The small stack of clothes piles up against the list of things I hope to take on our trip to Prague. I use the words "I" and "hope" loosely. Because "I" doesn't included, my other half, Mr. French Husband, who thinks hopping on the bike with a toothbrush and cash in his pocket is all we need. (Cash: for sleeping under a bridge, a loaf of bread, a hunk of cheese, a glass of wine, gas, and well, that is it.)
Can I really rough it?
Last night while pouring over maps and eating homemade French fries I inserted: "Okay listen Mr. French-Husband-who-can-travel-with-nothing-more-than-cash-in-his-pocket-and-a-toothbrush, I have a deal to make with you… if I can find places to stay for under 80 euro a night, with breakfast, can we stay in them? And if you say yes… well, then I promise I'll do whatever you want to do the rest of the trip.
He opened his eyes wide and before he could say, "Whatever I want to do?!!" I knew I was in for more than a few hairpin turns on Stelvio Pass. I slugged him, then smirked, "So its a Deal Lucille?" He looked at me as if to say, who, why Lucille?
When are we leaving?
We leave this Saturday for two to three weeks, depending on how much my backside can take it.
Will you post on your blog?
I certainly hope too. I will take French Husband's very small, handy, clever design, EEEpc. I asked him what the three Es stood for, and he answered, "Economic, Easy, Erotic."
Where will you go?
We will drive along the southern coast of France, (the French Riviera) then to Genoa, on to Milan. Our first night is in Milan five hours away. Then we hope to tour the lakes of Italy, and go to Austria through the Stelvio Pass. We will stop in Salzburg, then somewhere in between Salzburg and Prague. We will stay four days in Prague, and then we will see how we feel and venture on…maybe to Budapest, maybe I will fly home, or take up residency in Prague.
What is you fall asleep, like you do, on the motorbike?
My father used to attach us when we rode with him as children with a belt. French Husband says he can sense when I start to fall asleep, he usually puts his arm around me, and that wakes me up. Then we stop for awhile.
Sacha (my teen age son) called from California yesterday, his suggestions were:
1) Put hard rock on the ipod, since you do not like hard rock it will bother you and you won't fall sleep.
2) Chew gum.
3) Drink Coco Cola, you are easily wired with caffeine.
4) Have Dad pinch you every ten seconds.
What type of motorbike do you have?
A week ago we bought a 2003 BMW R 1150 GS. It sounds like a bunch of letters to me, but I believe it is durable motorcycle because the French policemen ride bikes like this….and they always look good and tough and sexy.
What if it rains? (Okay I asked that question…)
There is a storm as I write, looking out my window I noticed it is not just raining it is windy… I have imagined riding in the rain, but not wind and rain (a.k.a. STORM) It doesn't look inviting…
I asked French Husband … Would we ride it this (as I pointed out the window?)
He said, "Yeah, don't worry." I do not think he gets it– worried I am not, wet, cold and miserable is just not, you know, fun. I wouldn't even go to the brocante if there was a storm.
Will you have microphones inserted in your helmet?
No. Sign language, silence, and the roar of the engine.
Do you know people along the way?
No, not really. Though the other day Liselotte, a reader of my blog, invited us to her home near Salzburg.
Will you take your camera?
I am debating that… I will take a camera, but maybe a small pocket size one instead of my SLR… I do not know if we will have room to carry it. I value a change of clothes more…
If you were going away for three weeks, on a motorcycle, what would you take?
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