BRIEFING by Sir Antonio Irastorza

Dear Lions,

I am surprised that time goes by so quickly, only last November we were having the Annual Dinner to celebrate 10 years since the “Lions Expeditions” started, May 2011 is coming close and so it is appropriate to write a few lines. I am very happy to hear news from some of the participants of this year Expedition; in a message I received this morning, one of you told me that he is training very hard every day with running, cycling and swimming; another has told me that he plans to run 3 marathons before going to the Pyrenees. I just want to send a note of advice, it is great to train but do not over do it, or injure yourself we need every Lion. It is on the other hand very important that we all try to play some sport or do some exercise at least twice a week to build up the stamina.

As you all know, the Lions’ Expedition” is much more than doing something difficult or going to a wild spot in the mountains. It is all that but it is more about going away to be a few days with this group of friends were we will share adventure, conversations, camaraderie in an extraordinary environment. Trying to make the others have a good time, at the same time trying to see God in nature, in our work, in our family. Giving thanks to God for the many benefits he showers upon us. Coming back to our daily occupations and family with renewed optimism and keenness.

As you all know, this group of adventurers go as a group; and I promise you and your wives that we will bring you back.

Ave Caesar, muriturus te salutam!

Sir Anthony Irastorza

GET IN FIT, NOW.

Dear Lions,

We are closing in on the next expedition. Alastair has suggested that we need to get into shape through serious training. So here goes:

Train physically and morally.

Physically I suggest that you start by doing some exercise every day. It needs to be exercises that tire. I have started by doing some bends, press-ups and stretching each morning. Matthew would do well to resend the exercise guide that he distributed last year. I shall talk to him. Get out on the bike. Do some uphill work.....

Another idea concerns the matter of diet. I am sure we will find the way to eat a little bit healthier between now and May. In this period at least, less liquor, grease and fluffy buns and much more fruit and veg.

So what can one do on the “moral” front? (you know how the Romans used to say: mens sana in corpore sano). Well, I suggest you take a topic and go for it. Such as being more optimistic and positive? In reality, every problem presents an opportunity. It may not be obvious, initially but if you look carefully through the cracks, there is – more often than not – a chance to do something better. Perhaps, by helping someone else have a more positive take on life. For the Lions never leave a friend behind...
This is a trait that we can put to good use in many ways: for example, smartening up the way we treat our customers / clients so that they come to see that we are interested in their individual needs.

You might think all this comes very late with barely six weeks to go. It’s never too late to improve. Now, on your bike!

Diego Barroso, our Marketing Correspondant, with Fergus's help...

Wild flowers of the Pyrenees

The wild flowers of the Pyrenees are justifiably famous. Known as the flower garden of Europe the alpine flora is spectacular throughout the summer and a must for all wild flower lovers. The abundance and variety of wild flowers is incredible and our walks take us through meadows of gentians, iris, orchids and asphodels.

Phil and our other guides love the alpine flora and will identify and explain the wild flowers you’ll see on our holidays. If you’re a wild flower lover our Lakes & Valleys and Discover Ordesa holidays will be perfect for you.

CLICK in the link below to see all kinds of flowers we my find in our Lions Expedition...

http://www.hikepyrenees.co.uk/flowers-pyrenees-alpine-flora.html

Origins of Tour de France

By the turn of the century, France was polarized by the Dreyfus case, in which a Jewish, Alsatian, French Army officer named Alfred Dreyfus was accused of selling military secrets to the Germans. After a big anti-Dreyfus demonstration in Paris, the writer Pierre Giffard took the opportunity to write a pro-Dreyfus editorial in "Le Petit Journal". Unfortunately for Giffard, whose main job was editor of "Le Vélo", one of the participants at the rally was the industrialist Comte de Dion, who just so happened to be the main backer of "Le Vélo".









Already enraged by what were seen as exhorbitant advertising charges, De Dion promptly marched off with a group of other advertisers to found a new magazine, "L'Auto-Vélo", and installed Henri Desgrange (cyclist and legal clerk) as editor. Though l'Auto-Vélo had been set up to promote all sports it was first and foremost a cycling magazine. Pierre Giffard, now running Le Vélo with minimal finacial backing, sued L'Auto-Vélo for breach of copyright. Giffard won his case in January 1903, causing L'Auto-Vélo to become simply "L'Auto". Worried that his cycling clientele might disappear with the title, and with circulation scraping along at no more than 20,000, Desgrange needed to take desparate steps, which in the times meant organising a sensational race. So, Georges Lefèvre (Journalist a L’Auto) suggested to Desgrange, "a several-day race, longer than anything now going on, something more on the order of a track six day race.





Thus the idea was born. Lefèvre surveyed the route and made preliminary organisations, and on 19 January 1903, just four days after losing the plagiarism suit to Giffard, Desgrange announced the race on the pages of the newly-christened l'Auto. The race would be "the greatest cycling trial in the entire world. A race more than a month long: Paris to Lyon to Marseille to Toulouse to Bordeaux to Nantes to Paris." When Garin rode into Paris as winner, in front of a crowd of 20,000 paying spectators, Desgrange rushed out a special edition of l'Auto, whose sales had rocketed to 130,000. The first running had been a resounding success. Later Le Vélo went banckrupt and L’Auto hired Giffard, who was looking for job.

Federico Gaito
Cycling correspondent

Few Pictures

Dear Lions,

most of you are probably already busy preparing for our next trip to the Pyrenees and can't wait to get there and hike up the first hill. However, in case "the fever" hasn't caught you yet, I've attached a few pictures of our last trip.

Yes, there is the beautiful scenery, the camaderie and the beer during our (well-deserved) breaks:






and you can probably still remember the delicious food:



But do you also remember the other parts of the trips? The reason why you might want to shape up right now?
Stay tuned for some pictorial evidence next in your inbox!

Jochen, Picture Correspondant