Day 1 - 18 September 2012 - Frankfurt

After what seemed like a very long time in an aeroplane, we arrived in Frankfurt just as dawn was breaking over Germany. Today wasn't without incident, although we are grateful to the good Lord for his many mercies. We got away from Canberra early Monday morning 17th, having spent most of Sunday pulling down bikes and trying to pack our belongings in the bike boxes and bike panniers. We had a combined weight limit of 55kg, the bike boxes weighing 35kg alone, with a few bits n' pieces thrown in with the bikes. Our combined panniers weighed about 27kg, so we sweated it out all the way to Sydney to see what grace Qantas would extend to us.

We worried for nothing. Sandra Godkin met us at the airport to kiss us goodbye, and take car of our car, leaving us on the footpath with what seemed like a massive load of gear. We had packed our full rear panniers in two carry bags for which we paid $2 each at the local Reject shop. Qantas only allowed the bike box plus one other 'bag'.

The guy at the counter was magnificent. We were over weight but he just shrugged it off with a wink. We were in. I carried the tent on board, and we carried a back pack each. They were full, but we would off-load much of it into our panniers when we got to Germany. We also packed Kelvin's two front panniers which were empty, but which will carry the food to be purchased in Germany, and the cooking gear which was packed in the bike boxes.

The flight to Singapore was smooth and seemed to pass. However, getting off I realised I had left the iPad sitting on my seat! I had it ready to carry by hand, but put it down when I stood up to get my backpack and tent out of the overhead locker, and after standing for ages just walked off. Once off, the penny dropped, and I tried getting back on again, but was stopped by the guard until a lovely hostess went on board for me. She couldnt find it so she took me on board too, but the precious iPad was not to be seen. I felt sick and disappointed. It was part of our communication plan, plus access to maps etc in wireless zones, but it was no more.

We had little time to feel sorry. We were back on board in no time in the same seats, and off to Frankfurt. The flight was long. It was now after 1am of course Sydney time, and we were past weary. Julie has only flown 1st class and Business for a long time now, so to slum it in economy was more than a test. To suffer it for 12 hours plus, well the time passed ever so slowly. If you haven't flown long distance for a while, try sitting in a bus shelter with the seat full of people and stay there for 12 hours. The experience would be very similar!

Qantas is great though. The food was excellent and the movies helped to pass the time. We slept little.

Anyway, we landed. It was still dark at 6:30am, but dawn was clearly just breaking. It was cool and fresh. Our bags came easily and for the first time our bike boxes were not damaged (again, thanks Qantas!). Our $2 Reject shop bags also survived, with our beautiful panniers unharmed. Then the fun began. We had two trolleys, and went straight through the Passport check. There was no customs check unless you chose to declare, and we were all through by about 7:30am.

We learned we needed to catch the free airport bus to a different Terminal, from where the Hotel bus would pick us up. It meant packing all our gear, bike boxes etc on the bus which was full with people, and drove to Terminal 1. Off we loaded again, and then wondered how we would carry our gear the 500 metres to the place where the bus would collect us. Our tension levels were high, because english didnt come easy to people we asked for help, but I found one lone trolley and then packed two trolleys worth of gear and with Julie walking in front in her best German, tried clearing the footpath for me to drive my trolley through. Not being able to see clearly over the top made driving difficult!

Anyway, we made it. The second bus driver was nice, and we eventually were dropped off at the IBIS Hotel a few kilometres from the Airport. It was barley 9am. We were dog tired, a little tense and keen to get settled, so for a small extra fee we were allowed early access to our lovely room.

The Hotel is about 1k from the River Main. We had planned to ride to Frankfurt (20k) to buy supplies etc, but we discovered ALDI and some other similar stores across from the Hotel. However, having put our bikes together, which went very efficiently to our relief, we spent a few hours exploring the River Main, and the way out tomorrow. We went west, on the southern bank which was to take us to Mainzat the intersection of the Main and Rhine Rivers, but the track came to an abrupt end after about 5k. We backtracked, and eventually spoke to a local who actually rode with us some 3k toward Frankfurt to the east, but then found the bridge that took us to the more reliable northern bank, where we would find our way to Mainz and then south to Worms tomorrow.

Once we hit the river our spirits improved. We were very tired, but the tiredness was held at bay by the sheer beauty of this magnificent river, and the lovely sights of German archiecture and parks along the river. This was just a taste of what we will see tomorrow.

We were back to the Hotel by 2:30pm or so, but just needed to sleep, and sleep we did. We ate 'shnitczel' for dinner, amazed at the size of beer being served to others at dinner! We faced the challenge of repacking and sorting our panniers properly, and called it a day. As I started to type the blog, and Julie got into bed, we reflected on how long it felt since we landed only just this morning.

The weather today was beautiful, quite warm in the sun with clear blue sky. It all looks good for tomorrow.

So that is day 1. Our bikes are ready. We will be up early, breakfast at 6am and then back to the river by 7:30am to head west to Mainz then turn south to Worms, some 105k or so. It will be our biggest day but the terrain is flat and the conditions should be fine.

There are so many unknowns ahead of us. However, we live by the promises of God found in Scripture, and here is one for today "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplecation with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God". (Philippians 4:6). So at the end of this very long day, some 48hrs after leaving Canberra, we are thankful to God for his many mercies to us today, and trust him for the many things ahead of us over which we have little or no control ourselves.

With love from Frankfurt. At dawn tomorrow we head to Worms. Kelvin & Julie