It has been a long hard winter. We have been very busy and unfortunately saddled with too many colds and flu episodes. But the birds are returning and it might hit 60 degrees Thursday. Spring is here. At this time last year the idea for the Big Ride came to Paula and we spent a few weeks thinking about it seriously then nearly two months of planning. We are very glad we did it. But what about the coming summer?

Unfortunately, the full-blown Big Ride experience won’t happen again this summer. The first Big Ride was made possible because we were without an apartment for the summer, cutting down expenses. We actually spent about the same on the road as we would have staying in an apartment. This summer we have a lease on a nice house. Still, we simply have to have a good vacation, just not a three month jaunt around the continent. Paula is also leaning toward a stay-in-one-place vacation after last year and I can’t blame her for that.

But the idea will not die. The exchange rates are bad this year, but some day we hope to have the Big Ride experience in Europe–several months traveling through Europe. This summer I am leaning toward a week-long baseball trip, maybe four or more cities out east seeing games. Paula isn’t into baseball. So three or four weeks rather than three months is probably what we will do this summer. But hey, we’re open minded.