 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Well, the day of our last tour has arrived...
It’s time for the Rhine River. We’re off past Simmern and Rheinböllen. It’s very foggy this mornig - Hahn looks like normal ;-) We all know by now, though, that the fog will lift for another beautiful sunny day eventually - we did order the sun this weekend after all..
We arrive in Bacharach about 9:45 a.m. After driving through the tower, we drive through down town towards the river to where our boat will take off from. The bus driver decides to save the group some time by driving back into town to let them out for an hour of sightseeing - since they now know where the boat is leaving from. I decide to get off and already buy the tickets for the boat: “12 adults for the 11:15 a.m. boat, please” “Uh, ma’am” We don’t have a boat leaving at 11:15 today. It’s either 10:15 or 12:15. We’re “in between seasons” it changed last week.” Thank goodness for cell phones - and the fact that my group was still round up in the bus... One call, and it’s “look quick, by the way, that’s Bacharach.” At 10:15 we board the boat for our 40 minute trip towards St. Goar - just past the Loreley. We’re pulling up to St. Goar. Where is my group? I did tell them “St. Goar” and “40 minutes” and, and, didn’t I, or did I? Just when I really started to get worried - and had settled a “Plan B” with the Trenarys, I heard an announcement over the PA for a U.S.O. group being made - maybe that’s the answer. I head over to one of the guys that work on the boat and ask him where I could make an announcement. He just pointed behind him - that was the little cubicle where the microphone was. Well - now a whole big group of people know that “the Hahn Air Base Reunion participants - St. Goar is our stop, too.” The lady with the U.S.O. group was happy to find out that way that her announcement was heard - otherwise I wouldn’t have had the idea.
We ALL got off at St. Goar - and headed down town. It was Sunday, but the important stores - like the one with the beer steins and the one with the cuckoo clocks were open... We also took the opportunity to grab a bite to eat in the local restaurants. There is a little rubber-tired-train that climbs the hill up to the castle - thank goodness, because I’m not climbing up there... The Styles and I have a leisurely hour on the terrace overlooking the Rhine River - which is now visible because the fog is GONE (told you it would disappear...). I get my third sunburn for that week.
At 2:30 p.m., the bus picks us up at the castle parking lot and we head back for the town hall. After eating some cake, we disperse to our respective quarters for a rest, some packing (if necessary) and a change into our semi-semi-formal attire. Boy, did everybody look snazzy!
And, we talked, and talked, and talked, and talked. I don’t think anyone even noticed there was music, so so much for the dinner-DANCE ;-))) We just had too much fun yacking.
Then came the first good-byes. Boy, where they hard. Some of the group had to catch the early shuttles to Frankfurt and wouldn’t be back for breakfast the next morning. It was very difficult - we had all become friends in the short period we were together. (I think I’m going to cry just writing this...)
It was atleast 11:30 p.m. by the time I got to bed tonight. I wouldn’t miss a minute of it, though.
