The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-16
eLWELL's BICYCLE PARTY
Will Take Its Next Departure for Europe
From Portland.

For many years Mr.. B. A. Elwell OF
this city has been identified with exteho-
ed tours by bicycle, on which he has -neen
accompanied by parties ranging IN SIZE
from Is to 40. The State OF Name
Canada, the Bermuda Islands ana vari'
Gus portions of Europe have oeeh
traverssd by the "Elwell Tourists
among whom have been many OF Fo't-
lands prominent wheelmen, sucn as y.
II. Lamson, Frank W. Wooaman, Charles
Tukesbury. Geo. B. Morrill,, j. G.
Stevens, DR.. George Dow, Sylvan i.
Phillips, Fred Palmer, II. 5. higgins,
Perley L. Griffin, p. @. k1lcoTn, and
many others. For the past eight years
Mr.. Elwell's tours have been confined to
Europe, and the excursion for the sum-
mer of '97 will be by far the most ex-
tended and interesting OF them all.
brief outline of the route will doubtless
be Of interest to many readers OF the
PRESS, for European tours on the wheel
have been steadily growing In favor since
the advent of the "safety' bioy Gle:
The party will sail from, Portland April
Goth on the Vancouver Of the DomiR1on
| line. Mr.. Elwell's parties have previous
| ly always started from New York, but
this city is by far the pleasantes5 from
which to depart, and the late sailing of
such fine boat as the Vancouver allows
him to leave from Portland the coming
year. The party will land in England
the second week in May, the most delight
full season of the year in that country,
corresponding to June in Maine. They
will wheel to London by short and easy
stages, stopping en- route at the quaint
old city of Chester, Warwick (Kennel-
worth Castle)A Stratford -on Avon, Ok
ford, Windsor and Hampton Court A
week will be devoted TO London. The
party then wheels to Southa mpton and
CT osses the English Channel to the coast
of Brittany in France. They land at the
old seaport of ST. M alo, and from there
proceed to Mount st. Michel, the most
picturesque spot in all Europe. From
here the route will be through Normandy
| to Paris, stopping at many interesting
places between. The party will he in
Paris in June when that gay city is at it's
best; the color is then on, and the parks
and boulevards are alive with the wealth
and fashion of the world. The next
objective point will be to region but
| little known to the ordinary tourist. and
| yet one of the most beautiful depart
ments Of France, that of the Jura. This
| is mountainous country Astounding in
charming valleys, magnificent views,
and old towns, many of which have his
tories dating back to Roman times and
| splendid highways wind through the
valleys and over the mountains and after
devoting eight days to this delightful
region they coast down the mountain
| wall to the city of Genoa. Italy will be
entered by way of the Mt Cents Tunnel
and Turin Genoa, Pisa, Rome, Florence,
Venice, Milan and the Italian lakes will
! be visited in the order named. The great
| Simplon Pass will be crossed. and tour
of Switzerland will include a great part
Of the most celebrated localities. They
will thsn enter tho famous Black Forest
| of Germany, and slide down through its
romantic goTges to StrasbourR, and SO on
down the Rhine to funny old Holland.
After "aoing" this little country they
again cross the channel to England, take
in the charming lake distriot, visit this
| Isle OF Man, cross the Irish sea 80 Belfast
and after glorious ride up tho famous
lAntrionCoast Road to tho Giants Cause
way, catch the returning steamer at Lon
donderry and return home by way OF
Montreal and Quebec
| The time required will he about ll2
days rand the trip will lie the most ex-
tended and comprehensive ever made by
cycling party.
Formerly MIR. Elwells parties were
| composed entirely OF gentlemen, but the
| rapidly increa ing use Of the wheel by
ladies has created q demand for their ac-
commodation, and the pnst two seasons
lady chaperon has accompanied the
party by the ordinary methods of convey
ance. This Indy speaks all languages and
looks carefully after the pleasure and COM
fort of those under her charge. The bag
gage of the entire party is sent by train,
thus doing away with the only dlscom-
fort of an extended wheeling trip. Ar
engagements are made SO that non cycling
friends of the wheeling party can accom-
pany the party by rail, boat and carriage.
This makes most delightful trip for
those who wish to travel at more leis-
| urly pncs than ia usually adopted, ana
visit out-of- tbe-way places not included
in the regular tourist route.
RESOLUTIONS OF SYMPATHY.