Before we go

POSTSCRIPT: In September 2013, we travelled to Milan & then to Padua. From here, we took the train to Trieste & then up to Lake Bled in Slovenia.

The plan was to hire bikes here & cycle through Slovenia & Croatia, leaving the bikes at Koper to be collected.

Unfortunately, My Friend required urgent cardiac surgery in October so, after a great deal of discussion, we decided to still go but with considerable modifications to our original plans! I would cycle from Bled to Koper & he would hire a car & follow.

I decided to skip cycling in Croatia & reduce the number of days cycling so we could both continue through Croatia together by car.

At Split in Dalmatia, the plan was to do a tour of the islands with Sail Croatia. I did the cycling & My Friend managed to do some limited cycling on flatter terrain & caught up with the group by boat when he couldn't cycle. The team at Sail Croatia couldn't have been more accommodating & made our holiday one to always remember. I can highly recommend them.

Postscript: My Friend's surgery was successful & he is on the road to recovery.

I have also found this blog which you might find useful: Two Wheel Travel .

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So, with much trepidation we head off into the unknown...

Monday 2 September

Have to pack. Also planning is still to be finalised due to the need to make some adjustments to the itinerary at the last minute. Also the usual lists of "things to do". Funny how life continues on, even up to the last minute - I'm not sure that this would be the case if we were 21 and carefree? Or maybe the 21 has nothing to do with it... But we are not 21. And we are certainly not carefree (wish we were!).

Tuesday 3 September

Countdown continues. Successful day yesterday. Got through most of the to-do list, registered DFAT, even printed off booking passes - THAT always pulls you up & you realise it's really happening - we are going!

Beautiful day here today, just like yesterday. Sun out, blue sky, over 20 degrees. Spring has sprung!

Wednesday 4 September

Writing this at Changi Airport, Singapore. We arrived 9.45 p.m. here after 7 hour flight. Watched a wonderful movie: A Late Quartet. Very sad. Thought I'd better follow it up with a comedy, which is what the flight magazine said it was - Arthur Newman, with Colin Firth (who I really like) abd Emily Blunt. Good movie. But not a comedy.

So yeah. Here we are. A "selfie". Ha ha.

Went to bed after midnight last night. Still packing till late. Ugh. I hate packing. Busy, busy day yesterday. Had to have a Little Lie-Down just before dinner. Started to have a melt-down. Anyway, revived and managed to keep going. Wanted to watch the interview on the ABC of Clive James. Was good. Also a bit sad. (Note to self: stop watching sad stuff!).

Anyway, got to airport fine. Did a detour to Alison's place at Reservoir to feed Bailey the cat as she is in Brisbane at a conference. Ali has a bad cold with ear infection but rang back to say her promotion at work had come through. Yay!

Spent post check-in time at Airport organising new return flight - will come back a day later as Kathryn is going to meet us at Frankfurt (where we fly home from) so we will have a day with her there. She is going to be near Vienna at a wedding (as you do) so will come across to us at Frankfurt straight after. Phew! Another job done.