Monday, January 01, 2001

Roaming around in 2000

I keep saying I am going to slow down a bit but looking back at 2000 proves me wrong. March saw me in Canada with a trip to Ontario including a Hot Rod show in Toronto, the Canadian National Car Museum in Oshawa, a trip to Parry Sound on the Georgian Bay with side trips to Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst. Also a search for the lost railway station at Depot Harbour with fun driving off the blacktop in a Dodge Grand Caravan.
May and a quick trip to Dublin with the day job. A farewell gig for the band Temple Myst in Hastings, also a trip to Hastings Rock FM to line up some gigs for next year. June and the usual trip to Le Mans for the 24 Hour race. A rare moment of peace cycling between the track and the Bar des Sports in Arnage.
July/August and off on the Grand Tour of Europe taking in France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland. Highlights included a visit to the Smart car factory at Hambach, the Musée Schlumpf in Mulhouse and the stage finish of the Tour de France also in Mulhouse. A trip to Berne and a ride through the Emmental to Lucerne with a magical view of the lake took care of Switzerland. To Austria via Liechtenstein and we enjoyed the rosti and a trip on the Achenseebahn steam mountain railway.
To Munich and the BMW museum. Then the Zeppelin Museum at Friedrichshafen - highly recommended. On to Stuttgart and visits to Porshe and Mercedes. Then to Hockehheim to see Rubens Barrichello win the German Grand Prix for Ferrari.
To Luxembourg to see the city and the Moselle river and on to Nurburgring to see the fabulous Nordschleife circuit. To Zandvoort for the Marlboro Masters of Formula Three via the Spa-Francorchamps circuit and the Airborne Museum at Arnhem.
September and back in Germany in Berlin for a week at Lotusphere 2000, a software conference. Visits to the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and a canal trip in the autumn sun.
October 12 and never to be forgotten as my house ships two feet of water in the great Lewes flood. Get on the plane for Canada once more and visit Wasaga Beach on Lake Huron and the splendid Welland Canal.
November and off to Macau for the Grand Prix and a short rest in Hong Kong. Another business trip to Dublin in time for Christmas to round off the year.

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