2017 Journey

This year is our 50th Wedding Anniversary, a very special once in a lifetime event, therefore we intend to spend the whole year celebrating!

Our grandsons Fergus and Varick have stayed on with us at Mokoia Rd after Christmas when their parents and Ethan returned to Melbourne. Margie and I each purchase a new Apple iPhone, and the boys school us on the finer points of this modern technology before they also fly home.

Fly to Melbourne to pick up the Jeep and caravan, then sail on the "Spirit of Tasmania" across Bass Strait for a four week tour of Tasmania. We enjoy friendly Tasmanians and great scenery, plus learn about the terrible treatment meted out to the unfortunate British citizens [over 166,000] who were sentenced to transportation to the penal colony of Australia [a lifetime sentence in those days], often for the most trivial of offences.

Drive to Napier and visit Bob's older brother David [aged 85] whose wife sadly now resides in a care facility. David visits every day, setting a fine example of commitment and compassion. We then drive to Wellington, catch the Inter Islander Ferry in order to attend a reunion in Blenheim of Bob's unit from Vietnam, Victor 3 Company. It is now 48 years since our tour of duty as part of a joint NZ/Australian infantry battalion. Fallen comrades are somberly remembered and honoured, whilst the survivors note that, although our numbers are diminishing and bodies are all aging, our spirit and camaraderie endures unchanged.

Depart by Air NZ for Frankfurt where we spend four days purchasing bikes and equipment for our ride of the Rhine River Cycle Trail. We buy two KTM [Austrian made] bikes, plus panniers and a cycle trails GPS, then use our Eurail pass to catch a train to Chur, Switzerland, from where we will commence our 1346 km cycle ride down the Rhine River Trails to the Hook of Holland.

We will ride the route by stages as suggested by Mike Wells in his excellent book, "The Rhine Cycle Route". This means we will average nearly 60km each cycling day, staying overnight in hotels we book only the day ahead. Nevertheless, we have planned a few longer stops along the route in order to relax and enjoy scenery and significant points of interest, so we plan to take some five weeks to complete this adventure.

4 - 10 May 2017

With Margie saying 'even if we can't do it, we're going to do it' [her usual rev up expression] we depart Chur in cold, wet weather, but we're excited and in high spirits. In the first few days we find ourselves initially travelling back and forth between Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria, then later criss-crossing between Germany and France. There are checkpoints at each border crossing, but all are unmanned.

At one point we pass a signpost showing the way to Appenzell, the Swiss town Margie's great grandfather, Niklaus Alexander Niederer, left in 1856 and emigrated to NZ.

Taking the northern route around Bodensee [Lake Constance] we cycle into Schaffhausen where two days rest is planned. Margie's cousin Alan Niederer drives down from his home in Zug, Switzerland to meet us. We had enjoyed staying with Alan, Greta and boys two years ago when we rode the Danube Bike Trail.

Cycling into Strasbourg is extremely pleasant beside the Canal du Rhone au Rhin. We're now saying 'bonjour' instead of 'guten tag'. We book into the Hotel Maison Rouge and among our fellow guests are an Australian couple whose company we greatly enjoy during our three day stay. Excellent shops, beautiful French cuisine, interesting city.

The weather is now 30 C plus, and along this area of the Rhine we find massive manufacturing plants bordering each of the major towns, whilst the countryside has swathes of agriculture/market gardens producing wheat, barley, strawberries, lettuce, cauliflower, etc. On the river there is an endless flow of traffic including huge barges and river cruises.

Mainz to Koln [Cologne] offers a range of classic German rural scenery, but is particularly spectacular as the river forges its way through the Rhine Gorge, with never-ending vineyards on both sides of the Rhine, overlooked by fairytale castles, although many of these are in ruins.

At Bacharach we chat with several fellow guests and are amazed to find that one of them, Werner, is a good friend of cousin Alan [both are retired bankers] back in Zug, Switzerland, which is some 600 km away.

South of Koblenz we stop at the Remagen Bridge, where the small museum describes the dramatic events that occurred there in 1944 as the US Army was pushing the German forces back to Berlin. Just a short distance further on we cycle past the Hotel Dreesen near Konigswinter, where Adolf Hitler met Neville Chamberlain and signed the 1938 Munich Accord, which was supposed to herald "Peace in our time".

Throughout this part of our journey we are struck by the huge amount of industry along the Rhine, especially steel and car manufacturing, plus massive chemical factories like Novartis and BASF, whose signs read

Inside The Famous Cathedral Koln to Dusseldorf, 52 km

Lunch and News Update Anzac Poppies Along The Trail

The roads out of Duisburg are tricky, but a very helpful German motorcycle policeman stops and gives great guidance, even to the point of going ahead and stopping the traffic at a busy intersection, just so we can ride safely through.

Take bike ferry across the Rhine for the last time as we move from Germany into the Lowlands of Holland where the vistas include polders below sea level as we cycle along the dykes. Market gardens, cropping and dairy farms, old windmills, many barges plying the Rhine, all picturesque. However the smell of methane emanating from some dairy farms we pass is quite overpowering, so one is not encouraged to linger and sniff!

At Arnhem we cycle across the bridge that was one of the focal points of the famous but unsuccessful Operation Market Garden during WW2. The present bridge is a replica of the original, and is now called the John Frost Bridge, after the British officer who commanded the paratroops who courageously held it for three days against far superior forces. We spend a sobering two hours at the Airborne Museum just out of Arnhem. Then we're on our bikes navigating our way towards the small Ductch town of Vianen, our longest cycling day when we covered 81 km.

Finally, we're cycling along the bike path into Rotterdam, past the magnificent Swan Bridge and soon find our way to the lovely Bildenberg Hotel for a much earned rest. We're most impressed with fhe modern, imaginative architecture that the city is noted for.

During this time, on a brilliant sunny day, we mount our assault on the Hook of Holland. The Rhine has now become a huge waterway with big ships and ferries crossing to UK. At Hoek van Holland, cycling along the paths, we reach the point where the Rhine enters the North Sea. We're ecstatic, its High Fives and Veni Vidi Vici!! Over 24 actual cycling days we have ridden 1,346 km, and although some days were harder than others, we are somewhat surprised at how well we have lasted, and we agree that the whole trip was absolutely remarkable!

Depart Rotterdam by train back to Frankfurt. Because we can travel only on those trains that allow bikes on board, we have to make three changes of train. Arrive in Frankfurt at 10.00 pm that evening and establish ourselves back in the same excellent NH Collection Hotel we enjoyed on our earlier stay in Frankfurt.

We take the bikes [we fondly call Frankie and Blucher!] back to the Stadler Bike Shop from where we purchased them so they can be serviced, then packed into boxes for us to take back to New Zealand in two months time. Their salesman, Lars, again is extremely helpful. The shop has agreed to store them until we return to pick them up.

Cruise: Barcelona to Civitavecchia. Our two daughters and their families will be joining us at the end of the month for two weeks of precious family time together in France. Meantime we have booked a 12 night Mediterranean cruise on Holland America's "Westerdam", departing Barcelona on !6 June (ending at Rome 28 June) so we again use our Eurail Pass to Barcelona [via Paris] by high-speed TGV.

The "Westerdam" calls first at Cadiz, then Gibralter, both fascinating historical cities. Excitement and anticipation at the next port of call, Malaga. Our much loved niece, Evie, and her fiancee live here, and what a beautiful sight to see their smiling faces hastening along the road to meet us. Big hugs and a few tears! They show us the sights and present us with a gorgeous invitation to their wedding, to be held in Almunecar in September. Unfortunately we have to return home at the end of July, however they are planning a second ceremony to be held next year in New Zealand, so we have that to look forward to.

With Evie and Will in Malaga Evie and Margie Meet Picasso

Hasta la Vista, Malaga Cadiz is Both Historic and Beautiful

The cruise continues, we visit Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, Toulon, Calvi [the birthplace of Christopher Colombus], Monte Carlo, Livorno, then Civitavecchia, ending our 12 days of R & R in the colourful Med.

Now, two weeks Family Reunion. First week Paris, where all 13 of us are booked into Fraser Suites Harmonie at La Defense, Paris. On 30 June we train out to Charles de Gaulle Airport to welcome the Welburn family arriving from Ottawa. Next day we are out at the airport again to meet the Boyd family arriving from Melbourne. Great excitement as the families reunite, and we are utterly delighted to witness their happy interactions.

Victoria, Louise, Colin and Stephen The Louvre is Marvellous, But Tiring

Paris offers many famous and fascinating attractions, and the families have a full programme already planned for our week here that includes: The Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Invalides, Versailles, Galleries Lafayette, Arc De Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, and, of course, the Eiffel Tower. The Welburns are all fluent in French which makes life easier for the whole 13 of us.

Train from Montparnasse to Angers, where we collect rental cars and drive to the Chateau de la Caillotiere, which will be our home for the week. This beautiful 200 year old chateau remains in the ownership of the descendants of the initial owner, and still contains many of the original furnishings, fittings and tapestries, thus adding to the style and ambience of the property. There are also great facilities to enjoy outside; heated swimming pool, excellent tennis court, petanque, archery, two horses for riding, plus many acres for the grandchildren's endless games of Manhunt [hide and seek].

Isabel's an Experienced Rider Chess and Cards in Games Room

Our Colourful Daughters Petanque is Popular

Margie Writes Her Poem Heated Swimming Pool is A1

We go on excursions visiting some of the magnificent Chateaux of the Loire including Chambord, Chenonceau [our favourite], Brissac, D'Azay le Rideau, Villandry with its famous gardens, plus others.

Chambord Was Overawing Brissac Had Style

One memorable evening our daughters arrange for a local chef to prepare and serve a special formal dinner in the grand dining room of the Chateau de la Caillotiere to celebrate our Golden Wedding. Everyone, including the seven children, dress up for the occasion. Toasts are proposed in the magnificent sitting room.. Margie presents the poem she has written about our recent cycle ride down the Rhine. To us the highlight of the evening are the delightful speeches and outstanding power point presentation our family honours us with. Some poignant moments, much laughter, great fun!

All too soon the two weeks fabulous family sojourn in France must end. The Boyds return directly to Melbourne. The Welburns drive off to Normandy to follow some paths Victoria took in 1988-89 when, as an AFS exchange student she lived with a French family in Ramboullet for a year [gaining Merit in her Baccalaureate exam, which she sat in Versailles]. This is Tor's old stamping ground and she is thrilled to now share it with her husband and four children.

Once again it is just us, waiting for our train in Angers, feeling deflated after the wonderful family reunion we've absolutely revelled in. Two days at the very attractive city of Nancy [Paris of the East] perks us up somewhat, then it is on to Frankfurt where the bikes have been dismantled and crated for us to take on the flight home.

Once home in Rotorua Frankie and Blucher are re-assembled and immediately put to use as we resume our early morning bike rides into town. 41 Mokoia Road is in good order, but general gardening and maintenance keeps us busy. Our friends Peter and Jocelyn bring us up to date with local news.

Fly to Melbourne, uplift the caravan from indoor storage facility and park up in our usual spot at Big4 Mornington Penninsula Campground at Frankston. Louise and Stephen show us through their three townhouse development, which is a big undertaking but progressing very well.

Two days later we're hitched up and walzing matilda out of Melbourne, heading north. Some 1000 km later we're in NSW at the lovely district of Lake MacQuarie catching up with old friends, Peter and Dixie. Peter is a fellow ex OCS Portsea classmate of 1964 who does most of the work arranging our two yearly class reunions, plus keeping classmates up to date, for which we all are very grateful.

Leaving Port MacQuarie we drive the Oxley Highway over the coastal mountains to Tamworth, where we re-connect with John and Ann, our new-found friends met in Strasbourg, France. We had a great time exploring that beautiful city with them, and now they show us around their very attractive home and district in NSW.

We then head west on the Barrier Highway and are surprised how quickly we are in the "Outback". It is 1000 lonely km from Tamworth to Broken Hill and along the way we see countless wild goats, emus and kangaroos, it is like driving through a wildlife park with never a dull moment! Broken Hill and nearby Silverton each have fascinating mining histories, plus a number of interesting art galleries focusing on Australian outback scenes.

A further 500 km along the highway we arrive again in Adelaide. We're pleased to find the Turnbull clan are all doing well. Our great grandchildren; Riley [6], Toby [3] and Dakota [2] are a delight and we note what a great mother Amy is to their three children.

Another classmate from OCS Portsea days also lives in Adelaide, so we have a happy catchup with John and his wife, Jan. On Saturday night we gather with all the Turnbull clan for a joyful dinner at "Kwik Stix", our family's favourite Adelaide restaurant.

Meanwhile, Stephen has arranged an all day programme of events to celebrate his 50th birthday culminating in a magnificent dinner at a noted Melbourne restaurant. We're invited so must bid farewell to Adelaide and get going back to Melbourne.

A few days later the family celebrates Margie's 72nd birthday with a dinner at a small Greek restaurant. Then it is time to tidy up the caravan, put it into storage and catch our flight back home to NZ.

We arrive in time to vote in the General Election, which produces the extraordinary result whereby three minor [and quite disparate] political parties eventually form a coalition to take control of the country, ousting the party [National] that had failed to gain an outright majority by only a small margin.The outgoing government had taken NZ through a remarkable recovery from the Global Financial Crisis, but there is little confidence the incoming hodge podge [comprising of Labour, the Greens and NZ First] will continue that success. Time will tell.

Sadly a member of Bob's platoon in Vietnam dies suddenly, and Bob is honoured to read a eulogy at his funeral in Whitianga.

A visit from old friends who have come down from Auckland restores our spirits.

Another Glorious Springtime at Lake House, Rotorua

Luscious Rhododendrons! In Ottawa it is Clearly Not Springtime

Spring at Lake House means there is much gardening and maintenance to be done, although it also heralds the arrival of countless offspring from the resident birds; quail, pukeko, tui, swans and ducks, and this gives us great pleasure. Nevertheless, although 41 Mokoia Road is a marvellous situation, and we have enjoyed nearly six great years here, we have decided that the time has come for us to downsize, so we put the property on the market with Bayleys Rotorua.

Fergus and Varick have arrived to spend time with us, their parents and Ethan will arrive later on 23 Dec for Christmas. As this will be their last time at Lake House they make the most of the tennis court and kayaks, plus Bob teaches them how to safely handle and fire the .22 cal air rifle he purchased for this purpose.

Monopoly is Still Favourite Cousins Come for Fun and Games

Cousins Evie, Fiona and Louise Christmas Lunch

We are delighted that 23 family members join us at Mokoia Road on 29 Dec for a lunch to celebrate, not only the Christmas Season and the coming New Year, but also to welcome home Evie and Will, who have recently returned to NZ after their wedding in Spain.

The next day, together with the Boyds, we drive to Taupo to view a house we have admired online. 23 Mapara Road proves an instant hit with everyone, so we submit an offer that day. We have no doubt that this is the place we want for our new home and, after negotiating minor details, we reach an unconditional agreement to buy. 2018 will see the start of New Beginnings!

The day is full of fun and activity, but we pause to reflect on what an amazing year our 50th Wedding Anniversary turned out to be; caravan tours around Australia, cycling the Rhine River Trail, a Mediterannean cruise, followed by a fantastic time in Paris and the Loire Valley with most of our family, a good sale result, and now a new home to look forward to. This year has been truly action packed and memorable!

Later in the evening we especially enjoy Varick's rendition of Beethoven's "Fur Elise" on the piano. We sing "Auld Lang Syne" toasting "days gone by", then welcome in the New Year with great gusto!

For us, 2017 was to be spent celebrating 50 years of marriage, and celebrate we did! There were many special family moments, fascinating travels and unforgetable experiences. It was certainly an outstanding year of memories to treasure.