- Another (Spousal Supported) Bikepacking Event
- Van Gogh Exhibit (Happy Birthday, finally)
- Flying to Germany… Again
- Merry Christmas
Foreword
Well, I actually wanted to post an update about the significant change that occurred in my life. A change I did not see coming AT ALL, a change that makes me feel a tad stupid and naïve for NOT seeing it coming AT ALL. But I decided to wait for two reasons: first, I would like to focus on the good for this last update of 2021, and secondly, I am hopeful that I have a resolution to the change. Please universe, have mercy on me.
Another (Spousal Supported) Bikepacking Event
Since Ralf’s first bikepacking event went fairly well, he decided to keep the momentum going and attempt another, the Kings Road event, biking from Yankeetown (Gulf of Mexico) to Flagler Beach (Atlantic Ocean). Camping was still out of the question, and because of his rigid routine and regiment, I tagged along again, staying in hotels along the way. Yankeetown is very small and has no accommodations, which is why we stayed the first night in the closest town nearby: Crystal River. The start of the Kings Road ride was on Saturday, December 3rd, so we arrived at the Plantation on Crystal River the preceding Friday. Since the room wasn’t ready yet, we decided to have a light lunch at a cute little bistro that had outside seating. After that, we took a stroll through the area and discovered a little Christmas market close by. They had fake snow and a fake “ice” skating ring set up, which wasn’t very convincing when compared to the real deal I remember from Germany.
Then it was time to settle into the first hotel. The Plantation on Chrystal River is indeed a converted, old plantation. Even though it was a tad dated, the room was clean. The main oddity was the heating unit, which was put into a WOODEN cabinet. Since neither Ralf nor I had any desire to burned to a crisp during the night, he wrestled that thing out of the cabinet and placed it on the floor. Even though this is Florida, the nights can get quite chilly during the winter, so it was a needed component.
After unpacking the essentials, we decided to take a stroll around the property. I was nice, kind of secluded, and right on one of the canals feeding into the Chrystal River. We didn’t see any manatees but instead tons of birds. This was pre-Omicron, and COVID numbers where down during that time. However, we decided to get takeout from the hotel’s restaurant and eat safely in our room.
The meeting spot for the Kings Road take-off was about 30 minutes away, and since Ralf needed to be ready to roll at 7 am, we had to get up around 3 am. By now, we were a well-tuned team, so without major issues, Ralf was ready in time to hit the road to Yankeetown.
What we (literally) didn’t see coming was the intense fog that dramatically reduced visibility, especially in the dark.
The GPS was a Godsent and safely routed us to the rural parking lot, just off the starting point. It was a little creepy setting up in this dark, gloomy place in the middle of nowhere, and movie scenes from “The Fog” (aka Nebel des Grauens) came to mind.
To our luck, we didn’t encounter any mutilated corpses, nor did anyone get killed by supernatural beings, so just before 7 am, the group of riders started to assemble at the start.
And off they go! As the group departed into the fog, I actually lost sight of them. Now it was time for me to get to Gainesville, where the next hotel was waiting for me. However, it was only 7 am, the fog was still thick as soup, and I was stranded in a remote parking lot in the middle of nowhere. So, I decided to sit in the Element and talk to my mom for a bit while I waited for better visibility. However, after half an hour I lost my patience and decided to put on my trusted GPS and head out to my next destination. As I was driving for about 10 minutes, I couldn’t believe my eyes: there was Ralf with three others, riding along the road! How did that happen? The route was supposed to be off-road at this time but as it turned out, some grouchy officer blocked the entrance to the preserve, so the majority of the riders had to use main roads for now. As I turned on US 19, I waved Ralf good-by, again, and kept going towards Gainesville. I passed a large group of riders and was hoping that their route would turn more scenic soon.
I was very glad that I didn’t wait for the fog to dissolve before taking off, because that never happened. The drive to Gainesville turned out to be rather stressful since visibility was very poor. In fact, I was so grateful for my GPS because it showed me traffic lights and turns, which I wouldn’t have been able to see until they were right in front of me. An hour and a half later, my GPS indicated that the hotel was just to my left but I still couldn’t see more than a few meters ahead.
What hotel...?
Finally, I made it to the Hotel Eleo. It wasn’t even 9 am yet but I tried my luck in hopes for an early check-in. And guess what! My room was not just ready but also upgraded to lake view! Not that I was able to see much at that time, but I was so happy to be able to settle in, maybe get some breakfast and a snooze, while I waited for Ralf to get to his first check point in Hawthorne. The valet guy was a good sport since I came with everything but the kitchen sink. In fact, the hotel and their staff were absolutely awesome. The room was modern, clean, and spacious. I am sure the view would have been stunning too if it wasn’t for the persistent fog. A quick check on the tracking app that showed me Ralf’s approximate whereabouts confirmed that I still had plenty of time, so decided to check out the hotel’s restaurant.
Breakfast delicious, and the service excellent. I even was given the dinner menu to take to my room, so that Ralf could pick his dinner choice when he got there. Past experience taught me that Ralf would be hungry but also toast by the time he made it, so I thought it was more beneficial to eat in the room asap.
I must say that I really got my money’s worth during this stay. I had a lazy day, took a nice shower, and watched some TV. By 4 pm, Ralf was getting close to the Hawthorne checkpoint, so I called for the car to get there myself. Again, the drive was about 30 minutes, and since the fog was gone now, I actually was able to see where I was going. I had to find a mural painted to a wall in the center of Hawthorne. After some back and forth, I finally made it with 15 minutes to spare. I parked the Element and waited for Ralf to arrive. He was tired but happy – as was I. I am always relieved when I see him rolling in…
Now it was time to get back to the hotel. The valet guy knew me by now, and I as I handed him back the keys, Ralf peeled himself out of the car. As anticipated, he was toast, so when we got the room, I had him pick out dinner from the menu, which I fetched from the restaurant while he showered. Soon thereafter, he passed out, lol.
Day two: early rise and shine! The goal was to depart from the same mural in Hawthorne at 7 am, which required us to get up (again) at 3 am. Even though we didn’t get the car as quickly as I was anticipating, due to an entire swim team leaving the hotel at the same time, we made it just in time to the checkpoint. At 7 am sharp, Ralf was rolling off again, towards the final destination: Flagler Beach.
As I mentioned earlier, I really did get my money’s worth with this awesome hotel. With a late check out for 1 pm, I had time to get back to the room, shower, and sleep some more before heading to Flagler Beach myself. Yay, me! I looked ahead to see where I could kill some time, since there wasn’t a hotel waiting for me over there. I picked a Panera's, where I spend a good amount of time before heading for the pier, which was the meeting point and final destination. I got lucky with parking, too, right at the pier. I strolled around the beach a bit when Ralf made his appearance, clocking in at exactly 200 miles total distance!
Arrived! 
Congratulations!!!
FOOD!!!
Lucky him, I brought Chipotle and a hot Starbucks tea, so he could eat before our two-hour drive back home. This concludes the second bikepacking event since Ralf’s surgery. I couldn’t be more proud!
Van Gogh Exhibit (Happy Birthday, finally)
A week after the Kings Road ride, we finally got to go to the Van Gogh Immersive exhibit, hosted at the Orlando convention center. I bought these tickets for his birthday, but since the exhibit was delayed for several weeks, only got to go on December 9th… two days prior my departure to Germany.
Due to the pandemic, we really haven’t been out for stuff like this at all. It was a nice treat and we really enjoyed the event. Luckily, I bought the VIP package, which included two seat cushions, which were a lifesaver. The exhibit was set up in on big room and the only seating opportunities were either on the floor or on some wooden benches scattered across. I loved to see Ralf so content, doing something cultural and “normal” for a change. He has been confined to the house for almost two years, so this was certainly a treat!
Flying to Germany… Again
December 11th, my trip to Germany was underway. Normally, I would always fly with Lufthansa directly to Frankfurt, then Hamburg. However, it is so agonizing when I decide I to fly home because I have to leave Ralf home alone, while traveling during the never-ending pandemic. So I delayed the inevitable and waited too long to book the flight, which had not just significantly increased in price but also had only limited options to pick from. I ended up booking United flying to Germany, and Lufthansa on the return flight. Business class was too expensive (over $4000!), so I settled for Premium Economy, in hopes for a last-minute upgrade. Thankfully, that upgrade with United came to pass, but not for the Lufthansa return-flight. I guess I got a tad spoiled with being able to afford relatively cheap business class upgrades in the past, which made the prospect of sitting in economy pretty awful.
The Orlando airport was busy, but thanks to my Global Entry/TSP-pre status, I was able to skip the long line at security and was through in less than 10 minutes. Minimizing exposure is my top priority when flying, so this perk certainly paid off.
Next, I headed for the United Business lounge, which I was lucky to have access to. I was hanging out there until I was able to board the first flight to Washington – so far, so good. Fun fact: I ended up sitting in the same row with a guy named Wade, who also lives in Lake Nona, not far from me. We also ended up on the same flight from Washington to Munich, also in business class! What are the odds of that happening again? On my last trip in August, I sat in the same row with Lars, a guy who lives in the Orlando area. This flight was from Hamburg to Frankfurt, and then we met again, sitting next to each other in business class on the flight to Orlando. I begin to think that Lufthansa does that on purpose, lol.
Anyways, so here I am in Washington, hanging out by the gate since there wasn’t enough time left to spend in the lounge, but I ended up having a Blue Moon beer at the airport bar close by. United’s Polaris business class is nice and seating very secluded. As it turned out, the upgrade was worth so much more since I got to spend a lot more time on the plane than anticipated. We were off to a good start, rolling away from the gate towards take off when the plane suddenly stopped. About 30 minutes later, the pilot announced that “there is a delay due to an electrical problem with the plane”, so we ended up rolling back to the gate. Then we waited. We waited some more. We were told the maintenance crew was trying to “fix the problem”, which concurred images in my mind of some guys in overalls, waving with rolls of duct tape, yelling “I think we got the problem taken care of!”. Let me just say, it can make you a tad uneasy to sit in a giant airplane with “just fixed” electrical problems, just before going on an 8-hour flight over the great abyss of the Atlantic Ocean. Secondly, I only had an hour layover in Munich to catch my flight to Hamburg. So, after a 3-hour late start, it was apparent that I won’t make that one. But what can I say, it is what it is, and after chatting a bit with Wade and watching an entire movie before ever leaving the ground, we were finally airborne.
Yes.. I watched Frozen 2 before ever leaving the ground 
Tired after the delay
Hitting the ground running in Munich is an understatement. When we arrived, I connected my phone to the airport wifi and got the notification that my flight was re-booked but that the flight was leaving in 45 minutes by the time we rolled to the gate. It has been at least 10 years that I flew through Munich, and I didn’t get to look around much as I was running to make the connecting flight. When I made it to the new gate, I realized that I didn’t have to hurry all that much since that flight was also delayed because they were waiting for the bus. Seriously, the bus! I haven’t had that happen when flying in the US, but in Germany, some domestic flights transport their passengers still by bus to the plane. There, you must climb up some steep metal stairs, no matter what the weather is like. But hey, at least I was finally on my way to Hamburg.
I couldn’t get a hold of my mom to let her know about my delay, so I phoned poor Ralf at 2 am his time to help me out. I was pretty stressed at that time and running with all my carry-on luggage (one contained the electronic 15-inch frame for my mom) was quite a workout. Finally seated, I could relax for a bit. Did I have a couple glasses of sparkling wine? Maaaaybe… I also got a nice snapshot of the landscape.
In the meantime, my mom was already hanging out at the airport in Hamburg since 9 am. Even though Ralf informed her that I will be hours delayed, she decided to still have her driver Ruediger get her there (it’s a 1 ½ hours ride) on the original time. Unfortunately, Ruediger couldn’t wait that long, so he left mom at the airport and had his brother come to pick us up. But not just us, but also Ruediger’s wife who arrived around the same time from Australia. Wait, what? Anyways, I made it to Hamburg around 2 pm. But guess what didn’t make it? Yup, my suitcase. That one was still in Munich but supposedly already loaded on the next flight to Hamburg. So I had two choices: wait for another 45 minutes for my suitcase to arrive, or to have it delivered to Buesum but that could take days. Sorry, Ruediger’s wife, I am not going without my luggage. I knew she was tired and wanted to leave as soon as possible, but I left her to wait with my mom and the brother while I headed back to the baggage claim belt (that was another adventure to get back there). Then finally, at last! We were both there! Myself and all my luggage!!!
Even though I was a zombie at that time, I ended up getting a fancy meal at a pre-planned dinner event later that evening. German cuisine, especially during the holidays, is the best!
I arrived on a Sunday, and on Monday, I already hit the ground running by taking care of some business. I had an appointment at the local bank to FINALLY transfer Karl-Heinz’s account over from out of state. On Tuesday, we picked up Karl-Heinz to spend the day with us. I only had another very intense work-related appointment to take care of that day, but besides Bella trampling my notes, that also went pretty well.
The weather was of course cold but surprisingly mild and sunny, considering the time of the year. I had my German gear ready to go, and this selfie still makes me laugh because Bella and I look like we were caught in the act…
And speaking of Bella: my mom bought a wider bed and a new couch with a chaise to ensure that Bella (and my mom) has enough space. But like most dog owners know, just because there is more room doesn’t mean you get more space… the entire couch is available but these two still squeeze together on one end. Figures…
After that intense appointment, my mom and I took Karl-Heinz to the (very small but open) local Christmas market in Buesum, where we enjoyed a glass of traditional eggnog (well, Karl-Heinz had the non-alcoholic punch). For a retirement and wellness town, Buesum is surprisingly difficult for people in wheelchairs. The sidewalks are narrow and uneven, and when we got to Christmas market, it was impossible to approach the outside tables directly since the ground was covered in wood chips that stopped anything on wheels in its tracks. So I had to push Karl-Heinz around the entire market place, past the town hall and down the gravel path, leading to the back of market. Oh well, I needed to work off the eggnog calories somehow! But it was all worth it since Karl-Heinz seemed to really enjoy the outing and his punch.
My mom doesn’t drive anymore, and she is not comfortable to take the train due to the large gap she is afraid of falling in while entering/exiting the train car. What she didn’t realize is that there is a bus going directly to Heide, the next bigger city. I did some research, mapped out the appropriate stops and schedule, and then took a bus to Heide. Not only was there much more available in terms of shopping, Heide also had a much larger Christmas market. Fun fact: there was a check point prior to entering the market, where we had to show our vaccination passports and our IDs were verified. Without vaccination (or proof of recovery), you were denied access. The same was true for using public transportation. It gave me some peace of mind, knowing that at least everyone I was exposed to in places was indeed vaccinated.
Vaccination Status Check Point at Christmas Market
In any case, we had a great time in Heide, and I had a delicious Gruenkohlpfanne (kale with sausage and potato), a classic dish during this time of the year. We also tried some Marzipan-eggnog, yummy! I also re-discovered the fact that public restrooms are not free but require a fee of 50 cent. My mom was so happy, which made me very happy.
During the second week, I still needed to take care of more business. As Karl-Heinz’s guardian, I had to finalize the annual accounting requirement for the court and mail that novel while I was still in Germany (much cheaper and quicker). Besides the accounting task, I had to really focus on writing certain numbers the “German way”, which was a pain in the behind. But I finally got it done, every penny was accounted for, and off it went to the post office.
Then I installed the Viewclix video frame that I bought in the US and hauled around in my carry-on luggage. My mom is not very tech-savvy anymore – in fact, anything where she must log in or push buttons, she will mess up sooner rather than later. That has been very frustrating for both of us, especially when we tried to facetime/whatsapp video call. Skype was equally a disaster, so I mostly talk to my mom on the regular landline. After a lot of research, I found this great 15-inch video frame (Viewclix), which I control via an app. I can send pictures to the fame remotely, and they are displayed as a slide show. But the main feature is the video call function. Through the app, I can initiate video calls, and all my mom has to do is sit in her chair and face the frame. No account for her to log in, she doesn’t even have to pick up the call! But I had to make sure I install it correctly and do some troubleshooting. To this day, that sucker works wonderfully!
Setting up WIFI 
Video Frame in Cabinet
Since I wasn’t able to stay for the actual Christmas holiday, my hope was to celebrate Christmas “together” via video frame, including Karl-Heinz.
What else… oh, yes, I bought a new vacuum cleaner since the two (!) she had didn’t work anymore, I ordered new curtains to separate the hall from the living room, and I discarded (again) all the boxes my mom tends to accumulate in her basement. We attended a Christmas get-together, organized by the nursing home. My mom and I weren’t much fan of the singing of traditional Christmas songs (just keep on smiling), but the event ended with awesome cake and eggnog.
The last couple days prior my departure back home got noticeably colder, with frost covering the ground and windshields of cars (I don’t miss that part at all). Pretty and appropriate for winter, but I am still not a fan of getting a numb face and thighs, along with loosing dexterity of my fingers, lol. I had to really laugh when I saw the doggie poo stations in Buesum, which very detailed instructions starting from the “point of origin” to disposing the bag in a bin.
COVID testing is super-convenient and free in Germany. I only had to register online once, then I got a QR code sent to my phone, which was scanned by staff at the testing center to initiate the test. Fast, efficient, safe. In and out in less than 3 minutes, and results were emailed and/or texted within 30 minutes. I used this service for my test that was required within 24 hours of my flight back to the US. No more stressful “proctored” Covid home tests for me!
On our last night, I took my mom to Miguel’s Tapas Bar, a Portuguese restaurant in Buesum my mom always wanted to eat at but didn’t want to go alone. It was great, we got the nicest table in the house, and the food was amazing. Everything was homemade, including the final bill. Definitely doing this again next time I visit.
Now the time has come for my departure. I was looking forward to seeing Ralf, but it is always so very hard to say good-bye to my mom. She looks so small and alone. But I felt better this time since she appeared more established in her new life. However, not being able to be together for Christmas was sad. I was very hopeful thought that the video frame would make up for it a bit…
Flying back to the US was more straightforward but still not without hiccups. My flight to Frankfurt was of course delayed. Needless to say, I only had an hour layover prior the departure of my international flight, which was the only flight for the day. Here we go again!
We were supposed to take of at 11 am, but it was not until 11:30 am that we finally did. When the plane touched down in Frankfurt, my big flight was already boarding. Awesome. And while I was anxiously remaining seated while we taxied across the airport, we suddenly stopped in the middle of the field. And waited, and waited. Finally, the pilot announced that due to staff shortages and missing equipment, we could proceed to the gate to deplane but were now waiting for a bus to pick us up. NO! Not again the freaking bus! I am already late!
It was so cold as I descended the steep metal staircase with my carry-on luggage to board the bus. As I was standing there, waiting for the bus to move, I witnessed this very, very slow older gentleman coming down the stairs – step by step- assisted by one of the flight attendants. It’s those moments where time appears to race on while everything else comes to a screeching halt.
An eternity later, everyone was on the bus, and we made our way to the terminal. Since I still had to get to the international section (Z-gates), I had some ways to (power) walk. Finally, I arrived at my gate, huffing and puffing but grateful I didn’t miss the flight. But as it turned out, this flight was also delayed, due to time-consuming checking of re-entry paperwork.
In the meantime, I really was hoping for a last-minute upgrade to business class, but I was told they were completely booked. Yes, I had to face it: economy it is! Well, at least it was premium economy (wider seats, more recline) and in the first row without having someone in front of me. Or so I thought. Apparently, I was re-seated two rows behind to accommodate a mother and her baby (which had very healthy lungs).
I get it, I really really do. But I guess the business class experience of the past has left me mourning the loss of a lay-flat seat option, privacy, and champagne. When did I got so snobby? But to be honest, I came to treasure this “special time” above the Atlantic Ocean, which has become my “me-time”. Trust me, it’s much harder to go back behind the curtain to economy after that.
However, the universe had some mercy on me because the flight attendant from the business class came over and told the mom that it wasn’t safe for the baby to remain in that row (there was no baby cradle mounted there). She ended up relocating to the middle row next to me (much better for her and the baby), and I took the opportunity to ask the flight attendant if I could return to my initial seat up front. “Yes, of course, let me help you move”. Awesome! We had a really nice talk afterwards, about all kind of stuff (we were still delayed, so I guess he had time). To my surprise, I got a bottle of red wine to take home and two glasses of actual champagne for some reason. Ha, got my champagne after all! And this seat was much, much better. But it still was a very different experience, and knowing what is behind the forbidden curtain still sucked a bit.
I still made it in one piece, and even though I kinked my neck while snoozing in this awkward position, I was happy to be home. Since I had a window seat, I got a picture of the Orlando VA and actually flew over my house.
Global entry was a breeze, and after my suitcase appeared (thank goodness), I was almost reunited with Ralf. I was also grateful that I wasn’t picked for a random check again, since I wasn’t sure how the homemade eggnog that my friend Patrick gave me as a gift, would have been perceived by customs.
Merry Christmas
I arrived back home on December 23rd, so Christmas was already the next day. I already bought the meat and most ingredients I needed for my Rouladen dinner before I left, and Ralf had taken them out of the freezer in time. So the next morning, I started to cook our Christmas dinner and wrapped last-minutes gifts from Germany.
At 10 am, it was time to video call my mom and Karl-Heinz for Christmas eve. I was so nervous that something would go wrong but to my relief, it was great!!! My mom was seated on her usual chair, Karl-Heinz was parked just to the side, and I could see how nicely she had decorated the table. They also had Rouladen for Christmas, delivered by this awesome restaurant that she orders from twice a week. I also saw the glasses of sparkling wine, ready for a toast. So I got our sparkling wine ready (hey, it’s 5 pm somewhere), one glass for me, a sip for Ralf. Now we were ready to toast, then open our presents (on both continents). I would say, this was a great success and made Christmas a tad more merry!
We had invited Renate and Tom to have dinner with us, but unfortunately Tom had fallen ill. I made their Rouladen to-go, and Renate picked them up Christmas eve. And then it was time for our own Rouladen dinner. Ralf’s GI issues can really put anxiety into eating, but thank goodness, he was able to enjoy the food without repercussion this time.
We ended the year on the same note: video-called my mom at 11 am (5 pm German time) while Karl-Heinz was still there (more sparkling wine before noon)…
… and then again at 6 pm (midnight in Germany) to officially wish my mom a happy new year! I was so excited that this worked out and that we toasted to 2022 together (although apart). Concurrently, Ralf had his mom on a Whatsapp video call, so we all exchanged our new year’s wishes. Here is to awesome technology!
Ralf and I? We didn’t quite make it, lol. We passed out around 10 pm but I had an alarm set for 11:30 pm, in order to watch the apple drop and toast to the new year (for the third time). After watching an awkward performance of Anderson Cooper and his totally wasted co-host Andy Cohen, we called it a night for good and went back to bed.
I am hopeful that 2022 will bring the resolution to my current predicament and new opportunities. I am worried about Ralf but hope that we'll get some answers, better guidance, and support for him this year. Stay tuned!