Daily Foundation

I am settling into Canmore, Alberta more every day and am reminded how much my attitude, energy, and outlook depend on a solid foundation (read: BREAKFAST!).  Chomping into a strawberry rhubarb oat muffin brought back memories of delectable breakfasts throughout my time in Europe.  Just imagine, start at one end with cereals and mueslis, continuing on to jams and spreads, then the breads, cheeses, fresh yogurts, meats, and of course, the pastries.  All of these typically complimented with fresh juices and coffee.  Talking about these morning delicatessens easily pushes my fist-sized muffin aside to make room for some more scrumptious grub.  Being active certainly allows for this type of an appetite, along with being 6'5" and having a metabolism to match.

Road and trail running, road and mountain biking, climbing, hiking, kayaking, and the list goes on.  Activities in Canmore are endless and it is paradise for athletes and the outdoors folk.  The snow is slowly creeping down the mountains signaling the beginning of winter, which lasts most of the year!  Luckily I have been working hard to get the proper gear to have fun in the snow.  Finding a balance to the cold is easily done in the kitchen, so part of the day is spent cooking up some savory and warm dishes.

I think of myself as a stay-at-home boyfriend right now.  Cooking, cleaning, organizing, shopping, job searching, and did I mention cooking?  I am fortunate to be surrounded by family that loves and savors gastronomic experiences.  Of course I am no michelin starred chef, but creating and playing in the kitchen has a place in my heart; a labor of love.  We recently had our Canadian Thanksgiving and I was in charge.  Slow roasted turkey, candied yams and pecans, brussels sprouts with sage brown butter, spinach pear and goat cheese salad, port and orange cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, and of course the pumpkin pies.  Good food, good drink, good family and friends with a lot of laughter made for a wonderful night.

There is typically a pre-Thanksgiving meal, so the night before we gathered with some family and a few good friends.  You can guess who was in charge of the meal!  Luckily we had someone bring a salad and cheese plate.  My menu consisted of organic truffle polenta, grilled vegetables with a balsamic reduction, oven-roasted dill and lemon chinook salmon, and a homemade apple crisp with ice cream.  The previous week we bought two cases of apples at the market, so we had stewed apples, apple sauce and apple crisp coming out of our ears.  Everything I make now is gluten-free due to Sabrina and her mother being celiacs.  I have had great success in the past with gluten-free cooking, so I felt well prepared for when I moved in with Sabrina.

Last night we had a kale and swiss chard vegetable soup made with turkey stock, smokey paprika and dill frittata with zucchini and onions, caprese salad, and some more apple crisp with freshly whipped cream for dessert.  Well, I think my travel blog just morphed into a food blog, with which I have no problem!  Time to fuel up a bit more before tackling the day, but I will leave you with photographic evidence of a great European daily foundation!  The photo was taken at the Hotel a la Ville de Lyon in Rouffach, France, which is a small town in the Alsace region. Enjoy and thanks for reading!

New Grooves

The past 6 months in a nutshell: Lived in Mallorca riding and guiding, met the love of my life, 4 transatlantic flights, lead Tour de France trips, traveled/hiked/biked/swam in France/Germany/Italy, drove across the U.S., two weddings, and now have settled in Canmore Alberta to be with Sabrina.  All of that is the reason for my blogging absence!  Sabrina and I are so blessed to have each other and be together for good.  This is a wonderful new chapter in our lives and the future is bright!

I will write more now that I'm planted in one place and will have time to reflect on the past few months.  It's all new and all good.  Thanks!

Howlin'

The white capped sea, misty air, sailing down the coastal road among forest and cliffs.  The wind was gusting this morning at speeds that would make any cyclist have second thoughts.  "This is your job, and you are so very lucky" ran through my head, trying to put a positive light onto a rather dreary day.  The wind can change at any time here, and there is about a 60/40 split between no wind and some blustery days.
Our group headed out for the day 2 ride toward the beautiful, rustic and scenic town of Deia along the northern coast.  Climbing the Coll de Soller was actually very pleasant, and the roads were much drier than expected.  We had a light breeze since we were somewhat sheltered by the mountains.  Coll de Soller is 5km at around 5% gradient, so a very nice warm-up but not too steep to hurt the legs.  We follow the switchback ladened climb with a descent just as twisty but down the northern side, which can stay wet for much longer.
Snaking into the town of Soller brings a small feeling of accomplishment, but you are quickly brought back to the road as it ascends once again.  This small climb almost has a different climate, resembling more high-dry pine forest than the wet and lush mountainside.  Cresting the top brings an endless view of the sea; the reward for your effort.  As we descend towards the gorgeous town of Deia you can't help but look at the sea in amazement.  The coastal road winds in and out of the cliffs, through villages, and of course goes up and down.
The day 2 (Monday) ride provides a small taste of the week to come, and we then head inland towards Valldemossa and then toward Puigpunyent.  No surprise that we continue our climbing and descending, but typically stop for lunch at a great corner cafe in Puigpunyent.  The mountain town has a tight community and relaxed atmosphere.  We savor our sandwiches with some great people-watching, conversation, and coffees or drinks.
With full stomachs and still no rain we happily spun down the road toward the hotel.  There is a nice 30km flat and rolling section back to the hotel... and the wind was against us for a bit.  We trudged through the wind and arrived home safely.  Most usually hear the spa calling their names, but I rode 2km into town for some wine!  I had to purchase some gifts and could not help but sample the local vino.  After finding some perfect items to bring home I rode back to the hotel with my bags and a big smile.  The narrow, stone-walled streets are fun to ride on, just as long as there are no cars coming toward you... especially when you have some bags of wine and other goodies!
The spa was certainly calling my name as I arrived, so after some work I indulged and followed with some stretching.  We finished the evening with another delicious and fresh meal.  I'm enjoying some wine as I write this, mom and dad would be proud, and I'm also thinking ahead.
May will be very busy because I think the month will pass much faster than expected.  We will begin organizing items, cleaning and packing before that rush week hits.  I'm anxious to take a break and be with loved ones... as the Black Keys sing, "Baby, I'm howlin' for you."
With that I say goodnight and thanks for reading my post!  I hope to find more time to update regularly... instead of once per month!

What is Truly Dramatic?

The northern coast of Mallorca is simply dramatic.  Cliffs drop straight to the water's edge, goats roam free in this land, their everyday life.  Cyclists dot the roads like a rainbow of ants, carving in and out of the hills with an unwavering flow.  These are practically daily scenes that I will never let become mundane.

Back-to-back trips has been quite tiring as of lately even with four being our largest group yet.  The 18 guests arriving this weekend will be a true test of the ride camps and of us.  The ride dynamics certainly change when hosting large groups on long rides with multiple options.  We have been working hard to ensure full support while also sticking to the basic idea of these camps, which is a more self-sufficient avid riding trip.  Personal time is always a luxury that we have few times during the week, so this Wednesday I have taken time to write this new post.

Wednesday is our rest day, because the rides become significantly longer and add significant climbing.  Thursday's ride is a roller-coaster over 135km.  We climb multiple colls (climbs of note), which eventually adds up to roughly 10,000ft of elevation gain.  Friday's ride tops the week off with a 145km loop to Cap Formentor, a lighthouse and the furthest point east in the Tramuntana Mountain Range.  The climbing is not as difficult, but the extra distance will gift anyone with a pair of sore legs.  The photograph above is view from the road to Cap Formentor, which is one of many spectacular sections of the coastal road in the north.

With two big days ahead, a big trip next week, and some open time, I am going to tackle some more preparatory tasks.  Thanks for reading and I will post some more photos soon.

Mallorca Livin'

Water crashes against the cliffs, slight breeze of crisp air and a coastal village perched on the edges.  The northern coast of Mallorca retains an ever-present humbling power, a surprising element as an island, but so wonderful and varied.  We are spending our time in Santa Maria del Cami, a small town at the foothills of the Tramuntana Mountains approximately 15km northeast of Palma.  This is the backdrop of our Mallorca Ride Camps, trips focused on a no frills riding experience.  Many people have been asking why we chose Mallorca as a ride camp location.  The answer is simply because we feel that our guests from the western hemisphere have not discovered this majestic island, and the riding is second to none; a reason why so many professional cycling teams visit during their off-season.

Mallorca has so much to offer ranging from amazing hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, climbing, cuisine and culture, and the list continues.  My co-guide, Justin, and I have been desperately trying to sample all of the possible activities because our time will go fast.  Our first ride camp began on Sunday and we have a small group, 4 people, to guide around the island.  The first day is a non-guided but planned route around the area to spin out travel legs.  We follow up the next day with our first march into the mountains, and we are not shy on distance, cycling about 100km for the day.  Today was our second trot into the western section of the Tramuntana Mountains along the MA-10 road.  I thought yesterday's ride was the best to date, but today was even better... and I was in the van!  I did get the chance for a quick and hard ride in the flatter areas south of our hotel, so I have been feeling fresh.  The island has much more grandeur than I originally anticipated, and I've been pleasantly surprised everyday.  

Our hotel, Read's Hotel, has been absolutely fantastic.  The owners and staff are wonderful people and they are our new family.  I am truly lucky to have the privilege of staying at Read's and meeting all those that keep the hotel running at peak performance.  I hope to grow and learn more during my stay, which I am certain will occur.  Everyday is another chance to have new experiences and share them with others.  I also hope to share them with you as I continue my journey through life.  Thanks for reading and that is all for now.  Time to get going and rest up!  Tomorrow holds another ride, easier for recovery, and then we ramp up with 125km and approximately 10,000ft. of climbing on Thursday!  Yes, the weather is wonderful... 60º and sunny!  I just had to tell you ;)

Time to recharge... fast!

We have been pulling 15+ hour days, and time is limited... so no blog posts.  I have not forgotten about this, but duty calls.  Stay tuned for some updates.  Now it's time to prep and try to recharge for our first ride camp on Sunday.

Thanks!

-Stefan

I'm Back!

Okay, I took a little hiatus from my blog, but I have received the call once again to guide.  Stay tuned for an update regarding my next location and plan.  Thanks!