The Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society       November 2023,  Volume 40, Issue #10

Happy Halloween

From the Tour Director’s Desk – November 2023

Croatian Harbor at nighttime

We have had three more tours complete since I last wrote to you, and this wraps up our 2023 tour season. The Central Europe tour, which traveled from Prague to Budapest, Croatia tour, and the Japan – Kyoto to Noto Peninsula tour. I hope everyone on these tours had a good time. There are a couple of photos from each tour in this article. The tour reports will include many more photos and can be found on the club’s website at https://cccts.org/category/tour/?post_type=trip_report.

Some of the Croatia Tour Members

As per usual, we are busy planning tours for 2024 and beyond. Details for each tour will be posted when tour proposals and budgets are finalized and have been approved by the Board. We would like to publish our tour details sooner, but we have to wait until our tour leaders and contractors are ready and that can take time as they work with hotels, bike rental agencies, etc., etc. This list in the Newsbrief is meant to give you a heads up for your travel planning purposes until the final tour details are ready for publication. So, please watch your CCCTS emails and the website since tours will be posted one at a time as they are ready, and all members will be notified via email when a new tour posts. Tour plans are always changing. As of today, the best information we have on the tours that will be offered for 2024, so far, is below. Since 2025 is still quite aways in the future, I won’t note anything other than the one tour just yet but you can rest assured that the planning effort for 2025 is underway.

Quiet country road on Central Europe tour

2024

• Italian Dolomites Cross Country Ski – January 24 – February 2
• Portugal – Alentejo and Algarve – April 17-May 2
• South Korea – April 22-May 6
• Walla Walla, Dayton, and Richland Luxury Tour – spring or early fall
• Going to the Sun – Glacier/Waterton Park – September
• Spokane-Coeur d’Alene via Hiawatha Trail – September 3-12
• Ireland – Mizen to Malin – September 6-20
• Slovenia – September 10-24
• Sri Lanka – October 15-November 6

Coffee stop on Central Europe tour

2025

• Cross Canada First Section – Victoria/Vancouver to Winnipeg – summer/August to mid-September timeframe

Tour Director and Husband in front of gates for a shrine on Japan tour

Update on Cycling Across Canada – Plan B – Yes, Plan B is a “Go”

– Beginning 2025 with Victoria/Vancouver to Winnipeg

We will start working on the preliminary planning for this ride soon.

Much help will be needed to make this tour go and especially for the second and third sections of the country. We could use leaders for those segments. Please keep it in mind and send any offers to lead these tours my way.

Please give me a call or send an email if there is a tour you would like to lead. I am open to any tour idea you have as long as it is a safe place for cycling. (Robin Howe, robincooksandsews@gmail.com, 206.899.7255)

Have a lovely fall season!

Robin Howe, CCCTS Tour Director

Japanese Garden and Pond

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• Cross Canada First Section – Victoria/Vancouver to Winnipeg – summer/August to mid-September timeframe

Tour Director and Husband in front of gates for a shrine on Japan tour

Update on Cycling Across Canada – Plan B – Yes, Plan B is a “Go”

– Beginning 2025 with Victoria/Vancouver to Winnipeg

We will start working on the preliminary planning for this ride soon.

Much help will be needed to make this tour go and especially for the second and third sections of the country. We could use leaders for those segments. Please keep it in mind and send any offers to lead these tours my way.

Please give me a call or send an email if there is a tour you would like to lead. I am open to any tour idea you have as long as it is a safe place for cycling. (Robin Howe, robincooksandsews@gmail.com, 206.899.7255)

Have a lovely fall season!

Robin Howe, CCCTS Tour Director

Japanese Garden and Pond

Tours

• 2024 Portugal – Alentejo and the Algarve
  Status: Registration opens Sun, 29 Oct 2023 8:00 AM
  Dates: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 ‐‐ Thu, 2 May 2024
• Dolomites cross-country ski tour 2024
  Status: 9 slots are available.
  Dates: Wed, 24 Jan 2024 ‐‐ Thu, 1 Feb 2024

  Swap out your cycling gear for cross-country skis and join us for our first CCCTS cross-country ski trip – in the Dolomites region of Italy! We will ski through the gorgeous valleys of the Dolomites, on well-groomed trails, with the mountains as our backdrop, staying 2 nights in each pretty Tyrolean ski village. Come for the beauty of the area and the Tyrolean culture…and a chance to ski with your cycling friends.

• 2024 Cycling South Korea – Seoul to Jeju
  Status: Registration opens Mon, 30 Oct 2023 5:00 PM
  Dates: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 ‐‐ Mon, 6 May 2024

  This 15 day cycling tour is the ultimate exploration of South Korea – discovering both the old and the new – as we traverse 615 km of varied terrain from the vibrant capital, Seoul, to peaceful Jeju Island.

• 2024 Sri Lanka Tour – Negombo to Columbo
  Status: Registration opens Mon, 11 Dec 2023 5:00 PM
  Dates: Tue, 15 Oct 2024 ‐‐ Wed, 6 Nov 2024

  This adventure is the final word in Sri Lanka cycling tours! Over the course of 23 exhilarating days we explore the island’s pristine beaches, ancient rock fortresses, temple-studded cities, lush national parks, and tea field-covered mountains. We leave no stone unturned as we delve deep into Sri Lanka’s rich heritage and natural beauty.

• 2023 Columbia River Loop
  Status: Completed

  Cycle in beautiful inland Washington and Oregon – through mountain, desert, and high-plateau farmland areas. Ride along the mighty Columbia River and through Washington wine country. Stay in the scenic towns of Hood River and The Dalles, Oregon. Weather is normally sunny and warm this time of year.

• 2024 Ireland Mizen to Malin
  Status: Registration closed
  Dates: Fri, 6 Sep 2024 ‐‐ Fri, 20 Sep 2024

  The west coast of Ireland is rich in awe-inspiring landscapes, fascinating characters, and foot-tapping music. Cycling Ireland End to End from the most southerly point to the most northerly will leave you with rich memories, new friends, and a thirst for more!

• Central Europe 2023
  Status: Completed

  Cycle through the heart of Europe through parts of the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Our route meanders by castles, through rustic villages, and along waterways as we enjoy the former territories of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

• 2023 Japan Tour – Kyoto and Noto Peninsula
  Status: Completed

  This tour is about enjoying cycling, Japanese culture and heritage, stunning fall color, and Japanese cuisine! You surely will not want to miss it.

  Hub and Spokes

• St. Augustine, Florida 2023 Hub and Spoke
  Status: Registration closed
  Dates: Tue, 7 Nov 2023 ‐‐ Wed, 15 Nov 2023

  St. Augustine ranks as the oldest city in the US, and has plenty to offer the history buff and recreational cyclist, including Spanish architecture, sandy beaches and seafood feasts. Our 8-day hub and spoke will enable us to explore iconic landmarks such as Flagler College and the St. Augustine Lighthouse, and to take in sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean from our bicycle saddles.

   

  Trip Reports

• 2023 Croatia Tour – Adriatic As It Used To Be

  2023 Croatia Tour – Adriatic As It Used To Be Trip Dates: Mon, 18 Sep 2023 – Wed, 4 Oct 2023 Participants: Maureen Angen, Ted Angen, Anna Brettell, Sandy Brodie, Barb Brousseau, Barbara Hall, Tom Hughes, Nancy Luitwieler, Jean Macdonald, Monna-Leigh McElveny, Robb Polloway, Eamonn Ryan, Rhonda Ryan, Dianne Schneidmiller, Gene Schneidmiller, Jacob VanDerHeide, Colleen … Continue reading 2023 Croatia Tour – Adriatic As It Used To Be→

• 2023 Columbia River Loop Tour

  Blowin’ up to Bickleton by Chris Hodgson Bickleton is a village on the Columbia River Loop tour which meandered through Washington and Oregon, an eight-day jaunt led by Robin Howe and Dan Carey in early September. Here’s the bare facts: 19 experienced cyclists; six days of cycling over a distance of give-or-take 500 kms; all … Continue reading 2023 Columbia River Loop Tour→

• Georgian Bay Pannier Tour Trip Report

  Georgian Bay Pannier Tour Trip Report May 28th – June 4th, 2023 Prepared by Bonnie Evoy and Bill Bourne Over hill, over dale, As we hit the dusty trail And those bikers go rolling along In and out, hear them shout Truckers back and car about And those bikers go rolling along Thirty lucky cyclists … Continue reading Georgian Bay Pannier Tour Trip Report→

• Okanagan Tour 2023

  What’s not to love about the Okanagan? Our eight rides led us through tranquil and verdant rolling countryside from Vernon to Penticton to Oliver. Scenery included beautiful lakes, vineyards, and orchards, and vehicle traffic was minimal on many sections of the routes.

Market Place