A DAY OF BEING OUTSIDE!

Did I tell you how much I love that I can go everywhere on bike here. I did all my shopping on bicycle...to the whole foods store, the produce stand, and the bank.

Today was the birthday party for Susma, Elke's daughter. Susma joined Elka five years ago. Before that she spent her young years in an orphanage in Nepal. Now she is 13 I believe. As Susma came up to the flat to get me, she said, "Annie, I'm so glad you're coming with us today." We didn't speak much the rest of the day, except to collaborate on setting up the picnic, and I could feel the connection to her.

We were beside the river, the name I still forget. It is a wide river with many little pools and lots of sandy beach. Across on the other side, the nudists roam. It's funny to see their tan little hides as they appear, disappear, and reappear in and out of the bushes on the banks of the river.

Elke and I got to talk about many things today. She used to do the drive between Munich and southern Spain, many,many times. So she prepared me in many ways. She also warned me to keep a watch for those at gas stops, who want to point out something wrong with the vehicle..they may be wanting to carjack. It's always good to be aware, and I must say I've always been protected in all my travels...I am safe..this is my claim to fame...I am safe, and that goes for everyone around me.

It looks like the route of travel will be from Munich to Karlsruhe, then through France: Strassborg and through Lyon, onto Montpeleier and down along the coast of France and Spain. That will work out well. Robin wants to stop in Valencia on the coast of Spain to see a specialist. And in summer being on the coast will be cooler.
We'll figure driving so we'll miss the last days of summer vacation in Europe, where everyone converges on the highways to return home.

So tomorrow is another new experience. I take a train, an hour away to Ingolstadt, north of Munich. And there the in-laws of Gina, Klaus and Lis, will pick me up and I will spend the afternoon with them. They are helping me find the campervan. Klaus knows mechanics well and he's got a good sixth sense about buying a vehicle. He is retired and is so happy to help.

Then on Monday, I take the train to the airport..an hour away from Munich, to pick up Robin, who is flying from Houston to join me on this adventure. It's going to be fun showing her aroung to my new friends and to see her surprise at being in a culture she has never experienced.

I biked again tonight until 9:30pm , in the forests again. And so many people were out. The sun seems to disappear very, very slowly, so there is lots of riding time.
There's a huge fountain of drinking water at the entrance to the forest, and when I came near, a woman had just thrown her dog into the chilly water...and the dog and owner delighted. I eagerly joined people at the trough to suck up the delicious cool water, that is dropping down from up high....yummmmmmmmmmm.
nacht!