Monday, June 28. Another day through small villages and green countryside finally arriving in Munich. This was officially our last day of the tour as the trip to the BMW International Rally in Garmisch was an add-on.  Hans and I met the rest of the group for the mandatory finish line photo in front of BMW headquarters There is construction everywhere as BMW is adding on to their headquarters and building a new museum.  Then on to the exquisite Exquisite Hotel in central Munich and check-in.
             Just an observation based on 59 years of travel; the most memorable hotels are not the Hongkong Hyatts or the Paris George V but rather the clean, intimate and well managed 20 to 40 room jewels that you stumble onto. We had some very pleasant ones on the trip, The Terema Hotel in Listvyanka, Eastern Siberia, the Mozart Hotel in Odessa, Ukraine and the Exquisite Hotel in Munich. Having a very helpful staff, a clean dining room, a friendly bar and an outdoor cafe section easily trump the Marriotts and the Hiltons of this world. And the small ones are many times in the very center of town, -- you can enjoy on foot and the people action takes place. If you plan a trip to Munich, try the Exquisite.
             On Tuesday we visited the temporary BMW Museum hoping to see "OLGA", Helges R80GS that was his long term companion and described in his book "10 Years on Two Wheels". He claims that he is obligated to visit occasionally just to re-inflate the tires but I think that there is a lifelong love affair here that cannot be eclipsed by a new GS model now and then. While rebuilding the museum they have reduced the display models and "OLGA" is stored somewhere waiting for its new day in the sun. I detected a certain disappointment in Helge's outlook but Norwegian stoicism took over and he put on a brave face. "She'll be back" as Arnold might say.
             The Olympic Torch entered Munich on Tuesday evening and I managed to visit with many of the ALEM security riders, the staff and Steven McCarthy himself and what a nice reunion. They had already been through South America, Africa, England, Paris etc, 26 countries before they are done and were flush with praise for the opportunity to see all of these places under the umbrella of the 2004 Olympics. I would hazard a guess that enough happened during their five continent torch relay that it warrants a book.
             Wednesday evening was the final dinner for our Cossacks and we had the civilizing influence of Dr. David Allen's wife, Sherlyne and daughter and Bud Lahitte's significant other Darlene. As you can imagine, things were on the somber side due to our absent friends. It was good to have GT Mork back with us. Everybody reviewed their plans as no one was returning directly to the USA.
             Warren Bloomfield, Hans Muellers and I went on to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
to the BMW International Rally. Helge gave a 1 1/2 hour presentation on his world travels and the hall was standing room only. The three of us, Warren, Hans and I put in for the longest ride to the event and won the trophy in a breeze, 16,250 kilometers versus the second place with 9,500. Globeriders had applause from over 20,000 attendees at the stage presentation.
             For those of you who know Chantel Intemann from her days with BMW/ALEM rally and show work, she made an appearance at the rally. She started out from central England on her R1100S at 02:00 on Friday morning and checked into a Garmish hotel at 11:00 that evening. That's a mere 900 plus miles in 21 hours, mostly in the rain, and including a channel crossing. She gets a big trophy.
             She and I teamed up to Lausanne, Switzerland where my patient wife Denise was waiting and we visited friends and partied until it was time to head back to our responsible roles in life. Chantel is back in the Midlands, Denise is staying in Europe for another week and I am in Heidelberg dropping the Tractor off at Stefan Knopf's Motorradreisen for it's flight back to the USA and mine to DC. It has been an experience to challenge anything that I have ever done in my lifetime.
             In a few weeks, after a visit to see Pawel up in NJ and when Mike is back on his feet I would like to send all of you one more short chapter to bring the adventure to a close. And if anyone has a question or two I would be glad to try to answer. Thanks for your patience, -----  Regards to all,  Norm  

Back to the Beginning of Norm's Adventure

1st Journal Entry - Beijing China
2nd Journal Entry - Shenyang China
3rd Journal Entry - Towards Russia
4th Journal Entry - In Siberia Russia
5th Journal Entry - Continues through Russia
6th Journal Entry - Marches on through Russia
7th Journal Entry - The Great Potato Field of Russia
8th Journal Entry - Russia Final (next Poland)
9th Journal Entry - Motorcycle Accident in Russia
10th Journal Entry - The Crimea - Ukraine
11th Journal Entry - We have Crossed the Finish Line
12th Journal Entry - Update on injuries
13th Journal Entry - Poland, Czech Rep.
14th Journal Entry - Returning Home