I posted this pic at the start of the blog, 2 1/2 months ago, but it is good enough to post twice (may replace it later with my favourite pics from the trip):
With the plane departing close to midnight, I sleep well on the way back, and for the first time ever when flying West-East, I'm not jetlagged out of my mind when landing in Copenhagen. Customs officers don't even blink when I roll my top-loaded trolley past them, brother Patrick manages to stuff all the bags into his old SAAB 96, and soon I'm home. To everybody's surprise Denmark has had great weather - always a gamble - all the while I've been gone, so bicycling around today is even nicer than it was in hot & humid NYC. At least as long as I remember that here I cannot disregard every traffic rule in the book.
When waking up from a short nap, I wasn't sure why Irwin's flat looked so differently, so it'll probably take a little while before I'm fully acclimatized. But in a few days I shall get started on articles about the trip, for magazines in Denmark as well as abroad. With that comes the questions of what went right on this trip, and what didn't, some of which can be concluded now already:
Thing that went well: The timing of the vacation. The good weather, particularly at Grand Canyon. Finally seeing The Southwest. The choice of motorcycle (you can cross The Rockies with 10-11 bhp on tap*). Riding without a helmet in states with helmet laws. The people I met. Selling the bike & trailer combination to the right place and for the right price.
* And that was 10-11 bhp at sea level....
Things that could have been better: The MZ's loss of power and all the time I wasted trying to fix it. The two rear tyre flats and the rear wheel bearing going south, all pricey endavours. The damn phone subscription that I got in Denmark (advice to everybody else; get a $30 plan at Verizon or AT&T plan over there, and avoid T-mobile). Not enough time, so I didn't get to see the Carlsbad Caverns and the people I knew in Minneapolis.
Thanks to all I met, for your company and you helping when needed. Special thanks to justacarguy.blogspot.com/ for support (and for writing & maintaining a great blog).
It was a great trip....
