fter spending the night at the Munster camping park we packed up and headed off to Oelde to visit with the 3 bikers we met while camping in Hungary. I was a bit nervous about meeting them again as it had been 4 months since we had seen them and didn’t know how it would go. We were due there about 1 o”clock and as we were about to drive into town we saw a “ute”or pick up truck with a guy flashing his lights at us and waving madly. We wondered what we had done but soon realized it was Michael recognising us and he waved for us to follow him. We arrived at the home of his brother Leo to a very warm welcome and after some welcoming hugs were introduced to their families. There was Leo his wife Dagmar and baby boy Lutz, Michael his wife Tanja and boys Felix and Leo, Manfred, his daugher Eva and Heike. Such a wonderful reception it was that it soon put my fears to rest. We were promptly ushered out the back to their patio area and plyed with drinks and we quickly got reaquainted. It was such a lovely afternoon sitting with them while their children and dogs played in the back yard. Later the older brother Bernard turned up and he was very pleased to meet us as well and very happy as his football team had won their local derby that day. The afternoon quickly became evening and then we were treated to a bbq, German style. The wives did a great job with salads and extras while the blokes cooked so much meat that it could had fed another couple of families. After dinner a fire was started in a fireplace and we spent the evening sitting around having a few drinks and a lot of laughs. The next morning we were treated to a cooked breakfast and after a bit of a chat to our family over the internet we walked with most of the family to their local kindergarten to vote. of course we didn’t vote but it was a nice day for a walk and we enjoyed spending time with them on the way. Then it was to their parents place for a wonderful Sunday lunch where we again had far too much to eat. After a quieter afternoon, well the boys watched the Grand Prix on the TV while others talked or rested, we rode our bikes in a large procession to a Potato festival in the local town. This was set up by the local community and as well as having various display stands about local products, they sold potato based snacks and the inevitable beer stand. We had a look around, had a few drinks and watched as the locals enjoyed themselves. The evening was spent again around the fireplace but as we had such a full day we didn’t stay up late even though we would liked to have spent more time with them. As it turned out we had to say our goodbyes gradually; Manfred had to leave Sunday afternoon as he had to drive a long way for work the next day. Leo left monday morning at 5 a.m but we ended up having breakfast with Michael, Tanja and the boys Felix and Leo before they left for school. After such a lovely time too soon we had to pack up and return to Holland.

It was such a wonderful time that we spent with the whole family, they were so generous to us and were made to feel so special. Many times they said we had to come back, spend more time with them and even that we should arrange to meet and holiday together somewhere. Of course they would love to come to Australia, but with their work and family commitments it would not be for a while. The “boys”of course would love to bring their bikes and make a long trip of it but that will have to wait.

We would love to see them in Australia, but they will definitely be on our must see list next time we go to Europe.