YEARS TO REMEMBER
This was a big year for rock ‘n’ roll, Disneyland, and the arrival of John himself.
1955
In 2023, John and Mickey set sail on a cruise that began in this historic city, famously known as the ancient home of Athena.
Athens
This Coen Brothers film, loosely based on Homer’s “Odyssey,” is John’s go-to favorite—featuring chain gangs, sirens, and a quest for Dapper Dan pomade.
Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
John’s heritage includes these two European nationalities—on opposite sides during World War II. Name one.
British and German
John’s very first long-distance cycling trip kicked off in this “garden” state.
New Jersey
In this year, the Hover's traded coasts for mountains and made Colorado their home base just as the world was bracing for Y2K fallout, Sydney hosted the Summer Olympics, and Google was just two years old.
2000
Their first European trip took John & Mickey to this island where all four of Mickey’s grandparents were born—famous for cannoli, coastline, and ancient ruins.
Sicily
If there’s a game on, John’s probably watching this storied Major League Baseball team, known for pinstripes, 27 World Series titles, and legends like Babe Ruth.
The New York Yankees
John wasn’t the only one in his family to wear Big Red—his father Dr. Bill, his sister Martha, and her husband Bill all earned degrees from this Ivy League university in upstate New York.
Cornell University
After three weeks of pedaling, John and his college roommate Jim reached this sunshine-filled final destination.
Florida
In this year, while John & Mickey said “I do,” the world was watching the debut of E.T., cheering on the release of the first CD and dancing to “Eye of the Tiger.”
1982
In this ancient city, John & Mickey followed the path of the original Stations of the Cross, visiting one of the most spiritually significant places on Earth.
Jerusalem
A long road trip isn’t complete without a stop at this fast-food chain for John’s favorite layered dessert, the Peanut Buster Parfait.
Dairy Queen
John & Mickey and their future in-law Liz may not have known it at the time, but they were raising families in perfect symmetry—each with three kids in this exact order.
Boy, girl, boy
Eric (eldest son to Liz) and Josephine (middle daughter to J&M) were married in 2018
On a cycling trip to this country known for maple syrup and mountains, John and Mickey walked on a glacier.
Canada
After decades of work as a software engineer (and plenty of DIY projects on the side), John officially retired in this year—the same year Barbie hit the big screen, Taylor Swift launched her Eras Tour and King Charles III was crowned in the United Kingdom.
2023
As a member of the Larimer Chorale Silvertones, John & Mickey joined a European tour retracing the steps of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation—singing throughout this country where Luther nailed his 95 Theses.
Germany
Out of all the power tools in John’s collection, this one—used for precise crosscuts and angled cuts—is his hands-down favorite.
Chop saw
John and Mickey each grew up in big families with this exact same sibling structure.
Four girls and one boy
John & Mickey's first international cycling adventure began in this Southeast Asian country known for scooters, street food, and a complex war history.
Vietnam
The year John began his first long-distance bike trip, is the same year the original Star Wars hit theaters, “Saturday Night Fever” dominated the dance floors, the Voyager probes launched into space, and the New York Yankees won the World Series.
1977
John & Mickey’s travels included biking and boating along this famous European river, known for flowing through multiple countries and cities like Vienna and Budapest.
Danube
John’s favorite local bike ride takes him up this epic route through Rocky Mountain National Park, climbing above 12,000 feet on the highest continuous paved road in the U.S.
Trail Ridge Road
Both John and Mickey earned degrees from this university in upstate New York, whose mascot is Otto the Orange.
John earned a Masters in Electrical Engineering and Mickey earned her Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from Syracuse University.
On a one-day bike tour of this vibrant city, John visited the Sagrada Família—a masterpiece by Antoni Gaudí still under construction.
Barcelona