A Pain in the Butt

We got back to Germany a few days ago and picked up our bikes and other things we needed for the ride. For the last three days, we've taken quite a few rides around here - there are tons of trails and little roads through pretty scenery. Already put about 100 km on the bike odometer, while our butts get used to riding (ouch!) We set off tomorrow for Barby and the Saale River RadWeg (bike trail) which will take us through Thuringen toward Bavaria. Hopefully, by the time we get to Bavaria I'll be able to handle the hills that we're sure to encounter.

I didn't yet report on the end of the Russia trip, but the two last stops on the river cruise were pretty cool. Uglitsch had an historic monastery - we skipped the tour and headed to the town, where we found the market and mingled with Russians as they shopped for cheese, meat and clothes. Our last stop was Moscow, and though it poured like crazy during our tour of the Kremlin, the weather during the rest of our day and a half there was fabulous. We explored the Metro system, which has some beautiful stations, walked around pretty pedestrian malls and parks, and marveled at the wide array of goods for sale that just 15 years or so ago could not have been bought for any amount of Rubles. Oh, and the beer and vodka weren't bad either!

Links to pictures from my parents trip to Germany and our trip to Russia are on the left.