Last year, I was thinking about getting older. Not a fun thing to contemplate. I know in the back of my mind that the ability to ride a bike at a high enough level to ride in the mountains is not going to last forever, and really, I’m not not nearly as competent as I used to be in that regard even today.
So I started thinking about another trip to Europe since I still have some things I would like to accomplish while I still have SOME ability. Namely, riding the Passo dello Stelvio and the Passo Gavia in the Italian Alpes. These are famous, and very difficult rides, for people of any age. Also, in the back of my mind, I was also thinking of the rides that I wanted to do in the French Alpes that I was unable to do 3 years ago due to a medical condition. And lastly, I thought doing these rides when I am 69 sounded easier than when I would be 70! So, I started thinking more seriously about another trip to France and also to Italy.
Once I sortta got it in my mind, I casually mentioned this to my friend Steve Barson who went with me to France 3 years ago. I did not think for a minute that he would be able to go since his last trip I would consider a ONCE in a lifetime trip. But I had to at least let him know what I was thinking and let him at least say no, but thank you. But Steve’s wife is pretty amazing in her own right and said that it would be alright. Well, I guess I need to REALLY think about this seriously.
Next, another really good friend of mine, Lee Freeman who I knew from my Rocket Scientist days at Rocketdyne had come up to Wenatchee to visit. I mentioned to him that I was probably going to France and we starting thinking that Lee and his family might be interested in a car tour of France as a part of my trip. Lee went home, talked to his wife Mary and they liked the idea.
Looks like I am going to France and Italy this year.