Interview with Bob Keller

Name: Bob Keller

Family? (Who stayed home or who came with you?): Kathy = Wife, Two Sons: Kevin (30), Daniel (28)

Age (be as vague as you wish!): 60

Where are some of the places you’ve bicycled with ExperiencePlus! or with other groups?: Only one trip... Little Tour in Tuscany, May 2005

Where does your love of the outdoors come from?: It must be inherited. When I was a kid, my Dad’s vacation was always two or three weeks in August every year. We went all over the US. Seeing new places and people, as well as returning to favorites has always been part of travel and vacation plans.

Where is your favorite travel destination?: The good old USA and Canada, followed by Europe and Asia. Colorado’s Mountains, the Grand Canyon area, and Yosemite top the list.

Describe your perfect day outdoors: A relaxed visit to a place with interesting scenery and people, with, I would add, appropriate weather. A foggy or rainy day can be just as good as a sunny day... if it works out. It’s always nice to be with a good friend also. “Wow, did you see that?”

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: I’d love to be able to play Bach’s Tocatta and Fugue (any of them) on the Pipe Organ.

Do you have any movie or book recommendations?: In the travel area, I think that Rick Steves’ travel books are very good. I would recommend finding and reading books and watching films about places you plan to visit well before traveling there - also getting a simple language book and trying to learn some of the local language. Trying to speak with folks in their own language is appreciated by them, and can open many doors.

What’s your favorite ride or hike in your hometown?: We occasionally ride along the beach and Pacific Coast Highway from Huntington Beach to Dana Point California, where we “drop in” (impose) on a good friend who fixes us an excellent lunch. There are many great ocean and city views along the way, and most of the time we are off the main highway.

What's one outdoor activity that you would like to take up?: Good Question. Paragliding would be fun ... but I don’t know if I’d have the nerve to jump into the air from a height of over 3 feet.

What's one outdoor activity that doesn't interest you in the least?: Ice Fishing would be a bore to me.

Describe the greatest adventure you've yet to take: What would really give me a rush would be to be the engineer on a steam engine with a heavy train climbing a steep grade in the mountains. (you can watch one or ride the train in Chama, New Mexico ... The Cumbres and Toltec)

What question do you wish we had asked, and how would you have answered?: You didn’t ask about my tour with your team. It was great. Everything was excellent, from the personnel, to the planned route, to the equipment, places to stay, food, other hikers/riders, the scenery and even the weather. It was fun!