Ahoy, my friends.

Hey there, I have a secret to tell.

I can't talk about a boat, I can't get near a boat, I can't even think about a boat without thinking about pirates,

talking like a pirate, and of course, horribly corny pirate jokes.

For example, what is a pirate's favorite letter?

Of course, you think it's the R, but the C is his true love.

And so, so many more.

Hey, folks, I trust that this conversation is going to be a good one for you because this podcast was a great

one for me to record. Our guest today is Keel Reinen, recent World Tour retiree, gravel newbie

with lots of insight and observations to offer here in his inaugural 2022 season. Kael is a dear

friend in this podcast took place on his sailboat, that he has single-handedly

rebuilt not quite from the bottom of the sea, but hearing and seeing what he has done to bring

it back to life is nothing shy of incredible.

Keel and I go way back.

We were buddies, we were racing a frenemies through the late 2000s as we butted heads

and bumped elbows domestically. Then I went off to Europe a couple years before he did,

and he was soon to follow. He set up shop with his family across the pond in Gerona,

preceded by Italy. I have a similar course of action.

He was a prominent member of the American cycling squad, racing at the World Tour and living in Europe,

as he did for many years, right up until his retirement late last year, 2021.

Now, I'm not sure how many of you live near the water or have spent time near the ocean,

but there is something incredibly peaceful to me about the sights, the sounds, the smells of nautical living.

...