Europe, 2022

We flew into Vienna mid June. Hans picked us up from the airport in a vehicle only just big enough for him, the two of us, a large suitcase and the bike box. Before we can even get through the front door, Niki and Verena come and say hi. Susanna has known Verena from high school, and it was Niki's sixtieth on Sunday and why we came then. And while we are talking, the neighbour opposite turns up in her car, so a quick hello there, too. Then just after we get into the house, Marina from two doors down turns up . . . there are two containers of cake from Arelia (Romanian carer for Sus's dad, she was ex Romanian Olympic gymnastic team coach) on the kitchen bench and a box of Almdudla (a fizzy Alpine drink I have developed a taste for) from Gelinda, our retired film director neighbour to the west. We have been missed.

Travel in Europe over summer is notorious for chaos but after two years of covid and the insane antics of Tsar wannabe Putin, things went next level. There is planning and then there is the great deal of flexibility and patience required regarding expectations and costs. Flights were cancelled and trains delayed. Three weeks later I finally make it, see UK trip, below.

Meanwhile, we catch the train to Salzburg, twice. We manage to catch up with Willie and Roswita, first at a resturant near their place, noting the new ebikes they turn up on, then the next day at their hut up on Werfengwang. Photos under cycling, below.

After 3 years of neglect, the huge effort Suz puts in cleaning the pool for summer is much appreciated by visitors and ourselves for the rest of the summer.

The German school I had gone to for two months back in 2019, now three years ago, required an oral exam which I eventually do. It was inconclusive and they suggest private lessons. I signed up for ten but by this time summer is nearly over and I just fit them in before I have to leave for St Anton.

On Thursday, 21/07/2022, I finally fly out to the UK, details here.

I arrive back in Vienna, Monday the 25th, just in time for a extremely hot night before a very early morning to catch trains to Leer in the far North West of Germany. Delays by any number of reasons meant we did not get to the hotel (very nice, Hafenspiecher) until 11:30pm. Booked seats do not mean much when trains miss their connections. Steffen of Enercon picks us up around 10am, to drive us to Aurich where we meet his assistant, Mirjam, and talk until 4pm with lunch in the canteen. After Steffen drops us off, we go for a walk around the waterway outside the hotel and it is very beautiful evening. Later, I manage half on hour on the exercise bike in the hotel gym.

Passing the German post office in Leer where we see a number of electric Streetscooters charging up. These vans were designed by a techical college and put into production when Deutsche Post failed to convince VW and Mercedes around 2015 that it was possible.

Returning by rail the next day takes even longer. Back up the Ems, Rhein, Maine river valleys and down the Danube, through the cities of Munster, Cologne, Bonn, Franfurt, Regensburg, Passau and Linz. We finally get through the front door around 12:30pm. Why not fly? On the day of the meeting with Enercon, Lufthansa canceled 170,000 flights - and we remembered the horror stories of when Niki's folks flew over for his sixtieth. Overnight sleeper trains were fully booked out. Etc.

The next morning, the Glenns fly over from France. I was particularly keen that they catch up with Niki as he and Andrew had got on so well when we all had visited them in Hobart, now 5 years ago. On the 1st of August, we meet Niki at his work and enjoy a tour of a most historical workplace . . . the Austrian Academy of Science.

The Glenns, Suz and Niki checking out the views from the top of the Science Academy building.

After lunch we leave Niki and catch the train to the Donube Tower for even better views across the city. The day before had us exploring the venerable old quad of the University of Vienna, lined with statues of faculty heads. Susanna and I had been there a few weeks before. Marina had invited us to her Graduation ceremony for a masters she had finally finished. She is an accomplished pediatrician and triathlete. The room was stunning, like out of a Baroque palace and they even had a quartet playing.

On the 3rd of August, the Glenns fly back and we catch the train yet again to Salzburg for a meeting with Leitwind in Sterzing/Vipiteno the following day. We continue by rail to Innsbruk, another couple of hours west of Salzburg and we are late by only 25 minutes.Their driver picks us up for a specatuclar drive through Brenner pass. It was 36 degrees which is remarkably hot for a skiing area and the car has no air conditioning. We spend 3 hours with Danilo Petricio, Matius and Baptiste Ruille and now have a much better understanding of how they do things. They appear to be an excellent fit for SkyFarming. The next morning we ride out to Bertischgarten for a final swim there before we catch the train back to Vienna.

Mid way through August, we ride out to a very big, long lunch with Christian and Anna at their summer place on an arm of the Danube and beyond Klosterneuberg.

The following day, Monday 16th, the Berliners (Volker, Anke and Mitja) turn up. For next 4 days, I take Volker out mountain biking first thing in the morning (on Niki's bike - he was away on holiday) with at least 450m of climbing. For someone who claims he is not that fit . . . closet training, no doubt.

On the Wednesday, Maritza turns up and we have a big bbq. With the neighbours, Christian, Anna, Maritza and the Berliners, we manage to fit the ten of us around the table on the patio. After a goodbye dinner on Friday at Scharfsberg, the Berliners catch their overnight train home. Martiza leaves on the Sunday. Of note, is the breakfast we had Sunday morning with the daughter and son in law of the old couple directly east. A very charming couple (he is a cardiologist who drives a Leaf) who offered me the choice of practicing (my German) or understanding. Fair enough.

Martiza honoured us by coming over for her 50th birthday - we gave her a chocolate torte from the famous Hotel Sacher, beautifully boxed and ready to fly back to Norway. We celebrate with a Vienna Schnitzel at the local resturant, Scharfsberg, right.

Volker, Anke and Mitja had caught the overnight train from Berlin to Vienna to visit, booked months ago. I have lunch with Maritza while the Beliners and Suz go to Prater - Anke is keen on the rides, Suz not so much . .

During the quieter times, we enjoy plenty of cake and coffee, breakfasts, lunches, dinners and much talking with neighbours on both sides of the house. Along the way, I manage to get plenty of riding in the Vienna woods.

UK trip details here.

During the final days before we leave for Perth, we have another big dinner and I get to go through some hastily put together pictures of crossing the Alps. Cycing details here.