A WWII Story Among the Tulips While leading a group of ten cyclists through the breathtaking tulip fields of the Netherlands, we paused one afternoon in front of a local bank. There we met a kind gentleman, a retired banker with a remarkable past. He [...]
Tracing My Ancestral Roots: A Journey Through England’s Past My brother Jay Thomas sent me a history of my great-grandfather Edward Richins and Sarah Beard. It was a story of their lives in England, and their conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day [...]
Farmers' markets are a highlight of visiting France. Usually, you will find them on Saturday morning but the best way to be sure is to check with the Tourist Office in the city you plan to visit. My friend who often bikes in this area said [...]
On day two, the group of 18 I came with was off to see Paris. It was still hard for me to believe that I was really riding through the streets of this famous city. Dale our leader assured us that riding bikes in the big [...]
Today we left camp and headed for Versailles. It is outside of Paris, about 20 miles. It was mostly going up several steep hills which would have been very difficult for me on a regular bike. I got a running start at the hills and went [...]
France is divided in the middle by a river called the Loire. It is used to divide the country. People will say south of the Loire if they are talking about southern France or north of it if they are talking about the north. Along this [...]
One of the benefits of biking in the summer is the beautiful gardens and flowers you see along the way. The Chateau de Villandry has the most amazing gardens. It is said that these gardens could be the nicest in France. There were several different [...]
One of the main events at the Chateaus was hunting in the forest surrounding them. Hunting dogs were a key to successful adventures. Chateau de Chevery still has over 60 hunting dogs they feed daily. It is quite an experience to see the feeding of [...]
If one wants to experience the opulence and luxury of the past there is no place better to go than the Loire Valley. There are hundreds of Chateaus to see and visit. As one rides down the bike path in the valley at any corner, one [...]
One of the great joys of biking along the Loire Valley is the fun surprises you discover. My favorite has been the beautiful flowers. At the top of that list are the fields and fields of sunflowers. I saw a photo of sunflowers in a book [...]
Adventure is Dian’s middle name, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to glean ideas that will pay everyday dividends. Keep-up-to date on the latest of Dian’s creations, travels, outdoor adventures, and fun and creative ideas to do with your family.
