The Top Five
Oh so hard to choose!
Kirsten
- Sufers to Chiavenna - Splugen Pass
Since I met Lyle and started sharing life experiences, I have heard about the day he cycled Splugen pass. It obviously was on the to do list but it took almost 40 years to happen. The ride up the Swiss side was nice but almost underwhelming. After the first turn on the descent I couldn't stop smiling and I started to understand what he had been trying to explain for so many years. It is breath taking and awesome and many other descriptive words that fall short of the actual experience. Our ride was a different than his so long ago but we now have a shared memory that will be cherished for a very long time.![]()
Heart 0 Comment 0 Link Log in to comment or reply - Sella Ronda day ride
This ride started with a bit of rain but turned into a beautiful day that was perfect for a multi pass tour. The scenery was stunning and the roads were great. It was especially fine in that there were so few people and cars that it was easy to stop and absorb the environment - one of the many joys of riding a bike. It was a treat to ride this unloaded. - Bolzano to Naturns - Juval castle
This was an easy short ride along beautiful bike paths. We stayed at a lovely hotel and the visit to Juval Castle was the icing on the cake for me on this day. The views were spectacular but the ambiance was peaceful and serene. It would be a lovely place to regularly visit these days as a way to forget the outside world. - Pag to Rab
This was a perfect way to celebrate our anniversary. The terrain was unique and varied having some gravel and pavement which kept it interesting. There was little traffic and we were generally by ourselves. What more could we ask. A peaceful way to share a day together. - Staro Sella to Idrija
We started the day after a spectacular dinner the night before. This was our first full day in Slovenia. Due to the damp weather the greens were so brilliant and contrasted with the other colours in nature making the scenery beautiful and atmospheric. I felt like we were alone on this adventure as we explored 'unknown' roads (to us) and around every corner there was something worth seeing be it sheep, pastures, forests, farm houses, bridges or gorges. It was a great introduction to a country that kept giving us great days the entire time we cycled here.
Lyle
- Sufers to Chiavenna - Splugen Pass
What can I say? I was anticipating reliving this amazing ride after 43 years and being able to share it with K since the first pedal stroke of this tour. It delivered in spades. This is a ride you have to experience in real life to begin to even appreciate it. To bookend the day, our start in Surfers and end in Chiavenna were wonderful. - Pag to Rab
Such varied, spectacular and unique terrain. Never thought we'd ride our bikes on the moon, but it didn't take too much imagination to believe that's what we were doing. Two ferries that worked like clockwork, bucolic sea side riding ... and it was our 36th anniversary ... perfect! - Gomagoi to Mustair - Stelvio Pass
Yes, we got the 't-shirt', but also so much more. This ride, in particular the 48 switchbacks, played in my mind , and sometimes not very nicely, since the start of the trip. At the end of the day it was a tough but fun grind up helped by almost perfect conditions and almost no traffic. The ride down to Mustair over Umbrail pass was equally spectacular. Probably a 'once in a lifetime' experience now, but so glad we did it. - Sella Ronda day ride
Jaw dropping scenery the entire ride, and we had it almost to ourselves. Very happy we could do it as an unloaded day ride too. - Staro Sella to Idrija
Our first real full day of cycling in Slovenia and what a treat. To start the day with breakfast at Hisa Franko and then ride along the Soča Idrija and Kanomlja rivers through the incredibly green and hilly countryside .... virtually by ourselves .... was an amazing introduction to this beautiful country.
When we finished our 2023 ride at the end of June that year, we returned home to take delivery of Levi, an amazingly sweet 8 week old Labrador puppy on the 13th July 2023. We enjoyed the experience of raising him so much that we decided to do it again.
We got home very early in the morning on the 7th July, and on the 10th we picked up this sweet little fur ball!
Ralphie!
Eight weeks old and we will raise him for the next 14-18 months at which point we hope he continues on to become a fully qualified Service Dog providing life changing dedication and service to someone in need.
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Right now Ralphie is just an adorable sleeping, eating, cuddling ...and chewing ... puppy. We're going help him grow up over the next year and a half to be an amazing dog like his big step brother Levi.
As we were driving back into Canmore after picking up Ralphie, Kirsten received a phone call from Levi's advanced trainer to tell us that he had officially graduated and was now a certified working Service Dog. The timing couldn't have been better and we're so proud of Levi.
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So you can see what we're going to be up to for the next while ... no tour for us in 2026. Stay tuned for what 2027 has to offer.
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