Daily Routine

We are still in Hungary this morning. The sun comes up about three o'clock here. Must be because we are at the eastern end of this time zone. This is about as far east as we plan to go, as we turn south today along the Danube towards Budapest. 

As the riding goes on, we have a generally established pattern. Up for breakfast at 7 or so, with the sun high in the sky, and down to a breakfast set up as part of our overnight accommodations. Always the same thing, bread, cheese, sliced meats, juice. The only complaint is the difference in coffee habits. The endless refills I am used to have turned into a doll house sized cup with maybe four sips in it. Usually we ask for one more, but after that it begins to look like we are high maintenance. 

We are on the road around nine, with map in hand. Everything we have is on our backs, so packing up is easy. We usually can scam a sandwich for lunch from the breakfast fare, so we ride until we see a good cafe for a break or until we stop by the trail for lunch. Distances between town are short, and even with sightseeing we stop by late afternoon.

Laundry has been an issue. Coming in hot and sweaty, clothes streaked with sweat stains and just a wee bit pungent, we try to wash out the salt and smell in the shower or sink. Most of our overnights do not provide any soap or shampoo in the bathrooms, so we use our dwindling supply of shampoo, all of the three ounces TSA would let us fly with. Last night we found a Tesco, a Hungarian style Super Target, and resupplied with sunscreen, wine, and eastern European culture. One of the highlights of Laura's entire trip.v

Without a set itinerary, afternoons bring the surprise of the day. Where will we stay in this town we have been trying to get to all day, and how much trouble will we have trying to get what we want. Language, cost, location, wifi, vacancy. Somehow we have always managed to find really nice people, and only once I think were we surprised at what we ended up with. That was at a hostel type place just like a college dorm room.

Today we plan to cross back over the river to the Slovak side to ride, then back to Hungary to spend the night in Esztergom. It has started out bright and sunny. I know the pig roast fiesta is today, so I hope you all get the same nice day back there in Denver. Save a little of that cheek meat for us.