The only place we haven't seen is Vladivostok, maybe next time !
Europe has been an absolute cracker starting with Germany which I thought would not be topped for scenery, that is until seeing Switzerland which had it all soaring mountains, meandeing rives, wide open lush green fields, quaint villages, roads through the Mtns and a world class railway system one line we experienced going through an amazing 20km tunnel!
The whole trip has been made so much more enjoyable with our amazing run of sunny days. In just on 2 months we've only had 4 wet days and 2 of those were when we were driving.
This is s trip I thought would never happen for me but thx to Litchi's planning and organising skills it has been the trip of a lifetime and I owe him a huge thankyou.
I cannot wait for the DVD production it will be massive!
Thanks also to Vib & Linton for the France & Spain legs cramming heaps into the short 3 weeks. Mike's sister Kim deserves a bug thankyou for her important contribution and I hope she enjoyed her extra trip to Santorini.
On such s long trip certain things can get up your nose while other things you find humorous -
- The feeling of exhilaration daily just being on the bike with magical scenery
- The view from the "top of Europe" on the Yungfrau at 3454 metres - outstanding
- The 6am version of stairway to heaven by European bell rollers - 10 mins every morning !
- Will miss the crunchy ling bread roles they call baguettes filled with yummy meats and salads
- Our accommodation always seemingly on the main street of Le Mans race track
- Mega's off road detours through farmer Fritz's paddock using the excuse he had no brakes!
- Riding 10kms out of Tubbingen and ending right back where we started - amazing !
- Perfecting hand gestures to overcome our ttl lack of understanding of the local lingo!
- The French cycling couple who guided us to our accommodation at Amboise in France and then invited us back to their cave house to share a bottle of wine!
- Surfing through 100 tv channels trying to find 1 not in Germsn, Swiss or French !
- Budting my pfoofer valve to cycle up a 20% gradient hill only to find that I'd missed the turn 300 metres earlier - don't you hate that!
- Climbing 36kms up the Swiss Alps at 7-10% grades on cobblestones - hard yakka !
- Won't miss the doonas that every hotel has supplied
- Driving on the wrong side of the road and on roads made only for cars less than a metre!
We have just arrived in Paris after catching the overnight train nut quite as big an ordeal as the first time but still bum numbing. Three days and were on our way home and none too soon as the temps have nosedived!
Thx to all at home who took an interest in our trip and sent emails and Bligh comments especially 2Bob, Jonesy, Winton and Marysia.
See you after the 14th cheers and best wishes KH
No comments:
Post a Comment