we had: beer; red wine with water; red wine with coca- cola (which I admit I would not usually drink but was surprisingly good); some tequila type stuff; and local mead. If we drank anything else I don't remember!Friday, 7/7, our last full day. Lorenz was thinking about a day trip, but I just decided to hang at the vineyard. It was quite sad leaving here, even though I really was craving a warm shower. The cold shower I had had on Wednesday had been enough to cause much shrieking and lead to washes instead from then on, not very good.

As I packed my things I really did not want to leave, but still managed to pack. Lorenz's phone ran out of credit again, more hassle getting Linda, who must be some kind of saint I think, to top it up. We got flight details and the taxi was to pick us up from Vito's place so we headed there for a last night of partying with the boys.

Well we had: beer; red wine with water; red wine with coca- cola (which I admit I would not usually drink but was surprisingly good); some tequila type stuff; and local mead. If we drank anything else I don't remember! Sat 8/7, I really did not want to get out of bed, but eventually managed it. Good job I was up as Toni the taxi driver was a little early as it is quite a trip to Ljubljana from Slatina. So all our camping stuff and panniers were hauled into the cab.

It was sad to say goodbye, as the chaps had been so lovely, but we had to get the plane. Toni the cab driver was quite a star too; he used to drive long haul through Europe and so was able to tell us all about the countries which we hadn't managed to get to. If you're ever around Celje and need a cab his number is: 041/ 618 498!

So we got the plane to Manchester, my brother picked me up from Lorenz's and I'm now at Mum and Dad's, slightly in shock.

The trip didn't go according to plan, and we didn't have many plans, but the biking dying certainly was a biggy. Most people touring were on much newer bikes I guess and it may be a factor if you are planning a trip. But still it was a really liberating experience and I would not have missed it even if I could change nothing.

There endeth the tale. Thanks for caring and all the best, Ness.