Bicycle GourmetSurfing The Dreamtime

Producer/Director/Author Christopher Strong shares the human, senic, cultural, culinary, and historic “Treasures” discovered during the filming of his TV series – BICYCLE GOURMET'S TREASURES OF FRANCE.

Surfing The Dreamtime

I’m not the only one who’s dreamt of cycling through the French backroads. And, I know I’m not the only one who’s done it spontaneously, with no fixed itinerary. But, in all modesty, I may be the only one who’s done it five months a year for five years to produce a television series. And, as a result, now lives in the country of my dreams.

Like most life-changing events, my show – Bicycle Gourmet’s Treasures of France” – began as the classic dream. To trade predictability for spontaneity. I was, and am, a film-maker/photographer.( and composer/musician) I had a good life in the “excited states.” Successful business. Regular clients. Good friends. Great scenery and climate. Fantastic art and culture. Incredible wine. Perfect! Except for one thing. Spontaneity. The possibility to let life pass through you, rather than just (comfortably) passing through life.

Unlike most people,(notably my brother) I love “not knowing.” Ok – I don’t love cold, wet, tired, hungry and poor. And, not having just fallen off the back of a turnip truck, I put myself in the best possible environment to avoid those “blue meanies.” What I do love, is to wake up each morning in a beautiful place, with a friendly climate and people, following whatever country road strikes my fancy! NOT KNOWING what the day will bring - or where/how it will end. Since I’ve always been a cyclist – no “deep thought” was required as to how I should realize this dream.

And so, one day, heeding Tracy Chapman’s plaintive whine – “If not now……………………when?”, I put my clients in the hands of my colleagues, bought the best bike I could find, and a one way ticket to “La Belle France.”

We English speakers would say –“following your nose.” The French translation – “au pif”, carries a richer connotation. Meaning, as well, “By chance.” And that is the way I, my 35mm (non-digital) camera, change of clothes, and sleeping bag, traveled from mid April to the end of September.

My adventures that first season, were as rich as my attitude. And unique beyond imagisnation. (more later!) Which produced the (for me) obvious thought – “How can I convey this experience visually – and avoid yet another mind numbing “go here/stay there/eat this/drink this” travelogue?

Knowing that it is stories, not scenery, that hold and intensify our interest in a film – my challenge was to come up with an interesting way of presenting those stories. My original idea was to have “Monsieur Gourmet”, a French (but English speaking) bon vivant, with a mellow “Yves Montand” type baritone, invite three couples for lunch. As the meal and the conversation progressed, we’d hear everybody’s story. Moderated and encouraged by “Monsieur Gourmet”, who, with the exception of his back and hands, would be unseen. My “short list” of actors to play “Monsieur Gourmet” was very short. In fact, just two words. Yves. Montand. Was he not a bon vivant? Was he not the absolute gallic essence of cool, sauve and deboner?” Did not he Marilyn… well…you know?

Fortunately, for the exotic wannabe director from the far away lands, Yves, at this time was alive, well, and nearby. Scant kilometres North, in the trendy hilltop village of St. Paul De Vence. Where he was a silent partner in the equally trendy Auberge – “Le Columbe D’Or.” The “Golden Dove” has long been a favourite grazing/drinking stop for artists. It was here that various deadbeats, renegades and unemployables like Picasso and Chagall installed themselves for as long as possible, eating and drinking as much as possible. Then, leaving the proprietors with dirty dishes, empty bottles, and a painting.

Only by virtue of the immense charm of my Chiropractor pal, Bob Caires, who telephonically smoozed Yves agent in Paris, was I, and Bob, downing pastis with an International Movie star/French icon.

After twenty minutes or so of this collaborative creativity, Yves leaned forward and intoned in his sincerest baritone : “You have a very interesting project……….and I hope we can work together.” Of course, we never saw him again. His agent’s kiss-off letter was the usual blah-blah. Tant pis! (French for – “Oh well!)

Buoyed, not torpedoed by Yves rejection, it became transparently apparent – that “Monsieur Gourmet” would have to morph into “Bicycle Gourmet.” (“tasting the land and the people as well as the food and wine.”) And that my bike would now be additionally transporting a digital camcorder, tripod and tons o’ tape.

Obviously, attempting to condense twenty five plus months of mind boggling, heart stopping abfab adventure into a thousand words…is just “not on” , dear reader, is it? So, I’ll attempt to sprinkle your senses with a few of the many “treasures” I’ve discovered. Deal?

T1 – tasting fresh cheese at a mountain-top farm with the young cheese making couple and their two pre-teen daughters. Each of whom, has her own pet cow.

T2 – sampling the five star delights of restaurants/chateaus, where normally I couldn’t afford a glass of (tap) water.

T3 – discovering local./regional wines, that taste great, cost next to nothing, and are available by the litre.

T4 – Crossing the Pont du Canal at Briare in the Loire. This is, as the name implies, a canal that flows over a bridge (“pont” – don’t pronounce the “t” Clive!), under which flows – you guessed it – water. Truly a drugless mind altering experience.

T5 –thankfully finding a small church to cool off in, at noon, during the heat wave of 2003. (when I say “cool off”, the temperature inside the church was only 30 degrees. (that’s 86 F. for the metrically challenged.)

T6 – cycling through the “Gorge du Verdon”, France’s Grand Canyon. High summer. Sweltering heat. Narrow mountain road. Two way traffic. Impatient drivers. Almost impossible to stop. Ergo – filming difficult, to say the least. And, need to pay extra attention to those impatient drivers. Or – Whamo – hamburger helper!

T7 – Fireworks in Nice on the Promenade des Anglais (”The walk of the English”….see……the French really do love brits!) The night France won the World Cup. Nice did not sleep that night. And for the following week, every bar, and passing car bellowed Queen’s – “We are the Champions.”

But by far the greatest “treasure of France, for me, is the people. (of all nationalities) And their overwhelming hospitality. Countless times, in all circumstances imaginable, I’ve been instantly invited in, and treated as one of the family. “Comme chez Toi.” Literally, “like your house.” It’s that mind set, and the accompanying demonstrations of genuine humanity that have made, and continue to make, the journeys of the Bicycle Gourmet an incredible adventure. One that, legs willing, shows no signs of ending anytime soon.

MORE “TREASURES OF FRANCE” at www.soulmuse21.com

Related Link:
The Coulee de Serrant, vineyard of exception

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