Dream retirement: the European cycling since 1998

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Thérèse Lavallée has accepted to accompany her husband Yvon Brunelle for the first time in 2008, when she retired. The two have traversed the high passes of the French Pyrenees, cycling.

Caroline Lepage

Saturday, December 9, 2017 01:00

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Saturday, December 9, 2017 01:00

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VICTORIAVILLE | A couple of septuagenarians, retired discovers Quebec and Europe on a bike through their many escapades, in which they roll up to 125 km per day.

Since 1998, Yvon Brunelle crosses the ocean every two years to discover France by bike. His wife, Thérèse Lavallée, accompanies him in his travels since she retired 10 years ago, as a patient care attendant with the elderly in the public network. It was about a year after that of her husband.

They have traveled up to 125 miles per day, in France, with their suitcases, weighing only the equivalent of the bike is approximately 50 pounds.

“We know all the regions of France better than most of the French,” says Mr. Brunelle, aged 75 years.

Group travel

The two Victoriavillois are members of the club bicycle touring half-century, reserved to the 50 years and more. This grouping allowed them to participate in organized trips to biking and to create a network of friendship overseas. Several French generously offer the cottage during their visits. With the money they save, they spoil their guests and find typical French products.

“What are friends for life,” said Mr. Brunelle.

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The couple enjoys the conviviality of a group travel which has allowed him to forge friendships with several other cyclists.

On the road, these outdoor enthusiasts are also camping. During their recent travels, they have integrated more the car to be able to do more travelling and explore new countries of Europe, such as Germany, Spain and Italy. Be amazed by the beauty of the landscapes, they no longer count their beatings of the heart, such as the Cinque Terre, which form a part of the coast of the Italian Riviera.

“It’s breathtaking,” recalls the couple, married for 54 years.

Last spring, the lady of the 74-year-old contracted E. coli and the couple has had to cancel the trip that he had planned to do this fall in Europe.

“I almost spend, but I am back in shape like before,” Mrs. Lavallée.

This summer, her husband is proud to have traveled with it, 85 km bike ride in the mountains, in the Centre-du-Québec. Leaving from Victoriaville, they have attacked the Appalachian mountains, passing through Danville. The roads winding their reminded of the circuits of the small mountain roads of the Hexagon.

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Yvon Brunelle and Thérèse Lavallée are also sightseeing during their travels. They visited the mont Blanc.

The same pace of life

These retirees can live their travel dreams with their healthy lifestyle habits, which date back to the time where they raised their three daughters, who have all passed the milestone of 40 years. In addition to the bike, the family went cross-country skiing, jogging, rollerblading, etc .. They were feeding well… and saved, without too much belt-tightening.

However, Mr. Brunelle said he never made a fortune as a coordinator in the community where he has developed good skills in financial management.

Result : the two maintain in retirement the same pace of life, with their income of $ 44,000 net per year, for two.

How they are paid their retirement dream

• Thérèse Lavallée has invested in the pension fund of his employer.
• Before spending, the couple is still wondering if the purchase corresponds to a real need to avoid over-consumption.
• They are indebted only to their house and their car.
• Yvon Brunelle follows strictly the budget of marriage.
• Towards the age of fifty, the couple agreed to RRSP investments in the Fund FTQ.