Going solo this time

 Although I did my first bike trip solo, from Bar Harbor, Maine to Key West, Florida, my other bike trips have all been with my oldest son, Brian.  He has been a wonderful traveling partner - always optimistic, always energetic, great company, and eager to help.  Unfortunately, this summer was too busy with weddings and trips and family stuff that a bike trip during the summer months (when Brian is off work as a teacher) was not possible.  I feel a bit of regret going on this trip by myself because a ride through Europe is always great and I'm sure he would have loved to come along.  But there will be other trips and maybe one day, when he has children, he can take them on this particular ride.

I've included a few pictures of our adventures.  Of course, there are too many to include.  We met so many really nice people, saw wonderful places, and ate some interesting food!!

                                       Rhine Falls in Switzerland (largest waterfall in Europe)

     Here we are finishing our ride across Europe by dipping our tires into the Black Sea, Romania

                                          Here we talked to some school children in Bulgaria

                                        These are the hosts we stayed with in Belgrade, Serbia

                                                Another host, this time in Novi Sad, Serbia

                     These two ladies stopped us in Hungary and wanted to talk about our trip

                             Here we are following the signposts for the Eurovelo 6 bicycle route

Brain as we are starting the Katy Trail in Missouri

The highest mountain pass we crossed - in the Rocky Mountains

Grand Teton mountain range in the background

Here we are entering St. Louis.