For Chris Laperuto and Bill Roznowski, life is meant to be explored. The best adventures rarely follow a well-worn path.
Sometimes that means biking along a scenic trail. Sometimes it means hiking across a mountain ridge after being dropped off by helicopter. And sometimes it means simply finding a road, a village or a destination they have never explored before.
“We describe ourselves as adventurous,” Bill said.
That spirit has taken the couple around the world and into some pretty unforgettable places.
During one trip to Canada, they went helihiking, staying at a ski lodge where a helicopter took them to a different mountain destination each morning. One day they might be dropped near a glacier. Another day, they might land along a mountain ridge and hike with professional guides.
In Hawaii, they rode bicycles from the summit of Haleakala volcano, tackling one of the longest continuous downhill bike rides in the world.
They also flew an ultralight aircraft in Maui. “We had to take a lesson to learn how to operate it. It’s basically a motorcycle with wings. It was spectacular,” Chris said.
“We were 3,000 feet in the air. We were in the clouds. We touched a cloud,” said Bill.
For Chris and Bill, travel is less about checking famous destinations off a list and more about experiencing a place.
“We like being in the country walking around, eating the food, breathing the air, experiencing the culture,” Chris said.
They look for variety and usually visit a place only once, with France and Italy being notable exceptions. They especially enjoy traveling with Road Scholar because of its educational focus.
“We try to go somewhere each quarter,” Bill said.
In the past year alone, their travels have included Iceland, St. Martin, Cancun, Cincinnati and Michigan. Over the years, they have visited 27 countries, including Vatican City.
Their next adventure will take them to France and Spain, traveling through the Pyrenees and stopping in historic mountain villages rather than the more traditional destinations of Paris and Madrid. “It’s a little bit of an unusual trip,” said Bill.
The road less traveled
Travel may take them around the world, but some of their favorite adventures begin much closer to home.
On two wheels.
Chris and Bill have been avid cyclists since they first met in 1973.
“When we first started dating we were both really active and bike riding was a cheap date,” Chris said. “We both just really enjoy it.”
They have taken their bikes to places including Mount Rushmore, Acadia National Park, the Mount Vernon Trail and Wisconsin’s Elroy Sparta Trail. Closer to home they have also explored the Fox River Trail, The Morton Arboretum, and countless other routes.
At Oak Trace senior living community in Downers Grove, Illinois, their love of cycling fits naturally with their appreciation for the outdoors and an active lifestyle. The community’s more than 40 acres include gardens, walking paths, ponds and plenty of green space to explore.
One of their favorite traditions is Bike the Drive, the annual Chicago event that closes Lake Shore Drive to automobile traffic and opens it to cyclists. This year marked their 23rd time.
“We participate in it rain or shine,” Chris said.
The event draws thousands of cyclists of all ages and abilities, from families with young children to longtime riders on every kind of bicycle imaginable.
“It’s so diverse,” Bill said. “There are people who are very old, and very young, unusual style bikes, families with small children on tiny bikes. A lot of people going and enjoying. It’s a good feeling of community and being active.”
A Different View of Chicago
For Bill, the early morning ride offers a view of Chicago that is hard to experience any other time.
“It’s difficult to describe how beautiful it is to watch the sun coming up over the lake, especially when there’s no traffic,” he said.
Planning for the next adventure
Their adventurous spirit does not mean Chris and Bill leave everything to chance.
In fact, planning for their future was another way to protect the freedom to keep exploring.
“We had an appreciation for never knowing what’s going to go on in life,” Chris said. “We know things can turn on a dime and we knew we needed a plan for our future.”
That thinking led them to Oak Trace senior living community in Downers Grove, Illinois, where they learned the concept of a Life Plan Community. Also known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community or CCRC, Oak Trace offers a full continuum of care including independent living, with access to assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation and skilled nursing should their needs change.
“Once we understood the concept, it was a no brainer,” Chris said.
For Chris and Bill, Oak Trace offers something particularly valuable: the freedom to keep exploring without having to worry about what happens when they are away.
“It’s like living in a luxury apartment but with built in backup plans,” Chris said.
That freedom has made traveling easier. When they leave for a trip, they don’t have a long list of things to arrange or worry about at home.
“We just shut the door and leave and know everything will be taken care of,” Bill said.
And when they are home, there is plenty to keep them engaged.
Bill, who is a Vietnam veteran, is a member of Oak Trace’s veterans group. He is also very active in the community’s current events committee. He said the program brings in impressive speakers and covers topics that interest him.
In fact, he finds himself more interested and involved in current events now than before he moved to Oak Trace.
For Chris and Bill, adventure is not simply about how far they travel or how high a helicopter can take them. It’s a way of approaching life: stay curious, keep moving, and never stop looking for what lies beyond the familiar. There is always another trail to ride, another village to discover, another mountain to climb, and another adventure waiting, just beyond the well-worn path.
Oak Trace Senior Living
Oak Trace senior living community in Downers Grove, Illinois, is set on more than 40 acres of meticulously landscaped grounds featuring gardens, walking paths, ponds and abundant green space. As a Life Plan Community, formerly known as a CCRC, Oak Trace offers a full continuum of care: including independent living, assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation and skilled nursing. Oak Trace is owned by Lifespace, a not-for-profit organization with nearly 50 years of experience in senior living. To learn more about Oak Trace, visit our website, Oak Trace Senior Living.
