After watching a whole bunch of cruise commercials and being enticed by all the images of active people, I found myself scanning the Royal Caribbean website to check out what type of adventures that cruise line offers. On the Caribbean cruise I viewed Royal Caribbean listed the following highlights;

• Hike Jamaica’s Dunn’s River Falls or mountain bike in Costa Rica’s rain forest
• Snorkel with stingrays or go horseback riding on the beach
• Dive 800 feet below sea level in a research submarine
• Discover the inhabitants of a coral reef on a glass-bottomed boat
• Visit Labadee®, one of Royal Caribbean’s exclusive and private destinations
• Commune with ancient civilizations by climbing mysterious Mayan pyramids

Outside of the rather strange offer to bend the time space continuum to allow their guests to commune with ancient civilizations,  many of the highlights are similar to the highlights that might be featured on an adventure travel itinerary. Which raises the question, is the adventuring of cruises good or bad for the Adventure Travel Industry?

I  can see arguments for both sides of this question. I believe that anything gets people outside being active is good for the person . I hope that if people have a  positive experience cycling, hiking, climbing, kayaking it will inspire them to do it again and maybe incorporate more active elements into their next vacation or even make adventure the centerpiece of their next vacation. Heck, 13 million people took cruises in 2010, we get all of them on a bicycle for even half a day and we have the beginning of a movement.

After staring at the computer screen for 20 minutes, not counting the obligatory check of FB, I realized that was all I had on the the subject and that my mind, freshly back from communing with ancient civilizations to get their take on the issue, (the were not much help as all they wanted to do was play Angry Birds on my iphone), I had a lot to say about why big cruise lines are bad for the Adventure Travel industry.

It has absolutely nothing to do with competition. I don’t stay awake at night because worrying about the Love Boat crushing my business like ice at the frozen Daiquiri bar. 26 million people can take cruises and it will not affect my business.

The biggest threat the major cruise lines make to the adventure travel industry is success. The better their Costa Rica and Belize itineraries sell the larger the threat becomes. Spend an afternoon in Bar Harbor, Maine when there are 3 cruise ships in town and cruisers outnumber locals 3 to 1 and you quickly see how cruise ships totally dominate the landscape.  Once cruise lines start dropping 2500 passengers a day in rain forrests and at coral reefs their footprint will be forever altered. The more their guests enjoy adventure and activity the more areas the cruise lines are going to push into that business.

Of course the cruise industry will argue that they are having a positive impact in the millions of dollars for every port they visit and that they creating prosperity. Once businesses get hooked on the crack that is the easy money that is selling t-shirts to cruise passengers all the sustainable methadone in the world will not save them.

Cruise lines,and by cruise lines I mean the big boys Carnival, Royal Caribbean et al, not the smaller responsible adventure based companies,have no soul.If Hunter Thompson were alive he would probably being getting ready to write fear and loathing on the Enchantment of the Seas. It is the soul and the passion of the participants and the tour operators that make for the best adventure trips.  Can Royal Caribbean save adventure travel, no but they certainly can destroy an area’s ability to be a draw to true adventure travelers.

I am guessing that average success rate for New Years resolutions is pretty low, I know I do my part to keep it low, here are 5 easy resolutions for cyclists.

1. Learn to change a tire. It is not hard, it just takes a little practice so grab your wheel of your bike and give it a try. here is a helpful poster.

how to change a tire

2. Do an errand by bicycle. Go to the bank or the grocery store just once to give it a try. If you like do it again

3. Watch one stage of the Tour de France. Lance is gone but it is still one of the great sporting events in the world. Phil Liggett does the commentary and he is amazing. Enjoy the scenery as the riders pass through French towns, Engage in the heart break and victories of the riders and marvel how 150 men ridding bikes together can be captivating.

4. Clean and lube your chain. Cyclists fall into 2 categories those who are obsessive about maintaining their bikes and people like me who never do anything. A clean well lubed chain will improve your bikes performance  and make it feel loved.

5. Give $5. Make a contribution to a cycling related organzation. We worked with the Community Bike Center out of Biddeford, Maine this season, a wonderful organization that provides the opportunity for children to build their own bike and experience the joys of cycling. Is there an organization like this in your area? I am sure they would appreciate a donation of any amount.

Maine is almost overrun with bed and breakfasts. running a bike tour company that uses B and B’s I have stayed at a lot and visited almost all the inns between Portland and Bar Harbor.

One of my favorites is still the 5 Gables Inn in East Boothbay. Perfectly situated at the end of a dead end road, and sitting up on a hill. The big front porch overlooks the ocean. The hammock on the porch wins my vote for the best hammock in Maine.

Classy but casual the 5 Gables also features one of the best breakfasts anywhere. Mike is Culinary Institute of  America trained chef. A recent breakfast featured Italian eggs with peppers ( I do not normally eat eggs but I had 2 servings, a peach croustade, fresh fruit salad with wild Maine blueberries and mint from the garden, cinnamon muffins and house made granola.

As the year comes to end and we all start lining up our resolutions for 2012, here are 5 reasons to take your first bicycle tour.

1. They are fun. If your vacation checklist includes beautiful scenery, good food, meeting locals, basking in the sunshine, feeling a cool breeze,

2. They are not a race most bicycle tour companies focus on their bread and butter clientele, for us our normal guest is a couple somewhere between 40 and 60 who like to active. They may of may not bicycle regularly but they have a sense of adventure, they are well travelled and open to new experiences.

3. You’ll travel with experts we spend hundreds of hours exploring the areas where we run trips. Guides from a reputable company are experts in the areas where the work. Our Gold Coast Tour is the result of my 40 years living in Maine. it is what I would do with friends if I was showing them the Maine Coast. You will see things guidebooks won’t show you and learn about the area from the people who live and work there.

4. A sense of freedom. Do you remember how excited you were when you learned to ride a bike? How the world got bigger and the thrill of riding downhill. A well run trip frees to enjoy your vacation, no agonizing over should we do this or that , or where to eat The tour operator has thought through all these things freeing you to focus on the fun.  Yes, you will have to be on time for the ferry but good guides are all about enhancing your experience so you will have as much freedom or attention you want during your days

5. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. Helen Keller famously said that and she was right. Stepping outside your comfort zone is exilhaurting why not try something new in 2012. Odds are you’ll love it, most of guests do. Odds are you now someone who has taken an adventure vacations, more than half of American adults have, If you want to be active, experience different cultures, and enjoy luxury you will love a well run bike tour.  But If you don’t love the trip the worst that can happen is a sore butt and good story.

So Giant the bicycle manufacturer is following TREK’s model and getting into the bicycle tour business. I have never thought of cycling Taiwan. It will be interesting to see if they market to the US market or focus on Asian clients.

We are exited that our new Family Bicycle Tour is now live on our website.  Redesigned for 2012 the trip highlights the best of the Maine Coast and Acadia National Park. Here is the Itinerary.

Day 1 -

Leaders will collect you from your hotel in Portland, Maine for the transfer to Bar Harbor and the start of your trip. We stop along the way to visit the Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory and to explore Ft Knox a well preserved civil war era fort. After lunch we continue on to Bar Harbor where we join Captain John on his lobster boat  to pull traps and learn all about lobsters.

Cycling Options: we won’t be on our bikes today

Lodging: First of 5 Nights at The Harborside Hotel

Day 2 -

Today is all about pedal power. We spend our day cycling the carriage roads of Acadia National Park. These wonderful car free roads wind through the interior of Acadia National Park past ponds and lakes and through pristine forests. We pause at the Jordan Pond House for lunch and to enjoy their homemade ice cream. After lunch enjoy a swim or some family time before we head to Mount Desert Oceanarium and we enjoy a lobster feast over looking the ocean.

Cycling Options: up to 34 miles

Lodging: Second of 5 Nights at The Harborside Hotel

Day 3 -

Our morning begins with a kayak excursion. We join our local guides and paddle quiet waters and coastal inlets in search of seals, seastars, and bald eagles. In the afternoon we offer an optional kids only hike and leave you a free evening for family exploration.

Cycling Options: we kayak today!

Lodging: Third of 5 Nights at The Harborside Hotel

Day 4 -

Today we enjoy an hour-long scenic ferry ride across Frenchman Bay to the Schoodic Peninsula, an off the beaten track section of Acadia National Park. We hop on our bikes and pedal the rock bound coast stopping for lunch and time to explore the rocky coast.

Cycling Options: up to 36 miles

Lodging: Fourth of 5 Nights at The Harborside Hotel

Day 5 -

Grab your hiking boots.  It is time to summit. Today we will climb to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the first place to the see sun in the United States. From the summit we enjoy panoramic views of the Maine Coast. From the summit choose an extended hike or a shuttle back to town to relax.

Cycling Options: we’ll be hiking today!

Lodging: Final Night at The Harborside Hotel

Day 6 -

After breakfast we start working our way south to Portland. We stop in the charming town of Camden to hop on a classic schooner. Help raise the sails and then relax and as we experience Penobscot Bay the same way the explorers did 400 years ago. We return to Portland by 4:00 pm and say sad goodbyes as we drop you off at either the airport or a local hotel.

Cycling Options: there will be no cycling on our final day

it is that time of year again. Time for food, drink, friends and family and of course that omnipresent question, What the H#$! do i get uncle Bob? Well are a few suggestions for the cyclist on you list.

1. Arm Warmers

Perfect for cool mornings that warm into pleasant days and hilly rides where you get warm on the way up and cool on the way down.  Ranging from $25.00 to $60.00 they are available in basic black and funky patterns

2. A Cycling Coffee Cup Holder

A great gift for folks who love to cruise around town or relatives in Florida who ride their cruiser to the beach We like the Morning Rush Coffee Holder for San Francisco based Soma Fabrications. $21.99 http://www.somafab.com/archives/product/morning-rush-coffee-holder

3. A Workstand

Perfect for the cyclist who loves to tinker with their bike. Nothing improves the easy of tinkering than  a good workstand. We like the Park PCS-4-1 stand as we find the the clam shell type clamp easier to use that the PCS-4-2 crank style clamp. $160.00

http://www.parktool.com/product/deluxe-home-mechanic-repair-stand-pcs-4-1

4. A Wool Cycling Jersey

Stylish, warm and free of the funk that can accumulate in synthetic jerseys. From $100.00

http://www.swobo.com/catalog/product_info_m.php?cPath=2045_2046

5. A Shop Apron

Another gift for the tinker. it keeps the grease off when you do last minute repairs and it helps you keep tools and parts easily accessible. I never work on bikes without donning one.

http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-SA-3-Deluxe-Header/dp/B000WY8I26

6. The Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne. The former leader of the 80′s band the Talking Heads, David chronicles his travels throughout the world with a folding bike.

http://www.davidbyrne.com/art/books/bicycle_diaries/

7. A CO2 Inflator

Gone are the days when a flat tire meant struggling to inflate the tube with a tiny mini-pump. Today the quick and easy way to do it is with a CO2 inflator. These small cartridge powered tools fit easily in a pocket or trunk pack. I like the Genuine Innovations Proflate Elite it offers one hand operation, and is compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves. $29.99

http://www.genuineinnovations.com/bicycle/mountain/proflate-16-red-cup-clone-2.html

8. Cool Weather Gloves

For those who cannot wait to haul their bike out in the spring and are reluctant to call is a season, cool weather gloves are great. I have had several New Year’s rides cut short by cold hands. I like the Planet Bike Aquillo the lobster claw design keeps finger warm yet still allows enough freedom for solid control of the steering, brakes and gears.$34.99

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/9005.html

9  A Guide to Rides. Backcountry rides www.countrymanpress.com offers a wide change of guides to rides in the Eastern part of the contry. There are few joys in life as wonderful as discovering an area by bicycle.  a cycling guide is the gift of a years worth of discover and adventure.

10. A Bike Tour. Give that special someone the gift of a a bicycle tour and why not join them. From our 3 day Maine Bike tours to weeklong trips in Maine, Nova Scotia, and Quebec a bicycle tour is the ultimate gift for anyone who likes to ride.

Whoopie Pies are a Maine tradition. We all grew up on them and often crave them. There is no way I can write a post about them and not follow up by eating one, although they are perfectly acceptable breakfast foods around the holidays, I will wait until after lunch to enjoy one today. Here is my grandmother memere Bibiannne’s recipe. Why not make a batch and share a little bit of Maine this holiday season.

Memere’s Whoopie Pies

What you’ll Need (for the pie):

2 ¾ cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

½ cup shortening

1 ½ cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

½ cup sour milk (use a bit of vinegar in milk to sour)

½ cup cocoa

½ cup hot water

What to Do:

Sift flour and mix soda, powder & salt, sift again. In a separate bowl, cream shortening and sugar, gradually beating after each addition. Add vanilla and well beaten eggs till fluffy. Beat in flour mixture alternately with milk.

Mix cocoa with hot water to form a paste. Mix into batter and beat well.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350˚ for approximately 11 minutes. Makes 40 cookies, 20 pies.

—–   —–   —–   —–   —–   —–   —–   —–   —–   —–   —–

What you’ll Need (for the whoopie):

2 ½ Tbsp flour

½ cup milk

½ cup shortening

½ cup sugar

vanilla and salt to taste

What to Do:

Cook flour & milk until very thick paste forms. Set aside to cool. Cream shortening and sugar. Add vanilla & salt. Add flour & milk mixture. Beat for a few minutes until right consistency is obtained.

—–   —–   —–   —–   —–   —–   —–   —–   —–   —–   —–

To assemble:

Spread an ample amount of filling on the flat side of one of the pies.  Take a second pie and gently place its flat side on top of the filling – voila!  Now repeat until all pies are filled and topped.  Enjoy!

Please note: The pie recipe can be doubled. The filling recipe can be doubled; however the flour & milk mixture cannot be doubled. You will need to cook each “batch” separately, otherwise it will not thicken.

As usual Outside magazine gave it’s annual plug for Portland Maine as one of the best places to live.  See the video here. Check out why on a bike. we offer:

5 hour Portland Bike Tours featuring 5 lighthouses, Casco Bay and Portland’s history

A 3 day bike tour of Portland featuring great food, island exploration, and fresh lobster

and a 6 day bicycle tour featuring Portland and the Kennebunks

Summer Feet Cycling is currently offering specials on Canada and Maine Bike Tours

Watch the Savings Accumulate! Book any week long guided cycling tour of Maine or Canada by December 31, 2011 and save $100 per person.

The savings don’t stop there though!  Watch the snow fall in Portland, Maine for the month of January 2012 – for every inch of snow that is recorded, you will receive an additional $5 off per person.  The average snow fall in Maine is 19.3 inches for January – that right there would be an additional $95 off per person – great for a new pair of snow boots!  Mention “Watch the Savings Accumulate” when booking and then keep your eye on the weather in Maine.  Maximum discount offered per person is $250 (that’s 30 inches of snow – WOW!)

For those interested in only a weekend long cycling vacation in Maine, book by December 31, 2011 and receive a flat discount of $100 off per person.  No snowball effect for the weekend long tours.

Discounts reflected on your invoice.  Specials cannot be combined with other offers and do not apply to previously booked trips.