Category Archives: Hospitality

Cradled in the heart of Kenmare Bay, between the famous Ring of Kerry and the unspoiled Ring of Beara, the picturesque town of Kenmare is steeped in legends and rich in archaeological history. Renowned for Kenmare lace, respected for gourmet food and revered for breathtaking scenery, it is no wonder Kenmare has become a popular tourist destination.

As all places in Ireland do, this heritage town has both an Irish and English name. Neidín, meaning “Little Nest”, is the Irish name of the town which nestles between the MacGillicuddy Reeks to the north, the Caha mountains to the south, the rivers Roughty and Sheen to the east, and the broad expanse of the Atlantic Ocean to the west. But in the late 18th century, after word quickly spread that this was a little town of thieves and liars, landlord William Petty Fitzmaurice chose to rename the precious land that was gifted to him by Oliver Cromwell for painstakingly completing the mapping of Ireland.

There are two sides to every story. In Ireland, however, a new rendition is told with every pint. While locals will tell you the name Kenmare was chosen in honor of Lord Kenmare of the Brown family from Killarney, historians in favor of etymology make a connection to Ceann Mara, which translates to “Head of the Sea” in English. While there’s no saying which interpretation is accurate, one thing is for certain–the tradition of Irish folklore is alive and well.
 
 

 
 
A seanchaí (pronounced “shan-a-key”) is a knowledgeable person, usually a man, who has the gift of entertaining his listeners by relating stories with a captivating tone of voice, the use of colorful language, and with a most interesting turn of phrase. The story content is of any topic whatsoever but most often has an element of fun.

Long before the advent of television and radio, it was common in rural Ireland to visit one’s neighbors for a chat when the day’s work was done. This tradition was called “ag scoraíocht”(skur-eekt). One house in particular always emerged as the most popular to visit, and it became known as the “rambling house”. Encouraged by the gathering, it was to the rambling house that the seanchaí invariably came to draw them into the wonder of his story.
 
 

 
 
Despite the onslaught of modern social media, the use of the spoken word has been and still is cherished by the Irish. According to Donal Sleator, a retired primary school teacher, principal, storyteller and Kenmare native, language must be appealing and entertaining in order for others to learn. “We feel compelled to share our stories because of the deep, rich heritage of which we are aware. Whereas in the past stories were communicated through the medium of the Irish language, we now share a common language (English) with most visitors to our shores. Our stories today perhaps have less emphasis on fairies, leprechauns and the little people. Through pride of place, they dwell more on our history and on who we are.”
 
 

I have been riding a bike as long as I can remember.

Usually it was a hand-me-down from my older sister, but the time came for a “decent” bike when I started participating in the sprint triathlon circuit. So of course I chose it based on the color–hot orange. I was a mediocre swimmer and an average runner, but I made up all my time on the bicycle. I moved on from the triathlons soon after I won my first and only trophy–Best in Age Group–but I kept biking.

One of the first dates I had with my husband, Scott, was mountain biking. It was mostly hills, and some were pretty steep! I quickly realized that the hot orange number was out of date and I needed a new ride. I bought a Gary Fisher. Twenty four years later we still have that bike, although it has received a few upgrades. Scott rides it with knobby tires while I ride my Trek 7700 Hybrid (which was my upgrade around 2004).

I am not a serious biker by any stretch of the imagination. Living in Madison, Wisconsin I have several friends who work in the bike industry and we heard about a Trek Travel trip to the California Wine Country. It may have even been one of Trek Travel’s first years in business. It sounded good to me and a group of us signed up.

I had no Idea this trip would be so life changing. My trip preparation included working with Carmichael Training Systems. There was all kinds of technical advice to take advantage of, which was too much work for me. But I gleaned one suggestion that that has stayed with me. “Ride at least 100 miles per week and you will be ready.” No problem. I can do that.
 
 

 
 
On our first trip, we were lucky to ride with Frankie Andreu, who is a nine time Tour de France finisher. I learned from one of the best. I can still hear him say, “Get on my wheel!” So I did. (Did I mention he was really cute, too?) I completed every climb on every ride, although there may have been a few choice words along the way. “One Hundred mile per week and you will be ready.”

It became my mantra. “One Hundred miles per week and you will be ready.” Every day I can, I jump on my bike and ride. When asked what I am training for I reply, “I am training for life.” One hundred miles per week provides a goal to work toward, a sense of accomplishment, and a strong and healthy body. Did I mention all the calories burned? Sometimes I ride alone, sometimes with friends, other times I meet people on the trail and ride with strangers for a while. Camaraderie comes easily.

One wedding anniversary I received a square box…surely a beautiful watch or bracelet. As I opened the box my husband said, “You might not like this at first, but you will come to love it.” It was a Garmin 305. He was right. I love this piece of equipment. Time, distance, average speed, calories burned, routes ridden. I keep track of everything!

Last summer the beloved 7700 was not rolling along as she once did. Because I had a flat, I stopped into a bike shop. While I was there I asked for an opinion on the overall condition of my bike. The guys kind of laughed. You need a new chain, new cassette, brakes, brake cables, tires and a few spokes. Is it worth it I asked? They said, “Are you kidding? This is a great bike!” This one is made in the USA and definitely worth updating. I am now ready to roll into my next decade with this bike.

Over the years with Trek Travel I have climbed Mt. Ventoux in Provence; I achieved a speed of 47 mph on a descent in Utah riding from Bryce Canyon to Zion; we rode the 78 mile “High Road” from Santa Fe to Taos. We have ridden through Chianti tasting wine, eating delicious food and enjoying the beauty of ancient Italy.

All this with 100 miles per week!
 
 

Meet Adrian and Drew, owners of Agua Tibia surf school in Costa Rica. Sense their passion for the sport as you follow along on their journey of adventure, discovery and the search for big waves.

Tell us your story. What inspired you to start surfing?

Adrian: After school I would do my homework then swim in the river with friends. That’s all we did outside of school – homework and swim. Then one year after moving to Samara Beach in 1999 I tried surfing for the first time. The feeling of riding a board in the water was even more fun than just swimming in it. As the time passes and I am able to see many beautiful places in the world and get to know more great people, their culture and the beauty of each place, it brings me back to swimming in that river as a boy and catching my first wave.

Drew: I had been a skateboarder since I was 10 years old, and had my first surf experience when I was 20. It wasn’t that great, as a matter of fact I almost drowned two times. I went to the beach with a surfer friend of mine and he gave me his short board to learn on. The waves were over 6 feet that day (that means overhead surf). Of course he didn’t explain anything to me but I was eager to try so I paddled out and somehow made it there. I tried to catch some waves but it didn’t work. It was very intimidating to see that big, dark hole I was supposed to drop into. At this point I was exhausted, I couldn’t find my friend and it was getting dark so I decided to paddle in. A strong rip current pulled me. Knowing nothing of how to handle it at the time, I lost my board when a big wave crashed on me. I grew up swimming in rivers, so I am a decent swimmer. I swam to a surfer guy and asked for help. He told me to get on his board and we took a wave into shore.

The funny thing is that I did the same thing again. This was my second try. Same beach, same friend, same board, same waves, same current. This time was more intense. I couldn’t find someone to ask for help. Then all of a sudden an Argentinian lifeguard on shore saw my board drifting in without me. He picked it up and paddled out to get me. He saved me. I never got his name or saw him again, but he saved my life.

As you can imagine after these two experiences I decided that surfing was not for me. I was comfortable on the concrete with my wheels. Two years later I was doing social work in Nicaragua and my surfer friend calls me about this job at a hotel reception desk in Playa Guiones. When I got his call I had just started my trip and I was going to be out of the country for a month. I did a phone interview and they gave me the time to come back and take the job. That was my first time in Nosara.

At that time it was basically impossible to skate around Nosara. I remember there was one mini half pipe where I would go. Everyone was into surfing here and I had my surfing experience already. I didn’t get into the water until six months after I moved here. Since I couldn’t skate I started to get interested in surfing again. But now I had a bad experience so before I went for it I asked a couple of the new surfer friends. They just said go for it, on a bigger board. And I thought that was enough to go for it again. I borrowed a bigger board (7’3”) and started to paddle out. Nobody told me I could do white water so I went straight out to the green waves. It took me about three months to be able to get out there and then I finally made it. I was out there on a big day. The moment I look around trying to find a familiar face I could only see three of the best surfers in town out there with me. And then I thought to myself, “What am I doing here?” Now I knew a little more about safety and I just focused on not losing my board. I waited for an hour to find a smaller wave to catch. It didn’t happen. I started to paddle for what I thought was a good one and the wave just kept building under my board. All I could think was, “If I don’t make it, I die.” I made it. I stood up, went down the line and all the way into shore. I will never forget that wave. After that I did some downhill long boarding but having the power of the ocean pushing at that speed was and still is the best feeling there is. That first wave did it. That was my inspiration to surf.
 

 
What inspired you to open your own surf school?

Adrian: After discovering that surfing was the main reason why I was going to stay here in Nosara I decided to start focusing more on improving my English, my surfing skills, and also trying to get a deeper connection with the ocean and its constant change. In 2010 I got a job at my friend’s surf school and I began as the guy who would clean the boards and put them inside. Soon I was at the front desk making reservations for the surf lessons and three months later I found myself teaching my first lesson. Teaching others reminded me of the first time I caught a wave. At that point I knew I wanted to own my own surf school. I knew I wanted to bring smiles and happiness to people, and maybe even change their way of seeing life after learning how to surf.

Drew: After working for the hotel for a year, they let me go. I had been surfing for six months and made a lot of new friends. Two of my new friends had a surf school and they hired me to be their receptionist. One day we had so many students they needed me to help them teach. So there I was, a six-month-old surfer teaching beginners. I started to notice that everything I was teaching also helped me improve my own surfing and at the same time I enjoyed teaching so much. I met Adrian there and we worked together for over two seasons. We were basically managing our friends surf school as they were getting a bit detached from it. We started talking about opening our own place and that’s how we started to sketch what Agua Tibia is now.
 

 
Tell us about the best wave you’ve ever caught.

Adrian: How could I forget that moment. It was at Playa Pavones in southern Costa Rica and I was on a fabulous trip with my friends. We got there two days before the swell hit and it was kind of small but we knew it was going to get better as the day went on. Once we were in the water it was even better than we thought. We woke really early on Thursday morning at 4:50AM, I made coffee and breakfast and after a good meal we headed to the water. As soon as we saw the first wave breaking we knew that the long drive (10 hours) was so worth it. I have to mention that this wave only breaks to the left because it’s a point break and also is the second longest wave of the world. Truly, this wave has been my best wave ever because it was super long, big and clean. It was what we call a perfect wave, so I will never forget this experience. We got to surf two of the longest and best waves of Costa Rica and I had the longest wave of my surf lifetime so far.

Drew: One day I was long boarding and I was around 50ft further out than the rest of the line up and I saw this massive wave building 100ft further out than where I was. So I found myself thinking, “Should I paddle out to it and go through or should I paddle in to the rest of the line up to skip it?” Two seconds later I decided to paddle out to it and try to pass it. I got to it and I was perfectly positioned. I went for it. So scary. So much adrenaline. So much fun. That’s a wave I will always remember. Makes me smile just to think of it.
 

 
What excites you most about Costa Rica?

Adrian: I love our culture. The people are so welcoming, warm and open. When you walk down the street you always hear everyone saying “Pura Vida” which means “Pure Life” in English. It really is a pure lifestyle here in the jungle, close to nature. We are conservative with our water, conscious of where our trash is going, always keeping compost in our yard, eating healthy, helping the animals and spending as much time as we can outdoors.

Drew: Our people. The Pura Vida. You know one is truly Tico when you feel at home. Of course there are all kinds of people here but real Costa Ricans are welcoming and warm, honest, respectful, loving, caring and always willing to help. I see all this slowly dying in the new generations but we live like that here. We fight to conserve it. Pura Vida.
 

 

I consider myself a citizen of the world. Born in the Netherlands, raised in East Africa, middle school in Eastern Europe, high school in Vermont, university in New York and post university studies traveling the globe. Hence, I am not exactly sure where to call home.

 

 
 
So, I make it easy for myself and say the world is my home. Or I say I am a geographic gypsy. Working as a Trek Travel guide, I find myself hopping from country to country with greater frequency than ever before. I have a strong desire to travel and eagerly look for any opportunity to adventure. I soon head back to another season with Trek Travel and look forward to calling Provence home…at least for a few months.

I have often been asked, “What is it like to spend most of your life abroad?” It’s difficult to find a response that fully answers the question. Yet one thing I can say for sure is that I am blessed to have had the opportunity. Recently, I have thought about a few of the lessons I have learned while living abroad. There are many, and many more will be learned over the years.

Top 5 Lessons From Living Abroad:

1. Make an effort to learn to speak the local language, even if it is only a few words. Whether it is a “Bonjour” in French, a “Habari gani?” in Kenyan or a “ce mai faci” in Romanian, try to pick up the language of the country you are visiting or living in. Languages may or may not be your forte, yet any attempt to speak the local language shows that you are trying to assimilate and care to connect with the locals. The same applies to customs, holidays and traditions. Learn a country’s customs, ways of greetings and public holidays. Know that in Paris you kiss twice, while in the Netherlands you kiss thrice when greeting. Become aware of etiquette in a country, such as taking off your shoes before entering an Egyptian home and handing a gift with your right hand.
 

 
2. Greet and become friends with the common people. Learn about each and every person’s story. Get to know the taxi driver who is taking you from the airport to the hotel, ask about his/her family, and you may be invited to paella at their home. Chat with the bartender while ordering your drink and you will get recommendations for the best restaurants in town. Ask the farmer how the season is going and you may end up with a basket full of fresh vegetables. Joke around with the local bus driver in a busy city and you may be dropped off at your doorstep. Befriend the airline steward and you may get treated with extra care. Go out of your way to get to know all the staff at your hotel and your stay is guaranteed to run smoothly.
 

 
3. Carry extra underwear, socks, toothbrush, deodorant and a change of clothes in your carry-on. Throw in some playing cards and a journal. Your checked luggage may not show up for days and a fresh pair of underwear makes all the difference.
 

 
4. We are truly all the same. We may look different, speak different languages, possess different beliefs, eat different foods and live in different homes, but we are all basically the same. Humans around the planet have very similar goals, ambitions, dreams and wants. An American’s wants and desires are not unlike those of a Maasai mama’s in Tanzania, even though the two live in entirely different environments and follow different customs. Remember that we are alike, desiring and striving for comparable dreams and goals.
 

 
5. Take the path less traveled and take the time to smell roses. While living in a foreign country avoid the tourist traps and find the places less traveled. Ask the locals for recommendations and don’t always follow advice found on the internet. Make sure to take your time and use all your senses to embrace a new place, new experience and new interaction. How did you feel? What did you smell? What did you hear? Did you taste anything? See anything new? We often rush to see and do as much as possible in a day while traveling. You may experience more of a country by just sitting and visiting with a kid in the street or sipping coffee at the local café.
 

 
Written by Trek Travel guide Tara Hetz. Meet her in Provence to learn more about life as a geographic gypsy.

“One of the most frequent comments I get from people once I tell them what I do for a living is, “You’re a bike guide?! You must ride your bike all the time!” Believe it or not, that’s not always true.

First off, like any other human being, our time is limited. Don’t get me wrong, we do bike a great deal, and yes, it’s the first thing we think of doing when we get the occasional moment to ourselves. But once we get that out of the way, there’s a broad range of interests we guides entertain and only a finite amount of time with which we can invest it.

Fortunately, however, you don’t have to dig deep to notice this diversity. Take, for example, Dan Frideger, who, though being a long-time cycling and walking guide, on any given week could be found backpacking with his wife and kids in Colorado, VW van camping in France, or building a sauna in his backyard.

Then you’ve got Greg Lyeki, who’s the epitome of renaissance cyclist, but could be found doing anything from riding his motorcycle cross country, to picking antiques at a local flea market or estate sale, or taking some time to work on the build-out of his vintage Airstream trailer.

And I won’t even start talking about Jason and Sonja fly-fishing their way across Patagonia this past winter! Bottom line is we’re a varied bunch of people with an even more diverse collection of interests and passions. Cycling’s just the thread that binds it all together.

For me, it’s mechanical things. And right now, that means cars!

I recently headed out to Los Angeles to witness a gathering of vintage Porsche sports cars this past February. It was called Luftgekühlt, which means “air-cooled” in German, referring to the early models before water-cooled engines were a thing. I left directly from the guide meeting in Solvang where we get together each year to put all our ducks in a row for the coming season, so I was already coming off a high from the A-class camaraderie, and was very excited for the chance to indulge my new-found car fancy! I wasn’t always a “car guy,” you know.

The event was hosted by a motorcycle and surf shop called Deus Ex Machina in Venice, and was being held at the headquarters of a local media collective named Bandito Brothers. There was an open invite to any Porsche owner with an air-cooled engine (anything pre-nineties, basically) and there were security guards on walkie-talkies at each gate serving as bouncers, deciding which cars merited entrance and which did not. As I walked in, even the parking lot was lined with finer cars than you’d see in your average week. But as I made my way to where the actual rows of “Luftgekühlt” cars started, my jaw dropped from the sheer presence of these decorated sports cars.

Each one told a totally different story. There were early 911s that had clearly seen race action or participated in historic events and had been meticulously preserved in their original glory. And then there were stripped down functional track cars, built piecemeal with parts cherry-picked from the best of each generation the 911 had to offer. And then you had the 356s! The predecessor to the 911, and the first model Porsche made, these cars carry with them all the class and refinement of the finest sixties era roadsters. But these bad boys, when hot-rodded, are commonly referred to as outlaws, because they also carry with them a lot of the grit of earlier days of racing, back when the engine blocks were hand-lathed, and the body panels hand-hammered and shaped by eye!

I have a memory from my childhood of playing with blocks, setting up city streets and race tracks, and running my Hotwheels cars around them, railing them into corners and crashing them into things – “brrrrooooom brrrooooom” noises in full effect. There were two toy cars that became centers of my collection in those days. A late-sixties era red Chevrolet Corvette Stingray with a removable roof and…a Porsche 911 Carrera (internally named the 964, for those who get nerdy about those things). Both cars had these incredible stand-out curves that made them completely unique from anything I had seen on the road at that early age. I may not have had the concept of what it meant to own a car, or drive one for that matter, but I sure as heck knew that these cars were special!

So leaving my friends’ house in Montecito Heights, just north of Downtown L.A., that Sunday morning, I was thrilled to be following up on that childhood fascination. And just setting foot on the grounds of Bandito Brothers for this Luftgekühlt gathering brought back a lot of that childhood wonder that had drawn me to the fine detail of those Hotwheels cars as a kid. Much in the same way that I was eventually drawn to bicycles as a young adult. For me it’s not just that it’s something for me to get to know and interact with, it’s that someone else has done the same, and invested their time and energy into making something beautiful.

Which, in essence, is what drew me to the bicycle, as I’m sure it’s drawn many others. And, as I think about it, whether it’s hiking, camping, boating, building, road tripping, antiquing, or fly-fishing, it’s probably part of the essence of passion. We see something beautiful that’s worth investing our time into. And luckily we’re usually rewarded with a sweeter result.

Take Trek Travel, for instance.”

Written by Trek Travel guide Jake Rasp. Follow his journey of passion and discovery on Instagram @raspwheels.
 
 

VeloNews. Bicycling Magazine. IMBA. PeopleForBikes. Have you ever wondered what these organizations–some of the biggest in cycling–have in common? The answer is Tim Blumenthal. Read about his incredible journey and learn more about the man working tirelessly to make bicycling better for us all.

Briefly, tell us your story.

This is my 36th year of fulltime involvement in bicycling. I spent 15 years as a journalist–a writer and editor for Bicycling Magazine, VeloNews, and a racing magazine called Winning. I became the first fulltime employee–the first executive director–of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) in 1993. In 2004, I became the president of Bikes Belong, the industry’s advocacy organization that was renamed PeopleForBikes two years ago. Along the way, I’ve squeezed in 7 Summer Olympic Games as a writer and advisor–six for NBC and one for ABC. Whether it’s road racing, road riding, mountain biking, track riding, government relations, tourism or commuting: I feel like I’ve been able to experience it all.

What is it that called you to bicycling? How long have you been riding bikes?

Like just about every American kid in the late 1950s, I started when I was three. I pedaled to elementary school and high school and everywhere around our neighborhood. I delivered afternoon newspapers via bike. The call to bicycling as a career was simply an accident. I ran into the editor in chief of the one and only national cycling publication at a running race. He had read my columns in the local Vermont newspaper and offered me a (better) job. I knew nothing about bike racing, but took it. That was a lucky move.

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.

After all these years and thousands of rides, picking one is simply impossible. But how ’bout this: my second date with my wife-to-be was a ride around Hamilton, New York, on Peugeot 10-speeds. We had fun. That was 40 years ago this summer and we still ride together.

What triggered your transition from journalism to advocacy?

Bicycling Magazine is owned by Rodale Press. When I started there, the company also owned Backpacker Magazine. At the time, tension between hikers (traditional) and mountain bikers (new) was high and many trails were abruptly closed to bike riders. I worked with Backpacker editors to improve the situation and found myself on the board of directors of a new organization, IMBA. Five years later, IMBA offered me the chance to move to Colorado to accept a great job. One of the key connections between journalism and advocacy is clear communications and strong messaging. I think my journalism days have helped IMBA and PeopleForBikes tell our story, concisely and powerfully.

What has been your most rewarding experience?

I like mentoring younger staffers. I’ve probably worked closely with 50 of them. Secondly, I’ve enjoyed all the time I’ve spent in Washington, DC. Despite its reputation, working with Congress, and several Administrations, and a variety of federal agencies has been educational and a privilege.

What has been your inspiration to promote bike advocacy?

When people ride bikes, great things happen. Bicycling is so simple and so universal, and it’s a solution to so many of the problems we face. I feel so lucky to represent bicycling and to work to make it better.

What is the vision behind People for Bikes and how is it being received?

PeopleForBikes focuses on two things: places to bike, and people to support those places. We want everyone to be able to ride close to home and work on pavement and dirt that is safe and appealing. Too many people don’t have these opportunities now. That’s why our grassroots PeopleForBikes political army is so important. More than one million Americans have signed on. As this element of our organization continues to grow, we’ll become more powerful and more effective in making bike riding better for everyone. It’s a simple concept, and it will work.

What does your perfect day look like?

I don’t have a perfect day concept. But much of it would be spent outside and would involve some type of bike riding, a good meal, a glass of wine with friends, and definitely, a sunset.

Tell us about your best adventure while traveling.

My life has been one non-stop adventure. Could probably write a book. Here’s one. I was on a Trek Travel trip in Normandy, France, riding lightly traveled roads with an amazing group of people and visiting the D-Day battlefields of World War II. Right in the middle of the trip, I got called to Chicago to represent the bike industry at a fundraiser for then presidential candidate Barack Obama. I rushed to Paris, but arrived way too late to make my flight. I thought I was done, until I told the check-in agents why I needed to get to Chicago. “Why didn’t you say so?” they exclaimed, as they rushed me through security and into a business class seat. Eight hours later, I was in Men’s Wearhouse in Chicago buying a suit, a shirt, a tie, and appropriate shoes. The meeting went well. I’ve got even better stories involving President Bush and bicycling.

Which Trek Travel trip is top on your bucket list and why?

It would probably be Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast. We learned about it from Trek Travel and went there one summer. Amazing islands: beautiful water. Really cool. I’d love to go back and ride more.

Cycling is something that I will do for the rest of my life. It’s something a grandson can do with his grandpa, and everyone in between. It’s something people do because it brings joy to their lives – the breeze in their face, the smiles of friends, the adventure and of course the places you can explore.

My name is Cooper Farrell, or Coop, as many call me. I am from the Santa Ynez Valley, home of the Danish enclave of Solvang, but more importantly, a cycling paradise. Back in the day, the USPS team would hold their winter training camps here. More recently, Solvang became famous for the blistering times set in the individual time trial of the Amgen Tour of California. To me, it is simply home. Cyclists hear of the Bulldog Café as something like a historic site, while to me it’s where I start my Saturday group rides. I began cycling in early 2011, after chasing Martin Mortensen (Leopard-Trek rider in 2011) in a follow car through the Santa Ynez hills I know so well. After that, I took my mom’s aluminum road bike for a couple twenty mile spins, and the rest has happened in a blink of an eye.

I joined the local cycling club which had a small junior team with about six guys. At the beginning, my friend told me stories of the infamous Figueroa Mountain, and the brutality of the Saturday group rides. Rather than discouraging me, they inspired me to I train my butt off. Eventually I conquered the Fig, and occasionally took home a stop-sign-sprint prize at the end of a long Saturday morning.
 
 

 
 
In the summer of 2012, I was offered an internship at Trek Travel. I jumped at the opportunity, and next thing I knew I was on a flight to meet the team in Megève, a small ski town in the Alps of France. I was really nervous. I was 15 years old, and now as an 18 year old, I realize how crazy that is. The title I gave myself was ‘Assistant Guide’. I think was fitting. My main objective was to help with some of the more tedious parts of being a guide. I put together the route profiles with descriptions of the climbs and other notable sections. I filled water bottles, helped with luggage, put bikes on the roofs, set up snack stations, and put together bike racks.

Of course the best part of my job was the riding, and the people I met while doing so. Alongside the guides, who couldn’t have been nicer, the guests were all true lovers of cycling and the Tour de France. They were some of the kindest people I have ever met. I rode with just about every person: old, young, beginner, expert – all ages and all skill levels. I knew the guests were the first priority, and they always reciprocated and in some ways made me feel like a celebrity. They loved seeing a 15 year old kid riding some of the most notorious climbs and routes in the world, and I loved experiencing them with the guests. I remember one guest, Nick, who loved to race with me up the climbs. It almost turned into a daily thing and was certainly one of the most memorable parts of my journey.

Cycling is a special thing. It has the ability to break through age, gender, skill, and experience. I rolled through the foothills of the Pyrenees with a father and his daughter, I raced up Col de Madeleine with Nick, I got descending lessons from Hershey down Le Col des Aravis, and I was dragged backed to Megève behind a man and his wife after I bonked during a long day. All this while being in the midst of the best cyclists in the world and having VIP access at Le Tour–literally hanging with the pros. It couldn’t have been more awesome. I am grateful to Trek Travel for giving me this incredible opportunity, thankful for the guides who made it a fun and meaningful experience, the guests who were the icing on the cake and made me a little less homesick 6,000 miles away from home, and finally my mom, for letting me use her bike to get me hooked on a great sport with great people.
 
 

 
 

The dynamic, professional and passionate guides of Trek Travel define who we are.

They live and work in places where beauty is intoxicating and exploration is endless. They find comfort in the endless possibility of the unknown and thrive on the undiscovered stories held by new faces and different spaces. Yes, they get paid to ride their bikes. But the adventures don’t stop when your vacation ends. Their personal journeys are equal parts inspiration and determination all at the same time. So from the mountains of Patagonia to the Isle of Skye, they go. With wild abandon they take to the road and find a new normal in far flung corners of the earth.

In our new series, Socially Guided, we’ll recommend individuals to follow on social media. Whether you browse to escape or inspire, take a look at our favorite photos then share your own using #TheWorldCalls. This week, veteran guide Jonathan Hershberger WOWs us with his artistic eye. Follow his adventures on Instagram @Hershy1.
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Wisconsin native, Colorado transplant and world-traveler Londa Dewey tells us about why she enjoys cycling. After pedaling in places far and wide there are a few rides that stand out above the rest.

“Riding a bike is a great way to get and stay in shape, however there’s also a wonderful social component to it. My husband and I choose to do a Trek Travel trip each fall because I truly enjoy the social aspect of the trips as well as the incredible destinations we get to see. The trips give us the motivation to ride, and we have so much fun training with friends. I don’t have a favorite ride because there are too many to choose from. But I’ll give you my top three:

On a recent Trek Travel trip, we rode around Crater Lake in Oregon. The morning started cool and sunny, which was a welcome change from rainy conditions the day before. Riding around the lake provided so many spectacular views of the clear blue water. The combination of hills and altitude was fun and challenging. Mid-way through the ride we got off our bikes, hiked to the lake and took a boat ride with the ranger. It was a great day.

Then there’s our trip to Costa Brava, Spain. Another great trip and another favorite ride. The morning was sunny and beautiful, but I was a bit nervous about the winding coastal road we were supposed to climb. Once we started riding, it was fantastic. Every turn provided a new view of the Mediterranean. The challenge was rewarded when we stopped at a village to explore and enjoy a wonderful Spanish lunch.

Lastly, the ride from Vail Village up Vail Pass is incredible. It is about 24 miles round trip, but the altitude and elevation gain makes it quite a challenge. At one point, the bike path parallels I-70, so we were riding next to semi trucks as they labored up the pass. It’s hard to believe how fast the pro riders go up the pass. I was just thrilled to complete the ride and enjoy the glide down. Whether we ride west through Glenwood Canyon or east over Vail Pass, the colors of the aspen trees and sounds of roaring rivers provide amazing scenery for the ride.

So, I ride because I love enjoying the outdoors, exploring new areas and spending time with friends. Even at home in Wisconsin, our rides allow time to enjoy the rolling hills and countryside that make our state so wonderful. I also love the challenge of conquering a hill or the sense of accomplishment when completing a long route. And most of all, I love the camaraderie of riding a bike with family and friends.”

– Londa Dewey, Trek Travel Guest
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

At some point last season, in the midst of bike rides and social hours, we caught on to the trend of “yoga selfies” that has been gaining momentum as yoga increases in popularity.

Because we travel to some of the most beautiful destinations in the world, it’s not unusual to catch guests striking a pose in front of a gorgeous backdrop or find guides practicing as the sun rises each morning.

Here are a few of our favorite shots from the season: