Here We Go Again

Well...we're off again.  Above is the tentative plan of travel for my European ride.  This represents about 6190 K (~3800 miles), to be accomplished over three weeks.  I've elected to ride the eastern shore of the Adriatic because of an electronic calendar I once saw.  The pictures were among the most breath-taking photos I've ever seen.  I immediately made it a bucket-list item.  Other bucket-list items included on this trip are:
1)Waterloo and Bastogne, Belgium...can't help it, I'm a military history buff
2) Diepoldsau - the small village in Switzerland from which my great-great-great-great-great grandfather immigrated to America in 1736
3) Saltzburg and Wein (Vienna) Austria, home to Mozart
4) Firenze (Florence) Italy - center of the Renaissance
5) Southern France - in general
6) Millau Viaduct - The amazing bridge spanning the Millau valley 

I pull out Saturday morning.  As is always the case the plan is just whispered guide.  All kinds of things can change as I go along, and usually do.  One major change has already occurred: I'm going around the other way.

As many know, practically all of France goes on vacation during the month of August with the first two weeks bearing the brunt of the travel and crowds.  My initial plan was to head south down through the southern French coast and into Italy.  After discussions with my French friends here I decided to "go the other way," heading northwest through Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, etc. placing Italy and the south of France toward the end of the trip instead of the beginning.  Sort of like a lot of my New Year's Eve decisions: it made sense at the time.  We'll see.

Oh, and just to add excitement, I'm leaving without a driver's license.  A replacement is to be mailed to me tomorrow and I'm hoping to FedEx it to me on the road.  For that story you have to read my France - Texpat 2010 blog License Replacement Saga.

Hope we have a good ride.  The worst ride I've ever had was wonderful.