Blue Ridge Bliss: Best Ride Ever!

Adventure Cycling's 2012 Blue Ridge Bliss (June 2-8) underwent many revisions this year:

• We added the beautiful Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park to a shorter segment of the Blue Ridge Parkway without significantly decreasing the 4-5K of climbing each day
• We simplified the start-of-tour logistics
• Greg Edwards, a Roanoke native became the new tour leader on his maiden tour
• An entirely new tour staff was assigned to the tour
• Our traditional caterer Adam returned for another year.

What are the tour participants saying about our newly revised Blue Ridge Bliss tour? Participant Galit Sharon Marcus wrote us recently raving about the tour. Here is what she said:

"This was the best (of three) Adventure Cycling Association experience I've had. Adventure Cycling Association consistently has great tours with great riding and great scenery. The tours are always well-put-together with good food and great campsites. But Greg, Don, John, Bob, Dave and Tim made this tour much more than a great bike ride.

"You guys were great to hang out with, listen to live bluegrass at campsites with and just generally chill out with. You guys are just great people and it was really a pleasure to get to spend a little time with each of you. Stargazing with Greg, Don and Tim at Big Meadows and sharing cycling, camping and wild animal stories was one of the highlights of my trip. John, thank you for riding through a torrential downpour with me -- that rain shower was one of the best rides of the trip for me, definitely up there on the "Best Rides Ever" list. Don and Tim, thank you for waiting for me forever at the rest stop after the winery, and Don, thank you so much for riding with me onward to the campsite, and for the awesome riding conversation.

"And finally, thank you (and a big grin) to Don for the socks and for thinking out of the box -- you saved my hands and fingers from a cold mountain morning! Greg's touch of live bluegrass at Fancy Gap and Breaking Away at Floyd was just awesome. Greg, you are awesome. The live bluegrass at Big Meadows was the cherry on the sundae. Bob, your blue M&M shots not only fueled my rides but were color-coordinated with my outfits -- still brings a huge smile to my face! Dave, it was great chatting with you at the rest stops. I will shout from the New York City rooftops about how great each and every member of the staff was until they hear me loud and clear all the way in Missoula.

"I hope to see each and every one of you on another Adventure Cycling Association tour. Until then, I will think fondly of all of you. Happy riding!"

Galit, we have heard you and all the other participants LOUD & CLEAR! All of us at Adventure Cycling look forward to another great tour with you in the future.

Arlen, Tours Director

Photo: Claude Rioual, tour participant

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ON THE ROAD is written by the tours team -- Mo, Paul, Madeline, and Arlen -- tours specialists and intrepid bicyclists, covering all things related to Adventure Cycling's Tours Department. Find your  dream tour now!

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/06/blue-ridge-bliss-best-ride-ever.html

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