Well tomorrow night just never came. The day went on and on and I put in what was for me the longest day. I arose at 8 am, packed and set out in a wet slushy snow for the airport of Luxembourg, about four miles out of town. I met two boys from Miami and while we waited for the baggage check to open we talked about our experiences in Europe. [I flew on the new discount airline Air Bahama, which operated DC-8s between Luxembourg, Shannon, Iceland, and Nassau. ] After a long wait, the airplane took off at 1 pm. An American girl from Miami studying in Switzerland sat with me on the return trip. We read each other's diaries, and so I got to know a good deal about her. We had a 45 minute refueling stop at Shannon, Ireland, then we were off from Europe. It's a strange but old country, the USA. We arrived after a 12 hour uneventful flight into Nassau at 6:30 pm local. I was late for my connection but got on another one at 8:30. Got through customs okay and were soon off to America on Pan Am. I arrived in Miami too late to catch my plane, so spent five hours at Miami International airport trying to sleep, but it was impossible.
Got away to Atlanta at 4 am, only to find no room on the flight I had planned to take. After a boring three hour wait in Atlanta, I got on a Los Angeles-bound Delta flight to New Orleans and Dallas. Had a 20 minute stop in New Orleans at 8 am, on to Dallas arriving at 10:30 am. My Aunt Margaret Cavnar picked me up at 11:30. Went home. My cousins Nick and Dick arrived and we had a real American hot dog lunch. Still not a "Z" of sleep since waking in Luxembourg. Got reservations on a Frontier flight to Lawton for tomorrow. Visited with my Scoutmaster Lon Sailers, the one who led us all to Sweden in August. Picked up Jim at midnight at Love Field and got to bed at 1 am.
Carolyn Emerson
1551 Salvatierra Dr
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Chateau Brillantmont
16 Av Secretan
1005 Lausanne
Vaud, Switzerland
Awoke at 8 am. Roamed Luxembourg until 2 pm, and went to see the move "The Killer Likes Candy" for 40 cents. Then I picked up the receipt for my suitcases at the Boy Scout Office, got the suitcases at customs, and started to repack in front of the luggage lockers in the station. As I started throwing things out I couldn't take, the bums started closing in on me to take what I didn't want. I retreated to my hotel room, carrying my luggage up four flights of stairs. Repacked and eliminated many things. I took the suitcase to weigh it. It came in at 16 kg and the bike weighs 16 km, so I may be a few kgs over the limit. Packed about six kg of books and paper into the flightbag, which I hope won't be weighed. Tonight is the last in Europe. Tomorrow night I'll be in Dallas.
Hotel $2.40
Movie .40
Snacks .50
Slept late again. Breakfast and went to Attillio's to have my clothes washed and read his [Boy Scout Magazine] Boy's Life which I hadn't seen. Had lunch with six of the family members. Went to the Scout hut with Marc's brother, Attillio's brother and a friend, all age 13, then to a bar for a beer and some billiards. Marc joined us later. I played him, then we returned home.
I realized that I should be in Luxembourg tonight, so I hastily packed, ate, said goodbye to all, and was driven to Hasselt by Marc and his Dad, Gustaaf and friend. They saw me off at 6:28 pm. The ensuing two changes of train, in Leuven and Brussels were ones to remember. Arrived In Luxembourg at 11 am, with a heavy snow falling. Checked into a real nice $2.40 hotel room across from the Gare [train station].
Train $8.00
Hotel $2.40
Slept late and had breakfast of bread and butter, salami, cheese and coffee. Went to Marc's house next door for lunch. His brother is 13 and aspires to attend the Scout Jamboree in Japan in 1971. I showed the family my patches, souvenirs and uniform. About 3 pm, Marc, his brother, father and I drove into Mastricht, Holland. We parked the car and strolled through the festive shopping area, listening to an old fashioned traveling mechanical band and eating ice cream.
Returned to Genk after dark in the rain. We stopped at a friend's house so Marc could show off his foreign visitor. Had dinner and an enjoyable evening with Atillio's family of seven youngsters and parents.
I left Brussels at 9 am, cycling to Leuven. Had some French Fries and waited in the cold for the 12:14 train to arrive. Got to Hasselt 45 minutes later and cycled into Genk 12 km away. I first was directed to Attilio Roncada's house, the scoutmaster of the Belgium Troop at Niagra-on-the-Lake, then went over to Gustoof's house. His mother died several years ago so he lives with his Father and has no brothers or sisters. Afterwards we went down to the youth club at the church and another downtown where I impressed them with my lack of billiard ability. Retired late.
Mileage: 25 m
Gustoof Roncada
Doninikanenlaan 77
Genk, Limburg, Belgium
Was awakened early by the adorable (death wish!) two girls but I rolled over and slept until daybreak. After a chilly breakfast in the unheated basement kitchen, Mr Abdellaoui and I jump-started the cold car. Went to pick up a Tunisian friend of his. We went out to the Atomium. We took the grand tour, including coffee in the middle sphere. Went downtown, parked, had coffee in a restaurant.
Took a walk, more coffee, same restaurant. Went to a Morrocan friend's restaurant for a spicy native dish with a beer. Spent two hours there, to another restaurant for more beer and billiards. Returned home at 7 pm. As you can see, of the ten hours in Brussels, nine were in cafes over coffee or beer. If this is the guys way to enjoy his day off (He's a bus driver) I hope indeed he's having fun. After dinner, wrote and retired.
Later entry. While I was eating and watching television the fact struck me coldly and bluntly why he had be acting so unusual all day. The news showed that a giant anti-American, anti-war demonstration was held in Brussels today. He did succeed in keeping me away for it so as not to embarrass me. Now I understand.
Slept until 9:30. Had breakfast by myself and left for Brussels. A heavy frost left the earth white and I found out later it had dropped to minus 14 Centigrade. I painfully cycled into Tournai, Belgium and got on the 12:35 train to Brussels Midi Station.
I wandered hopelessly for two hours, looking both for a cheap map or an Audergheml. I didn't find the first but found the second. The family wasn't at home but I was invited next door to wait. Mr and Mrs Abdellaoui arrived at 5 pm. Spicy spaghetti for dinner. Watched television and wrote.
Mileage 15 m
Train $2.80
French Fries .25
Map $1.00
Abdellaoui Mohamed
2 Av Walckiers
Auderghem
Brussels 16, Belgium
Awoke at first light. At 10 am, packed up and set out. The sun never rose more than 30 degrees in the sky all day from the horizon, crossing over from England the rain clouds cleared and left a sun shining through a cold atmosphere. Both yesterday, today, and tomorrow were real freezers. Each morning a little more white frost would be on everything, making it look like after a snow storm - but no snow. My feet and hands froze numb while cycling. Some orange drink I put in my water bottle froze solid before I could drink it. The intense cold in my hands and feet combined with the heat of my chest and a strong wind and an extra heavy load and hills up and down made cycling most miserable. Arrived in Tourcoing at dusk, 4 pm. Mr Xavier was not in town so his teachers at the University gave me another place to sleep. A castle more closely. After dinner I retired.
Xavier Brouaux
15 Place du Theatre
59 Tourcoing, France
Mileage: 60 km
Mr Voller took me up to Dover at 9 am. Wheeled my loaded-down bike on the ship and was off to the continent at 10 am. Arrived in Boulogne at 11:30. Met a Canadian cyclist on landing. He split south and I east. With no map, I wandered for two hours in the hills. Just as I thought I was really lost I found a bookstore and got a map, and found out I was lost. Three hours later I pitched my tent in a forest near God knows where, either in France or in Belgium, I still don't know. Read by candlelight until no more candle. Slept in full dress.
Mileage: 50 km
Map .30
Ferry 7.50
Awoke at four cracks before dawn (i.e. 7 am). Dismantled the bike to fit in Gwen's car. She let me off at Victoria but I had to cycle a nerve-wracking mile through early morning London traffic to Charing Cross station. Got the 10 am train to Folkestone. Arrived at noon. Bought my Dover-Boulogne ticket and returned to the Vollers. Washed clothes and packed and repacked. Susan and Clair came home first, then Andy. After dinner Clair, Andy and I went down to Lydd for a dance. Andy and some of his cool teenage cousins and I took a ride out on Romney Marsh for a little known pub. I told Andy I didn't want a weak English Lager so he bought me two of England's finest. They did the work of a six-pack of America's finest. Returned to the dance, no girls available. Returned home at 10 pm.
