The sun is on the tree tops, i.e. setting, and I have 19 km to go
I took back roads today, which ended up adding 20 miles to my day and letting me meet two French women who have been on the road for three years. They started in Africa, and were mostly in Asia. Now they are going home to France to work for a few months "so we can get back to Asia!" They were in Bejing for the SARS epidemic and have most recently ridden through Bulgaria and Romania on their way to Hungary. It was great, and humbling since I think myself as a real tourist, but I've done nothing in comparison to these women, to meet them.
Pecs, in the morning
Riding Highway 57 to Mohacs
The ferry across the Danube
My first Hungarian ferry experience was not good. I rode up as the ferry was coming in. I waited till it had unloaded and headed down the ramp. The man directing traffic on the ferry shoo'ed me away. They loaded a single truck, carrying gasoline I think, and went back across the river. 15 minutes later they came back. On these ferries, bikes load last. When they finally let me try to load, I discovered that I had to go buy tickets instead of paying the folks on the ferries. Of course the ferry left before I could get back. 15 minutes later, it came back. I went to get on and was shoo'ed away again. The ferry crew took a half an hour break while I watched the Danube. Finally, an hour after I got to the ferry, I was allowed to load for the five minute trip across the river.
The backroads near where I met the French tourists
Counting down the Kilometers to Szeged
My long shadow on Highway 55 near sundown
An interesting sideview on the ride near dusk: There were a lot of pullover places between the towns on 55. When I rode through, many of them had good looking women wearing tight clothing and high heels. Hmm, a red light district on the highway! I've heard of such things, but never seen one before. Last night in my hotel, I also saw a very attractive woman, who was dressed seductively, but who looked a little too dressed, or should a I say packaged to be undressed. I wondered if she was a working girl. After seeing the ones along the road, I think she was. I must say they have good looking prostitutes in southern Hungary!