Well, after this winter, it’s time to sip some good Alsatian wines.  Martina and I pack up and hop on an airplane to Munich.  Udo lends us his 6 speed BMW and we hit the autobahn–and does this relieve the winter stress!  First stop is France (Alsace) in a 13th century town Riquewihr where every building is connected and very old.  This is a view above town standing in the vineyards.

We rented a small apartment for the week and put up our feet to relax.  Here is Martina with our daily staples–bread and wine!

After Riquewihr, we swing by Wasserburg to visit our friend Walter.  Walter at 78 still skis tours(langlaufen) 60 kilometers per day.  He also crewed from Sitka to Seattle on the tug with us three years ago.  Walter, during WWII, escaped twice: from first the Americans, then the French, hiked over the dolomites into Austria–then repeated his hike last year!

Our last stop was Karlstadt where we discover the Batzenaerrle Weinstube where we meet our friends.  Time to return to Alaska….stay tuned.