Bicycle Touring The World

Have you ever just wanted "to go"? To finally see the world for

yourself, and under your own power at that. There is no better way than by bicycle. You travel fast enough to get "there" and slow enough to see everything in between. Each day brings new adventure. Oh, you have a plan. You know you'll be in Croatia next week, then Italy after a ferry boat ride across the Adriatic Sea, followed by a few weeks in French mountains, then a loop into Northern Spain's Basque Country. But what you don't know is that you'll soon camp on an idyllic Croatian beach, or that you'll share lunch with a fascinating stranger (now a new friend) at a Tuscany deli, or tent behind a centuries-old church in the prettiest of French villages, or stop for the night on a Swiss mountain precipice looking down on a picture-perfect village reflecting off a crystal lake, or be invited to have supper and spend the night with the German farmer's family... On and on it goes, day after day, adventure blended with wonder, spiced by the personalities of the people you meet. Have you ever just wanted "to go'? I have.

The Boxing of the Bianchi Volpe

Karl, the owner of the incredibly awesome Greensburg Cyclery, check out www.greensburgcyclery.com , boxed up my bike for me yesterday. All the while I was making mental notes to remember how to put it all back together at Heathrow Airport in London on Tuesday morning. I bought a duffel bag at Walmart to carry my 4 panniers, sleeping bag, and helmet. I'll be carrying my handlebar bag on the bus and plane.

CYCLING SIMMONS JOURNAL OF TOURING EUROPE JUNE 25 - AUGUST 31 2008 BEGINS NOW

WELCOME TO CYCLING SIMMONS DAY-BY-DAY JOURNAL OF 3020Miles/4860Kilometers
TOURING THROUGH TEN NATIONS 

June 24 - London England - Holland Park YHA

While landing at Heathrow Airport(bottom pic), on a very nice day at that, we flew over Windsor Castle at low altitude. First landmark siting accomplished. From the airport I took the Picadilly (light-rail/subway) to Earl's Court (where I took the middle pic of my first steps on the streets of London) and found my way over to the Holland Park Youth Hostel(top pic) where I spent the night. I am trying to learn the new currency, pounds & pence, and my head is on a swivel when I walk cause these folks drive on the wrong side of the road here. Or do we? Anyway, I begin cycling in about an hour, 7:30 or 8:00, Possibly to Canterbury. It should be an adventure navigating my way through and out of London.