In retrospect I am more than glad to be home. While on a local ride just three days back from the wonderful tour in the Black Forest, I got acute stomach pains. The pain was so intense that it was obvious that this was an emergency and we were off to the hospital in Starnberg. After several excruciating hours they had a diagnosis and I was operated immediately. It was an unusual and life threatening kind of hernia, an obturator hernia. It is also known as "little old lady hernia", that name is easier for me to remember. Smile. It was a close call and they had never seen one at this hospital before. Praise to my doctors that the laparoscopic operation was successful. I am still in the hospital but healing well and feel okay. That was a big scare for poor Janos. I have never in my life been in such pain. 

When I am back home I'll finish my journal of course. In the meantime Susan has posted such a wonderful write up and beautiful pictures, you know it was a fantastic tour to the very end. The little bit of rain didn't spoil it. I am so thankful for many things: a wonderful time on the road and being taken care of so well at home.

The last two days of my journal are under construction.