Monday, June 8, 2009

6 June 2009 Prievidza, Slovak Republic



Today is another straight riding day. A cold one, I might say. When I left the campground, Matilda took me straight into Prague, the last place I wanted to be. I wanted to be on the Autoway/Interstate heading to Brno/Bruno instead of being downtown Prague. I had to trick her to get her back on the Autoway/Interstate. Then we were good. So I rode from Prague, to Brno, to St. Mesto, to Trencin, to Banovce, and to Prievidza. At a gas stop I talked with a couple of Harley-Davidson riders. They were from Prague heading toward Greece, looking for sunshine. They said the weather was two weeks behind normal and they still had some snow on the mountains. It was about 50 degrees and cloudy. I was freezing my butt off. I got off the Autoway/interstate onto a two-lane highway to Trencin, Slovakia and passed through a small village that had road construction all the way thru it. I followed the bypass and dead ended into a barrier. I was stopped dead in my tracks. A Good Samaritan, seeing my problem, offered to lead me out of my lost condition back to the highway. I showed him where I was going and in ten minutes I was back on the road driving to Trencin. I also crossed into the Slovak Republic today and changed the Czech money back into Euro. At the border it’s hard to believe that the buildings used for customs and immigration just stand empty like a ghost town. The incredible power the people had in those buildings, and now they are vacant. All one person had to say is no and that’s where you stopped. You could not leave or get into the country. I took some pictures at the border which caused a motorist to stop. He was very upset about it and squealed his tires to show me his displeasure. I never looked up when I heard him do it. I think he waited thirty seconds. People. I got to Prievidza, Slovak Republic about 7:00 p.m. found a campground, set up my tent, adjusted my chain on my motorcycle and oiled it. I had just finished when a thunderstorm broke loose and poured rain for the next two hours. The tent was flapping in the wind and the rain was pounding on the fly like it was going to tear it off. It was noisy and there was a green and white light show going on inside my tent from the lightening. I normally don’t endorse products but I have slept in Eureka Timberline two- and four- person tents for 25 plus years and they have never let me down. I have been in them in high winds 50 plus miles per hour, and woke up in the morning with the tent standing in a one inch deep puddle of water with no leakage. I must mention I always seal the seams on the tent. Last night again proved this is a good tent. I have to get going. I want to be on the Ukraine border tomorrow.

3 comments:

  1. Hi Dave, you are making some fancy tracks! Do you stop to site see or is your purpose to get around the world and back.

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  2. Hi Dave, Hope you had a good day of riding. We finally had a day of sunshine here in sunny florida. JoeJon should be following this so he could see how many time you check your chain and tighten. how are the gas prices? Best from the home front. we still do not have mom's dsl up and going. soon though, but then I will have to show her how to post a note. I am practicing to get it down myself. But as an old traveler, I am surely enjoying your notes.

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  3. Hey DaveR,
    God speed man... there are quite a few of us here at Remmele following you along on your trip!
    I really liked the part about Omaha Beach and the cemetary..... thanks man!
    I can't wait to see all the pictures your taking!
    Can't wait to hear more.
    Later,
    Tim

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