Background

The idea for this trip originated about 10 years ago as the Communist block nations fell in the democratic revolution. I thought it would be enlightening to see a somewhat developed part of the western world as it emerged into a global economy but before McDonalds showed up in every little city, town or village. In the intervening years, my interest in cycling waxed and waned. Lack of a cycling partner with sufficient stamina and interest in venturing into this part of the world also delayed the trip. Just about the time I discovered recumbents, I re-established a friendship with Bob Simonds, one of my best friends during college some 30 years ago. After discovering a similar cycling interest and mutual enthusiasm in recumbents, I suggested this trip.

A year of planning, e-mails, and trial rides (Va. Trip Sept. ’99, Easter - 2000 Cave Club Picnic), this trip came together.

Overview

The trip took place between July 27th and August 13th, 2000. I flew from Houston to Washington Dulles Airport where I met my long time college friend Bob Simonds. From Dulles, the two of us flew to Vienna, Austria and cycled East into the Slovak Republic and Hungary.
The original intentions were to cover approximately 1200km(750 mi.) and climb with our recumbents into the High Tatras. Because we decided to divert off of roads that turned out to be more heavily trafficked, the quieter country roads were less direct and we shortened the trip at Banska Štiavanica, when we realized that we would not be able to complete the intended loop. At that point we turned South and headed into Hungary. In Hungary we spent two nights in Budapest. This was our first and only cycle break in six days of cycling. We were unable to secure passage (another of our trip goals) on the hydrofoil that runs from Budapest to Vienna daily. For the next three days we crossed Hungary going west and returned to Vienna with some time left to tour that city. Over a period of 16 days, we cycled for 11 days, covered 913 km.(570mi.) and gained an insight into the culture of Slovakia and Hungary.
My friend, Bob Simonds also kept a journal. It has been sent to the Cave Club Mailing list so that our mutual friends can see what we’ve been up to. A copy of that journal can be seen here.
While many of the photos are included in this narrative, the trip album is in the Photo Gallery and can be found here.