drive down to Castro Valley to Brent Patterson's
house where I left my car and bummed a ride from him to SF airport.
As always, Brent and Monique where there to do what ever a friend
needs. And of course Brandon (their 8 year old) was happy to hang
out with me too. We actually have a plan for a "play date" upon
my return!
The flight was somewhat non eventful. Lot's of forgein languages
and a very very long flight to Frankfurt Germany. Just sitting in one
position sucks!
Frankfurt airport confirmed the typical impressions of the eastern
european architekture and style. Many of the people tend to dress
in a "militant" style ... As I was going through customs, I couldn't help
but to think of the fall of the Berlin Wall. I have no idea why ... maybe
the presence of the military in the airport?
After Germany there was a short jump over to Italy. Wow, what amazing
views from the plane window. Vineyards and farm land as far as the
eye could see. Beautiful mountains (they looked like the Alps)(you know
me and geography). I can't wait to get out and ride the countryside and
find that little old lady on her bike with her loaves of bread and bottle
of wine in the basket.. ha ha. If you ever come here... hold on in the
taxi! My driver was out of control but deffinatley fun. Not a word of
english but he could drive like an F1 pro! Zooming in and out of
traffic down the streets. Every road is like an alley. There are a few
main roads but then everything else just seems to be about a car
and a half wide... And rules? What rules? It's a free for all! As
we flew through the streets in the dark all of a sudden he locks them
up and kinda do the "rockford files" skid into a parralle parking spot.
Turns around with this big smile and says, "Okay"? I was ready to
go again but decided to check into the hotel Albani, Florrence.
Room is awesome. Very nice and suspect, one of the nicer
affordable (only $380 a night!) hotels in the city. The only
thing that I don't understand is that the sink is very very low
to the ground. It makes it hard to brush your teeth?
pic
haa haa....
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The night before "Italy" and all through the house....
Wow... Can't wait for this adventure to start. It's my first time to Italy and my first organized bike tour! What a combination. Sore "ass" and ton's of vino!!
I'm not sure how long my body will last on this trip but I'm going to give it the o'l college try! I'm sure my ride mates Lori and Jeff Scheel won't let me quit. My goal is 50-ish miles a day for a week. Not to mention all the pasta and wine one can inhale in the evenings! Lori, known as "the little train" (I just made that up... she'll love it) for her determination to be at the top of every hill first will hopefully be pulling me and Jeff all the way. The one thing that scares me is her favorite saying.... "You just got passed by a GIRL".... I know it's coming!
Anyway, I'm looking forward to this adventure and hope there will be plenty more to come!
Here's the details of my Trek Travel vacation!
MORE TO COME FROM ITALY!
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