Mark’s Bloomin’ Journal

Just back from sixteen days astride a bicycle through a good many of the steeper regions of France. Often in the shadow of the Alps and the pro peloton of the Tour De France. Talking of shadows, yesterday’s charges leveled at Floyd Landis, the Pennsylvanian who eventually won and who I saw in stirring technicolor action are long and dark indeed. Needless and baseless, I trust.

In the process of broadening the mind and revelling in the pure escapism that travel allows, in the reinvention of oneself and the enjoyment of there being no preconceived ideas of who you are or may be, there are those moments when you make the inevitable comparisons between cultures. The ones sure to annoy someone, somewhere and without fail. The simple greeting of bonjour or bonsoir is the one that readily lent itself to such and prompts from me a passing opinion. (more…)

In much haste and with an endless list of things to do at home and work. It is time to stop reading about the exploits of others and head to France to go ride a bicycle through Les Alps myself. While it is day four of the Tour de France ‘06 for some, day one starts for me late this week. None too soon! Ready or not, the next three weeks will test my passion for cycling… and my ability to keep up with laundry on the road.

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