Aug 31 - eleven ? ten ?

Yesterday I counted 11 but perhaps it's only 10.

USA
Canada
Belgium
France
Germany
Austria
Czech Rep
Slovakia
Hungary
Slovenia

Sandy hasn't hit Austria yet and won't see Slovenia. Unlike last year, these are all stay-over countries, ie no drive throughs (at least for me). Also, we are only hitting 2 continents. Last year I rode in 5 and visited 6. I didn't ride in Egypt (Africa). Sandy "only" visited 5, no South America.

I have a much better appreciation for the geography after driving as far as Berlin and Slovenia and now way into Hungary. We were close to Poland and had never really thought about its location or size. It is much bigger than most of these countries.

I read an article covering the breakup of Czechoslovakia which was quite interesting. All this has gone on in my time, that breakup and Yugoslavia, but it's far away from home and simply news articles that I might skim. Having traveled in some of these countries now, seeing and experiencing the different cultures, I have a better appreciation for the differences. The people look different, they interact differently with you, there's different architecture, etc etc. it really is fascinating.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, flight operations out of Orlando have been cancelled due to Dorian. Jeffrey and Sara and gang will just have to put up with more Disney.

It's bearing down on the Bahamas, just shy of Cat 5, and the latest prediction has it marching up the east coast of Florida rather than a direct hit. We shall see.

Hamid and Shab are still sick from the France trip. They've both been diagnosed with flu but to me it seems more like food poisoning. Hopefully they'll recover quickly but it's dragging on.

We are on the Danube looking at the castle. Of course I had goulash for dinner; how could I not ? The plan, fwiw, is to leave here tomorrow for Vienna. I will go to Mass and Sandy will checkout tours.

Onward !


Sent from my iwdt