The Wobbling Sprocket

This will be Brian’s first tour with us.

Brian resides in Florida, which actually might be a good place to do some training for Cambodia.

I’m not really sure how Brian found Far and Away Cycling.  Usually, there are only two routes….either an internet search for a particular destination or a referral of some kind.  It’s our first tour in Cambodia, so no one specifically suggested “the F&A Cambodia tour”.  That indicates a level of risk taking.  We like that.  We don’t really do any advertising.

I just realized that we are going to have 2 Brian’s on this tour.  That immediately opens the door for some naming creativity…or confusion…or both.  In Lao, we might fix that by appending a “noy” on the end of a name….as in “Bob-noy”.  That would be “little Bob” or “Bob Junior”.  I don’t think we can do that in Cambodia.  We are going to have to work on this.

Here is Brian C., not to be confused with Brian T.

Today is the last day for the $100 “early bird discount” on Cambodia.

Great to have Brian on board for this, our initial adventure in Cambodia.

Frank has been to Corsica, Slovenia, Croatia, Spain and Lao.  And now, he is headed to Cambodia.

I think the knowledge that one can dine on deep fried tarantulas at Romdeng in Phnom Penh is what put Frank over the top.  Tarantula dining is optional, of course, but if you are curious how to eat them,  here is a guide:

http://www.worldhum.com/features/how-to/how-to-eat-fried-tarantulas-in-cambodia-20091201/

Anyway, Frank is a real trooper.  I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but the first thing Frank did, on his initial tour in Corsica several years back, was take a trip over his handlebars while checking out his rental bike.  I immediately concluded he was on a “learning trajectory”.

That was a memorable trip for other reasons as well.  We were visited by 70 mph winds which caused us to abandon the biking entirely one afternoon for the relative safety of the train.  Remember that, Frank?   I found several members of the group taking shelter from the wind behind boulders on the side of the mountain.

Since then, Frank has become a true biker.    I guess if it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger.

I’ll stop with the memories.    Frank,  I am looking forward to it.  It’s a very good sign that you have signed on for the maiden tour in Cambodia.

Frank, in Spain

Frank, in Sagone, Corsica

James has been to Laos and Sikkim and now he’s bringing Janet with him to Cambodia.   He clearly has a taste for our more exotic offerings.  Actually quite a few people that were on those particular tours are now in for Cambodia and they are bringing others along with them this time.   That is very nice.

As I recall, James is riding either a Surly long haul trucker or maybe a Surly Traveler’s Check.   Absolutely, the right bike for the kind of tours he is signing on for.

James asked me if  I was going to do another tour Jersey…for Cambodia.  I don’t know.  Maybe.  I hadn’t really planned on it, but if enough people ask for one,  you never know.  It’s a nice keepsake.

It is great to have James and Janet on board.

James and Janet in Hawaii.