Northern California - Back From my European Trip (including TdF) Report

Not only was I riding without a helmet. But for the majority of the trip I was holding the Tom Tom in my right hand, to follow the route. ;)



I bet you tear the tags off of mattress's too! What an outlaw!:mad:

Still no pics???? :eek:

I deliberately stayed quiet, just being patient ... Oh well, gotta catch a flight to LA, then climb Baldy.

I'm at work still.

I have a dinner after work, then I will get to the pics!

Oh well, gotta catch a flight to LA, then climb Baldy.

Is this a euphemism?

Is this a euphemism?

Nope. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_San_Antonio

Is this a euphemism?


Nope - you're thinking of "bald headed rat". :D

Three pages of waiting for photos. This is sick.....
POST NOW!
It's not like you have to get the negs printed or something....

Jolly chap, how proceedeth you with thy photo-etching?

Okay, all of you need to:
STOP
BREATHE

Done?

Okay, in all of your haste it seems to have been lost on this group that this is Marco we're talkin about here. There is a time clock at work here that has some signifigant differences to the time clock most of us are accustomed to. SO!

Factor in the MTA (Marco Time Adjustment), and I'd say everything is right on schedule!!:eek:

OOps...I think I (we) might have pissed Marco off... Maybe we're too much like the kids in the back seat acting up, and Dad just pulled the car over till we calm down?...I have to admit I can be obnoxious : (...

Can I come out of the corner now? I'm sorry : (

1 picture?

We're just tweeeeking ya, Marco :lol:



'Cause it's so much fun! :p

Nope. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_San_Antonio

I didn't know about it being known as Mt. San Antonio. Everyone I know, knows this as Mt. Baldy. No one mentions Mt. San Antonio. In fact, if you mention Mt. San Antonio, they'll think you are referring to Mt. Sac, or Mt. San Antonio College.

When I lived down there, I didn't even know this thing even existed! I only knew of Mt. Wilson because that's what the news always mentioned. :p

I didn't know about it being known as Mt. San Antonio. Everyone I know, knows this as Mt. Baldy. No one mentions Mt. San Antonio. In fact, if you mention Mt. San Antonio, they'll think you are referring to Mt. Sac, or Mt. San Antonio College.


It is officially Mt. San Antonio (http://www.mountainzone.com/mountains/detail.asp?fid=4444156), one of the "big three" southern CA peaks. The other two are San Gorgonio (http://www.mountainzone.com/mountains/detail.asp?fid=4377756) and San Jacinto (http://www.mountainzone.com/mountains/detail.asp?fid=4400556), neither of which have paved roads to the top. Hiking only, and in the case of San Jacinto a very cool tram ride.

OK... I am finally uploading the pics.

There is around 200 some odd pics (out of the original 830, even the 830 don't capture all of this trip!).

I made little headings between each group of pics, so you know where I am.

I put them in chronological order.

I have all of these pics in full size if anyone wants any.

I will post some teaser shots for the thread and a link to the Flickr set for viewing as a slideshow (recommended).

The upload is happening now, but it's 103 MB so it will take a bit.

Thanks for your patience ;)

Marco

some Pics:

Mt. Etna, Sicily

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2386/2733794000_02b6e85ea5_o.jpg

Naples

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/2733789150_78b8b88456_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2733786526_a373638f98_o.jpg


Rome

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/2733785804_4c476cafeb_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/2732952995_7d701ced04.jpg?v=0

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More Pics:

Florence & Hills of Tuscany

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2732944621_7d3ff49188_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3226/2733776216_73ed313d77_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2733775752_a2b36d181b_o.jpg

"Will you marry me?"

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2732943475_4b3c47471f.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2733775240_89ce7287c3.jpg?v=0

More Florence:

Best Panini in the world! (since 1875)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2733774254_9855cdfb5e.jpg?v=0


A coke...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/2733773976_abec37370a.jpg?v=0

A gelato...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/2732940873_8cd3638810.jpg?v=0

The Duomo
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/2732941699_f3ca170c66_o.jpg

From the top
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/2732939429_4e4bdffe48.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/2733771310_6a393de1b2.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2732938957_4179fe4b11_o.jpg

More Florence:

From a bike shop... So awesome!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2733770558_4b96c137a0.jpg?v=0

For Alan:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/2733770056_2f1e9d2400.jpg?v=0

Hill climb to San Miniato (up there)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/2733767690_bb7a00cd6e_o.jpg

Views:

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Descent:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2732936061_63a9b94b12_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2733767990_10b70c8dfc.jpg?v=0

Lucca:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/2733767174_47443e15a9.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2733766930_394d09c30e.jpg?v=0

Riding on top the city walls

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2732934269_26283cd58d_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2733766042_29857698ff_o.jpg

Leaving for Milan

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Milan

Duomo:

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Plaza below:

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Lamborghini:

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Good wine/food every day

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2733760872_75040aac80.jpg?v=0

Nice neighborhood ride:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2733761712_72265cdcff.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/2733761490_66e3dc7997.jpg?v=0

Train ride to the Alps:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2732928161_96b98614c2.jpg?v=0

Train ride (cont)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/2732927913_29bcbf28fd.jpg?v=0

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What a lovely sight I see in Chambery (Velostation... cool!)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2733759652_fbfd0f10c4.jpg?v=0

and nice bike lanes/paths/ and bike traffic lights too!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2733759344_58993c6188.jpg?v=0

Annecy:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2732924141_9c7e8b2e03_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2732925999_5ff980f286_o.jpg

Cyclist powered Paddleboat!!! :eek:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2732925455_50d4e7f05f.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2733757196_b51074ed57_o.jpg

Worth the wait!!!! :thumb::thumb::thumb:

Ride to Bourg d'Oisans (base of Alpe d'Huez) from Grenoble (50km ride). 5:30 AM start (5 AM Marco time)

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Then I saw this (look up) and wondered if I was still sane!

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Ah, arrived in Bourg d'Oisans (we were very cold and hungry)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/2732921855_9f3d822cd6.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/2733753328_dd27bb4408.jpg?v=0

Our bikes hung with the Time, Pinerello and De Rosa

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2733752360_67f4e90033_o.jpg

Climb up ADH:

The beginning:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/2732919973_20147f5eea.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2733751638_87242171b1_o.jpg

21 Switchbacks -- Starts at 21 counts down -- each turn has the name/year of a ADH winner

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/2732919067_8b9488ae50_o.jpg

FYI: Use Low Gear! :rolleyes:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2732918193_325b2c1e7d.jpg?v=0

The view:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2733749336_0da9d4ebd6_o.jpg

Still climbing:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/2733748342_a6402bba0a_o.jpg

Cool kid!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/2733747624_d0b96ca6fc.jpg?v=0

Ruth passing 5k to go!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/2733747038_d960a1a2c8.jpg?v=0

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Still on ADH:

more turns:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/2732914433_8d687f21be_o.jpg

All smiles at the summit:

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After climbing ADH on folders, the officials made us go here!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2732913469_3e7b59dff2.jpg?v=0p

Him too!!! :eek: (I actually saw him climbing on that bike!)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2732913209_3f44a3b14d_o.jpg

View from the top -- Amazing!!

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Where we watched from (800 meters to finish)

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Me and my Fiancee :)

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The racers:

Sastre for the win:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2732912339_879b313787_o.jpg

Yellow Jersey group (Pictured: Evens [cut-off], Valverde, Frank Schleck and Bernard Kohl):

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The descent (POP! check out my tube):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/2732910169_e967b7db8a_o.jpg

The next day we found ourselves in the riviera (Nice -> Sanremo -> Monaco - Nice (again))

Nice: Lunch and Glace (ice cream)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/2732909661_aaa68f798e.jpg?v=0

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La Pigna, Sanremo - A crazy old neighborhood

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2733741300_bcec3e40ac_o.jpg

Parking at the boardwalk in Sanremo for a trip to the beach:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2732908271_0420ff72c4_o.jpg

Boardwalk:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/2733740228_85a32a3429.jpg?v=0

Monaco (Monte Carlo):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2732907579_600e40121b_o.jpg

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2732905783_06be8d8330_o.jpg

Monaco Staiton:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2732905555_f3dd6d32a6.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2733737650_da42392acb.jpg?v=0

Nice (trying to get rid of cycling tan... time to relax at the beach.... after so much traveling)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/2733737370_84ae7a024e_o.jpg

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Good Dinner/wine:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/2733736704_61a69d9874.jpg?v=0

Then a sleeper train to Paris.....

Fantastic pictures!!! Thanks for sharing! :thumb:

And of course, CONGRATULATIONS to both of you!!! :beer: :cheers:

Paris (final city of our trip):

Croissants on the Seine:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/2732903891_920fb764f4_o.jpg

Got a flat.... rim strip was crap... Bike rental stations in Paris only take credit cards with the chip :(

Time for Metro... which works well there :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2732903633_624eb74f13.jpg?v=0

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CSC Train (Yellow bar tape) leading on the Champs-Elysee

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walking back:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/2733733142_bdb36fb818.jpg?v=0

On top the Eiffel:

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/2732899729_d8ca3418fd_o.jpg

Great pics, great place, and congrats to you two with many more vacations to come!

knotty

Nice pic of us, a guy took, on our way to the Louvre:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2732897871_a5c3379fde_o.jpg

The Louvre:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/2733730106_19bf7c0ca5_o.jpg

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I like the Ancient Egypt collection... Stuff from like 2000-3000 BC!!!

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3281/2733728596_ed56fc8e3f.jpg?v=0

FINALLY... Even the Ancients knew that tandems were coo!!!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/2733725754_6d60073749.jpg?v=0

THE END!

Full set (240 selected pics) can be found here (separators, say where the pics are from and what they are):
http://flickr.com/photos/13927919@N03/sets/72157606547529263/

FYI: The pics start on page 3 and are in pretty much chronological order of the trip.

THANKS!
And congrats on the BIG NEWS! You got a big AAHHHHHHHHH and smile from Tricia when the ring photo popped in.

Fun photos. Looks like you had a wonderful trip. You guys look like an ad for Love and Folders.

Great pics and thanks for sharing... and many congrats to you both on your engagement!

Great photos - looks like you had some fun!

You really managed to capture how steep ADH is - most photos of hills flatten out the perspective.

JB

Thanks everyone for your comments and congratulations. :)

You sandbagger, you! Congrats!!

Thanks for sharing your great pictures! You even sneaked a pic of the Mona Lisa! Most important, congrats on your engagement. :thumb:

Congratulations to the two of you. After seeing these photos I have to bring a bike along if I ever get to spend a few weeks overseas.

Thanks Ramon,

Bike + GPS is the way to go.

No stopping and fumbling around with maps. We did use maps, but the GPS was amazing.

:cheers: Thanks for sharing!! Congrats on the engagement!

Wow, now that's a proposal. Congratulations to both of you!

The pics were really worth waiting for and congrats on the engagement. You guys make a great couple. :thumb:

Sweet pictures and CONGRATULATIONS! Hope you'll both have many more visits up the Alpe d'huez. How was that on a folder, by the way?

Fantastic photos of a trip-of-a-lifetime! Way to make it memorable -- congratulations!

I love the pictures -- lots of love and character in them.

Wow, what a report!

First congratulations to both of you regarding the "big" news. I wish you the best together.

Second, what a fantastic way to travel in Europe with these pocket bikes. They are surely more convenient for getting through the transition train rides. Biking is fast enough to see a lot and yet slow enough to enjoy details that regular tourists never observe.

This is, by far, the best picture report I have seen on this forum. The Alpe d'Huez climb is really great, your pictures show how steep the thing is. How long did it take you to get to the top?

Mama mia......