25th - off to Brno...........

We didn't race to get up this morning - but we didn't hang around either - since it was time to get to the other  side of the country to see the qualifying round of the MotoGP - the whole reason for traversing almost from north to south.

The drive itself was pretty uneventful (luckily), but we had a lot of trouble finding the Penzion.  We ended up calling for directions only to be told that they would be there to check us in in about 30 minutes.  This would normally not be an issue, but by this stage we had foregone a final toilet break, thinking we were nearly there, thus avoiding the possible horrors of public loos.

We found the place and all stared at it in some disbelief....  it was somewhat of a disappointment....or maybe somewhat is an massive understatement......

To be absolutely fair, the building looked fine - and knowing there were working toilets inside certainly added to its limited charm, but the locale was a trifle disconcerting....it was in the middle of what seemed like an abandoned industrial estate.

It was behind a seriously high security fence - and of course we couldn't get in until the owners turned up (and after when we had our key).

So there we sat, and paced, and squirmed, for nearly 50 minutes.....  but which time Marketa and I were in pain... but we were given the key to look at the room before going through the checking in process, which was great.....

So we checked in and I actually won the "I'll pay" fight,  for once.  We then buggered off quick smart to the race track, even though we'd missed the qualifying for the main class - we still had Moto 3 to go, and as it turned out, another class, the Redbull Rookies.  That race was actually really good.  After that it was time to shop.......

Okay - so I spent a ridulous amount of money, it's very true...absolutely UNdeniable....but when will I get back there again?  The tally then:

1 x Brno MotoGP 2012 shirt
1 x Cal Crutchlow shirt (and one for David too)
1 x Nicky Hayden shirt (for Tracy)
1 x "The Doctor" patch for my bike bag
1 x "Brno MotoGP" patch for my bike bag (in the shape of the circuit)
2 x 'Brno MotoGP" magnet - in the shape of the circuit (one for me, one for Tracy &David)
1 x scale model of Marco Simoncelli's bike (was REALLY happy they still had Simoncelli stuff available)

Then Marketa and I 'joined' the Marco Simoncelli Foundazione - which raises money for worthy causes - schools for disabled children in various places, clinics etc... so very happy to help and for our donation, we got a Marco Simoncelli Foundazione t-shirt.

So...quite the haul, when all was said and done :)

By this stage we were starving.. we'd pretty much skipped lunch on the drive and then arrived late to the track...and the food at the track was beyond exorbitant.

So we drove into Brno proper and looked around a bit, looking for a restaurant of some sort but were striking out a bit..... so Roman stopped a young adult walking with his skateboard (assuming he was probably a local)...  Luckily he was and he told us of a new restaurant that had been heavily advertise nearby, under the art gallery....so we got ourselves there and interrupted the wait staff filling in time playing badminton.  We weren't sure if the lack of patronage was because it was new, it was early or it was bad...  I think it was the early... because the food was great.

Me at Brno MotoGP Circuit

We were pretty stuffed by this time, so we headed back to our luxurious accommodation and pretty much collapsed.