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SINCE WE LAST TALKED

2018-10-29

Link to PHOTO ALBUM – All of October:

The last time I wrote anything much, I was in Italy & Slovenia. I think.

Since then, my bike hit 100,000 miles, I rode through the northwest part of Slovenia, which was fantastic. For a few days I zig zagged through Austria, the Dolomites in Italy, the Swiss Alps, into the French country side, avoiding Paris and other Sh** Holes err, I mean cities. Finally I was able to visit the Normandy Landing sites, staying in a small town at Juno Beach. Lots of historic sites to visit in this area, but I am concentrating on the Normandy Invasion sites. Then, I went to Ireland to see one of my favorite countries. I will be heading back to the states in 2 days, so can see you all there.

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HOW TO GET A TICKET

When I get home, I am sure I will start every conversation with “Do you speak English?”

Should get a good laugh if I get pulled over by a cop.

Especially if I get pulled over  for driving like they do here.   Or on the wrong side of the road.   Or passing on a blind corner at what would be triple the speed limit.  Should be fun.

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TIME ENOUGH

Never assume, always leave room for things to go to Poo.   Changed plans so am heading to Dublin today, Monday.  Hotel there was cheaper on Monday than other days so assumed it was a slow travel day.  

Turns out it is a holiday weekend, and everyone is traveling today. The hotel was cheaper because it is more business oriented.  The bus to Dublin from Cork is a cluster, but this is Ireland.   They made it work, extra buses and all.  Go have a pint and take the next bus.   You will be at the head of the line.

I left plenty of time so no stress.  OK, I have two and a half days before I have to be at the airport so I think that is enough time.

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IRELAND – Fantastic

Just a few pics.

The people here are incredibly friendly.   You cannot sit in a pub without someone saying hello.  I met a guy last night who owns a horse farm where they break the horses.   Been in the family for generations and he told me all about his business, his family, horses, and Ireland.   I could move here.


 

 

 

 

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FULL IRISH BREAKFAST

I am so glad to be back where I can get a full breakfast again, instead of a buffet of sliced meat and cheese.

And when I say full, I mean full.  It comes complete with eggs, sausages, bacon, etc, etc.

It even comes with a defibrillator.

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TRAFFIC JAMS

Don’t let anyone tell you there is no traffic in Ireland.   I got stuck in a traffic jam today.   These idiots didn’t know what to do.   Even the traffic cop could not restore order.

 

 

They just didn’t want to go past my bike.   It took a dog and the farmer to push them along.

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RENTAL CAR GAMES

Interesting problem to have.

I have no car.   I have No Car insurance.   I don’t mean I don’t have car insurance, I do but it is a type of insurance just for those of us that do not own a car.   Liability only.   I call it my No Car insurance.

I want to rent a car for 3 weeks.  It will just make things easier.  The price for 3 weeks is pretty reasonable, and is almost exactly the same as 2 weeks….. And 1 week, since it includes the Thanksgiving holiday.  

So 3 weeks it is.   But…. Visa only provides rental car collision coverage for 15 days.   I can find no way of getting collision insurance for a 3 week rental.  The only easy option would be to get a super cheap car, get collision on that and bury it in the yard or something.  The one you can buy from the rental company costs almost twice as much as the rental.

So back to complicated but cheap.

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PALM TREES and WHITE SANDY BEACHES

I have moved on to a place with Palm Trees and White Sandy Beaches.

 

That place would be the Emerald Isle.

…………………

These palm trees and other kinds are everywhere in this part of Ireland.

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FAUX PAS Number 7,347

2018-10-20

OK, I don’t actually count them, and I am sure they are countless as I tend to be unaware. For example talking about how great one country is when I am in the next country who had been in violent conflict with said country. Clueless.

My favorite is when something comes out of my mouth, and as I am saying it, the tiny little part of my brain that is not a moron, the part way in the back, says: Did you REALLY just say that?

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ITALIANS, I love ITALY and ITALIANS

2018-10-14

My plan was to go north from Luce, Slovenia, skirt west along the Austria Border, then continue west until almost to Italy, then figure things out.

I was well into this plan, then I stopped at a gas station after wandering around in the hills and tried to figure out my next route. West and north was the goal, but there were options and I could use some advice. I saw 3 bikes pull in to get gas, one had his helmet off so I decided to see if he spoke English. A little but he did not know the area I was asking about well. The other two, a man and his wife, tried to help, but helmets and ear plugs and limited English made my questions rather hard to understand. So, being Italian, they invited me to coffee.

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KOSOVO? WHERE THE HECK IS KOSOVO?

2018-10-10

Link to PHOTO ALBUM:

To borrow my favorite line from the movie “American Pop”:

Kosovo? Where the heck is Kosovo?

The ride from Trigrad Bulgaria was great, for the most part. Stayed the night in a weird little place close to the Macedonian border. It was weird because I was the only guest, but they opened the kitchen for me. It was a fancy place, for $24. I had thought I was going to end the day at a small town, but I ended up at a big smelly city, so I checked Bookings and Air BnB. Not a lot of options, so I grabbed the first one far out of the city that had a high rating. $24 with breakfast is a high price for a hotel here, but what the hell. Being out of season, a lot of places that would otherwise be packed are completely empty.

I chose a route to Macedonia that was nice, some highway, some city but mostly twisty roads. In the southwest corner of Macedonia there is a National park and two lakes with a nice twisty road connecting them. The view is incredible, and the fall foliage rivaled New England. A little less red, but plenty of other colors.



full size

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EAGLES and DEVILS

2018-10-08

Headed to Trigrad, Bulgaria to meet Pri Mama Zarka, the owner of a Bed and Breakfast there. SAN had stayed here multiple times when visiting Bulgaria. You can read her stories on her site, but I wanted to meet this woman and her father. I went to Trigrad, a fairly small village in a beautiful mountain area. I asked various people where her place was, as Google Maps sent me to the wrong location. These people sent me all over, with some people waiving in one direction, some in another. I eventually found a person who called a young lady over who spoke English. It turns out Mama Zarka was in London, so some people were waiving to where her place was, some to where they thought London was, and some just waiving “away”. I was sorry I missed her, but I found another BnB across the street.

 

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