MISC PETE

A visit to the Madonna del Ghisallo

2011-09-26T12:51:00.007-04:00

Last ride day, we took a ferry across Lake Como to Bellagio, then climbed up 6 miles to the Madonna del Ghisallo, got to visit the chapel and the adjoining museum..

Made it back to Varenna for lunch, then packed the bikes and headed home the next morning. Awesome trip..

Fausto Duci vid

2011-09-26T11:50:00.001-04:00

Fausto Duci

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRohBsS_4ZI&feature=related

Lovere to Varenna

2011-09-26T11:35:00.005-04:00

We did a short ride, a loop from Lovere and back again, but I did not take any photos that day, next day we rode from Lovere to Varenna, over the Passo di Zambla and Culmine San Pietro. On the way up Zambla we were stopped by a road block and told we could not go through as they were preparing for a motorcycle race up the pass.. after long discussions.. we got through and got through before the race started..made for some interesting sights on the way up.

First photo is the view from our hotel in Lovere the evening before this ride.

Bormio to Lovere

2011-09-26T10:55:00.005-04:00

A long day, over 80 miles and almost 10,000 feet of climbing, Passo Motirolo and Passo Vivione..

Stelvio

2011-09-24T20:25:00.007-04:00

St. Moritz to Bormio..

2011-09-24T20:17:00.005-04:00

A long day, we went over the Ofenpass/Passo Fuorn then on to Stelvio.. Stelvio is a monster and I'll post those photos separate.. these are all from the pre-Stelvio part of the ride..

Kirk speaks Italian!

2011-09-24T17:57:00.002-04:00

St Moritz loop

2011-08-29T16:15:00.001-04:00

A big loop from st Moritz today, two passes including the beyond category Albupass ..epic day

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Varenna Italy to st. Moritz Switzerland

2011-08-28T11:31:00.001-04:00

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2011-08-27T16:42:00.001-04:00

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Location:Lake como

Lake Como

2011-08-27T16:41:00.001-04:00

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Lake Como

2011-08-27T16:38:00.001-04:00

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Location:Lake como

Milan photos

2011-08-27T16:02:00.001-04:00

Some assorted random milan photos, we visited the duomo, the galleria (first mall in the world) etc

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Location:Milan Italy

Shots from the climb of the Gerlospass

2010-09-01T15:58:00.001-04:00

So, after descending off the Hohenstrasse, we crossed the valley and headed up the climb of the Gerlopass, 30km of climbing, then dropped off that and another 50km later we were in Zell Am See where we are tonight.

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Location:Kitzsteinhornstraße,Zell am See,Austria

Views from up high on the Hohenstrasse road

2010-09-01T15:54:00.001-04:00

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Location:Kitzsteinhornstraße,Zell am See,Austria

A long day

2010-09-01T15:50:00.000-04:00

So we bagged two major accomplishments today, we rode up onto the Hohenstrasse road, an almost 6000 foot climb, above the snow line, and the Gerolpass which was a 30km climb though not as high as the Hohenstrasse, total for the day was 83 miles and 10,656 feet of climbing..

At one point we had to hike a bike through a mudslide..

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Location:Kitzsteinhornstraße,Zell am See,Austria

Few more photos from fugen

2010-08-31T16:30:00.001-04:00

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Location:Fugen

Need for easier gears

2010-08-31T16:23:00.001-04:00

Midori really needs some lower gears, so, an attempt was made today to convert her bike to a triple, sort of un-successful and she may not be able to ride tomorrow, we'll know in the morning after an early trip to the shop again

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Location:Fugen

Clever

2010-08-31T16:17:00.001-04:00

Adjoining mattreses hidden within a single fitted sheet.. Are they just not capable of manufacturing larger mattreses in austria?

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Location:Fugen

Photos from a rain day in Fugen

2010-08-31T16:10:00.001-04:00

So, with poring rain all day, we changed plans and stayed another night where we are in fugen, today was no riding so it becomes our rest day, looks like tomorrow will be good weather wise so we'll do today's ride tomorrow... We'll be going above the snow line so hoping the roads are mostly clear.. We hung out in fugen today, some random photos:

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Location:Fugen

Afternoon ride

2010-08-31T03:50:00.001-04:00

So, after the bus ride and lunch we went for a ride, hoping to squeeze something in before it rained again, about 5 miles away was a climb we were supposed to do today but seeing as today is another washout and we expected that we went for that climb.. Super steep, we went up the first 7k and it was always at least a 12% grade or more, im feeling better and better so went hard up it till we hit a few obstacles..

We had to wait a bit to get through here :-0

3/4 of the way up, it started to rain, we all headed back, never made the peak, super cold and wet all the way back and Midori and I got lost and spent another 45 minutes in that trying to find the hotel.. Total bummer.. It's pouring again today and buses are being investigated..

Weather hopefully will get better tomorrow
:-p

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Location:Fugenberg Austria

Cows!

2010-08-31T03:39:00.001-04:00

Got to the hotel we're at now by bus yesterday, got to the room, and just outside our room.. Cows!!

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Location:Fugenberg Austria

Rain

2010-08-31T03:35:00.000-04:00

So we woke up yesterday morning to pouring rain and temps in the 40's, the snow line had dropped to just above where our hotel was and we found out the pass we were supposed to ride over was snowed in.. after breakfast a bus with a trailer was called to get us to the next town :-(
By the time it arrived the sky was blue and roads were drying out so we rode the bus looking out at gorgeous weather...

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Location:Fugenberg Austria

A night in Piller

2010-08-29T15:16:00.001-04:00

Our hotel

Once again, adjoining mattreses

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More shots from the first day

2010-08-29T15:14:00.001-04:00

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Location:Piller Austria

First ride..

2010-08-29T15:08:00.001-04:00

Bludenz to Piller Austria, about 70 miles and 8700 feet of climbing, we lucked out with sun all day, chilly in the morning with temps in the 50's, overall a gorgeous day... I'm still sick, had a fever overnight, and felt pretty awful all morning but much better in the afternoon.. Hope I broke it. This place is beyond beautiful with postcard view after postcard view, Austrian cows with cowbells playing the soundtrack, high snowcapped peaks all around... Good food so far, except for the fever and night sweats It's going sweet.

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Location:Piller Austria

Random Bludenz

2010-08-28T15:53:00.001-04:00

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Location:Schloß Gayenhof Platz,Bludenz,Austria

Welcome to Austria

2010-08-28T15:43:00.001-04:00

Here is your ashtray, matches

And your adjoining mattresses

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Location:Spitalgasse,Bludenz,Austria

We've made it to Bludenz.. Via the Joker Bus!

2010-08-28T12:18:00.001-04:00

full load in the trailer

Full bus

Then things got interesting on the driveway up to the hotel

It all turned out ok, bikes are assembled, dinner in a little bit, it's cold and wet here and likely to be the same tomorrow :-(

And I'm sick :-p

Location:Spitalgasse,Bludenz,Austria

The rides

2010-08-27T09:55:00.002-04:00

First ride day is this Sunday, flying to Zurich this evening...

Austria!!

2010-08-23T21:13:00.004-04:00

Coming soon... flying to Zurich friday, be in country on Saturday... not sure what to expect.. funny outfits? meat and more meat..? beer? mountains.. oh yes... big mountains.. gulp :-p

some random images stolen off the internet...that crazy black eagle thing sort of scares me..

Test of my iPad and stuff

2010-08-23T20:52:00.001-04:00

Testing to see how this all works

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Location:Home

The O Train!

2009-10-22T19:15:00.001-04:00

The "O" Train! from Peter Baiamonte on Vimeo.

Stage 6, a loop around Nice

2009-09-14T19:30:00.005-04:00

We headed out along the coast towards Monaco, then climbed up to the Col de Eze and road along a ridge road high above the mediterranean sea, then headed inland and climbed the Col De La Madone, 47 miles and almost 5000 feet of climbing. I was feeling the week of riding and rode real easy all day.. a nice final ride to a beautiful week of riding.

Stage 5, Beuil to Nice

2009-09-14T10:02:00.006-04:00

Not many photos from today.. I was goaded into attacking Ian's weak spot, his descending skills. The ride today started with a 25k descent into a flat valley, not long after we started riding Oscar and I pulled away from everyone, big O gave me a great pull down the descent (yes Oscar is capable of pulling you down a descent if you dare stay on his wheel! ) I rode a good part of the rest of the day on my own, up and over the Col St Raphael then on across 20k of a wonderful ridge road to the climb of Mt Vial. Mt Vial was a steep little rough road up to some tv anntenna towers, more of an access road than a real road and the grade was pretty steep the whole way up. I sat at the top for ten minutes or so then Ian popped up followed by Chris and Midori... then we all rode down into Nice together.

Beuil

2009-09-14T09:55:00.002-04:00

After the Queen stage we settled into the tiny mountain town of Beuil for the night.

The Queen Stage

2009-09-14T09:33:00.011-04:00

We left Barcelonnette Thursday morning and headed out on the hardest ride of the trip. We would ride up and over the Col De La Bonette (according to the French this is the highest paved road in Europe) reaching an altitude of just over 8900 feet, then drop down into a valley and head up and over the Col De La Couillole. Total for the day was about 70 miles and 9500 feet of total climbing. A gorgeous ride, Bonette was open and rocky, above the treeline. Then Couillole climbed through lush gorges that were overflowing with trees and vegetation, awesome day.

French wiring at it's finest

2009-09-14T09:26:00.002-04:00

Yes, that switch, turns on and off that wire, which leads to a table lamp next to the bed. At least they know how to make wine.

Our hotel in Barcelonette had a "Literary" theme..

2009-09-14T09:23:00.002-04:00

Which pretty much gave the owners free license to decorate the rooms with assorted junk:

Non!

2009-09-14T09:14:00.004-04:00

Wandering around Barcelonnette

2009-09-09T12:29:00.002-04:00

Barcelonnette

2009-09-09T06:38:00.003-04:00

Our Hotel in Barcelonnette "Hotel La Grande Eperviere"

Afternoon drinks in the town square

Afternoon drinks in town square, photos by Ian

Mountain views in every direction here.

??

On the Col de la Cayolle

2009-09-09T06:23:00.002-04:00

This ride would be so much easier with an engine.

On the Col de la Cayolle from Peter Baiamonte on Vimeo.

On the Col de la Cayolle

2009-09-09T06:23:00.001-04:00

This ride would be so much easier with an engine.

On the Col de la Cayolle from Peter Baiamonte on Vimeo.

Stage 3, Entrevaux to Barcelonnette

2009-09-09T06:01:00.005-04:00

Tuesday's ride, 54 miles and 6300 feet of climbing, a little rivalry between Ian and I, and some side bets placed by un-named members of our group led to all out war today with Ian and I essentially racing the entire stage complete with attacks, strategy, and me trying every trick in my roadie book against his Tri-geek skills.. I made the first attack 2k from the start today.. to no avail.. Ian is simply stronger than me on the climbs... but.... I easily drop him on long descents.. things to think about.. he won this stage.

Lunch in Roquesteron on Monday

2009-09-09T05:57:00.001-04:00

Lunch in France.. Hungry cyclists from Peter Baiamonte on Vimeo.

On the Col de Trebuchet with Ian

2009-09-09T05:41:00.000-04:00

Following Ian up Col de Trebuchet from Peter Baiamonte on Vimeo.

One more from Entrevaux

2009-09-09T04:46:00.001-04:00

A few early morning shots from around Entrevaux

2009-09-09T04:42:00.002-04:00

Evening in Entrevaux

2009-09-09T04:22:00.003-04:00

Entrevaux is a medieval fortified town, we're actually staying in a nice hotel just across the river from the town. To enter Entrevaux you actually cross a draw bridge, the town is surrounded by walls with slits for Archers and then there is a small castle at the top of the mountain above the town with over 20 large fortified doorways that block the the passageway up.. it's a bit "lord of the rings" looking and it's pretty neat to see little kids with backpacks on headed to school across the drawbridge. If you click on the first photo below you can get a decent view of the "low city" and the "high city" above.

Stage 2, Nice to Entrevaux

2009-09-09T04:13:00.004-04:00

62 miles and about 6700 feet of climbing, we left Nice and headed mostly due North to Entrevaux gong over the Col de Trebuchet in the process. Great day, beautiful weather, everyone safe, sound and sore.

Dinner Sunday night..

2009-09-08T17:19:00.007-04:00

After riding and a trip to the beach.. out to dinner.. Sunday evening in Nice.

Almost forgot, Saturday night dinner on Peter's Patio

2009-09-08T17:16:00.002-04:00

Sunday, First real ride day..

2009-09-08T17:07:00.005-04:00

So we did a large loop out of Nice, up and over 3 climbs, covered about 58 miles and about 5600 feet of climbing.. then off to the Beach!

1st full day in Nice

2009-09-08T16:51:00.006-04:00

First full day, by early afternoon everyone was in town, bikes were assembled, and we went for a short afternoon ride. Our group is split between a hotel and our friend Peter's apartment in Nice, Midori and I are at Peter's place.. hotel is just a few blocks away.

Bike assebly on the patio at Peter's

The hotel Excelsior where everyone else is.

Afternoon ride photos.

Front of Peter's building.

Two dutchmen in a small box

First night in Nice, dinner on the beach.

2009-09-08T16:42:00.003-04:00

Framed artwork on my British Airways flight!

2009-09-08T16:40:00.002-04:00

very cozy, like being at home, sort of.

Heathrow Terminal 5

2009-09-08T16:28:00.002-04:00

Catching up today.. first internet access of the trip, Heathrow's new teminal 5.. built from the largest erector set on earth.

We go to France to do a tour, not that tour.

2009-09-04T07:25:00.004-04:00

Flying into Nice today, if the bikes make it we'll put them together tomorrow and squeeze in a test ride.. then the real rides start Sunday

Sunday September 6th
Nice – Nice
Climbs: Nice (3), Braus (2), La Cabanette (2),
Chateauneuf (3), Aspremont (3)
60 miles / 7,800 ft

Can't wait... !!!

Super Scott in Montana

2009-08-05T23:57:00.001-04:00

scott_V_nissan from Peter Baiamonte on Vimeo.

Parting shot from the Missoula airport.

2009-08-05T22:24:00.001-04:00

Last day of the Montana trip..

2009-08-05T22:19:00.004-04:00

So, after the raft trip we decided we needed a bit more.. so we hiked up to the "M" .. a big concrete M up on the side of a mountain overlooking Missoula.. wonderful spot for a sunset ..

More shots from of the rafting..

2009-07-28T11:18:00.004-04:00

And yes.. not long after these photos, on a rapid called "Fang" we were all dumped in when a wave set the boat vertical.. only Mr. Demel the rodeo champion managed to ride the bucking beast and stay in the boat, even our guide was dumped.. a bit wet and shocking.. but we all survived.... special thanks to Sara and her lifesaving moves on me.. :-)

Raft trip down the Alberton Gorge.. with BBQ at the ranch afterwards..

2009-07-28T11:15:00.003-04:00

What to do after a grueling stage race..

2009-07-28T11:13:00.001-04:00

More Montana sky shots.

2009-07-28T11:10:00.000-04:00

Montana really is Big Sky country.

2009-07-28T11:06:00.001-04:00

Tour De Bozeman

2009-07-28T10:41:00.004-04:00

Start area for the road race at the Bridger Bowl ski area, just shy of 6000 feet above sea level. The cat 3's started with the pro 1/2 combined. Our pack had about 20 riders altogether, all slimmer and tanner than Scott and I, I noticed we had the Washington state road champion in our pack.. 20 riders.. no where to hide. We headed south, descended 6 miles or so, eventually climbed up and over the Jackson Creek climb, then dropped back down into a tough roller section, then back North over the same Jackson Creek climb, then gradually climbed back to the ski area, then dropped a bit, then we climbed the Battle ridge 3 mile climb.. then dropped down into the open plains for 30 miles of windswept open fields.. then back up battle ridge from the other side.. then a finishing climb... basically an epic course. I started the day in 2nd on the GC for the cat3's, I dropped the first time up Battle Ridge heading north, picked up two other guys on the descent onto the plains, the three of us worked for the 30 miles of plains and we became the third group on the road. Of the two guys I was with one was Nate who was in 3rd on GC for the cat 3's .. and one of his teammates from the pro 1/2 field.. we worked together till about 5 miles to go when we started climbing again then they started attacking me.. we spent the next 5 miles battling it out.. eventually we dropped Nate's teammate and Nate and I played cat and mouse.. kept attacking each other till we hit 1km to go, then just slowly rolled up to the final climb and it came down to a final up hill sprint that Nate just got.. we were 3rd and 4th in the cat 3 standings for the road race and Nate moved up the GC to 3rd, I finished 4th one point behind him. An awesome race, a great battle.. hard but fun.. would have loved to get on the podium but still really happy with my ride. Scott finished up on his own, the packs had broken up a bit.. and took 6th in the GC.

Women 123 get ready to start.

One of the podium groups..

Bison burgers after the race!!

Tour De Bozeman

2009-07-26T08:49:00.004-04:00

So, yesterday was the TT, and the evening street sprints, stage 1 and 2. The TT was held on a high plain above the city, definitely a bit higher in elevation and I was feeling it a bit in my warmup. It was a really flat course, about 12 miles. I was first cat3 to start so I was chasing mostly cat 5 racers, with Scott 2 people and 1 minute behind me. Felt good and got a strong start, passed 3 or 4 guys on the way to the halfway turnaround. Hit the turnaround and caught sight of the guy (a local) who had started 30 seconds behind me and obviously he was catching me.. so I turned on the gas and buried myself all the way back through the second half. End result, he beat me, by 1 SECOND!, so I was second place in the cat 3 TT and the overall. Scott was 5th.

Don't have any photos of the evening sprints, but we were all a bit crushed. By mere accident of heats I ended up making the final heat for the cat 3's and was last, so I took 6th, Scott was just outside that at 7th. Midori made her final heat but was last in that so she also got 6th.

Off to the road race... we all do the same course, 70 miles, 5000 feet of climbing, all our low altitude training back east should really help us today !

2009-07-26T00:59:00.000-04:00

We're in Bozeman.

2009-07-25T01:07:00.005-04:00

Race starts tomorrow, two stages, TT in the morning, Sprints in the afternoon, RR on Sunday. We drove the RR and TT courses.. and .. it will be a challenge.. RR is 70 miles and 5000 feet of climbing.. it will be a challenge..

Hit the antique store on the way out of Missoula

2009-07-25T00:56:00.002-04:00

Those are Arnold's calves from a Schwarzenegger book we found in the shop.. we need those calves.. those are crazy calves..

Back to Misoula.. for one night then on to Bozeman

2009-07-25T00:55:00.000-04:00

Drive back to Missoula from Glacier.

2009-07-25T00:53:00.001-04:00

30 miles to the bottom.

2009-07-25T00:49:00.003-04:00

After riding up to Larson pass, we were faced with roughly 30 miles of descent to the West Glacier entrance and the finish of the ride.. no photos of this one.. it was awesome, fun.. but no taking the hands off the bars for snapshots.

At the top of Larson pass..

2009-07-25T00:46:00.002-04:00

So we rode to the top of Larson Pass in Glacier, stuffed the bikes in the van and went on a short hike on the Highline trail before jumping back on the bikes to finish off the ride..

Riding up to Georgetown lake

2009-07-25T00:30:00.000-04:00

Riding to Georgetown lake in Montana from Peter Baiamonte on Vimeo.

Riding "Going to the Sun"

2009-07-23T23:23:00.002-04:00

This morning we started early..

2009-07-23T23:14:00.002-04:00

We checked out.. left early.. drove an hour North to the "St Mary's" entrance to the park. Along the way we passed through a huge swath of land that had been burned last year.. pretty amazing how large an area it was. When we got to the entrance to the park we got ready to ride.. goal today was to ride the "Going to the Sun Road" which is 50 miles long and goes through the center of the park..

Glacier National Park

2009-07-23T23:04:00.004-04:00

We drove to Glacier, we hiked, we took a boat ride, we checked into the Glacier Lodge, we ate at the "Cowboy Cookout".. all good.. then booze on the back porch at sunset.

BEAR ATTACK!!

2009-07-23T22:54:00.003-04:00

not.. we drove up to Glacier National Park on Wednesday morning, about a three hour drive North of Missoula, and yes that is a bear.. a small, young, raggedy black bear.. the only one we saw..

Scott and Sara arrived Tuesday evening..

2009-07-23T22:46:00.001-04:00

Misc Montana photo..

2009-07-23T22:45:00.000-04:00

Today's ride..

2009-07-21T23:39:00.003-04:00

So we tried to get out early, drove Southeast for about an hour to Phillipsburg Montana, parked there and rode along mountain road 1 up into the mountains, a nice long steady climb of almost 2000 feet.. we topped out at about 6500 feet above sea level and did a 25 mile ride around Georgetown lake.. then back down to Phillipsburg.. awesome day, altogether 45 miles, and 2500 feet of climbing.. later tonight Scott and Sara get in and tomorrow we head to Glacier..

Random photos I could not take in NYC

2009-07-21T23:23:00.003-04:00

Really long trucks

Home made trucks

Statue of a deer as a hunter (with statue of eagle hiding behind)

Self-explanatory

Bikes made it.. in solid pieces...so we used them :-)

2009-07-21T23:10:00.003-04:00

Settled into Midori's mom's place, put the bikes together, checked out the local shop... then did a short ride up Pattie Canyon. Basically a 14 mile out and back, climb out of town, up onto some dirt roads, and we visited the ranch area where Midori grew up.. her mom lives in town now. A gorgeous little hour long sunset ride.. of course sunset is 9:30pm here so we did this from about 7pm-8pm or so.. the very last photo was shot on what was basically her old driveway.

NYC-Chicago-Missoula

2009-07-21T23:08:00.001-04:00

Some random travel photos from yesterday..

MONTANA!

2009-07-19T23:08:00.003-04:00

Please o great god of baggage handlers, instruct thy minions to treat our big bag o carbon fiber with care and respect.

last few cat photos for a while...

2009-07-19T18:28:00.003-04:00

My blog is nothing but cat photos...

2009-05-08T17:27:00.000-04:00

A few new Kiku photos..

2009-03-29T15:31:00.000-04:00

The dinner party time lapse..

2009-03-09T20:39:00.000-04:00

The Dinner Party from Peter Baiamonte on Vimeo.

Before and after of a cooked hamlet.. photos by Jason..

2009-03-02T16:25:00.003-05:00

More Kiku

2009-02-20T18:54:00.002-05:00

Kiku

2009-02-20T18:33:00.002-05:00

RedBull Snowscrapers

2009-02-08T10:27:00.009-05:00

How do you have a snowboard competition in NYC? Leave it to RedBull, they built their own nine story tall ski mountain on the east side and got the best snowboarders in the world to ride.. a wild show..

More photos here:
http://peterbaiamonte.com/snowscrapers/index.html

Hamlet takes a bath.

2009-01-01T17:18:00.002-05:00

One step closer to yummy delicious suckling pig dinner tomorrow night..

Arrival of a cat..

2008-12-31T10:48:00.003-05:00

On Christmas eve, Kiku landed from Hokkaido, and has been finding all sorts of places to hide since..

Packing up

2008-09-11T19:56:00.012-04:00

End of a rainy day, and we all get our bike packed up. Fantastic trip, great people, can't wait till next year.

Argeles Gazost on a rainy day.

2008-09-11T19:44:00.029-04:00

Our hotel, the hotel Bon Repos