Une lettre d'amour.

 The col de Cayolle, the most beautiful road.

This love letter is being written to a few things in my life.  First.  Mon velo.  Bicycling has changed my life. I do not make this statement lightly.  It is a passion both Larry and I share and it gives us something fun, healthy and challenging to do together.  Cycling has defined almost every adventure I have had in the past 15 years; with my girlfriends, with my cousin Mark and his wife Deb, with new friends from around the world and most importantly with Larry.  Seeing the world from a bike is so different than from a car, train or bus. Plus, when you are biking a lot, you can eat like a pig.

Secondly, the Alps.  They are so magnificent.  Rising from valleys of 3,000' to heights of over 9,000', they are truly awe inspiring.  The narrow roads wind along raging rivers, up through meadows where Heidi is calling out to Grand-pere, above the tree line to the cols where you can see for miles, and miles and miles...(sing along time)  However, there is one cursed creature in the alps... les mouches.... If there is any justice in this world, there  really should be a special place in hell reserved for our horrid people. That place would be  completely filled with these small, hovering, biting black flies.  There would also be thousands of motorcycle riders passing them as they struggle up a hill..... But if there is any bike ride in the world more perfect than the Col de Cayolle, I want to know about it.

Every where you look...

Thirdly, to France.  Such a complicated, diverse, beautiful and wonderful country.  We have spent many months of our lives here and still we come back for more.  Putting why I love it here into words is very difficult, as many things in day to day life for Americans would drive them crazy.  The stairs.  No A/C. Buildings from who knows what century made into apartments.  Walking to the store every day.  Seldom driving.  No one picking up dog poop!  But to sit in the square every afternoon just outside our apartment, watching the families, the cyclists, the hikers, the hardworking shop owners, the dogs; everyone very happy, enjoying the moment, savoring life.  Taking the time for that cup of coffee, ice cream cone; beer, not running off to the next event. Yes, I know we are all on vacation, but it is still different than how things are for me at home.  That is why we travel!

My blog has been rather sporadic this year. Firstly, we have re-visited several places where we spent lots of time last year, and I didn't want to repeat myself too much. Secondly, internet has been challenging in many of the places we have stayed. There will be more posts to come, but "Look out your rock and rollers, ch-ch-ch-changes...."  Ziggy will be on the move... with a new cast of characters.

And I will close as every commercial transaction ends in France..... Merci. Au revoir. Bon journee!