Progress

 So, progressing from the last post, I have booked quite a few of the 'attractions'. 

A while back, I'd contacted the curator of the Zagan POW Camps Museum, Marek, and rebooked an English speaking tour for the afternoon of 24th June. After numerous emails over the last 3 years, I'm quite looking forward to meeting him. I did see a program on the TV last year where he was interviewed. I've not had anything to pay up front with this one, whereas others you have to pay up front or risk not gaining entry.

The second booking is for the Terezin Memorial in Czechia, a Jewish ghetto/concentration camp. We'll stop off for a guided tour of the Small Fortress, on our way to Prague. Again, I've not had to pay anything up front.

The next booking is at another concentration camp, probably the most famous, Auschwitz. We have 2 bookings for this. Firstly on 27th June, we have tickets for an unguided visit to the Birkenau camp, Auschwitz II, then the next day, we have an English guided tour of both Auschwitz I and II camps. Our hotel in Oświęcim is right across the street from the Auschwitz I entrance. Our unguided tour tickets are free, for entry after 4pm, whilst the following day's tour has been paid for up front, to ensure we got a ticket.

When we leave Oświęcim, we'll have a short drive to our next attraction, the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Once again I've paid up front to ensure we get a place on an English speaking tour. From what I gather, we'll be spending 2-3 hours underground. It sounds quite spectacular though and I'm sure Grizzly will get some decent photos from the visit.

It'll be a couple more days before we land in Vienna but as yet I've not settled on what to visit, so nothing is booked there.

I have though booked our first ferry tickets. We can't go on a tour these days without a trip on a ferry! Thinking back though, we've probably been on a ferry on most of our tours together. This one, which you have to book in advance, will see us crossing from Krk Island to Rab Island, in Croatia. It only runs 4 times a day, so I have us booked on the 4pm crossing. We should 🤞have plenty of time to reach the ferry, from our overnight stop in the capital, Zagreb. The following day, we will take a ferry from the other end of Rab Island, at Misnjak Ferry Port, back to the Croatian mainland. That ferry is a turn up and go, pay on the day, and is a short hop across to Stinica.

On our next layover day, 7th July, we'll be paying a visit to the Plitvice Lakes National Park. As one of the most popular tourist attractions in Croatia, it goes without saying, I've had to stump up for tickets in advance but rather that, than turn up on the day to be told there are too many people in the park, and get turned away. Grizzly probably wouldn't mind sitting drinking beer all day though. Instead, I'll be having him walking around the Croatian countryside! 😉 

We have another couple of layover days after Croatia but I haven't booked anything for those just yet. I'll let you know when I do, don't worry.

Only 50 days to go now. 

All Shipshape

 As we approach the end of March and move into spring (not that you'd know it, the weather's not been that great), Ginny has already had a couple of runs out. I re-taxed her on March 1st and then rode her up to Battersea for her service at Park Lane BMW the following day. Included in this visit was some recall work on the suspension linkage. I was assured that everything would be completed in a day, so once I'd dropped her off, I bused it over to the Imperial War Museum. I could easily have spent all day there, as there is so much to see. As it was, I'd been there 4 hours or so, when I got the call to say Ginny was ready. I'd got lucky with the weather. It was cold but thankfully sunny and my new jacket did a great job of keeping me warm, along with the heated grips and seat! (I can hear Grizzly groaning 😉)

As expected, the guys at Park Lane had given Ginny a wash, her first since September, so soon as I got her home, I put the covers on her. There's still so much dust flying about this building site we live on and a thick layer on the garage floor. 

Ginny's second outing was on March 21st, a 2 mile round trip to Ryder Motorcycles, for her MOT. On a walk out with Catherine one afternoon, I dropped in to book her (Ginny) in. We were actually away when the MOT ran out, so this was the nearest suitable date. Needless to say, Ginny passed with flying colours, which means we are good to go for our trip to Vimy and the big tour. The only thing required now, before the tour, is to get the pair of tyres I have in the garage, which were removed last summer, put back on. That will guarantee me enough rubber for the 4500+ mile tour.

Over the next few weeks I'm expecting to be booking up ferries and attractions, so the next update will be after that, when I have a bit more information to impart.

Till then. Stay save.