Nahno McLein

I can't believe it's the last entry. For me the challenge will be over after today, because I've gone through A to Z in April. An amazing challenge and honestly, challenge is the right name for it. It's not as hard to come up with topics, at least not for me. But spending the days writing the post, even when it doesn't actually take that long for each one, it's still a huge amount of work. I loved doing it, but there was so much going on for me in April, that I really struggled to finish it. The more I am glad it's been successful. Thank you so much for setting this up: Arlee Bird's Tossing It Out Jeffrey Beesler's World of the Scribe Alex J. Cavanaugh Alex J. Cavanaugh Jen Daiker's Unedited Candace Ganger's The Misadventures in Candyland Karen J Gowen at Coming Down the Mountain Talli Roland Stephen Tremp's Breakthrough Blogs I wish I would have had more time reading other people's blog entries. I found awesome blogs and even better readers, so thank you for that. This is my final post and I dedicate it to you guys, writers, readers and hosts. Nahno ∗ McLein ™

Old music. Do you like to listen to the classics?

YMCA is one of these well-known songs with a silly move. I encounter this kind of music everywhere, in Germany, in England, USA and even Costa Rican guys know these. Who knows if Lady Gaga will one day move up to one of those. Madonna definitely made it - she sang classics that cross decades.



Which songs do you listen to that you're maybe even ashamed of sometimes? The macarena is probably the most ridiculous song that people (mostly with a bit of alcohol) love to dance. At least English people do. We have a night called "Big Bad Cheese" - it took me a year to figure out that it's an ironic title commenting on the cheesy music they play there. The macarena is a weekly special. YMCA not so much, though I'd have loved to do the moves. I'm lucky though, because it's played quite often in Germany.

Do you like welcoming back old friends when they return to your life?

This weekend I had another round of coincidences. First I met old school friends that I hadn't seen in years. It was interesting how everyone seemed to be happy with their studies, their life in different parts of the world and most importantly their love life. It's weird how they all have longterm relationships and even if they broke up with the one I used to know, then they have been together with another one for over a year at least. Talking about rumors of old classmates was hilarious, too. You begin to wonder how people end up with what they are doing right now, whereas others were obvious to foresee.

Later that special Easter weekend (Happy Easter to everyone by the way), I met friends I grew up with. Again, we hadn't seen each other in 3 years. It was a blast to recount all the stories, all the teenage or childhood mischief we could still remember. Pure fun. It's great to know that they are all doing fine. Relationships for 5, 11 or 3 years. A good perspective on regular income and generally a happy life.

Now I look at my own circumstances. Big question mark. Do you have interesting stories meeting someone from the past?

Total: 1280 km/800 miles
Second day: 520 km/330 miles

Monday morning, and I'm off again towards Berlin.

What happened with my bike?
Well, we went to a car repair shop and they managed to get the broken spark plug out of my engine and in a different shop we were lucky to get a new spark plug. Put it back in and happy me, when the motor sounded like I knew it. Once I drove off from the repair shop, I had such a big grin you wouldn't believe it. And a rush of light air wallowed up in my chest as well.

The weekend I spend with my friends, having BBQ, experiencing the amazing Ruhr, a metropolitan area in West Germany full of a mining history and fantastic new developments with superb green environments. Awesome how you can turn dirt into a beautiful tourist attraction. Then I went golfing and mostly relaxed before the last part of the trip.

Monday was fast. High velocity, to get the oil from the broken spark plug out of the engine. It was fun to drive on the German autobahn, as fast as I could, with 100 m/h or 160 km/h through the country. 6 hours later I arrived in Berlin without any complications. It's worth a ride, trust me. You see a lot on a bike and it's fun up the mountains and down again, even though yuo have flies sticking all over your visor.

Total: 1280 km/800 miles
First day: 760 km/470 miles -
after the ferry: 430 km/270 miles left

Friday evening, time has changed, the sun is still out and I'm happy.

Driving on the right side is strange at first, but after all these years I get used to it quickly. Happily I'm singing into my helmet as I drive though the north of France and into Belgium towards the Netherlands. My excited jumps on the bike and flips with my head must have looked amazing - I didn't care, it was fun.

I drove and I kept driving. Then I had to get petrol, so I could have a break, sit down in the sinking sunlight and eat some bread and my biscuits. Off to the motorway again.

Suddenly, not far from the next major city - close to Germany - my motor kind of buzzed, got much louder and my speed dropped abruptly. Shock. I went to the side and stopped the engine, swearing inside. It was dark by now.

I called for help and then I phoned my friends, who were expecting me soon. They said I should have it checked, but it's likely to be a faulty spark plug. The mechanic said the same, but he couldn't fix it.

So I had to drive another 130 km / 80 miles with only 80 km/h 50 m/h. I really was afraid. The mechanic warned me to do it, but my friend said it will be ok. Two traffic jams, a couple of red traffic lights and a few engine break-downs later and I was at my stopover for the weekend.

See tomorrow what happened with my bike and how I got home.

Now it was time for me to drive back to Berlin - from England.
Total: 1280 km/800 miles

First day: 760 km/470 miles

Friday morning, everything's packed and I'm ready to leave England for the summer. No, I wasn't ready, but I did.

I drove down M1, all the way to London. Lucky me, the sun was out, it was warm and I was boiling under my 4 layers of clothes despite the wind that hit me with 120 km/h or 75 m/h. I loved riding my motorbike, especially with my new headphones and the awesome playlist I assembled the day before.

There was only one issue on the first journey to the ferry: English roundabouts. I drove 260 km/160 miles without a break. It surprised me to get that far. My bike was running on the last drops of fuel and to Dover it was another 20 miles, so I had to get of the motorway and find a petrol station. I'd read about a shopping centre, but finding it? I took three different roundabout exits before I hit the one with the petrol station. And don't think you'll find another petrol station in England. No. They only have one.

I had my break and made it to the ferry just in time. Tomorrow I'll tell you about the rest of that day which ended with me being all alone in the dark at the side of a Belgium motorway.