The day will come when I will die. So the only matter of consequence before me is what I will do with my allotted time. I can remain on shore, paralyzed with fear, or I can raise my sails and dip and soar in the breeze.--Richard Bode



Saturday, May 24, 2014

A new summer is here and I am ready to ride. I just got back to Heidelberg last night after a long, long flight, and Odysseus, my motorcycle, was there waiting for me.  Do we look happy to see each other in this picture?


There are a lot of other riders here as well. We are all staying at Stefan Knopf's house. He is the guy who ships our motorcycles for us and stores them until we come back to ride.  Stefan had a room ready for me, and he had my motorcycle parked in front of my room -- battery charged, oil changed, a new chain. Everything is set to go.


Stefan took five of us on a tour of the area around Heidelberg today. We went up to the castle, and then rode along the Necker River. It was kind of a long ride. We got back about 5:00. Then we fired up the grill for a picnic.  This picture is David, from Australia, on the left, and Stefan manning the grill. Back in the back is a couple from Oregon who arrived here just a half hour before I did last night. The lady mixing the Margaritas is Stefan's wife. She never told me her name.


Steak and German potato salad. Life is good.  The girl on the left is Noel. She is riding double with Vinnie, the guy on the right. They are both from Oregon. They hope to head toward Vienna and Prague tomorrow. In the middle is Kelly who is from Ontario.  Kelly hopes to ride south and east toward some passes that go over the Alps from Austria down toward Italy tomorrow. I think he is going to find them closed because of snow.

                           

The two on the left are Mary and Terrick (or Terric --- I'm not sure of the spelling). They are both PE teachers in Quebec. but now they are on sabbatical and doing a world tour on their motorcycles. They just arrived today from Africa.  The kids on the right are some of Stefan's children and their friends.



These are Terrick's and Mary's motorcycles. Mary's is the one on the right. Terrick and Mary have their tent set up in the back yard. Looks pretty cozy to me.


After supper, it is time for a fire. Stefan likes them big. He says he only builds two fires a year. 


Its late and I am jet lagged, so time for bed for this world traveler. I plan to spend the day getting the bike ready to go tomorrow, and maybe I will buy a couple of items I forgot to bring (pillow and pad).  Then I will be all ready to head out Monday. I think I will head east toward Austria. I need to meet my daughter, Jessica, in the Czech Republic in a couple of weeks, so east is the best direction for me to go.

More later,
Ron