IIDS, GD: Monday, August 13th

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882)

Road to Valour: A True Story of World War II Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist who Inspired a Nation, By Aili and Andres McConnon, Doubleday Canada

Bartali’s tale is an extraordinary journey to valour, played out against the backdrop of Italy in the Second World War. The co-authors, (and siblings), chronicle the ups and downs of an athlete penalized for coming of age during Europe’s mad rush to war – Bartali managed to win the Tour de France twice, first in 1938 at age 24 and again in a startling comeback in 1948 at 34, a gap that earned him the still-standing record for the longest time span between victories. He became a national hero in Italy, despite losing “his most fertile years” to the war, he is quoted as recalling.

Yet the most compelling moments of the book recount a lesser-known fact – that at the height of the war, Bartali couriered falsified identification papers from Florence to Assisi to aid Jews targeted by racial laws newly enacted by Mussolini’s Fascisti. He did it cleverly, by hiding the IDs in the hollow frame of his bike and pretending that the 110-mile trek was part of his training regimen.

He once confided to his son: “If you’re good at a sport, they attach the medals to your shirts and then they shine in some museum. That which is earned by doing good deeds is attached to the soul and shines elsewhere.” The justification for his silence? “I don’t want to appear to be a hero,” he said.

In his Tour de France performances, Bartali outdistanced competitors in the mountain stages. In 1938, his relentless pace up and down the Pyrenees gave him the edge. In 1948, he overtook his rivals in the Alps and charged ahead at the foot of the Col d’Izoard, despite its 20-mile climb “steep enough to stall all but the most rugged cars.” 

Pat/George,    Pretty impressive stats - especially the 23km/h average. Gran Fondo

here you come.

I actually was along the Jericho area today - the only one of our group
on a bike, I might add. Didn't last long - not much interested in sitting in
the sun especially with someone nearby smoking. So proceeded to Young Bros.,
filled up the panniers with stuff not available in the garden and completed
the rest of the afternoon in the garden. Watched some of the Olympic closing
ceremonies but couldn't see them through. Canadian headline said they had
'wowed the world' whereas The Telegraph compared it to 'over-ripe Stilton'.
I'd have to go with the cheese analogy.

Dreaming of a nice relaxing summer then into a long winter's nap when
George e-mails for a ride and has me up at the crack of dawn for a quick
spin out to Iona. Looking forward to it and the weather is perfect for an
early ride. Ray

Buon Giorno Ionians!

More than pleased to learn that cycling is back on the agenda. Loved the cheese analogy, Ray. I missed the Closing Ceremonies as I was still fighting the rain but Coriandre and Rosie were similarly unimpressed. I can hardly wait to pass along The Telegraph's Stilton verdict! Might be sometime as The Sisterhood are not early risers! Glad that the panniers are being put to good use, Raymond. You can carry pre-mixed lattes in a thermos for the rest of the armchair peletonians!

I have finally manage to make my way through some back, on-line issues of VIWF's Book News and came across the following review:

Bartali’s tale is an extraordinary journey to valour, played out against the backdrop of Italy in the Second World War. The co-authors, (and siblings), chronicle the ups and downs of an athlete penalized for coming of age during Europe’s mad rush to war – Bartali managed to win the Tour de France twice, first in 1938 at age 24 and again in a startling comeback in 1948 at 34, a gap that earned him the still-standing record for the longest time span between victories. He became a national hero in Italy, despite losing “his most fertile years” to the war, he is quoted as recalling.

Yet the most compelling moments of the book recount a lesser-known fact – that at the height of the war, Bartali couriered falsified identification papers from Florence to Assisi to aid Jews targeted by racial laws newly enacted by Mussolini’s Fascisti. He did it cleverly, by hiding the IDs in the hollow frame of his bike and pretending that the 110-mile trek was part of his training regimen.

He once confided to his son: “If you’re good at a sport, they attach the medals to your shirts and then they shine in some museum. That which is earned by doing good deeds is attached to the soul and shines elsewhere.” The justification for his silence? “I don’t want to appear to be a hero,” he said.

In his Tour de France performances, Bartali outdistanced competitors in the mountain stages. In 1938, his relentless pace up and down the Pyrenees gave him the edge. In 1948, he overtook his rivals in the Alps and charged ahead at the foot of the Col d’Izoard, despite its 20-mile climb “steep enough to stall all but the most rugged cars.”

If you have not heard about the book already, thought you might enjoy knowing of this incredible, selfless, courageous, humble individual, especially in the wake of this year's Tour and the Olympics. I don't mean to criticize the efforts and the triumphs of the winners and other participants of these events but rather to show how the remarkable human spirit continues. Not necessarily a life and death situation, as in Bartali's case, but certainly a triumph of the will.

Fondestos and Cheers. We who are about to have another cup of java, Salute You! Il Conduttore!

A Farewell to Arms, original manuscript

Good thing that you are biking five or six hours a day otherwise you would have nothing to write about. In Ottawa less than 12 hours and wish I was home already.

Going to rent a bike after work today and see some of the city. W

Buon Giorno,Sarge!

Don't worry, Sarge, I have more than plenty of things to keep me busy! Per esempio, have finally managed to make my way through some back, on-line issues of VIWF's Book News!

  

Hi Pat and David! Trust you are both well and enjoyed the Olympics! We certainly did.

Flamin' and Sarge, together with Kid Chelene, their youngest son, and his girlfriend, Beckster, (both Mounties like Sarge), will be coming to California in the next few weeks, to take their "kids" wine tasting. (They spent this past weekend in the Okanagan and had a wonderful time from all reports.) They plan to drop in so thought I'd warn you about the imminent Canadian invasion! They will stay with Cactus ad Donna Florida when in Berkeley and believe they hope to take in a ball game as well. Fondestos to you both from Coriandre. Best wishes from Rosie-the-Riveter and Coat Hanger Durston. Cheers, Patrizzio!

 I was texting in line Poppa...no time for spelling and such

Hi Tinsel Town!

Simply not good enough! No stinkin' excuses! You young punks are supposed to be experts at texting so quit whining. Always time for correct spelling, Miss Ayn! You stay after school today and more lines on the blackboard! Fine!!!!!!!

 

 all good; thanks for the travel update

talk later in aug

chris

ps. just returned from the bowron lake canoe

 circuit..............wow, it was fabulous

Hi Voyageur!

You should be on the La Verendrye Trail, close to here! Our date of departure for Vancouver has not been set but I assume we will be in Enderby around the 22nd/23rd/24th. Will know by the beginning of next weekend. We will be staying with Lynn/Barb, friends we met in Mexico on last trip there. Then on to Naramata to stay with friends, Lynne and Peter, to do some wine tasting. Hope to pick up a case or two of the fabulous whites that are being produced in the Okanagan. Fondestos to from Coriandre. Cheers, Patrizzio!
 

say hi to my good friends dave and cynthia at laughing stock (naramata) if you get there (mention my name, pay full price) xoxo

Hi, Obviously Less than Good Friend!

We'll be sure not to mention your name and receive a 50% discount!!! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Lurking Lynne and Jugos Dom Pedro!!

Trust you are both well and enjoying your decadent, privileged lives!Our date of departure for Vancouver has not been set but I assume we will be in Enderby around the 22nd/23rd/24th. Will know by the beginning of next weekend. We will be staying with Lynn/Barb, friends across the street from our place in La Penita, as you might recall.Then on to Naramata if you are around and wish to entertain a brief overnight visit. Hope towine tasting. Hope to do some wine tasting, of course, and pick up a case or two of the fabulous whites that are being produced in Paradise! Not a big deal if not convenient as we'll simply head on to Vancouver. Anyway, let us know and we'll plan accordingly. Fondestos to you both from Coriandre. Best wishes from Rosie-the-Riveter and Coat Hanger. Cheers, Patrizzio!

P,

We had a fantastic ride early this morning. The stats will be sent to you as
soon as our newly hired technician (Technique) has compiled them. It will
include much more valid and verifiable numbers than the mere averages
provided some flat land riders.

Just ordered the book, Road to Valour from VPL -- sounds fascinating. The
quote is brilliant.

Plan to ride to Whistler and back early Wednesday morning. At our current
pace we should be able to return by noon. W

Pat,
    
To confirm George's account of our great, if not rather short by Dunn
standards, 2-man breakaway ride. We flew out there setting off about 7:30
and back in time for a second breakfast before 9. Stats to follow. Like
George, I have also ordered the book. I think I was no.18 on the list.
Looking forward to the longer ride on Wednesday. Ray 

Dear Charlatans, Obfuscators and Supreme Bafflegabbers!

I await the compilation of the so-called statistics with great interest. Given the fact that Robo Ray has not been able to set the odometre he was given light years ago, I assume there will be a slight delay in the evidence based rides you are crowing about. Furthermore, I find it hard to believe that you have the gall to call me a "Flatlander" when the only ride, in eons, for both of you, has been to Iona. (Even that is suspect. Where is the video? Sheer puffery!) Couldn't be flatter than the model for the Flat Earth Society. Why not just ride on the runways at YVR?

For my part, I did a modest 81.7K jaunt, South Shore and Ingolf loop, AVG 22kph, 61.2 MAX over 3:42:26. Without appearing to whine, head was was abominable and I swear it followed me, changing directions so that I was constantly battling into it. Nevertheless, I persevered and tried to enjoy the reasonably clear skies. Even said a few kind words to a young fox beside the road, close to Everest on the Ingolf section. Poor thing looked like it might well have been an orphan as it didn't run for cover when I came upon it and it looked fairly thin and malnourished.

Time to pack a small bad for next few days in The Peg. Looking forward to doing some "city" rides while there. Hope to cycle to Assiniboine Park from St Vital where we are staying. Ride along Wellington Crescent is a bit like Cypress through Shaughnessy. Desperately Seeking stats from Technique. Cheers, Il Conduttore!

dear fred & juhli,   hi once more, we were reading your e mail and you said you could
have a problem with ferries etc; we are there for a couple of weeks so any other day
that is more convenient just say so  see you soon kevin & bev

Hi Kevin and Beverley – so nice to hear from you both again. Where are you anyway? You don’t indicate where you are visiting, I don’t even know where Bev’s family resides and you haven’t mentioned anything about your trip so far….Anyway

Juhli and I took-off early Friday morning to head-up to Port Hardy for a fishing/camping weekend adventure. PLUS, we did some sightseeing and running-around in the North Island communities of Port McNeill, visited the Finnish community of Sointula, (which is located on Malcolm Island ) and accessed by BC Ferries from Port McNeill. Spent some time checking-out an interesting little camp site at Bere Point, again, Malcolm Island, where the Orcas (whales) like to visit to rub themselves on the stones in the shallow water. Ostensibly, to remove the barnacles and any other sea-going animals that like to attach themselves to the whales bodies. Unfortunately, there were no pods of whales when we visited.

It was a nice trip, the weather was perfect for our camping style, as we have a 1984 Volkswagen, Eurovan, with a pop-up canvas canopy. We can simply pull-over to the side of the road, pop the top and have enough head-room to move around inside. We stayed at the Quatse River Camping facility, in Port Hardy. It’s a nice place we discovered last year. Didn’t do any fly-fishing as we were so busy running-around, as I’ve already described.

You have mentioned that you’ll be in Vancouver for August 31^st. to spend the time with Pat and Corinne - Juhli and I have set-aside time for the first week of September, to be in Vancouver; perhaps, even longer – as we haven’t determined exactly when we’ll head-back to Vancouver Island.

I’m more or less waiting to hear from Pat, as to a date and time for the BBQ that he’s planning. He’s mentioned that he’ll contact some of those people we knew from the VRC and invite them to participate in a visit with you and Beverley. Until we hear anything more definite, we’ve decided to play things as they come.

We will not be heading-over until Tuesday, September 4^th at the earliest. Hope you’re having lots of fun. Looking forward to seeing you - Freddy

Hi Federico/Bev/Kev!

Camping sounded wonderful, Frederick. I'm truly impressed.

Given the fact that you plan to be in Vancouver from the 4th of September, I suggest that we have the bbq on Wednesday, the 5th, or Thursday, the 6th. Fast Freddy, you decide, based on ferry schedule, etc., unless Tuesday, the 4th, is a better option for everyone. Let me know what the Perth People think as well as the Vancouver Island Folk and I'll plan accordingly.

Not to be outdone by tales of Orcas and barnacles, I did a modest 81.7K jaunt, South Shore and Ingolf loop, AVG 22kph, 61.2 MAX over 3:42:26. Without appearing to whine, head was was abominable and I swear it followed me, changing directions so that I was constantly battling into it. Nevertheless, I persevered and tried to enjoy the reasonably clear skies. Even said a few kind words to a young fox beside the road, close to the "Everest" hill on the Ingolf section. Poor thing looked like it might well have been an orphan as it didn't run for cover when I came upon it and it looked fairly thin and malnourished.

Time to pack a small bag for next few days in The Peg. Looking forward to doing some "city" rides while there. Hope to cycle to Assiniboine Park from St Vital where we are staying. Ride along Wellington Crescent is a bit like Cypress through Shaughnessy. Cheers, Il Conduttore!

Hi Tiptoe!
Trust you and the Generalissimo are both well and enjoyed the Olympics! Fondestos to you and Kevin from Coriandre. Best wishes from Rosie-the-Riveter and Coat Hanger Durston. Cheers, Patrice!

Hi Dear Friends,

You are invited to our FIRST Annual Labour Day Weekend Party on the Pitchford Patio. Details below. Just BYOB and a small appy of your choice. On the menu is yummy BBQ chicken and farm-fresh sides (most from Jeremy’s organic farm!) Veggie burgers on request.

RSVP is requested.

Sunday, September 2

4pm onwards

9-3350 Rosemont Drive

Vancouver

Look forward to seeing everyone, Charlie & Susan

Hi Patio People!

Thanks for lovely invitation. We have already penciled you in to our electronic calendars! Look forward to catching up. Cheers, Patrizzio/Il Conduttore!