Naboom2Germany is verby, finito!

Anja, Gunther en Rosi met hul N2G t-hemde. Michael lyk soos 'n skoolhoof.
Anja, Gunther and Rosi with their N2G t-shirts. Michael looks like a school head master.

Ek en Rosi en Gunther by die Duitse vlag in hul tuin.
Rosi, Gunther and I at the German flag in their garden.

Marcel Turk uit Holland wat kom groet het.
Marcel Turk from Holland who paid us a surprise visit.

Sondag 1 Junie – Langenselbold, Duitsland.

Ek het my eindpunt bereik: Naboom2Germany is geskiedenis.

Naboom2Germany sal egter nooit verdwyn nie. As dit so moet wees, gaan daar nog meer Naboom2…. reise wees. Miskien sal ek eendag my koffiehoekie ook so noem. Dit was tog die begin van alles.

Die dag het met mooi sonskyn begin. Ek, en Sib en Nic het ongelooflike gasvryheid by Anne en Archie Rebstock, en hul dogters en skoonseuns, Eve en Markus, Rike en Alex geniet.

Ek en Sib is net na 7 daar weg en op die A 7 het ons werklik vir oulaas gegroet. Hy is verder rigting Tsjeggiese Republiek toe, ek rigting Frankfurt.

Die kilometers het eenvoudig net verbygevlieg. Ek moes my dikwels inhou en daaraan herinner dat alles te gou verbygaan, ook my toer.

Presies eenuur het ek by Gunther en Rosi se huis in Langenselbold ingery. In die een hoek van die tuin was ‘n vlagpaal met die Duitse en Suid-Afrikaanse vlag. Hulle het baie moeite gedoen om my welkom te heet. Ook Michael en Anja was daar.

Terwyl ek onder die stort was, het Rosi my kom roep omdat daar ‘n besoeker vir my was. Ek het ander Duitse vriende verwag. Buite het egter ‘n motorfietsryer met ‘n lekker baard gestaan. Ek was taamlik oorbluf want ek het die man glad nie geken nie.

Hy het himself as Marcel Turk uit Rotterdam, Holland, voorgestel, en toe kom die mooiste storie. Hy het sedert einde verlede jaar die webblad gereeld besoek. Hy is self ‘n motorfietsryer wat die wêreld al platgery het. Woensdagaand het hy gesien dat ek vandag by my eindpunt sou wees. Hy het sy naweekry toe so aangepas om in Langenselbold ‘n draai te kom maak om te kom dagsê. Wat ‘n heerlike verrassing!

Marcel, baie dankie vir die groot eer om te kom dagsê! Dit was een van die mooiste gebare van my toer.

Ek het nog so baie om te skryf en te vertel, onder meer die tegniese data oor die reis, kostes, wenke ens. Dit gaan kom, so gou as wat ek bietjie tot ruste gekom het. Geduld is wat julle nou met my moet hê.

Weet julle, ek weet nie of ek nou kan stop nie. Ek sal tot Maandagoggend moet besluit: Gaan ek aanhou ry, of gaan ek oor twee weke terug in SA wees. Ek hoop ek het moreaand ‘n antwoord. Ek sal julle op die dagboek vertel.

Groete, en baie, baie dankie vir al die e-posse!

Lodie

Sunday 1 June: Langenselbold, Germany

My Naboom2Germany tour is over. It belongs to the past.

It is like the king is dead, long live the king! I believe the name will not disappear. If it is to be, there will be more Naboom2… tours. I may even name my coffee shop (still a dream) Naboom2Germany, because that is where everything has started.

The day started with brilliant sunshine on the trees and meadows. Nic, Sib and myself enjoyed the most wonderful hospitality at the home of Archie and Anne Rebstock, and from their daughters and sons-in-law, Eve and Markus, Rike and Alex. Thank you so much!

Sib and I left just after 7. He was on his way to the Czech Republic, and I to Frankfurt. On the A 7 Autobahn we said goodbye for really the last time in Europe.

The kilometers just flew past. I had to keep me back and remind myself of how soon the tour would be over.

I stopped at Gunther’s and Rosi’s house at 13:00. It was over. I’ve arrived. In the one corner of the garden was a flag pole with the South African and German flag. They made such an effort to welcome me. Also Michael and Anja were there.

While I was showering Rosi called me down as there was a visitor. I expected some of the other German friends, but the motorcyclist standing there was totally unknown to me.

He introduced himself as Marcel Turk from Rotterdam, Holland, a motorcyclist and tour rider. Then he told the most unbelievable story. He was on the N2G website the first time end of last year. Since then he was following my trip. He read on Wednesday night that I would be at my final destination today, Sunday. So he adapted his weekend motorcycle tour to come and visit in Langenselbold to say hello. What a lovely surprise!

Marcel, thank you so much for coming by! Your visit was one of the most appreciated gestures of my whole tour.

I still have so much to tell you about the trip, my experiences, the technical data and costs for those of you who are planning such a trip. I first have to settle down again. So guys, please bear with me.

I do not know whether I am ready to stop. If feels like unfinished business. I have to decide whether I am returning to South Africa within the next two weeks or whether I am going to continue for another month not later than tomorrow, Monday. I will you keep you updated on the web site.

Regards, and thank you so much for all the emails!

Lodie