21 Days of Cycling Art TdF – Update
With visions of sugarplums, Chris Froome and Peter Sagan all dancing in my head, never mind a white Christmas, I’m dreaming of a “Tour de France Christmas”.
In just seven months I’ll be taking the trip of a lifetime. A three weeklong Cycling Art production extravaganza following each day of the 2017 Tour de France and I’ll be drawing pictures every day! It wont be long before my trip producer Keith, also a cycling pal, and I will be loading up my Subaru and heading off to Chicago’s O’hare airport to fly to France.
We’ve started making plans by laying out routes from each day, when to start, where to stop, when to draw, how to share pictures, what will we eat, where is the wine? So many questions, so few answers. But we have gotten some help.
Arien Coppock, Senior Guide with DuVine Tours has been very helpful giving me tips on how to best get around. It looks like renting a Motorhome will be the way to go for us. And since the Tour route is published Keith and I can start to really map things out in detail.
I do know where we will stop on Day 12, Pau to Peyragude – My newest friend Reg Bettam of Cycling in Pyrenees has graciously offered camping space and dinner in a village called La Barthe de Neste. Reg, we’ll be there!
It’s always been my dream to someday follow the TdF and now it’s really happening. I expect it will be very difficult on some days and exhausting on the others – but exhilarating on all of them. Drawing three or more pictures each day, shooting live videos and photos to share with you and chasing the Tour in a van will be an amazing test of stamina.
I can’t wait.
As an artist and storyteller I am looking forward to having the opportunity to share this grand adventure with you. Each day I will bring my cycling art’s unique point of view to you – to inspire, to inform and to entertain. Sharing my love for cycling is a privilege.
It would be amazing if you can follow me and tell your friends I’ll be posting on Twitter @theveloist, Facebook /theveloist, Instagram @veloist and maybe Strava MichaelVALENTI (mostly so you can see where I am).
Until the next update – be well, ride safe and have a wonderful holiday season.
Michael
If you’d like more information on participating in sponsorship of the first ever 21 Days of Cycling Art please just drop me a note CONTACT MICHAEL
