Welcome home. As always, a fantastic journal, inspiring images, and excellent writing. Thanks for sharing your adventure. I'm feeling a sense of loss now that your trip and journal are complete.

It was a marvellous tour! Thanks for the journal!

Well done, kids. Thanks for the hours of vicarious thrills.

I don’t think I’d bother for this first trip. There’s a cost and some time involved, and if you think this is a one time thing for you I doubt it’s worth it. If you get hooked and see yourself doing this more often though, you might want to think about it.

Thanks for the details, Keith. We didn’t know about the self-service kiosks and just walked past them because they were unattended. It was still very fast at the customs line because we had priority, but she asked why we hadn’t gone to the kiosk first. We’ve been meaning to read up on how this works.

Enrolling in the Global Entry program was the best $100 (each) we've spent in a long time. On reentering the U.S. after travel elsewhere you get to skip the Immigration / passport check line and proceed to an automated terminal. Insert your passport, put four fingers on the screen to confirm it's you, smile for the camera, collect your receipt and go.

Once you've retrieved your luggage (Global Entry unfortunately doesn't do anything to expedite that process) and proceeded to Customs, there's a special (non-)line for Global Entry holders. You get first priority from the agents. Hand them the receipt that was printed at the passport scanning kiosk and you're on your way.

You do have to go through an in-person interview to get your initial Global Entry pre-clearance. Basically they walk you through the paper form that you fill out on the plane and you agree never ever to answer anything but "No" to the agricultural products, goods over the personal limit, etc. questions.

Being a Global Entry member also automatically enrolls you in TSA-Pre Check as well so in theory the pre-boarding security check is also easier/faster/more streamlined, but in practice I've not seen as much reduction in process as on the reentry side.

Have very much enjoyed your Provence pedalling - especially the inland routes and your wonderful photos. We just kept to the coast but would like to try EV8. The good weather seems to have lasted well though. Well done and bonne route! Michael Hutching.

Good to see there are a few swimmers still. We loved our days of swims back in October.

Frankfurt airport sucks you say?

DITTO!

Can't stand the place.

Chunky or creamy? If you know someone with a membership, Costco still carries the big jars (tubs?) of Adams chunk peanut butter. My favorite.

Welcome home! Now I’m off to research Global Entry card and see if we need them.

I definitely will send glowing feedback for Sandip! What a wonderful person.

Frankfurt airport has been a nightmare every time I’ve been there. Forget trying to get anywhere with a boxed bicycle. I try to avoid flying in there. Luckily my favorite areas to cycle are all closer to München, which is a very pleasant airport to use. Did I mention yet that I hate the Frankfurt airport? I’ll mention it here just in case.

I hate Frankfurt airport.

Frankfurt Airport is a surprise disaster, since it is after all in usually efficient, bike friendly, Germany. When we were there in the Spring, we were shocked to find no way to even walk, let alone cycle, to our "airport" hotel. The whole thing was hemmed in by controlled access highways.

Interesting observation. I don’t remember ever seeing non-English hash.

When I was young, I viewed air travel as exotic and glamorous (thanks in part, of course, to the promotional efforts and publicity campaigns of the airlines).

Now it's an experience to be tolerated and endured, with all-too-often misplaced and forlorn hopes that nothing will go seriously "SPROING" during the period of time when I have surrendered all latitude, judgment, and control to large, bureaucratic organizations that make it increasingly evident they couldn't care less about their paying customers, despite their glib and insincere "We know you have a choice; thanks for choosing US" sendoffs at the beginning and/or end of a flight.

I'm glad your three-legged odyssey worked out as well as can be hoped, in this day and age. Glad especially that Rachael and her iPad were reacquainted. Please DO make sure to bring praise and positive management attention to Sandip Kari for her efforts in making that happen.