So it's been a few years since my last post, I've been busy. Tomorrow Gwen, Deb and I leave for Paris. We'll see what 3 years of French earns us. Yes, I'm taking my bike so that Gwen and Deb can have some alone time.

Our last day in Bassano del Grappa, tomorrow we mount up for what could be a dry day in the mountains. Yesterday we got in a great ride until the rains turned into a downpour. That hurry up, let's get back home why did we even go this far day. 

Tomorrow the Campy GF and then the Dolomites.

Looking up the final few turns of the Col du Glandon.

 We started this loop from St Jean de Maurienne where we staying.  At the top of the Glandon we truned and went up a much more gradual grade to the Croix de Fer where we had lunch. The ride back to home took us the Col du Mollard (sign said something about the road being closed but who cares). Glen Erickson pointed out one of his all time favorite downhills. It's not easy to find but it's well worth the effort. We dropped 3000 feet turning every 30 seconds if not sooner. 50 miles in 4 hours includes many stops for photos. The weather was warm, we made it back before the rains that keep this area green. Tomorrow it's the up the Queen Mother.

http://www.maratona.it/home.php

http://www.granfondocampagnolo.it/index.asp

By this time next week I'll be looking for Jim roaming the streets of St Jean de Maurienne. It's a small town in the valley between many famous Tour de France mountain stages.
My travel bike has been rebuilt for the 3rd time. This go around I should have all the mistakes fixed. Don't go to the real mountains with gearing for the hills.

It's only 59 days until Jim and I queue up for our date in hell. We are both in the 500 to roll out of Feltre for a all day bike ride. As Hayden puts it "my pops likes to suffer" and yes Hayden suffer we will. http://www.granfondocampagnolo.it/index.asp There's still plenty of time for the rest of you to make your travel plans and join us.

I'm back....Internet connections have been very hard to find. The Alps are behind me as I'm in the Ardeche. This area is just east of Provence on the west side of the Rhone. I'd say it could be the perfect place. Maybe it's the flatter roads which I sorely missed in the Alps. Jim and I rode 4 days up there and the rides where measured in hours not miles. My luck on staying healthy didn't hold out. I got a cold on the day we drove north and it stuck with me until yesterday when I drove south after spending the night in Lyon. Jim's flight home is a story I'm sure he's willing to share. Needless to say, flight direct is my story and I'm not budging from it.
Today's ride is down the Ardeche river through the Gorges de L' Ardeche to the Rhone and back.
This part of France is perfect for this time of year. Warm but not too hot. Outdoor dinning everywhere, Rose' flowing like water. How could life get any better? Rose' you might ask, it's that pink wine what high school girls drink? Hell no, if you haven't had a good Rose' sitting outside as the sun goes down you have one more thing to do. I'm living a dream come true if only I wasn't alone.