Meeting and Riding with Friends

Although I have never met them in person, I feel I know many CycleBlazers well just from reading their journals and I call them my friends. I have had the pleasure of meeting several in flesh and blood. While waiting for the beginning of my next tour in less than two weeks, I have attempted to compile all the meet-ups with CycleBlazers over the past years.

The first CBers we meet are Rachael and Scott Anderson in 2021 when they route their way south via Gauting. Here we are having coffee at Lake Starnberg. We aren't doing group selfies yet and Janos is behind the camera.

A shot including Janos - Here we are taking the Andersons on bumpy forest paths to show them the local sights of fame.

September 2021 - At the end of her tour Susan is flying home from Munich and we meet for the first time, for dinner in downtown Munich.

May 2022 the Andersons, Susan, Janos and I meet in Beaune for several days touring together in Burgundy before we all go our separate ways.

May 2022 - In Beaune we meet CycleBlazer Keith Klein and his wife Susan for a great lunch in Les Caveaux des Arches.

May 2022 - On our first day out in Burgundy on our way to Dijon we enjoy the hospitality of Keith Klein and his wife Susan at their home in Chevrey-Chambertin. Now we are getting the knack for the group picture thing.

May 2022 - in Semur, the last day that all five of us ride together in Burgundy.

Summer 2022 Dodie and Steve Miller pass through Munich and we meet for coffee and cake at Cafe Münchner Freiheit. No group photo but our presence is evident by our pieces of cake.

September 2022 Susan and I cycle together for six days in the Black Forest.

June 2023 - Susan, Janos and I cycle together in the Provence.

May 2023 - While we are in Sault at the foot of Montventoux, Kirsten Kaarsoo and Lyle McLeod reroute their tour to meet us for dinner. They stay at the same hotel and we get together once more for breakfast.

June 2023 - A highlight for me while we are together in the Provence, Susan and I clilmb Mont Ventoux. It is too early in the season and there is no official col sign to pose under.

June 2023 - We meet Scott and Rachael in Trento and cycle together along the Brenta and on to Padua.

October 2023 - Susan visits friends in Europe, stopping in Munich, or rather Gauting, before continuing on to Paris. We lend her my old e-bike and we take some autumnal rides in the surroundings.

April 2024 - Janos and I meet Susan in Estremoz, Portugal and ride a lovely route to Trujillo, Spain.

April 2024 - While we are still in Spain we meet the Andersons on their way north to cycle a week together. Susan is headed in another direction but plans her itinerary so that our paths cross here in Mérida. No group picture with bikes because I come down with an infection. We are disappointed that we can't cycle the next leg together as planned. But at least we see each other a few days.

May 2024 - Finally meeting Kathleen Jones. We meet her and Susan in Metz, France and cycle a great week together in spite of the rain.

August 2024 - We meet Patrick O'Hara and Susanna Mulligan as they wind up their tour in Munich for a fun beer garden picnic together.

That makes altogether 11 CycleBlazers we have had the pleasure to meet in person! The stories behind the pictures are in all of our journals. We have loved meeting up with fellow CycleBlazers. I hope there will be more to come. You know where to find us.

The following picture has nothing to do with cycling and it doesn't even include a fellow CycleBlazer, but it is, in my opinion, of a blazing beauty (and I don't mean me). Meet my great granddaughter Lina! I just couldn't resist sneaking her in.

Can't call it baby "sitting". Lina likes sleeping on your tummy. She is six weeks old.

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Rachael AndersonYou made my day!
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4 months ago

Susan CarpenterWhat a wonderful collection of photos and memories. I'm delighted and lucky to have shared in so many of your Cycle Blaze adventures - and I'm very much looking forward to adding to the collection! Congrats on the new granddaughter - she's a cutie!!
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4 months ago

Suzanne GibsonTo Rachael AndersonThanks, Rachael! It made me happy, too, remembering all the good times.
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4 months ago

Suzanne GibsonTo Susan CarpenterRight, more for the collection!
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4 months ago

Kathleen JonesWhat a fabulous rogues gallery. Proud to be a part of it.
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4 months ago

Suzanne GibsonTo Kathleen JonesHappy to have you part of it!
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4 months ago