It's Thursday.  Only four more sleeps until we head off to France for what will be our 14th annual European tour.   It's a tour that almost didn't happen, to tell you the truth.   You see, our cycling 'holidays' are more of a holiday for some members of the team than others as Susanna busily finishes up work responsibilities, while the loafer (that's me) has already been off for two weeks.  Ahhh....the perks of being a teacher.  I do feel slightly guilty, though.  Every year she usually works right up to when we leave, and when we return, she's right back at work while the loafer enjoys the rest of the summer.   So, she get's very little 'down time' and is annually flung onto a plane, then onto the seat of a bicycle every year which, of course, she loves to do.  But, sometimes being open to change is good and it had us talking about taking a bit of a break from our European tour this year.   I don't blame her for wanting to be a loafer like me for part of the summer.  It is rather fun, I have to admit.

But, for some reason, when summer approaches, some strange force takes over.  It's almost magnetic, drawing and pulling us from one pole to another.  One minute we're repelling the idea like the south-south orientation of two magnets; the next, we're feeling more north-south and very much attracted  towards the idea of another tour.  Perhaps it's part habit,  muscle-memory, or just plain compulsion?  Maybe.  But, maybe it's just the fact that travelling by bicycle is an extremely sensory and immersive way to travel, and it sticks to your bones and gets a grip on you that's hard to unclasp.

Besides, we always seem to ask the same question:  What the heck are we going to do this summer anyways?  If it's not a cycle tour, then what?  We've often daydreamed about a road trip south; renting a van and exploring the wonderful National Parks and Monuments of our neighbour to the south.  But, like many of us Canadians, we're really not feeling neighborly enough to go knocking on our neighbour's door right now.  Maybe later, when that dog in the backyard stops barking, disrupting the neighbourhood, and pooping on our lawn.

But, I digress.  It does seem, though, that we always end up at the same decision.  And, you know what?  We've never once regretted travelling and seeing some of the world from the seat of a bicycle.  And, to experience this with your best pal?  What could be better? So, let's go.  Another tour it is, then.

So, where to this year?  Well?  Why don't you turn the page and find out?  Come with us!