Thank you to a lot of wonderful people

It's Sunday evening 18 July in Sydney, Australia and Sunday morning in Europe.

Our last night in Europe was at a hotel in Frankfurt on Friday 16 July.  I intended to make the final posting a thank-you to all of the kind people who opened their homes and hearts (and boat and aeroplane) to us.

As is the way with technology, the internet was not working. Nor could I connect at Frankfurt airport on Saturday. So here it is, a bit late but heartfelt just the same.

The hospitality started in Alsace & Lorraine, France

Marguerite, wife of Cap'n Freddie and mother of Nathalie

Cap'n Freddie, husband of Marguerite and father of Nathalie

Nathalie

Denis, Nathalie's husband and Nicolas' father

We will always remember our special surprise at the

St Louis Arzviller inclined plane on the Strasbourg-Paris canal

Michele, one of the cheeriest people we know

and organiser of numerous surprises

Alex, Chantal's husband. We're looking forward to

seeing you and Chantal  in Sydney next week

Chantal, Nicolas' mother

Marcelle, Louise's mother.

Louise & Nicolas are two young French people currently doing an

around-Australia road trip.  We helped LouNco get started on their

Australian adventure and their families wanted to meet us and vice versa.

Chantal and Marcelle

Dinner at Denis and Nathalie's home with our great friend Michele

We then travel to Bavaria, Germany

We first met Daniela Barrett's parents, Rolf and Maria, in 2006

Rolf and I have similar intertests: motorcycles, machinery and beauty

Rolf and Maria

Rolf and Maria's daughter Sabine and her partner Timo.

We did not catch up with Brigitte, Rolf & Maria's other daughter.

Brigitte and her husband Martin helped us with my medical issues.

At Rolf and Maria's home

A couple of larrikins

Doctor Hoffman in Bad Tölz twice attended

to my left eye but never charged me.

At this point in the trip I was seriously worried.

Back to Strasbourg to catch a train to Paris

Michele's parents, Rene and Paulette,

indulged us with the best Alsacian foods.

After Paris, returning to Germany

Alex and Chantal had us stay with them on our return to Strasbourg.

We met Grandson Ivan, a very happy 2 year old.

The Franconian region of Germany

Back in Germany, we meet old friend Claus Maikis

Claus introduces us to fellow aeromodeller Wolfram and

his wife Gisela who live near Nürnberg ...

. . . who also invite us into their home and

overwhelm us with hospitality

We had the great fortune to meet Wolfram and Gisela's

daughter Kerstin and her partner Lukas. 

Lukas piloted one aeroplane with me in it while

Wolfram piloted the other for Jenni

Back to Ulm in the Swabian Region

We spent two of the last three days as Claus' guest. 

We know Claus through our mutual passion for model aircraft .

Thanks to you all for sharing your lives with us. You helped make this trip to Europe a wonderful experience that we'll never forget.

Jeff & Jenni

THE END