Summary Thus Far

New readers have had some questions, and here are some responses to that feedback:

If you are a new reader, we suggest you start with our first blogs from July of 2010. Blogs archive from the most recent backwards, so if you jump on in at the latest blog, which is the one that shows up on the home page, you may be confused.

First, remember that this is not the business website! This is our family's blog documenting our journey into business-ownership and our move to France. Once we've been on our trip to France in September and we've had a chance to meet in person with all the existing businesses that we've so far only been in touch with via email or through G's Dad, we'll have enough information to launch an official website. We are using the blog to run new ideas by folks we know (especially those who love the outdoors as much as D does). Ever since we started to 'come out' to our friends, we've found that we talk about very little else at social gatherings and we're finding it's easier to just direct people here rather than explain the latest idea to everyone one by one.

Second, here's a quick overview of where we are:

We're in touch with officials in France (for residency, certification, tax and small-business paperwork purposes).
We're in touch with a number of existing businesses in Aveyron with whom we'll establish a business relationship while we get going.
We're headed to France next month (!) to scout all this out in person.
We have some very practical and very useful help in the person of G's Dad, who lives in the area, is fluent in French and who is acting as a business mentor as we get going.

After our trip, we'll put all our numbers together and launch the official website and begin to advertise.

Next June, D will lead two one-week tours (ideally populated by word-of-mouth contacts who will commit to being very frank with us about feedback).

Based on the success of those two trial trips, we'll move to France next August, having advertised as much as we can and, fingers crossed, with most of the rest of the season all filled up.

To read about our goals for the business and what we hope to see it looking like in a few years, read this post from last month. To see what a sample week travelling with us will look like, read this one.

Hope that helps.
The MacCs