So much has happened...

The trip to Paris was quick.  Fran gave me an Ambien and I don't remember most of the flight.  A short bout of double vision which was probably a side effect from taking the Ambien, sorted itself out on the trip from the airport to Paris.  Arriving in Paris on Saturday, April 10th, I immediately reviewed links leading to motorcycle sales and found three likely candidates.  The better one was located in Normandy about 4 hours from Paris.  I contacted a friend (Roy) from BikeClubFrance and he drove to the town it was located and gave it a look-see.  Inspection showed it was in excellent condition and taken well care of.  Putting the other two candidates on hold, I told Roy that I would rent a car and on Wednesday April 14th, drive to his location and if all was well - buy the bike.  After a 4 hour journey on the auto-route I arrived at his beautiful home located in a small village in the Manch district near the coast.  After lunch provided by Roy's wife, Sylvia we headed out to see the bike.  From the very first sight, it was obvious that the bike was well cared for.  A quick test drive proved that it was better than I had expected.  Handling was superb and I felt very comfortable on it which was a must if I were to buy it.  So, we headed into the owners little bar & restaurant and signed the papers.

Early the next morning, Roy took me to the local prefecture and we handed over the bike documents along with passport, French driving license and proof of residency which was my mobile phone monthly statement.  No other documents were required and within minutes, completed the process and were on our way after paying 163 euro for the tax.

Here I am standing outside the prefecture office with my temporary Carte Gris and license plate number - picture taken by Roy who chronicled each step of the process.

That night we all went out to a local restaurant and had Pizza which made for the perfect evening as it was the best pizza I have had in years.  Here is a picture of Roy and me out side.  And as supporters and our better halves who allow us to play on motorcycles, here is Fran and Sylvia.

So, after months of planning and the help of a good friend I finally have my French motorcycle; bought, paid for, registered and licensed in France.

Each step of this success I was helped though the process by Roy, a retired Brit who befriended me as a member of BikeClubfrance, an English speaking motorcycle forum made up of friends and acquaintances mostly coming from the UK and now living in France.

I joined the group in 2009 thinking this sounds like my kind of people.  English for comfort in communications and lovers of the French countryside, they meet from time to time or simply relate their motorcycle trips and gatherings on the forum.  Little did I know the help and support I was freely to receive in my moments of need.  

I found the bike on a ‘For-Sale’ forum (http://www.leboncoin.fr/) and as it turned out the bike was located about 40 minutes from where Roy lived.  The description of the bike was near perfect.  A Honda Deauville 700 – 2006 model with 16,800 km (10,400 miles) on the odometer.  Garaged all it’s life, it was clean and in excellent condition.

In addition, it had many accessories.  A 45 liter Honda color-coordinated Top Box,  Honda lower skirt to protect the front of the engine and feet, a custom seat that had gel inserts in front and back for maximum driving comfort manufactured by Bagster and wind guards for hands at the handlebars.  In addition, the rear tire is a nearly new Michelin Pilot Road II.

The owner provided all the paperwork, the manual, the tools and service history for the bike. The only need is for me to replace the front tire which is due for a change.  I took the bike to a local key shop in Paris who specialized in making license plates (plaque) for bikes.  All was installed in less than 10 minutes and ends the final legal requirement for my French bike.

All of this took place in less than one week after I had arrived in France.  I drove the bike back to Paris and it was an uneventful trip made comfortable by the good handling of the Deauville and comfort of the gel-seat.  Now all I need is my moto stuff still hung up in the mail.  My moto jacket, helmets and camping gear are all in transit and hopefully will arrive this week.

Why am I going...

To illustrate what draws me to France I will relate something that happened to me on a fall evening in a small village...


A few years ago, when I was living in France, I was traveling on my motorcycle in the evening through Normandy enjoying the sites and smells of the country side. I love traveling through the countryside, especially in the evening with the rusty smells of fall are heavy, the sun is low, the air is cool and the shadows are long.

I had slowed as I approached a small village and when I drove through the middle of town, I noticed a large old truck was pulled up and parked at the end of the village square and most of the village people were all sitting around it on the steps of store fronts and in the grass. I parked my moto and walked over to the square so I could see around the side of the truck and was amazed at what I saw. Moving quietly, I took a seat in the grass and was transported back 6oo years in France’s history as I saw a sight that I had never thought I would see in modern time.

The back and the side of the truck walls were swung open and inside the truck was a reproduction of a rural family home. The inside walls of the truck had windows, small book shelves and knick knacks and the floor had all the makings of a small room with table and chairs, a fire place, lamps and a circular stair way to the roof where another room was set up.

Two woman and two men were dressed in peasant clothing and they were enacting a play for the citizens of the village. It was a play about life and love and regrets and in the end a reconciliation with a wondering son and his father. In the end they took a bow and passed a hat around the square.

I left the village in wonder and thought to myself where else would I see such a sight. I felt my self privileged to see and experience a part of the surviving culture and heritage that lingers in the French countryside.

I never will forget that fall evening in the Normandy. 

I am officially retired...

I drove to our Coppell Technical Office today and turned in all my computer stuff, my building entry card, my phone and my business AMEX to HR.  So, that was it.  I returned to my Miata and with the top down drove home on a beautiful Spring day.  It feels kind of weird and strange things keep going through my head.  Like - here I am sitting at my desk and I a retired.  Here I am getting a snack in the kitchen and I am retired.  Here I am sitting on the patio reading my book and I am retired.  I hope I get over this quickly.

Organizing every thing I am planning on taking with me to France.  Lots of camping stuff.  Motorcycle stuff.  Bought some new shoes yesterday for walking and finally found after 10 years the perfect socks.  Calvin Klein - who would have thought.

Other interests...

I follow the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory web site that keeps daily track of the two Martian Rovers (Opportunity and Spirit) as they have been trekking across Mars since January 4th, 2004.  Originally to have a 90-Sol day mission, they have outlived every bodies expectations and proceeded to provide data and pictures for over six years.  Glitches in power, wheel mobility and software conflicts have occurred from time to time but like a Timex watch - they 'they just take a lickin' and keep on tickin''.   No one can predict how much longer they can provide data and pictures but it is possible they may get through 2010.

JPL - NASA

Working on a Photo website...

I have not spent much time on this yet but am putting together a website to display my photos from France.  All the links are circular at the moment so you can't go anywhere except the front page.  I will continue working on this in France and post my best photos on this site.  Eventually, people will be able to order pictures from the site.

Web Link: Michael Rhodes Photography

Final work week...

Well, after this weekend, I have three more days of work and that is that.

All my co-workers have congratulated me and told me that they are jealous.  I am sorry I am leaving the pack but time waits for no man.  I have left a proposal to my boss on performing consulting work during the time I am back in the states and he is interested since outsourcing costs less than new staff.  In addition, I can always attend a meeting in Europe if they can not make the trip which is most of the time because of budget.  So, if I do get a little consulting work I can add it to my Paris Fun-Fund.

Fran is off visiting our oldest son and his family this week in Quincy so I am alone at home.  She will return home on my last work day and we have Champaign chilling for the celebration.  Lots of little things to do and I think of new ones every day but forget to make a written note so I forget it the next day.  I need to start carrying a small note book and in case you think my memory is going - I can tell you with certainty and my wife can confirm this - I have never had a good memory.  I still remember studying in University endlessly going over my notes and struggling to retain what I had reviewed.  

I have been following a new TV program on The Science Channel called Meteorite-Men
where they go off each week to sites where meteors have fallen and using metal detectors, magnets and other instruments find 'lots' of meteor fragments from the size of your thumb to several hundred pounds.  Such finds are valued at twice the price of gold per gram so maybe I will research French sites and poke around.  One more activity to get me out and about for exercising.

Almost Ready for France...

The trip to get my French Visa was a non-event.  When I handed everything over to the kind lady at the Visa office counter she reviewed the docs and actually complimented me on how well organized I had everything.  So, no big deal.  Next time I won't worry so much.

I now have a pile of things gathered together on my office floor that I am going to ship to myself because it is just too much to haul on the plane.  There are sleeping bags, air mattresses, motorcycle Givi Top box, bits and pieces for motorcycles, a new two way alarm system which I will install on my bike once I get it, small air compressor for tires, tent and other stuff needed when I am on the road.  All of this will remain in France at a friends house.

The camping gear is to be used when on the road.  This will allow some savings for travel stays as I explore France and Europe in general.  There are lots of camp sites so finding one is not a problem.  Cost is around 20 Euro a night on the average with some less and some a few Euro more.  When the weather is good the tent is fine.  If the weather turns sour then I can hit a B&B.

I have 2 more weeks of work till I retire.  I try not to think about the remaining time I have left or I would go crazy.  After two weeks, there will be an immediate and dramatic life style change.  How I will handle that is to be worked out as I go.  I have thought about the things I did as a teenager and much of what I will do in the future will be similar.  The reason I compare this to being a teenager is because like then, I will now have more personal time to myself and less responsibilities.  I need to insure that in addition to doing things I like I add to each day a regime of doing things that consume energy.  My sedate lifestyle will have to come to an end and I must slowly re-educate my body to activities that include burning calories and exercise.  Walking will be one of these and I know that the first month will be a real trial.

I have visited all my doctors and taken all the tests I can think of.  A look inside my innards (upper and lower) has shown me to be in good health.  A stress test shows that I also ok for the heart.  Blood work all looks good.  I don't smoke and drink wine at dinner which provide antioxidants and good taste with the meal.  In reality, besides my extra weight, my doctors say I am healthy.  At 63 this is good news and allows me to begin the work to strengthen my body and increasing my stamina.  I hope to report by June that I have reduced some pounds.  We shall see.

Also - I have rented an apartment in Paris in the 16th arrondissement near the Seine and not far from where I used to live in Paris (2003 to 2007).

The apartment has a bedroom and a nice couch that folds out to a bed so guests will not be sleeping on the floor.  But I do have two very nice air mattresses if things start overflowing.  The apartment also has internet.

I also have a French mobile phone.  I can keep in touch, text and it will come in handy when I am on the road.  
And - one more thing.  I bought a net-book (Asus Eee PC) that is very small but very long battery life.  It has wireless and a full install of Windows XP.  With this, I will be able to keep in touch of email as well as keep this Blog up to date.