Saturday, October 5, 2019

7 Days in Tuscany - by bicycle

October, 2018, a month that will be forever etched in the memory banks of Nineteen (19) cyclists from the USA, for better or worse - I hope for better. One year and 5 months prior to this date the first ever epic St. Vrain Chain Gang cycling club "SVCG" European escapade took place - London to Brussels, this second epic adventure to Tuscany, Italy was just as awesome!.

All Nineteen (19) riders (one coming via Morocco) arrived into different regions of Italy at staggered days/weeks prior to the bike tour, yet descended into Florence with military precision on October 5th and 6th, 2018. The next 8 days would turn strangers into friends, strengthen friendships, bring out great camaraderie, challenge and inspire, and most of all create memories that would last a lifetime.

Friday, September 6, 2019

Exmoor National Park, England

Having recently moved back to the UK after spending the past 20 years in the USA, it is a joy to "re-discover" parts of England I have not visited for many years, and top of my list are the National Parks scattered throughout this "small" island.

The UK is home to 13 National Parks, mostly all created during the 1950's under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. Exmoor National Park was the 8th park to be created, and lies in west Somerset and north Devon, in the southwest of England.

One big difference between US National Parks and UK National Parks is, UK parks are free for all to enjoy, and generally are not government owned (they are made up of working towns, privately owned lands, farms etc). The purpose of the parks is the same though, preservation and recreational enjoyment.


Typical Exmoor Landscape