I was working at a bar, making great money in tips, had a great trailer next to a river (I am from Montana, trailers used to be a luxury :P) and actually liked my job.
I was doing some Amateur kickboxing and training easily as much as I was drinking, both were nearly daily.
One day I was talking to a friend I had met who was an exchange student from Denmark, he was also a kickboxer, who mentioned he could probably get me some fights across the puddle.
A light went off, I hung up the phone, went to the bookstore bought two books on how to back pack Europe on my way to work and gave a months notice to my employer.
People of course thought I was nuts but thought it a grand Idea for a young guy to do. One lady who frequented the Casino was a financial advisor who would give me a 50 dollar bill as a going away saying "Make sure you save that for a special investment down the road, you will know when it is time" I would end up saving that 50 for 8 more years, tucked neatly away in my wallet until I purchased my first house, that Fifty would be party of the downpayment! She was right, it grew and I would buy another house renting out my first, but that's another story.
My GF at the time was sort of on board but pretty sure I should just camp out with her instead asking "Why Europe?"
"Because it sounds good and I can get fights"
"oh ok" she would reply with the usual female eye roll super excited female voice, this guy's a moron going through her mind I am sure. I did not shack up with her, which on one hand is a unfortunate as she was truly an Amazing person, but had I would I have continued my trip? I'm not so sure.
I really had no Idea what I was getting into as at the time was the end of the Cold War and years of American propaganda flooded my mind. I still believed that Europeans lived way behind us and it would not have surprised me if they still pee'd in a can and dumped it out the window. I was sure they could barely eat and lacked creature comforts of America. Did straw beds filled with bed bugs await? Would the lanterns be burning whale blubber at the local Inns? I voiced my concern to my friend in Denmark who assured me "Everything is the same just different, just pack like you are going on a normal trip, dummy"
I set a date and was ready to go, sure that I should go and get blitzed at Octoberfest in Germany, however I would mention to a friend my plans who decided he would go as well, but needed an extra month to take time off work so he could go with me, why not I thought? His Idea was also to see Europe in December to make it special so we could also see how "Other countries celebrated Christmas' now that sounded grand but ultimately would make the trip a real pain in the ass, more on that later.
So I scrapped the plan of getting passed out under tables in Germany and settled for getting bloody noses in Denmark and seeing the rest of Europe by Train.
I would give up my luxurious trailer by the perfect River, load up everything I owned (Should have sold it to be honest) and head to crash at my Pa's place for the next month until I left.
That time would be spent procuring the Eurail Pass, finishing up the books I was reading and getting whatever I deemed necessary packed
https://www.eurail.com/en?gclid=CjwKCAiA_omPBhBBEiwAcg7smWjqgCwdWpzdTQnSWgDw2wZpd3ldiCyz8EWYu_sHc7X7F-AUY1rR0RoCGX4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
During that time I tried hard not to get sidetracked, there was a real cool Ar15 I could buy, but that was my train ticket, better not, the Ar would be there when I got back.
A house came up for sale by a friend for the low low price of 10k, I had the cash and was super close to buying it as it was an incredible deal, but of course did not. (Crazy how cheap you could buy homes for in SW Montana 28 years ago!" Again, had I bought that house I would have made the trip. Mind you it would have paid for itself several times over, but damn it, trips are where it's at!
Finally I needed to find a safe way to spend money, which at the time and according to my books were travelers checks. I was also sure I could see Europe on five dollars a day, one of the books I read was titled that and I was naive enough to believe it. Wow would that prove to not only be erroneous, but a complete fabrication.
First my trip to Denmark where huge fights awaited, glory, women and great beer! two months there then my friend would meet me, we would hit the train and off we would go.
I would spend my last two days not sleeping, I hung out with friends, my favorite cousin (I know she's reading this now) and finally a early morning flight to Europe.
Next up, the Journey begins
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