Family, Friends, Frontiers

Bergy bits!

Well I finally came up with a name for the blog post so that means it's time to fill in the blanks. Maybe it's so hard because the adventure last summer (2024) is nearly beyond words. The stars aligned in such a way that I found myself on a three-week cruise with mom, Laurene, Jennifer and Brenda! Okay, there was a bit of planning involved in addition to star alignment, but it's still a wonder to me that everything worked out so well! The five of us met up in Amsterdam, spent a day there and then embarked on a three week cruise that included stops in Norway, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, see photo below for the itinerary. It's intimidating to think about trying to recap the trip, so I think I'll just list a few highlights to remind myself. (If anyone is reading this and wants to know more, you know how to reach me!) And then of course there's the link to the full photo album.

Rice table and rooftop cocktails in Amsterdam

Little hike to the lake in Eidfjord, Norway

Misty morning walk and amazing cliffs on Shetland Island

Morning yoga on deck

Origami and Puzzling, Hydropool and Martinis

Waterfalls, and more waterfalls

Bike riding to the best gas station burger in Iceland

Blue Lagoon and Reykjavik 

Icebergs, Growlers and Bergy Bits

Hikes and local beer in Greenland and Faroe

Pints and scotch and family in Scotland

And much, much more!

Itinerary (no stop at Stornaway due to weather)

Shetland Islands

Faroe Islands

Link to Cruise Photo Album

After that whirlwind trip in August, Matthias and I had a fun September. First, our friends Leoni and Norbert came to Passau for a quick visit, then we attended the Herbstdult (fall festival) and after that we decided to get one more bike trip in before the weather turned too cold. Unfortunately, we didn't make it before the weather turned too rainy. Our plan was to ride from Passau across Bavaria to the Black Forest. It was a good plan, with campsites located every 60 to 80 kms on the way and good cycle routes, but the weather was not on our side. When it rains (a lot), we usually decide to spend an extra day wherever we are. But this time, the downpours occurred when we were at campsites that were in the middle of nowhere and prone to flooding. Instead, we happened upon the nice campsites (with shelter, good drainage and villages nearby) when the sun shined. Oh well, Ti na kanoume. Yes, that's Greek for "Whatever/what can we do?" 🤷🏻‍♀️ I've been searching for that phrase for ages; I knew how to say it but didn't know if it was for real! Thanks ChatGPT! But I digress. 

Leoni in Passau!

Herbstdult

Appx. bike trip route:

 

So, after eight days of cycling (five in the rain) we made it to Donaueschingen, at the source of the Danube river and the edge of the Black Forest. We had a nice campsite and pitch that was sheltered from the strong winds that had started up. The next morning we packed our gear and started off toward our destination at Schluchtsee, but turned around due to heavy winds and a forecast for more severe weather to come at our destination. So, since the campsite at Donaueschingen was sheltered from the wind, we decided to make it our base to explore the area. We spent another three nights there, taking bike trips into the hills and one impressive scenic train ride through the forest to a  beautiful half-timbered village called Gengenbach. And of course we sampled delicious Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte and Schinken. On the way back home, we were surprised by a beautiful village called Bad Urach in the Schwäbische Alb (Swabian Alb/hills) where we found a nice campsite and had a lovely dinner in town. Then, after stopping over at Ulm and Neuburg on the Donau, we decided to go back to a campsite near Neustadt that we had stopped at on the way out. It was located in the middle of a major Bavarian hop-growing region (yes, the stuff used to make beer). When we were there a couple of weeks earlier, they were just starting to harvest the hops, so one could say it was really hopping. (yuk yuk.) On the way back, though, practically everything was harvested and bare, but the area was still worth a look. We spent two nights at the campsite there (unfortunately, the second night was loud and someone had a meltdown) then one more stop at Straubing and on home. Despite the bumps in the road, that is, the rain falling from the sky, it was a good tour.

  

 

Hopfenland!

Gengenbach

Link to Schwarzwald Bike Trip Album

And the year's highlights continued! In early November, I took off for Florida to visit mom and get ready for our fabulous Thanksgiving week sojourn. We flew to Philadelphia, spent a fun night in town, then rented a car the next day and drove to the Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos, where we met the family for the Thanksgiving weekend. It was magical, despite some unforeseen circumstances (a night in the ER, a hastily-planned Bris) and I'm pretty sure we all--nine adults and four kids--had a great time. After the weekend, mom and I crossed the border to NY to see more family. We visited Charlene and Larry in Warwick and then the rest of the clan (no longer with us) at the cemetery in Newburgh. Then on to Bear Mountain Inn to see some folks in Highland Falls, and finally to Long Beach to spend a few hours with Andrew, Chavi, Jordan and (recently bris-sed) baby Louie! Of course, we snagged a night at the TWA hotel at JFK before our morning flight back to Sarasota. 

Family dinner

Ione and Eli at the indoor water park

At the Great Wolf Lodge

With Jordan Belle in Long Beach

Chavi, Andrew, mom and Baby Louie

Back in Florida, we had some special visitors. Lara and John came for a quick weekend trip and it was great to spend time with them and the alligators at Myakka park! Then Sue came for a visit and we had some fun and got stuff done! And we saw some shows, celebrated Harold's birthday, and had some good food in my remaining weeks stateside. Then back to Germany with one day to spare in 2024. 

Sue in Sarasota!

Lara and John's visit

Jan 1, back in Passau!