Two Weeks with my Brother

     I've read or listened to most of Nicholas Sparks' books. My favorite is Three Weeks with My Brother. (I guess I like Truth more than Fiction.) Three Weeks with My Brother is two stories in one. On the surface, it tells of a trip around the world that Nicholas Sparks takes with his brother Micah. It begins on the day that Nicholas Sparks receives the flier in the mail and ends with the brothers returning home. In between, he recounts the sights, sounds, and spectacles of various countries and continents, taking the reader on the journey with him. But Three Weeks with My Brother is more than just a travelogue. The text is the memoir of a successful author who seemingly is living the American Dream. Yet unbeknownst to most of his readers, he has also lived the American Tragedy. The story follows two brothers and their journey to becoming the best husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and friends that they can be. It shows the true meaning of love between two brothers. They embark on this journey to visit the wonders of the world. However, more importantly, they discover themselves and the truth about life, loss, and love.

   Amy had planned to go to Paris with friends but they were going onto Lebanon to a wedding.  She didn't feel comfortable going to a country with visitors warnings so she invited her brother, Brent, to travel with her and go someplace else for the second leg of the journey. Because he has trouble walking and is wearing a boot, they got the bright idea to do a bike tour. Making reservations late, their first choice was filled up. They waited three weeks to hear if they were accepted on a longer trek. They flew into Munich, Germany, but mostly are doing the Danube Bike Trail from Passau to Budapest, Hungary. Just the two of them make the journey but the travel agency arranged for accommodations along the way and provided the bikes.

Glad I'm on the wrong continent for the great Fruit Heights flood of the century -...
looks good for kayak. Amy

We are celebrating our good planning of being on a different continent at the right moment. . .B

(when our basement was flooded again).

Solar panel throughout Germany.

70 km today and lived to tell about it.

A dip in the Danube. Unseasonably hot.

Traismauer, Austria

If you want a pick-me-up, hop on a kg scale--less than half your weight without going to the moon. There's one in our hotel room if you need it. You're welcome.

Brent writes: We left at 7:45 this morning and succeed at 9 pm. In between, bicycle museum, swimming, giant thunderstorm at the Melk Abbey, etc. 50 miles.

Amy's prime real estate series

Riding the Sahara--or so it felt.

Museum of Art Vienna

 Just 38 km today. Hurray. I can either operate the brakes or the camera. I usually opt for the camera as every tourist should.

Brent and I with our angelic glow. 

Me holding up the abbey. 

Morning tea sunscreen sheen.

I miss Utah's Clean Air Act.

Amy on train through Vienna Woods

Bikes on train. 

 Boat day in Vienna

This was terrifying

And this is only the first week.

One week to go.

What adventures await?