The plan, concocted a year or so ago, was to cycle from somewhere in Northern Europe to the Mediterranean Sea. Ron Jewula is responsible for it. If it doesn’t go well I suspect it is he that I will blame. Now Ron isn’t going with us and he actually knew nothing about the planning of it, but that is irrelevant. He had cycled from Beijing to Istanbul one and a half times, give or take an eighth or quarter. The first time he had an accident, but he got back up on the horse a few years later and did it again, only successfully this time. I was inspired and decided I too need a last great hurrah. (At this point I will confess it wasn’t/isn’t Ron’s last great hurrah, but again irrelevant. It will likely be mine.)
Rather vague you might say, but it was an idea. What was needed was someone to go with. Couldn’t be Sue because it was never going to be a fun ride. Adventure hopefully, fun?, not so much. It was going to be long days and cheap hotels if we even up-scaled to a hotel. The challenge of finding someone who wanted to go on a no fun low rent slog meant it was seemingly a ‘Bucket List’ item that was going to hang around until it ultimately got put in the ‘F&%k It Bucket’. But then one day while cycling with the group I asked Dennis McMillan if he was interested, thinking no way and I will keep this plan as a fantasy and never actually have to do it.
Of course Dennis, being Dennis, said yes. Dennis is a bit of an adventure freak and I suspect somewhat fearless. We will see. He has also more experience than me at long distance cycling having gone across Canada with who else but Ron Jewula.
Now my idea was to start in Stockholm and work our way down through Western Europe. Civilized. Beer, then beer and wine, then just wine. Dennis, being Dennis, said why not go through Eastern Europe. So the route was moved to going from Tallinn, Estonia to Istanbul, Turkey. We will go through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and ultimately Turkey. I suspect more of a beer, vodka and raki tour.
We arrive in Tallinn on August 7th and finish in Istanbul on October 2nd. If we finish.
Tallinn to Istanbul by Bike 
Hi Don,
Hal passed on the link to your blog, as in his words (slightly paraphrased) Kirsten (my spouse) and me are the only other people he knows who would do this sort of crazy adventure!
Well, he’s almost right… in mid September we are starting off on something close to your original plan. We will be riding from Copenhagen to Lecce . Your description of Beer, then Beer and Wine, and then just Wine sounds about right for us!
We’ll follow along on your trip and vicariously experience Eastern Europe. We’ve been to Tallinn and the rest of Estonia several times but haven’t touched the rest of you route.
Happy and safe pedalling!
Regards
Lyle & Kirsten
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Good luck my two cycling heros!
I shall miss you on our regular Tuesday &Thursday rides but will be thinking about you.
I’m sure that you are flying in the air as I write this soon to be flying on the road!
🚴♂️🚴♂️Go D D go!!
Darlene
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Yes, I reccommend Warm Showers as well. We met a lovely couple in Avignon while bicycling and they were warm shower hosts. Altho we elected to stay in an apt while there, but enjoyed Easter dinner with them. They just completed a year long Croatia to Siberia trip last month.
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Hey Don, my parents (Doug and Nancy) passed along your blog link. We’re thinking about pretty similar route, although way slower – making use of trains on occassion – and likely heading further west from Poland, spending 2 -4 weeks in Croatia, plus hitting up Czech Republic. So maybe more it’s the start and end of your trip that is similar! Will check out details of your route when they get posted. We will also be about a month behind you starting, as we will be in Sweden until end of Aug, heading to Estonia in early Sept.
I’d recommend checking out Warmshowers.org, as a really cool way to get accommodation on route and meet local cycling folks. We’ve really enjoyed it on our tour so far.
Happy planning, riding, and blogging!
Keltie
Ironhorsetravels.home.blog
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Good luck BOYS
🚴♂️🚴♂️
Darlene
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