Author: capejohn

A bike riding footie fan living and riding in SouthCoast towns of Massachusetts. My bicycle rides include commuting, day trips as well as long and short tours. Find me online amidnightrider Bike Tours Facebook

Holiday Time

Lourve

Sue and I decided we wanted a getaway this spring.  Number two son offered that we stay in his hotel during one of his business trips.  He produces trade show booths for clients.  Mostly in the air transportation business.  We could stay in his suit in Germany or Geneva if we decided to go to either of those destinations.

While doing flight research, I was told about a google search engine that finds cheap flights.  I found a round trip to Barcelona for $175 US and we would find places stay and things to do on our own using the resources available and friends suggestions. The deals go quickly and by the time we discussed our options and decided to book, the deal was gone.

We finally agreed on doing a group tour in Western Europe and booked the trip.  London, Paris, Bruge, Brussels and Amsterdam are the cities we will visit.  This trip  promises to be a wonderful adventure.

In the past we have traveled in Europe by bicycle. Germany,  Austria, Czech Republic etc.  The difference in these two types of trips is that the one we are doing this year, we will be viewed as tourists.  On a bicycle, we are viewed as travelers and are treated very differently.   As travelers, strangers are always asking about our trip. “Where are you from?”  “Where are you going?”  “Do you need anything?”   As tourists, most people have no interest in us.  However I have an ace up my sleeve.  The soccer ball is “the greatest invitation in the world.”  You can walk up to a square in Paris where a pickup game is going on. You don’t need to ask or get an invitation. Someone will kick a ball to you. Being a fan of the beautiful game, all that is needed is the mention of some team, and that changes us from tourists to friend.  The conversation immediately starts with, “where are you from?”.  Where are you going? My usual answer.  “I want to visit your home soccer stadium.”

psg stadium

Mark Your Calendar

Dighton Trails Committee Public Informational Forum
 
What:
Open to all Dighton Town Residents and surrounding communities, the forum will provide updates on local activities in Dighton, Taunton, and Somerset as these communities work towards fulfilling the Taunton River Trail vision. The Taunton River Trail, a vision originally birthed by the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD), is a planned 22 mile multimodal pathway with a goal to connect regional communities via walking and biking trails as well as boating.
 
Currently on the agenda is Nancy Durfee, the town planner from the town of Somerset, Jeff Carvalho from the Dighton Trails Committee, Phil Duarte from the Taunton Pathways Committee, SRPEDD, and keynote speaker Craig Della Penna.
 
Craig is a longtime rails-to-trails advocate who has been instrumental in trail development all over the northeast. Craig has given over 1,200 lectures in 21 states on this subject and will give a high-energy presentation on the history of the rails-to-trails movement.
 
Where:
Dighton Old Town Hall,
1111 Somerset Avenue
Dighton, MA 02715
 
When:
Thursday April 16th 2020 @ 7pm