By Larry and Joan Dolinski
We finally said good-bye to Scandinavia and boarded the Finnjet, yet one more ferry in the string of the many on which we have traveled. This one involved a 24-hour passage from Helsinki to Rostock, Germany. In order to accommodate our leased car to the ferry schedule, we left the bicycle group a couple of days early with plans to meet up with them in Berlin.
Not to mislead the reader about our bicycling activities...despite the enormous amount of sightseeing that we have engaged in during our Scandinavian phase, we have also done a great deal of bicycling. Many of the biking days have involved relatively long distances. The biking has been phenomenal. The terrain, weather, and panoramas could not have been better. At this point on our trip, Larry has logged well over 10,000 bicycling kilometers (6,000 miles), Joan, a little less. Neither of us are trying to set any distance records although some of the bikers are dedicated to just that. The number of bikers that have done every bit of the distance is somewhere between six and eight. One of these is a women (ex-military) who, on her off days, jogs.
With all the pleasure we have experienced, in both our biking and sightseeing adventures, the trek has not been without its sobering sadnesses. While we were in Sweden, one of the riders got himself entangled in the rear wheels of a semitrailer. The result was severe damage to his legs. His right leg required amputation and it has been touch and go as to whether the surgeons can save his left leg (and foot). At this writing we are told that the left foot and leg will probably be saved (with a series of intricate surgeries), so we are all hopeful. We don't talk much about the injuries that predictably occur on such a trip as this but we always are mindful of the risks and try to exercise caution at all times. There have probably been a dozen or so serious accidents besides the one mentioned above (broken legs, hips, ribs, shoulders, collarbones, and neck). There have been an uncountable number of bike falls with consequent damage in the form of cuts, scrapes, bruises, and loss of consciousness. (Cycling can be a very risky activity - Ed.)
We will be docking shortly so we will bring this set of updates to a close, wishing all of our family and friends good health, a good rest of the summer, and to tell you how much we enjoy receiving your e-mails.
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