August 26 - October 5, 2010
ITALY BY BIKE: THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE
After visiting small villages amidst the pastoral scenery and alpine beauty of the region of Tuscany, I truly feel there is no better place to ride a bicycle. For the past five years I have been obsessing over the creation of this project. Yes, most bike touring companies will offer this kind of trip, but you will find that they all follow the same routes through the wine and tourist areas.
My heritage is full Italian. I was the first person on either side of my family to be born outside of the country. Our roots run deep. One grandfather was a Baron, while the other was Goat herder searching for a more profitable life in the US. The house that was left to me was built in 1783 and was seized the Germans and then the Americans during WW2.
The villages we will stay in are Italian through and through. Most likely you will have to use your hands to communicate with the locals because they don’t speak a lick of English (besides, half of the Italian language is hand gestures! Ha!).
Highland Tuscany typifies Italian cuisine where the ingredients are simple and delicious. The peasant foods are the foundation of all Italian meals and of course, must be washed down with delicious red wines. Food will be collected in the small specialty stores and butcheries found throughout the different villages while vegetables will be harvested from the home garden. Hearty meals will prepared by my mother with recipes that have been passed down from her grandmother.
In my opinion, the only way to experience Italy is on a bicycle. Whether touring or day trips, you don’t get closer to the people than on the road at the pace of a bicycle. Short stops to take in an espresso or a panini (or gelato!!!) are the perfect way to see the passion and personalities of Italian culture.
The roads, built years ago by horse and buggy and used for goat herding, snake through the terrain, constantly turning to expose a new incredible vista. We will climb mountain passes and ride past vineyards, ancient churches, castles, lakes, and rivers.
Although most of the daily rides will begin and end at our villa, we will take several opportunities to stay overnight in other unique locales.
These places are riding distance from the house, and we will take different routes to and from these destinations to see more of the landscape. Overnight outings will be to such places as Cinque Terre, Island of Elba, San Geminagno, Siena, and Pisa.
Mileage will vary based on the day and the energy level of each participant. My goal is to average 70 miles per day with ample stops along the way to take in culture and coffee.
\The excitement and sometimes stress of road cycling has to do with dealing with vehicles. In the highlands of Tuscany it is less populated and has considerably less traffic than many other areas. With that said, we will run into cars on the road, and I have found that Italians are very respectful to cyclists. It is a national pastime with its history rooting back centuries. You will see Ferraris speeding down the road but generally they will give you plenty of berth on the road. However, for added precautions it is required that your insurance policy has international coverage, or please purchase additional travel insurance.
Italy is a country where leisure and family are the most important parts of life, and we want to convey this to our guests. If you feel that a day of rest is important, we can provide a detailed itinerary for you to see other towns via foot, train or bus (or allow you to just sit back and relax at the villa for the day). Bagni Di Lucca is the local center of our villa and worthy of a exploration. It dates back to Renaissance times as a spa and health destination. The marbled baths are filled with volcanic thermal waters and are a perfect way to rest tired legs after a day of riding. Bagni has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it exemplifies a typical and classical Italian town.
Meanwhile, Lucca, the provincial center of the region is a wall-fortified city that was used during the Roman revolution. This tightly spaced city exudes Italian flavor. From rustic restaurants to chic boutiques, it is a true blend between old and modern worlds. An easy bus ride or a 40km bike ride will give you a day of exploration to satiate your senses.
It is my goal to make this the best bike trip possible. I have thought long and hard about how each day can be orchestrated to maximize your cultural and cycling experience. However, each participant must understand that this is the first time I have taken on the creation of such an adventure. You all know my experience as a mountain and ski guide. With this trip, I am breaking exciting ground for my own business. Cycling is a relatively new passion for me and I see it as a perfect way to show you this incredible part of the world. Please understand that while there might be hiccups in the organization of this journey, I guarantee a grand adventure!
For example, this incredible villa with 9 bedrooms, a full cellar for wine processing, and many reading and smoking rooms has only one bathroom.
When the house was remodeled it was only my grandparents living there. We have installed a great outdoor shower and hope to have another built earlier this summer, but that still only leaves one toilet. The kitchen is a bit small as well, but my mother and helpers are able to cook up some savory meals anywhere.
In return for a little understanding on your part, I am making this trip very affordable compared to other companies. I am just trying to cover our costs for operating and make a little money to put back into the house for future trips.
I am offering this trip only to people with whom I have spent time in the past and who are up for a good adventure. It is my intention to create a full flavored experience with unforgettable memories from the seat of your bicycle and nights around the outdoor dinner table with bottles of wine and laughter. Everyone who has been invited is already a fairly strong ride and a fun personality to boot. It will be a family experience with Petit (my wife), and my mother all working (when they have Talus, who will turn one while we are there, under control). I will do my best to match people up based on their desires and abilities, and I really think that everyone will have a great time together.
We will be using the Pisa International Airport for pick-up and drop-off for the trip. If you choose to travel to other locales in Europe/Italy, we can make sure that you are taken care of in Pisa. If you haven’t done any travel in Europe, a train ride is a classic experience. You can choose a bigger airport and travel to Pisa via the Eurail. Check http://www.eurail.com/ for schedules and fares.
Pick-up and Drop-off at the airport will be every Sunday. Due to the nature of the trip, everyone’s itinerary will be a little different and we will do our best to make sure that you aren’t waiting too long.
Booking will be a revolving door situation beginning August 29th and ending October 6th, on a first to sign up/ first served basis. We will never have more than 9 people in house at a time, and we encourage everyone to stay for two weeks. Payment will be adjusted for shorter and longer stays.
The house configuration is such that there are two bedrooms with two single beds and four bedrooms with one queen bed and how you choose to sleep will factor into the cost of your trip.
Rates for a two week package per person:
Double occupancy with queen bed: $2300.00 USD
Double occupancy with two single beds: $2500.00 USD
Single occupancy with queen bed: $2700.00 USD
* If you don’t mind sharing a room with a someone you don’t know we will do our best to match individuals.
Packages Include:
- Transfer from Pisa International Airport on Sunday’s (addition for other days of the week)
- Room in classic Italian villa
- Homemade breakfast and dinners paired with Italian wine prepared in Canapali
- Daily bicycle guiding with vehicle support and riding snacks
- Occupancy when cycling on overnight excursions
- Travel resources for off day visits
- Use and assistance of bicycle repair and maintenance equipment
Foreseeable Additional Expenses:
- Airfare and overland travel to/from Pisa International Airport
- Additional baggage fees for transporting bicycles (see your airline carrier for requirements) Cost estimate: $150.00 each way *
- Travel Insurance with medical coverage. **
- Daily coffee and eating breaks during cycling excursions.
- Dinners during overnight excursions
- Souvenirs, gifts, maasage and gratuity/tips
* Bicycles will be available to rent at Poli bicycles in Lucca. Average cost for road bikes will be $40.00 per day and will depend on quality of the bike.
** Travel insurance is a good idea for any international trip. Coverage will include emergency evacuation, hospital charges, lost baggage, damaged to baggage, emergency trip cancellation, etc. Cost based on cost of vacation. Estimated cost: $175.00
Suggestion: www.ihi.com/
Onward...
So... there was Loretta... up in the air with the transmission dropped and the cost "estimate" ever-increasing. What could we do but go wine tasting in Santa Ynez with Heidi and Blair Whitney and friends? Oh... and watch gorgeous sunsets as dolphins glide by and pelicans dive for fish... and kayak in the morning ocean fog with dolphins swimming rhythmically just 10 feet away... and have the never-ending brownie taste-testing party for Heidi's concoctions (I'd tell you more, but I'd have to kill you)... and laugh and play with two of the cutest kids in the world, Rachel and Dana Whitney...
The destruction of the fire is heart-wrenching... and fortunately, the Whitneys were able to return to a safe home. We were hoping to return home to Three Rivers by Monday, and now I write this on Friday night having just returned. Ah... the last-minute rush for the next adventure... our bike tour awaits!
Gear, bike parts, food, maps... all strewn throughout this humble river-side abode...
Winter has come and gone in some parts... and we all anticipate the deep snow soon.
For now... we head to Cancun and beyond... two-wheeled travelers.
We wish you all a holiday season filled with laughter and love!
Peace.
Settled at Home
Luckily this has given us plenty of time to gear up for our next adventure Cuba. We have been reading about the two different faces of Cuba, the tourists life and Castros socalists views. We are very eager to feel the differences in culture and experience a different time and space.
Also we have been finding moments to enjoy the fall air. Bike rides in Yokohl valley and fiddling with our memories on the river. Dinner with Inga-mom, Ant and Erin and breakfast with sister Stephanie, Christian, Lilianna and Lauren. So much fun!
Also this time has been spent preparing for the future....wedding, Alaska, property in Mt. Shasta and Globallines.
We are both very excited about our new life together and sharing this magnificent world with our friends....new and old!
A Little Message from Natalie
Freaky Fun!
It seems as though Halloween lasted over a week this year... from the rowdy Rally of the Dead in Durango, to gathering of little ones and ridiculous amounts of candy in Three Rivers (thanks Jana and Sage!), to the transformed party house of Trynt and Roger (the handsome vampire couple pictured above) in Encinitas.
While David was dealing with the disarray of a cancelled trip in Argentina, Loretta and I were enjoying a visit to the San Diego area for and eventful few days of an impressive Halloween party, a hospital visit with Jesse (it was a graceful dive into the shallow end... and he's okay), surfing a fun swell at Boneyard's with Billy, playing with the Stern family, the Buck family, Cindy and the boys, and rappin' with beautiful Sue. Loretta cruised all the way south on vegi-oil and then went in for a leak repair in LA on the way home.
Alas... we are by the river now in Three Rivers preparing for our trip to Cancun... and, um... beyond. It is a splendid fall, and winter is nearby. We've received plenty of taunting emails and photos from our friends in Utah who are enjoying 5 feet of fresh powder! We almost jumped in Loretta and headed east this morning... but decided to be patient and get some days in on the bikes.
Movin' right along... celebrating Obama... change... possibilities...
Aloha aku. Aloha mai.
Never mentally prepared....
In the 100 trips that David our expedition leader, has been on, this has never happened. Never had a mechanical. So I don't know if it was about time, or if it just a case of bad luck.
Lots of droopy faces. Some are trying to salvage a cruise to see penguins, others are planning to stick around lower Argentina and travel, and other, like me are going back home.
I have a beautiful fiance to come home to and have a couple of extra days to prep for our next adventure to Cuba.
As I am figuring out, this kind of shit happens on expedition travel. Its all part of it.
Wish I had a better post, but this is my reality.
As for Petit, she is hanging with friends and Loretta in San Diego. Keep Jesse Haynes in your thoughts, sounds like he a bad diving board accident......Petit will fill you in.
Cest la vie
D
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Snow time!
My favorite girl in one of my favorite places (the Dolores River)
David and the deathly downhill!
VOTE!
Italian on the rocks.
Biking with the Anasazi
Loretta in Boxelder Canyon (peaceful)
Eugene... saint of travel and adventure (and crazy hippies)
Scott's creative space
Cool Cat
UPCOMING ADVENTURES
- Feb 27th- April 20 Helicopter Skiing in Alaska www.chugachpowderguides.com
- Jan 21st Aconcagua Argentina Mountaineering Climb www.adventureconsultants.nz.co
- Dec 27th Aconcagua Argentina Climb www.adventureconsultants.nz.co
- Dec 6 Costa Rica Surf and Yoga adventure www.lotusexpeditions.com
- Oct. 29- Nov 11th Antarctica Ski Cruise www.skicruise2008.com