The End

Tonight I will rest my head on a pillow in a hotel just outside Munich, near the airport.
I feel good -- like I did enough and enjoyed everything without over-doing it.
I accomplished my goals. This trip started out as my wanting to cycle (at least a part of) the Danube cyclepath, and I decided I especially wanted to cycle the part between Passau and Vienna. Then, my friend Dave said he'd be up for cycling around Italy. I researched a little more about what was between Italy and Passau and decided I'd like to cycle the Inn cyclepath. That's how things started and everything past the Danube cyclepath (the original plan) I counted as a bonus. There were a couple of other opportunities/possibilities that had potential, but I didn't do (for whatever reasons) any of those this time. I see them all as reasons to come back another time and have future adventures!
Although it is not often I like to take photos that include people, I met a lot of great people along the way. To all of them that helped to make my journey enjoyable and to all of you who have followed along via my blog -- thank you!
I am hoping the little bit of extra time back in the U.S. gives me a chance to catch up with most of you before I am off to China.
For the record -- the most common question I was asked about on my trip was how far did I bike in total. For me, the trip was not about the distance, it was always about the experiences along the way, so I don't know. I have tried to include a daily total, though, so you can add it up on you own if you like.
Also, there was no way I could include all the photos, nor capture all the things I saw and did. However, I've decide to put together a collection for today's entry of things that made me laugh along the way. They are in no particular order and by no means do I intend to make fun of anyone in the beautiful countries I've visited. Some may be repeats, but I feel deserve to be shown again.
The first group is of different signs I saw. I really enjoy signs in foreign countries. Signs are supposed to convey the basics, and some (as I also find in the U.S.) are just peculiar. Often, I find, signs might not necessarily convey what they intend, especially to someone who doesn't speak the language that well.
Now this sign says something about relaxing at the valley farm (according to Google translate), but I first interpreted it as: Relax at the Fat Farm. I was in the mountains, so maybe it was the thin air...

The top sign says you can park there, the second sign indicates that there is an exception to the parking for transport vehicles, but the bottom sign is what got me. It seems to encourage someone to drive into the river.  I even saw where someone took a Sharpie and drew in a stick figure driving the car and smiling on one trip I took.

Don't pet the bell!

The H is pretty universal, the bottom part, however, doesn't mean the same in English as it does in German and it might actually deter someone from wanting to go there.

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This was probably someone's cool work of art. However (not seen as well in this picture), it was hidden from view by those bushes when I quickly came upon it on my bike and from what I could see, it looked to me at first like a giant bike wreck and pile-up. I wonder if the wheels were intentionally taco-ed or if some vandals did that...

 I give up -- no idea what this means....

The next item isn't a sign, but something I saw in a church or cathedral. It seems to depict three guys who lost their clothes on a dare or something and are fumbling around a graveyard trying to figure out what their next move is. Doesn't it seems like the middle guy is to blame?

Here is a carving on someone's door. I can't tell if the figure has a place for coins in it's mouth or if it is sticking it's tongue out at us....

The next group is of lawn ornament. Along my journey (not pictured) I saw a lot of figurines of the seven dwarfs. I'm not sure why someone would want those, but that did make some sort of sense to me at least. The following figurines...?
For instance, why would someone want a beggar? Hey, I can be lazy in bed and beg for money all at the same time...?

You're old and you're tired of those young whippersnappers on your lawn, perhaps try this one...

No, the dwarf sticking his tongue out and flipping off the kids didn't work, maybe try this one...? You'll show them you really mean it if there's a chainsaw involved (and a lack of teeth)...?

You're already registered as a sex offender, so why not flaunt it...? This one really creeps me out!

Okay, this is another one that left me speechless...

And, finally, I think it is healthy to have a good laugh at yourself from time to time. So, with that in mind, it cracks me up that a children's candy could cheer me up so much when I was having a bad day....

And, that I not only fulfilled a lifetime goal of mine by purchasing and eating an undisclosed amount of a dessert known to have originated in a certain part of the world, but that I used my camping spork to slice and dice it! :)

That's it!
I hope my blog inspires you to also get out there and see what the world has to offer!