Thursday, April 17th, 2003

It is always a bit of a mess trying to find out who is arriving from where and when, especially if people are coming from all sorts of countries. Speaking for AJ and myself, we flew from the UK to Moenchen-Gladbach, not sure whether we had an arrangement with Jenn and her sister to be picked up at the airport or the train station in Duesseldorf.
Well, as we arrive in Germany, I put on my Viking Helmet to ensure that I will be recognised in any case. A lot of people recognise "a Viking" at the airport and at the central train station, but unfortunately I don�t know any of them�

A viking arrives

On bikes around the area

Mmmmm...that could be a yummi lamb roast

I am not truly recognised until we arrive at Geldern Train Station where we are picked up by Piet. We arrive at the family farm just in time for lunch � lunch with a group of friends that I haven�t seen for a year: Piet, Klaus, Diana, Jenn and a new member of the OUTC Easter Reunion, Jenn�s sister, Carrie. After lunch, Franz Allofs shows us a catalogue of the best bulls in the area available by mail order.

Carrie: Wrrrm! wrrrmm!

Yeeeh ! German spring weather!

The programme for the afternoon: local sightseeing on bikes in fabulous spring weather. We end up at Piet's aunt's house just in time to become a part of her birthday celebration (Piet suddenly realised as we entered the house as a big group). We are all placed in the big couch and fed chocolate, coffee and cakes while the family (including the 90-year-old grandmother) entertain us and we entertain them.

Piet and family

Birthday party for Piet's aunt - we invited ourselves

Next stop: the DIEBELS pub / brewery. It all seems too easy from then on - the Strawberry beer goes down like fruit juice. After a couple of drinks, Tino arrives with Klaus. Having walked from the train station to Piet's farm, he is the real tramper of us all and we need another round to celebrate this!

DIEBELS brewery and one more tramper: Tino

Brewery? No thank you! I'd rather be here!

Friday, April 18th, 2003

The full German breakfast is served and, following the tradition in Piet's family, we all say "PIP PIP PIP, Wir haben uns all lieb. Jeder isst so viel er kann, nur nicht seinen Nebenmann!" (This is available on a video file but I can't figure out how to make it a website link - anyone - help!!!)

Favourite flags are up

The family church next door

Carrie getting the garden ready for Easter

Cultural day ahead of us (not that it ever reaches a serious level): a trip to an old roman settlement. We get a guided tour of the place - and we are fascinated: the most interesting part to us is - of course - the toilets and the Romans' sharing of the stick with a sponge to wipe their bums. All of a sudden the expression "you've got the wrong end of the stick!" gets a whole new meaning!

Back to Rome Relaxing in the sunny collosseum

Perfect place for a picnic in the middle of an old Roman settlement

Ancient world, new people

Time for a paddle

...and that's what we learned today

The Roman Museum was an inspiration to everyone!

It is time for a paddle! We jump in the cars again and go to a lake - here we jump into two paddle boats and head for the open lake. The weather is still fine and we cruise around in the sun (some cruise a bit more than others as only two people can paddle at the time)

mmmm...just like kayaking Abel Tasman (almost)

Great cruise!

aaaahhhhh

... and it's time to eat again! (Bienenstich und Strudel)

And then ... Micki and Craig arrive from Sweden. Straight away, Craig helps make (or whatever he is doing on that picture?)the welcome pasta... and that evening we all go for a looooooong survival walk in the moonlight in the deep dark German countryside for many, many hours - until the once keen trampers start complaining about tiredness, too much fresh air (and probably too much barbed wire!). No, give us soft couches and cushions, we are in Europe now! So, vital life-support consisting of the delivery of Irish Coffee and German biscuits by Piet's family is very welcome in a dark deserted place in the middle of the night - definitely the only reason why we all survive the walk!

Give me sun and water!

aaaahhhhh

Midnight survival walk