Julia can only take me "full time" in small doses so lately she has been dropping a LOT of hints about it being time for me to take another long ride! Can't pass up an offer like that! :=) Europe this time?????I was definitely ready for another adventure ride and since Julia had given me a "hall pass", I figured I better start planning before she changed her mind! Coincidentially my friend Corey, who you will remember from our adventures in Central America and Australia

was also ready to ride and suggested a lap of the Baltic Sea, since his family is from Norway and he could pay homage (I guess). Also our other friend Shelly

from the Central America adventure would already be in Sweden in late June and could join us for the rest of the lap. Shelly has a house and motorcycle there and visits every year, so for part of the trip we will have a very knowledgeable tour guide.
A lap of the Baltic with two good friends seemed like a good idea to me since it involved motorcycle riding in foreign countries! :=) The three of us poured over the maps and came up with this route.

We will start in Frankfurt, Germany in late June, travel north thru Denmark, Sweden, Norway (hopefully we can get to Nordkap, (the northern most road point) if the weather permits), Finland, Russia (Saint Petersburg), Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and back to Germany (Shelly, back to Gottland Island in Sweden).
Corey and I have already made motorcycle arrangements and now need to buy airplane tickets. It is the beginning of another great adventure. I will be updating the blog occasionally with our planning and more often while we are riding (depending on internet access). Should be a GREAT trip!
I am using the previous email list which is why you are receiving the update notice; plus I added a few of you that expressed interest in the adventures. Please continue to follow along if you want. If you would like to be deleted from the notification list just send me an email at rick.mcd[at]verizon[dot]net and I will remove your name (but who would want to do that) :=) Also, don't forget that I will have email access now and during the trip so feel free to keep in touch.
Rick