GETTING READY TO RUMBLE,

and that's not just the result of a high fibre, veg rich diet. No, we are cruising through the Baltic to Russia & back. Getting ready to travel and stop in so many places is a nightmare. So much planning, shopping, packing that it makes your head spin. Lin looked at the pile of stuff and said we got to get a bigger case. We did. To get some relief I went catfish wrestling. I beat him with 2 ippons to 1 waza-ari - slime everywhere. Ah well getting ready to leave for an overnight in Southampton prior to boarding.

NEED TO WORK OUT MORE

Now in Daytona Beach, which is a bit of a dump in the centre. We are on outskirts near Ormond Beach & that is much nicer. We feel at home in the over 70 community here. Went down to the lighthouse yesterday. 175ft high, 206 steps. Legs like jelly when I got back to ground level. Bike hire also suits my age group. This is where NASCAR racing started on the beach and several world speed records set by Campbell & Seagrave. They are running an historic re-creation on the beach at Ponce. It's whetting my appetite for the Atom drive. View from balcony not bad, weather is stunning.

So, Fartwalker, you buy no duty free?

Rally Driving

We wanted to go down to the cove at the bottom of the hill for a day by the sea. Went down this 1 in 4 hill to be blocked by road works. 3 point on the slope interesting & the climb was a bit too much for the poor Fiat. You had to gun it in first and every bump in the road caused wheel spin. The road was very bumpy and the backseat grannies were having fits. So much so that we had to take them back to the complex to recover with several medicinal cocktails. Paul & I went back down to book the cabana & did some more rally cross & off road stuff. Chilled by the pool & took in gooners v Chelsea. I can't believe we can best them having not done so for 6 games and the tension is all there in the face - much worse than 1 in 4 hills. All ended well tho.

One Wonder Today

.. of the ancient world. Visited Mausolus's mausoleum at Halikarnasus today, one of the 7. We've seen 2 now. Lovely day at Bodrum, wrestled traffic, people watched in the cafe, strolled the hooky shops - Del boy would feel at home, then had a lovely dinner overlooking the bay. Paul had his fortune read, apparently he is getting news of a new baby girl at Christmas, getting a loan returned & getting something with an engine in it. It made no mention of getting a hernia from lifting Chris's case, so I have my doubts.

There is a notice in the toilet - Don't put paper down the loo, use a nappy sack. I tried with the nappy sack but it still didn't flush too good.

Ah well, what will tomorrow bring, gooners v chels. Lets see.

Day out in Gulluk

After reading guide in villa about quaint fishing village with delightful beaches decided to take a trip over the mountains to Gulluk. The roads are steepish & narrow around here, so got the satnav going. Not a lot of help - where I am is in the wilderness "return to highway as soon as possible" Found our way nicely anyway with Spanner GPS. Place was nice with nice cafes but beaches, delightful not. Narrow gravelly strips. Lovely anyway. BBQ 2nite with mystery meat from the supermarket.

Linda in element - happy hour at the pool. She's so happy, got confused and ordered the same drink twice.

Turkey, gobble, gobble

Good flight, nightmare car hire. Voucher said on airport Alamo rental desk, didn't make clear that was in a different terminal. Went to other terminal but not allowed in! Went to security who said that Alamo had closed - all in pidgin English. Spanner pays no attention to official, as usual & tried to barge in. No joy, security did not like that at all. Bad news had to go through security - good news, got frisked by attractive young lady. After sat nav pandemonium have finally arrived & sitting on balcony with Efes.

Chris & Lin having a good time, as you can see.