The Important Stuff

Renée, Brian and JP. Image: Jean Boulanger

Europe in the late summer is nearly unbeatable, especially on a motorcycle. Too hot? Twist the throttle a bit more. Too cold. Same. In a hurry? Don’t be!

Beyond the postcard scenery and centuries-old pictorama, the important stuff to Jean, Brian and myself were the people and machines in our touring group. 

After all the planning and preparation to arrive in Aix-les-Bains for our 12-day journey, it was important to be fully present and receptive to the “strangers” who rode their bikes from the far reaches of Switzerland, France and Belgium to join us English speaking Californians and New Zealanders in a French parking lot on Sunday, August 13, 2023.

With riders’ ages ranging from 30 - 68, 11 men and five women bonded together over the 1,491-mile European motorcycle Alps tour. Most had traveled widely by motorcycle, but not all had crossed the Alps slated on this guided tour, making it a trip of discovery as well as an exercise in adapting to several factors as a group.