Friday, June 20 – Eichsätt to Kelsterbach

Last day on the road today. There was some rain overnight and the day dawned cool and overcast with a noticeable breeze. By afternoon it was warmer and mostly sunny, but the breeze remained.

Our first stop was at Speyer. The main attraction was the Speyer Technik Museum, but the city centre is also easily accessible, only a couple of blocks away. The museum covers all things technical, with an emphasis on transportation. The first large building contains numerous cars, a number of fire vehicles, a few military vehicles, some train cars and engines, a few airplanes, and many other miscellaneous exhibits. A second features space travel, with a Russian space shuttle that never actually went into space, a NASA lunar lander, and components from the International Space Station, among other things. Non-space exhibits in this building included a number of motorcycles and a couple of airplanes hanging from the ceiling. Outside the two large buildings were numerous airplanes, many of which were accessible, a submarine, two other ships each bigger than a couple of houses, and a number of additional vehicles. The guys were pretty impressed.

The gals were more interested in the walking district of the city, with a large photogenic church, shopping, and many ice cream and pastry shops.

Next up was our usual trip to Otterberg to visit our friends Helmut Kaiser, his wife Hanelore, his brother Erhard, and his wife Lita. They are always so generous and kind and genuinely pleased to greet us. Helmut and Henelore have both had health issues over the last couple of years, so our original plan was to take them out to eat in a local establishment. However, being as welcoming as they are, they eventually insisted that we come to their home for a meal in exchange for some Banat wine. We feasted on bratwurst, potato salad, cabbage salad, pasta salad, and a delicious homemade tiramisu. Interspersed throughout were numerous toasts with an aperitif, beer, wine, and schnapps.

 In conversation, Helmut expressed his pleasure that we make these pilgrimages to honour our ancestors. He has vowed not to return to Banat. His memories are a mixture of joy at the life he knew as a small child in the village that will never be the same, and the horror that he knew as a young boy in the starvation camp at Rudolfsgnad, the struggle to survive, and the loss of loved ones.

Here we are in front of the house. Unfortunately, due to sun on the camera display screen, only half of Erv made it into the picture. However, due to all the toasting, he was probably only half there anyway.

After a joyful auf wiedersehen, we were back on the bus for our final leg to Kelsterbach, by Frankfurt airport. We arrived about 8, said our good-byes to our entertaining friend and driver Johannes, and gathered in my room for some wine and final farewells. I was surprised by a totally unexpected, unnecessary, and generous gift from the group, along with some kind words in a card of thanks. It is these words that are the real treasure, knowing that you helped people accomplish something they otherwise would not have done and helped them achieve what one of them called “the thrill of a lifetime.”

I have to make special mention of two people on this trip. First is Loretta, probably the kindest, most thoughtful person I have ever met. Second is Miles, almost as kind and thoughtful as Loretta, of immense assistance to me in helping to keep things on the rails, and of great help to all our tour members with moving luggage and many other small details. Thanks Miles.