Over the Dolomites to Austria
Day -10, -9 and -8, 1550 km
Day -10 - I love visiting Italy, but it feels bittersweet these days. Everyone has their own life stories, and mine about Italy, is still something I'm processing. I think this trip will help me with that. When I got here yesterday, the Dolomites greeted me with heavy rain and thunderstorms, but today, Zeus decided to let the sun shine through. I sure was grateful for that kind gesture taking in the Italian vibe on the Piazza at Cortina d’Ampezzo after riding through the snow-covered Dolomites from west to east. In just 2 hours I will reach Slovenia, and 15 minutes later my final stop for Leg 0, Villach in Kärnten, Austria. « Pfiat Di », said Mickey when I arrived.
Day -9- « You are too late on the way to Rome » The Austrian lady shouted over. I am on the way to Afghanistan I said, Rome was last year. For very different reasons. Mickey, the Harley riding owner from the B&B I stayed overnight told me his life story which ended with finding his woman with another man in bed. I asked him for another Cappuccino. Reflecting on my own story loosing a woman I loved. He thanked me for listening. He needed it Me as well. The lady, astonished, asked «you go there all by yourself, only you and the machine? ». But you are are never alone while travelling by yourself. I boarded the train that’s taking me southward and off we went.
Day -8 - Martin from Bamberg, close to Nürnberg, also decided to ride to Georgia. While he boarded his BMW GS we quickly found out we’d share appartement 9 in wagon 4, opposite beds. There were three of us in full motorcycle gear and one Turkish gentlemen in that four-person apartment. With all our stuff, we definitely needed at least twice the space. It was a no-go. Mission impossible. We decided it would be a better idea to hang out in the lounge car drinking beer instead of being crammed in like sardines in a tin can. And that’s exactly what we did. Until morning when our train was just about rolling into Belgrade.
