It is not always necessary to travel with a heavy pack, trail food, drafty tents and dirty clothes. Sometimes you take the cushy route. That’s what Patsy and I did the past couple of weeks — sailing in an Avalon river cruiser from Budapest to Amsterdam. The trip was heavier on cathedrals and castles than I preferred and a little short on trail hiking and bike riding. Still, it was easy ridin’ with lots of gourmet food. I could get in the habit. Now, I get ready for the final leg of my AT section hike in Maine this July. By the way, the rivers are filled with numerous waterfowl species. Check out mommy and daddy swan with their bambinos. (Photo by Patsy Judy, all rights reserved).