Biked 20 m w/ Anne on wonderful bike paths–Denver definitely has some of best biking areas in the country  Anne now has both hips & both knees replaced & has pulmonary hypertension–but keeps on biking & exercising.  She also did bike & barge down the Danube & in France–amazing & positive woman!!!!  Then drive to Littleton (15 min away) & have lunch & visit w/ Dave & Mary–walk to restaurant in beautiful area.  Now drive to Ft. Collins & set up our tent in the park w/1000 other tents– about 20 ft from port-a-potties.  Go into town to eat big fat burrito–love this town w/flowers everywhere.  Tomorrow is going to be a big day–not sure we are ready for this ride.   

Get up early, find bike paths–need to practise in altitude.  Start on nice paved paths–go to gravel, dirt, bumpy asphalt.  Having trouble unclipping & almost fall–Armand tries to adjust pedals–now can’t unclip at all.  Gets tired of my complaining–exchanges clips on his shoes–success.  Stop at bike shop & ask directions to Garden of the Gods–2 guys are renting bikes that don’t know how to shift gears.  Stop for pictures at G of Gods–meet nice couple who have bikes in their car.  Jay & Louise are from Littleton but want to come to TX for Ride for Roses–exchange info & invite them to stay w/us.  Keep riding (feel winded several times)–run into 2 guys from bike shop..  Andrew (from Dallas) & Thomas–just out of army-are on vacation & trying to bike–talk to them for 30 min & other couple drive up.  Beautiful day–bike around 32 m before driving to Denver.  Stay w/Anne (friend from Cross America Bike Tour in 2002.  Took Anne 3 tries–on 1st 2 times–she fell & artificial hip dislocated–unbelievable determination–I would have given up.  Went out to eat that night–planned bike ride in morning. 

Not going to mention again that I am worthless as a traveling/driving companion.  In Colorado Springs stop 1st & visit my 95 yr old Aunt Edie.  She lives in assisted living place–we go to her room & she is working cross word puzzles to keep her mind sharp.  She has picture of 12 kids in my dad’s family–she can name them all.  She has 2 pictures of her w/an Elvis impersonator.  Her daughter Gloria (my cousin) comes in & we all go out to eat w/Edie in the lead.  Gloria has stage 4 cancer in colon & liver–looks great.  She is still taking chemo treatments & will not be able to go to the family reunion in Canada–really nice to see both of them.  End up spending night at Super 8–near biking trail.

Armand drives-I read & sleep.  My turn to drive–after 2 hrs my eyes are sleepy–not much help.  Armand drives most of the way.  Stay w/Bob & Donna in house Bob built while he lived in bus for 4 yrs.  After wonderful meal Donna cooked-took walk w/their 2 dogs–nice visit.  Bob & Donna had completed a 10 week hiking/back packing trip in Patagonia & other parts of Chile–not something I could do or would want to do!!!!!!

My Europeon bike blog is not finished–still have pictures to post of Prague-On to 2nd biking/driving adventure.  We plan on driving to Colorado to do a Bike CO Tour & continue to Canada for a family reunion. 

I start in SA on Tues-drop my dog Dominic for my niece Bailey to take care of for another month-take my mom to HEB for grocery shopping-drive to Austin.  Armand has packed the Buick w/bikes & suitcases & is ready to go.  Drive to Dallas to stay w/my sister Nancy.  She fixes us a nice dinner.

DAY 23 (MAY 24-THURS) PROGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

Last day–eat breakfast w/couple from VA.  Take tram to Newtown & walk (4 or 5 m) to Petrin Hill to climb 420 steps to the top of Prague’s Little Eiffel Tower–highest pt to view city. Got reduction in price & were offered elevator to top because we’re seniors.  If I can climb hill to get here will walk to top–well worth the view–Prague is a beautiful city but still like Budapest better.  Sitting more today & enjoying the beautiful day–people watching.  I haven’t bought any souvenirs & it’s my last day.  See an orange glass fish-decide I want it & smaller fish.  A-does it say it’s from Prague anywhere?  Keep looking at fish-it’s cheaper than jewelry.  Don’t have enough money-guy tells Armand where ATM is.  Where are you putting those fish?  Find another place to sit down.  Walk back to motel-stop 1st  at view pt where we went first night.  Girl has her picture displays next to our bench–tell her I like her pictures.  Has regular Progue scenes & some very different colorful ones.  A says they look like Disney–walks away.  I follow saying I REALLY LIKE THOSE PICTURES.  We spend the money that we were going to pay the guy who is taking us to the airport tomorrow.  WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT THE PICTURES–with the fish of course.  Rest at hotel before we have to go back into town to get more money so we can leave.  Eat at Subway for 2nd time–have a Pepsi to drink w/ICE.

OBSERVATIONS:  American fast food-MD; Subway; Starbucks; KFC; BurgerKing

Cities have worked hard to clean up liitter,having more trouble w/graffiti–Too many young people smoke; Most young people speak several languages–English is excellent

Never a time we did not feel safe–even though we were warned about pick pockets

Never saw a hospital or dr’s office;  Never saw a traffic accident–which is amazing considering how fast cars drive along side trams, bikes, pedestrians.

This has been a wonderful experience–we are packed & ready to leave at 7:00 tomorrow morning.