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September 9, 2010

Where in the world is Andy – European Tour

Filed under: Bike, European bike tours, France, Italy — Tags: , , , , , , — Bike tour guru @ 11:26 am

On the road with Andy

Where in the world is Andy? Honestly…it’s hard to keep up with him these days. At the moment he is on his European bike tour – making cameo appearances at our bike tours in Italy and bike tours in France as he drops in to visit guests on the road. He reports that “things in Italy are magical – gorgeous hotels and sunny skies help…as does pici con fungi”.

He spent 2 days in Tuscany ‘working’ on creating a special new November offering – a truffle hunting, olive picking, cooking class tour with Dania at La Chiusa. But all work and no play makes Andy a dull boy… that’s why he enjoyed a great ride in the Tuscan hills with his fellow DuVine guests and a delicious dinner at Botte Piena. And apparently the meal was so great…it inspired song!  (or something along those lines ) According to our insider scoop, as our Tuscan guide Angelo entertained the group with his guitar, Andy joined in with some inspired back-up vocals. Yup…. just another DuVine “day at the office”!

Epic ride day in Piedmont

And why stop there? Andy was off to join another group on a bicycle tour in Piedmont on an epic climb to Barolo amid sunshine and the clearest of blue skies – which revealed the majestic peaks of the surrounding Alps and Apennines. Here they celebrated life and landscape with an out of this world lunch at a Michelin starred restaurant – featuring a plethora of gastronomic delights including savory ravioli, veal and tuna fish, carpaccio,  and truffled risotto among others – followed by a Barolo tasting.  It was another inspired Andy moment as he decided to purchase a few bottles. He later joined the group for pizza with said bottles in hand and opened the Barolo to celebrate the day! According to Andy…our very happy DuViners “cannot believe that life can be this good”. Oh…but it can. After all…this is just another day in the life of DuVine.

Epic lunch in Piedmont

Andy sends a big shout out to all of those Italian guides who are making dreams come true and blowing our guests away with their DuVine style – including David, Angelo, Michael, Giovanni and Guido!

Another day, another adventure…as Andy left Italy behind and made his way to France to see if our French guides could top their Italian counterparts. He arrived just in time to witness the shipment of our new fleet of Giant bikes in Provence. That’s right…new bikes in France! (as usual…DuVine is continually striving to improve and provide the best experience possible for our guests)

After visting the DuVine office in Orange and spending a great evening with French manager, Camille, and fellow guide Greg…he headed to our Bordeaux bike tour to join guides Jenn, Justin and Thomas on tour with Team Vergara…a private group of DuVine 3 time “repeat offenders” from Brazil (first Tuscany, then Napa, and now Bordeaux). It sounds as if the French guides are giving the Italians a run for their money…and the tour is shaping up to be another epic adventure for our Brazilian friends.

With Team Vergara at Chateau Figeac tasting

Tastings of St. Emilion Cru wines, a visit to Chateau Figeac, an exquisitely “French” dinner at Chateau Grand Barrail,  a private tour by local Guy Petrus at Chateaux Gaudet in St. Emilion with a member of the Brazilan consulate (and perhaps a bit too much foie gras?).  Oh..and apparently the great roads through the vineyards are laden with perfect looking Merlot grapes just waiting to be harvested.

Is there really more to see? But of course! He is currently en route to visit Gregory and Avery in Provence who are hosting a group of 14 DuViners…and then it’s off to ride with a small group in Burgundy, joining Keith and Vincent for what might just be considered a Burgundy rite of passage: the tasting of cremant.

A DuVine day in Bordeaux with Team Vergara

So stay tuned for more highlights from Andy’s adventures on his DuVine European tour.

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September 2, 2010

A DuVine Day in the Desert – Bedouin Style

Filed under: Active Travel, Adventure Travel, Bike, Jordan, Middle East — Tags: , , , , , , — Bike tour guru @ 1:57 pm

Thinking about something different like adventure travel in Jordan and wondering what an active adventure in the Jordanian desert would be like? Why not take a closer look at one of our DuVine days in the desert with a sneak peak at what to expect midweek…

Wadi Rum desert

Welcome to Wadi Rum!

Ok…so what is Wadi Rum, you might ask?  Wadi Rum is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in south-west Jordan. It has been inhabited by many human cultures since prehistoric times and is dotted with massive rock formations. It is virtually untouched by humanity and its destructive forces. Here, it is the weather and winds that have carved the imposing, towering skyscrapers, so elegantly described by T.E. Lawrence as “vast, echoing and god-like”.  Much of David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia was filmed in Wadi Rum.

And it is here on the outskirts of this rock wonderland in Rum Village that we will meet up with our Bedouin host, mount a jeep and begin our journey deep into the Wadi Rum Protected Area to reach our Bedouin campsite. And when I say you should prepare to be impressed…I mean it.

Bedouin campsite

Not only will this momentous landscape fascinate you, but the hospitality you receive will astound you. Bedouins are most famous for their hospitality; it is part of their creed – rooted in the harshness of desert life- that no traveler is turned away. Yes, the hospitality of the Bedouin is legendary and strangers are welcomed into the Bedouin home with wonderful shows of courtesy and respect. The dangers and hardship of the desert have fostered this approach and, as they are isolated people, encountering others is cause for celebration. A new arrival is often reason enough for a feast which is usually celebrated in Bedouin poetry, sayings and songs.

Hence it is no surprise that upon arrival at our campsite, we meet for a feast - a ‘Zarb’ – the traditional Bedouin dish of meat and vegetables cooked underneath the desert sand. Oh, and did I mention that it is also a great location to watch a truly magical sunset?!

Bedoiuin 'zarb' feast

As we gather around the campfire and get to know our Bedouin hosts (with music being played and traditional songs being sung) we begin to learn something about their exceptional culture.

If you are wondering how such a mystical evening might end…the choice is yours: spend the night inside your Bedouin goat-hair tent or take your mattress out to sleep under a canopy of twinkling stars.  Whatever you decide, you’ll need to rest up…as you have an exciting day in the desert ahead! (And honestly, that shouldn’t be a problem – unless of course, you are uncomfortable with the sound of silence!)

Now imagine waking up to the silent desert….peaceful, quiet…truly another world! What a way to let the day begin!

Breakfast will usually be served by 7 a.m. After breakfast, we head out on a short drive to Jebel Burda – passing through a wide valley with magnificent cliffs and sand dunes. Reaching the trailhead by the foot of Burda we start our mountain trek towards the famous rock bridge of Burda. (This route involves some relatively easy scrambling across open rock slabs and through a maze of alleys.)  But there is no need to worry, as your guide will lead you on the best route to a small plateau and into a hidden gulley which offers an awesome view of the bridge above. We will then climb a short steep wall (safeguarded by a climbing rope ) and walk over the rock bridge to enjoy awe-inspiring views across the whole desert region. And, like my aforementioned statement, prepare to be impressed!

Rock bridge

Descending back down, we will cross wonderful open slabs and scramble down in a steep groove. Once back at the foot of the mountain after our 3-hour round-trip, we’ll meet in a shaded spot for lunch (and a siesta?) before we proceed with our jeep tour of Wadi Rum – exploring some of the desert’s attraction sites such as Lawrence Spring, Lawrence House remains, and Al Khazaali Canyon.  Oh,and even better…we’ll stop at one of the big sand dunes for an opportunity to kick off your shoes and embrace your inner child when we climb up and then run down…carefree in the soft sand.

How could the day get any better? Well…we could always find a perfect spot to watch another enchanting sunset before heading back to the camp, gathering around the campfire, and enjoy another wonderful Bedouin dinner cooked in the ember of fire and spend another peaceful night in the desert…

By the campfire

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August 30, 2010

A DuVine Summer: Notes from the Road

Filed under: Bike, Bordeaux, Connemara, France, Ireland, Italy, Piedmont — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Bike tour guru @ 2:54 pm

Summer as we know it has almost come to an end – so as Labor Day approaches, we thought we’d share some DuVine summer moments with you…

A break along the tranquil shores of Lough Nee

Bike Tour in Ireland(Connemara): DuVine guide Padraic has checked in from our bike tour in Connemara, where the weather is fantastic, the Guinness is poured slowly and the cheese is bejeweled in wild flowers! Guests visited Ashford Castle and had a good loop ride along Cashel Bay on the way to the worlds best scones at Cashel House. There is also a new king of Creggs Mountain a favorite extra ride for the more adventurous riders on the trip. View photo album.

Bike Tour in Tuscany: What happens on a private family tour in Tuscany? Well…nothing short of dining with our friend and winemaker Vittorio Innocenti, joining chef Dania of La Chiusa in both her garden (herb gathering) and kitchen (cooking lesson) for an impromptu meal, and an exclusive ‘hands-on’ tour of the Icario cellars to sample the Vino Nobile. And we’re only beginning day 3. Yes, anything is possible with DuVine…what would you like to do? View photo album.

Rolling out dough for making ravioli - and working on making the pici in Dania's kitchen

A toast to great biking, great friends and great food!

Bike Tour in Bordeaux: A beautiful relaxing week in Bordeaux. We created a new route that concentrates on pittoresque and forgotten roads along the Dordogne, which the guests loved. We set up frequent rest stops to take in the scenery and recuperate from the unusually hot weather, giving us a chance to meet lots of local people, like this man in Flaujagues with his prized King Charles Spaniel. Shady picnics were a hit as well as our exclusive visit to the only winery in St. Emilion that still does all of its production in the center of town. View photo album.

Bike Tour in Piedmont: DuVine guests on a private tour of Piedmont found fantastic views through the hills and the piazzas of the Piedmont region and were treated to great meals and wines with Massimo at La Curia and the Paretti’s at Marcantonio’s. View photo album.

At Marcantonio's

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August 25, 2010

Lost and Found – in Newfoundland

Filed under: Active Travel, Adventure Travel, Bike, Canada, Cape Cod, Newfoundland, Provence — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Bike tour guru @ 10:14 am

 

St. John's Newfoundland

Amazing Place. How sweet is Newfoundland?

I once was lost…but now am found. Well, make that, lost in my own time zone! Don’t worry, I didn’t go off the grid, more like I was operating on Newfoundland time. Yes, interestingly enough – being the easternmost point in North America merits Newfoundland its own special time – a half an hour off kilter with the rest of the world. So, in essence, I was lost in this unique space- time continuum that exists in Newfoundland, Canada. Hence, if you really looking to “get away” [both literally and figuratively] – this is the place to go!

Now back to being found…

My trip started in the capital, St. John’s, which is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula. The architecture of St. John’s has a distinct style from that of the rest of Canada as its major buildings are remnants of its history as one of the first British colonial capitals. Many of the homes are painted in bright colors – also a unique feature unlike other parts of Canada. Another interesting tidbit – St. John’s was the first place to receive a transatlantic signal via telegraph atop Signal Hill in 1901 – ushering in the modern era of long-distance wireless communication.

On the boat with Captain Joe O'Brien

The waters around Newfoundland and Labrador are home to whales of all kinds – and between May and September – many of these species can be seen breaching the surface and playing along the shores. Hence my first ‘order of business’ [so to speak], was to head out with Captain Joe O’Brien in search of whales!

Not only did we encounter humpback whales, but I had the chance to see a mola mola (a giant ocean sunfish) as well as an island full of puffins! [cute little buggers… can’t fly very well… but damn cute] They kind of remind me a cross between a penguin, a parrot and a seagull…and spend the majority of their time swimming in the water. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to see such a huge preponderance of puffins – apparently one of the highest percentage of North America’s Atlantic puffins are found along the coastlines in this province. And what an epic coastline it is!

After my first impressive day on the water, I headed back into town for more “fruits of the sea” with a dinner at the Atlantic restaurant and some of the freshest food this coast has to provide – including some out-of-this-world cod cheeks! Everything was so incredibly fresh and tasty – truly the product of a land that lives by the sea. Funnily enough, the big word around town is who has the best fish and chips in the area. Needless to say, my quest for the evening was to find out the answer to this eternal question – so I asked anyone and everyone I could for their opinion. After conducting my field research, I retired to my hotel, Ryan Mansion for the evening [which, I guess you could say it was fit for royalty…as Prince Charles and Camilla stayed here last year].

The town of....

The next morning I was off on an interesting new adventure – to visit the old whaling town by the name of Dildo. No, you do not need to adjust your glasses…the town is called Dildo. And, as you can imagine, is butt of many jokes. All joking aside, the town itself is a quiet and picturesque place with a great inn called Inn by the Bay (run by two great guys), some exceptionally friendly people and is the home of one of the best breakfasts I had in Newfoundland. I also checked out the local museum in town and was honored with a private tour by the original Captain Dildo [was a real character!] who told me all about the history of the whaling business in town (and why many people were forced to relocate to Boston when the whaling industry ended).

I spent the day sea kayaking with Stan Cook, and not too coincidentally, Stan Cook, Jr. – great guys! Paddling on the water was great fun…and we at “uni” roe straight from the sea!

In the afternoon, I went on a hike to check out the converted Ferryland Lighthouse, which now houses Lighthouse Picnics, famous for its picnic experience. What a spectacular place. You pick up your picnic basket from Jill, the owner, take a short 2km hike along a natural isthmus where you are surrounded by the sea on both sides of the path and then voila…it’s like a movie set! A sweeping landscape where waves, whales and seabirds are all part of the epic vista that lies before you. Need I say… a most romantic spot for a picnic lunch.

The Ferryland Lighthouse

Next on my list was a visit to Trinity where I went on the most incredible hike along the coast – honestly, you cannot even imagine how amazing the views are – a real cliff walk! Hiking the coastal Skerwink Loop is a must – something that everyone needs to be experience. While on the trail, I was lucky enough to spot a bald eagle, who was flying so close that I began to worry that he might be thinking of having me for lunch!

Oh, and must confess, I had the best fish and chips on the wharf in Trinity (don’t tell the St. John’s folks!) I spent the evening in the town of Port Rexton at the Fisher’s Loft, a wonderful little inn that is nestled on the hills of a winding lane that overlooks the old fishing and boat-building harbour of Ship Cove. It’s a great spot to relax with amazing food, great rooms, and a beautiful organic garden.

Fisher's Loft

Some other adventures along the way included a hike along Fox Island Trail and a visit to the town of Bonavista. And upon returning to St. John’s, I had the pleasure of being invited into the home of one of the locals for a lobster dinner. Talk about a group of incredibly nice and hospitable people!

Newfoundland is definitely a great place to get away for a while, slow down and observe the fascinating natural beauty that surrounds you.  A place of epic proportions: epic coastlines and icebergs, epic vistas, epic creatures (humpback whales, bald eagles) and a rather epic town name. Oh, and my favorite…the puffins…who are just really cool little guys.

It may not be easy to get to, but once found – Newfoundland is destination well worth visiting.

sea kayaking

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August 19, 2010

It’s always summer somewhere!

Filed under: Active Travel, Adventure Travel, Argentina, Bike, Costa Rica, Equador, Galapagos Islands, Israel, Jordan, Skiing, South Africa, Switzerland — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Bike tour guru @ 3:50 pm

Warm weather, smooth roads and unique experiences is what we love about bike tours and adventure travel during the summer months, and chasing that summer time feeling around the world is what we are doing at DuVine.

check your mailbox

It used to be that when the summer and early fall came to a close in Europe and North America we could look forward to a little rest ourselves but we have grown steadily over the years and now offer bike tours and adventure travel in every major continent, during every season, which means that we can provide our guests with a bit of “summer somewhere” in the world no matter what the weather or season may be in their home town.

This year, because of the number of new tours and locations, we have actually decided to create a specific winter catalog for our guests, which highlights the following destinations and tour types:

postcards from paradise

The nice thing about these tours is that if you are from the Northern Hemisphere they are all taking place during the summer in the Southern Hemisphere, so it will be your chance to push back on old man winter.  Having said that of course, there is nothing wrong with winter, especially if you love skiing, so we have included a great ski trip to Switzerland for those who say “winter, bring it on!”

Just to warn you, the catalog is not your standard 10 pages stapled in the middle and dropped in your mailbox, because that isn’t the DuVine way.  No, we took the unique approach (thanks to our incredibly talented staff) of devising a catalog that when opened folds out into a set of cool postcards highlighting each destination, perfect for mailing back to your friends when you are on your trip and they are pulling on their sweaters and turning up the heat back home.

So, check your mailbox and prepare for a grand opening – we hope the postcards from paradise will add a little excitement to your day…as you watch your dreams literally unfold before you and inspire plans for winter travel.

And don’t forget to send us a postcard from paradise!

If by chance you don’t receive the winter catalog give us a ring or send us an email at webinquiries@duvine.com and we will send one out to you right away.

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August 17, 2010

European Bike Tours – Notes from the Road

Filed under: Bike, European bike tours, France, Ireland, Italy, Provence, Tuscany, burgundy — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Bike tour guru @ 11:58 am

It’s been a busy month for DuVine Adventures in Europe…here’s a brief glimpse at some of the highlights:

A little instruction in the vineyard

Bike Tour in Bordeaux: Defeating the weather is easy when you have a glass of Château Figeac 2000 in your hand. We’ve been visiting the lovely Bordeaux Chateaux, hosted by their charming owners as we discover all the nuances of the Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon blends and Sauvignon Blanc crispness from the Entre Deux Mers region. Fortunately, everyone graduated from Wine School and will now bring their new found knowledge to the Medoc when we visit Chateaux Beychevelle and Chateau Palmer. View photo album

Cartwheels in front of the Temple of San Biaggio

Bike Tour in Tuscany: Guide David checks in to say what a glorious sunny week they are having in Tuscany. Today guests visited The Temple of San Biaggio, which always invokes a sense of awe and joy, but Amy and Katie took it to a new level with their cartweels. We also visited with guest favorite Umberto who loves to share the secrets of life, food and wine. Speaking of wine we also sampled some of Vittorio Innocenti’s vin santo and the cart wheeling Amy and Katie considered joining a street side soccer game, it goes without saying this is a lively group! View photo album

Group shot along Sky Road

Bike Tour in Ireland: Irish Guide Padraic checked in to say that our recent bike tour to Connemara Ireland was filled with a fantastic group of guests. One morning they biked up Creggs Mountain (980 feet!) in Connemara before breakfast and were rewarded with spectacular views and saw a deer swimming from an island on a lake to the mainland! The early bird catches the worm! They also spent time biking along the Bog Road and the High Sky Road where they posed for a classic group photo and along the way they enjoyed a few pints of Guinness, a taste of apple cider and a bit of whiskey, but not all in the same day of course! View photo album

Climbing hills with a little help...

Bike Tour in Provence: Three days of riding are complete here in Provence, though maybe I should say 3.5, as yesterday morning 2 of our guests requested some additional miles so I took them on a 25-mile extra ride to Tavel before breakfast. (As you can see…I also managed to catch someone getting a helpful push up the big hills!) It’s been warm, but with the heat comes sunflower season and we rode past a few great fields of them yesterday on the way to Uzes. We topped off the evening with a wine-tasting/petanque game – the Tavel rose and Chateauneuf du Pape we drank were enjoyed by all. Of course, dinner with Mario at L’amphitryon was a big hit featuring slow-cooked pork lacquered with liquorice sauce and a goat-cheese lasagna. Everyone is now relaxing in DuVine style at Hameau de Baux. View photo album

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August 13, 2010

Tuscany Bike Tour – A Day in the DuVine Life

Filed under: Bike, European bike tours, Italy, Tuscany — Tags: , , , , , — Bike tour guru @ 11:47 am

Vittorio Innocenti with the family at Botte Piena

Wondering what a typical day on a DuVine bike tour is like? Fortunately there is no ‘typical’ day…as every tour seems to have an element of spontaneity built in (dictated by guest’s desires and guide’s impromptu suggestions). However, that’s not to say that there is no structure – each day has a specific planned itinerary – but there is always some ‘wiggle room’ to accommodate wishes and allow for unique experiences.

Let’s take a slice of life on a private family bike tour in Tuscany this past month…

Day 2 agenda:

Embark on a loop ride to the town of Pienza, an architectural gem thanks to its namesake, Pope Pius II, who made it a pet project to turn his hometown into the ideal Renaissance city (and apparently…it worked…as Pienza is often described as the most beautiful village in Tuscany).  In Pienza you will have time to meander the cobbled streets, practice your Italian at a local café, people watch, and taste the local wine-soaked or truffle-dusted pecorino cheese.

Riding through Pienza

Leaving Pienza, you’ll feel like you’re riding through a movie set, and you won’t be far from the truth (as Gladiator and the English Patient were both filmed here).  We’ll head past the monastery of Sant’Anna in Camprena and the villages of Castelmuzio and Petroio on cypress-lined roads, stopping for a picnic lunch complete with classic Tuscan bruschetta and an olive-oil tasting in an olive grove.

Back in Montefollonico, we’ll have a very special private tour of our friend and local winemaker, philosopher and playwright, Vittorio Innocenti’s cantina.  Then we’ll taste his traditional Vino Nobile and Vin Santo in his garden with the breathtaking Chiana Valley as a backdrop.  Dinner is right next door at the warm, rustic Botte Piena.

Actual Day 2 inspired agenda:

Prior to embarking on the ride to Pienza, Dania from la Chuisa invited Vivian and her daughters into her garden to pick some of the ingredients and then into her kitchen to teach them how to make, among other things, stuffed zucchini flowers, pici, and ravioli. Then it was off on the scheduled bike ride to Pienza, followed by a wine tasting with our friend Vittorio Innocenti, who so charmed the ladies that they invited him to eat with them at La Botte Piena.

Making pasta

In the garden with Dania

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August 12, 2010

Why Ride?

Filed under: Bike, Bike Events, Charity Biking, Inspiration — Tags: , , , — Bike tour guru @ 8:26 am

 

Brewster Water Stop

 

Some people were surprised when I told them I was going to ride the Pan-Mass Challenge…

Why?

Ok…I’m going to be completely honest…
I am not accustomed to sharing a room with another grown man…
I am not used to getting up at 4am…
I have an aversion to using porta-potties…(I know, I sound like George Costanza)
I have never slept on the bottom bunk of a war ship with 6 snoring men…

But I did.

Why?

I did it to raise money for cancer research. I did for all of the people who can’t…and for all of the people that now can – thanks to the advances in cancer treatment. And I did it with a group of wonderful, passionate and self-less people who made it [and continue to make it] all worth it.

And please…come on…who am I to complain about the lack of a proper restroom or an early morning wake up?

Team Lick Cancer

 

I cannot even fathom what victims of cancer have gone through…and what they are currently experiencing as they fight for their lives. The stories I heard and the hardships they have experienced blew my mind.  I now had a new perspective when looking at those T-shirts I kept seeing all weekend:  “Cancer sucks”.

You cannot know, nor really empathize unless you take the time to listen to their stories and understand their plight.  And you will never really know until it hits home.

But you cannot imagine, nor appreciate how inspiring it is to see the survivors riding alongside you. Yes, hope is alive and well on the road from Sturbridge to Provincetown and from Wellesley to Bourne – in every pedal stroke and smile – and it is truly inspiring.

It is this very reason why I dedicated my weekend to riding the PMC and witnessing the personification of hope on a bicycle. I believe personally and professionally that the bicycle can make wonderful things happen. I will, and I know my team will, do it again and again until our legs stop moving.

I am honored to be a part of Team Lick Cancer – an amazing group of passionate cyclists who are dedicated to making a difference.

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August 4, 2010

Biking and giving go hand in hand

Filed under: Bike, Inspiration, events, special interest — Tags: , , , , — Bike tour guru @ 1:24 pm

Here at DuVine Adventures we track a lot of biking related news and activities and one thing that is really amazing is the increase in the number of cyclists that are using bike rides and tours as the basis for giving to and supporting charities.

Sometimes these can be the lone rider going a cross the country, or in the case of Vin Cox, going around the world, raising money in the memory of a friend or loved one, other times it can be a local event attended by 100s or even 1000s of riders and other times still it can be national programs such as Livestrong.org, brought to the public consciousness by Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor.

In each case these cyclists are riding their bikes and pushing themselves in an effort to help others, which is rewarding for both them and those people who will benefit from the monies raised.

7 Tour de France victories

So why is bike riding for charity proving itself so popular? Well for one, not everyone can run a marathon, but just about everyone can ride a bike (especially people recovering from an illness or injury…hence the large amount of participants in charity rides). Perhaps another contributing factor is the increase and frequency of charity rides. In Massachusetts alone there are multiples charity rides happening during the month of July …including one of the most well-known: The Pan-Mass Challenge. Even the PMC has seen a sizeable increase in participation – between 2000 and 2009 it almost quadrupled the amount of riders then in the 80’s, with 16,668. There were almost 12,000 volunteers, and the donation amount for the nine year span totaled at a whopping $227,200,000. In fact, the PMC contributes more money to charity than any other athletic fundraiser in the world.

Another appealing benefit to charity rides – they are a great way to put on long miles without the worry of getting lost or left out in the cold. With multiple mileage options, charity bike rides give cyclists a way to get involved and enjoy the sport of cycling. Even better, they are fully supported with rest stops (restrooms, water, snacks), medical support, and bicycle support. Not to mention the take-away benefit –the knowledge that your participation is going to a great cause. As the PMC founder and executive director Billy Starr explains “The PMC is more than just a bike ride…It is a community of people with one unifying mission: raising money for cancer research.”

PMC riders

In the spirit of cycling and charity, our very own Andy Levine will be among the 5,000 cyclists riding the 31st annual Pan-Mass Challenge on Aug. 7 to 8 to raise money to for cancer treatment and research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. According to Andy “I am very honored to be joining a group of friends and fellow riders and pedaling the 192 miles over the course of two days from Sturbridge, MA to Provincetown, MA to help raise awareness for this incredible organization.”

It’s true that cyclists are a special breed and even though cycling is often viewed as an individual activity, it can be used to help millions of people through the unique ability to drive charitable contributions.

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July 29, 2010

Are you an Adventure Traveler?

Filed under: Active Travel, Adventure Travel, Bike, Equador, Galapagos Islands — Tags: , , , — Bike tour guru @ 12:18 pm

Adventure Travel…Where did it all begin?

According to an article by adventure guru Richard Bangs, “The original adventure travelers were merchants on expedition, seeking proceeds for their imperial backers, and their voyages were closer to war than romance. More often than not, their adventures were distinguished by their accidents, either in geographic discovery, or loss of life; they were, in essence, well-planned trips gone wrong”.

Accidently on purpose?

Well, you have to imagine that even the early travelers possessed a passion for adventure and a desire to explore the world – why else would they pursue that type of occupation? In essence, their job enabled them the opportunity to [potentially] gain wealth whilst doing something that they enjoyed and inspired them. Perhaps many of those so called “accidents” weren’t completely accidental….but rather self-fulfilling prophecies of what they were hoping to discover?  Yes, sometimes a wrong turn or a road not taken is the best thing that can happen. That’s where the real adventure begins.

So how does the current adventure traveler and adventure travel itself differ? Aside from not [necessarily] making one’s vocation their vacation…little has changed. There is still that same pioneering spirit, the desire to have unique experiences, and the potential to create memories that last a lifetime….just with a more structured and civilized approach.

Cycling in the Costa Rican rainforest

The modern adventure traveler seeks to participate in some of the same activities they do on a routine basis, just in a different locale – cycling through the rain forests of Costa Rica rather than along Elm St. in suburban New Jersey.  Many are lured by the possibility of trying something new that geography or circumstances have prevented – kayaking the islands of the Galapagos instead of on a lake in Minnesota.

kayaking the Galapagos islands

kayaking the Galapagos Islands

They pride themselves on being travelers, not tourists, and try to make the experience as authentic as possible –  making sure to utilize local contacts and/or operators while away so that they receive the real feel, not the unimaginative and ‘cookie cutter’ tourist experience. They want to find the ‘secret spots’ and keep that knowledge to themselves, try the local specialties, and go out and meet the locals –  not the couple from Florida at the poolside bar.

Granted there are varying levels of what people consider ‘adventurous’…and companies that cater to the myriad of desires – everything from ‘soft’ adventures and walking tours to adrenaline inducing extreme adventures. High-end luxury to back-country camping. Exciting and exotic destinations, yet refined and responsible…and the list goes on and on…

What you can be sure of – it’s certainly no accident that adventure travel has become increasingly popular over the decades. Life itself is an adventure – why not perpetuate it?

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