Ottoman 5: Mohacs, Hungary to Novi Sad, Serbia   Thursday, July 21, 2011 93m/151k*** A border crossing.  Sign day.  Along the Danube.  Apples.  A bee sting.  We like Serbia.  We did our usual up at 6:30, breakfast at 7, on the road at 7:30am routine and left the Pannon Hotel in Mohacs for the ferry

Ottoman 3: Budapest to Mohacs   Wednesday, July 20, 2011 61m/97k** This was supposed to be the longest day of the Ottoman Empire ride, but given some windy thunderstorms, we lost much of the day and only rode about 60 miles.  We were all colorful and happy as the day started out. (Jurgen, Nels, Bob,

Ottoman 3: Budapest Tuesday, July 18, 2011 Walking Tour of Budapest If you’re reading this for the bike riding, skip this post.  Today was a ‘break’ day where we walked and bus toured around Budapest.  The general feeling of the group was that we like Budapest …  more than Vienna.  It has energy; great architecture,

Ottoman 2: Gyor to Budapest Monday, July 18, 2011 86m/138k** The original plan today was to ride 45 miles east along the Danube, then cut SE through the countryside to Budapest.  Change of plans mid-ride had us take a 30-mile van break from Tat to Visegråd, and ride the same distance, but all along the

7/17 – Vienna, Austria to Gyor, Hungary via Bratislava, Slovakia   105m/166k** Ottoman 1 Gyor, Hungary Sunday, July 17, 2011 105m/166k** The day will be remembered by the riders for the wind.  Strong headwinds all day.  Taught us some good peloton discipline.  The howling as it blew through the wheels though was a bit distracting…

Greetings.  The start of the Vienna-Istanbul Ottoman Empire Ride.  This prior post has details on the ride and riders.  This is just a bit of an intro…  Annie (support) and Lisa (wife) came in two days early into Istanbul, rented a 9 passenger VW Caravelle van now known as “Babar”, and drove it to Istanbul. 

1,708 kilometers, 1,061 miles, 15 days Begins Sunday, July 17 – Ends Sunday, July 31, 2011 The Riders = Tom Cox*, Nels Leutwiler, Bob Perkowitz, Lisa Renstrom, Jürgen Schonwasser, Cherie Stofer** and Katharine Stofer** Supported by: Annie Lambla Accompanied by: Millie Cox*, Brigit Schonwasser Greetings, and welcome to the ride.  I will be posting daily

Gobi 5 Zamyn-Uud Wednesday, September 2, 2009 46m/74m** 1,010 miles down, about 50 to go – it’s hard to tell exactly how far when you’re in the middle of the desert without references.  Lisa decides she wants to ride the last day with me, charges up with coffee and such at the breakfast table, and

Gobi 4 Tuesday, September 1, 2009 87m/140k   No breakfast at the ‘hotel’ in the depopulating but still proud town of Sainshand (pop. 19,500) .  While the team regrouped, I stuffed my face with nuts, Gummi Bears, a warm yogurt and an apple, and headed out of town. The mountain bike got so battered yesterday

Sainshand, Mongolia (Gobi 3) Monday, August 31, 2009 91m/146k **    Note 1:  Thanks for the all the comments and good wishes, they help   Note 2:  I’m going to do a consolidated “Riders Notes” at the end of the trip, so no more daily details at this point. Today was a day of flat