France 2018 Wrap-Up

France 2018 was May 22 to June 28.  Here are some of the lessons learned from the trip.

• Make sure you have travel insurance to cover accidents and illness.  As always, I purchased an insurance policy before I left on my trip this summer.  Such insurance policies are relatively inexpensive.  For a mere $68, I received trip interruption, emergency medical ($100,000 primary coverage), medical evacuation and repatriation ($250,000), travel delay, and baggage loss.  Everything went well in France, and I never had an occasion to use the policy.  However, I did break my collarbone on my first ride back in Texas.  If the accident had happened in Europe, I would have been covered.

"Hey guys, I am not sure I want to go there"  (photo by R. Creatura)

• Schiphol (Amsterdam) is a much better airport than Charles de Gaulle (Paris).  Unless your final destination is Paris, I recommend that you avoid CDG.  Even if your final destination is Paris, go carry-on.  I have experienced baggage loss and/or delay about 3 or 4 times.  Two hours between flights was almost not enough time to make my connection to Lyon last year.  On the other hand, the folks in Amsterdam know what they are doing.  I had 55 minutes to make my connection there last Thursday.  Actually, I only had 35 minutes since they close the gate 20 minutes before take off.  The flight from Geneva parked on the tarmac, and we had to take a bus to the terminal.  Then I had to traverse the airport and go through passport control.  I made my flight with 15 minutes to spare.  I was impressed!

The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) has its own airport shuttle van at the Geneva airport.

• Cycling trips are a best when shared with friends—especially low maintenance friends.  Seriously, riding in France with friends can be fun.  Besides, you have three people to help you change your flat tire on the top of Col de la Core and that still leaves one person to supervise.

(photo by R. Creatura)

• Provence!  Provence is magical.

• If you are smart, you can sit next to an empty seat on the airplane.  Look at the seat map about 12 hours before departure.  If you find someone sitting in an aisle seat next to two empty seat, grab the window seat.  This leaves the middle seat empty.  Make sure that you are in economy plus too.  Most people won't pay the extra money to upgrade to the middle seat.  This strategy worked in both directions across the Atlantic.

Extra Leg Room (photo by R. Creatura)

• If you haven't ridden the route, leave yourself an option to cut the ride short.  You might run into some unforeseen difficulties.

• Life is centered around the table in France.  Enjoy yourself, but beware when your host brings out a bottle labeled "Rocket Fuel" for after dinner drinks.  I drank rocket fuel twice during this trip—at least I only remember two occasions.