Ode to Freewheeling
ODE TO FREEWHEELING
A sure smiling group we appear to be
Pedaling smoothly, avec sweet Cathee
Thru rolling fields of sentinel corn
Woven throughout by the gentle Dordogne
The wind in our faces, our appetites keen
With lunch Chez Jean, we’ll never be lean
The brave forerunners, Keith, Doug and Steve
Puffing up mountains… we’ll never leave
You behind, as we zoom by
Riding the van into the sky
While the rest of us seek the flat gentle ride
We say very little… after all we have pride
But each of us brings our own special glow
Can this hapless poet possibly show
The deep sense of joy that I surely feel
Enroute, together, and at every meal
For Geno, who loves life, and is filled with joie
And not to forget… considerable foie
And Lisa who rides with plucky aplomb
Without talking books to help her along
For Ross, an Aussie, in his own special class
Despite his complaints of a very sore ass
And Willa, all charm, serene and refined
Who kicks butt on hills and comes from behind
Then Doug to whose civilized smile I allude
Particularly delightful when plunging in nude
And Paula, whose calm inner eye can see
Layers of beauty, and every possibility
For Yolande, petit, exact, in fact a delight
Who constantly surprises with her fierce might
And Steve, from Atlanta, who will try anything
Captivated we are by his very wicked grin
And Dear Keith who you know has rendered me dazed
Cycled like mad … we were amazed
And Steve, our guide, like a deep running stream
How lucky for Freewheeling he is part of the team
And Jean, chez Jean, who creates as we go
Teasing us onward… boy are we slow
But where would we be, any of us
Without Cathy, whose smile, we definitely trust
Whose energy inspired, whose heart is so free
Whose kindness is offered, and has been to me
We thank you for this, this moment in time
For the Freewheeling Adventure is ultimately fine
It sparkles and sings… it touches within
Sadly I lament… C’est la fin!
Margaret Armour
October 2, 2005
With the most wonderful memories of all of you and our precious week on the
Dordogne