Day 34 - Monday, September 2nd "Flying High Above Deutschland"

My last day. Meditated, showered and prepped my suitcase for after I pick up two bottles of our favourite cheap Deutschland Gewürztraminer that we find at Galeria on the Hauptwache downtown Frankfurt. Some sun this morning and high cloud cover. I catch the S Bahn from the airport into downtown. I get asked some questions by a Canadian couple and help them find the Altstadt. Into the Galeria to purchase the two wine, into my backpack and then do some people watching. Into the U Bahn and make it to Schweizer Platz. I am meeting Markus around 11:30 and he is going to take me flying.

Markus calls me and I head to his place. The small airport that he uses is about 10 km south of Frankfurt. He belongs to a flying club so has access to a number of small planes. He has been flying for 10 years so has lots of experience. I am looking forward to being in the skies and seeing Deutschland from above. Ensure the wine is safe in his car trunk.

It is a beautiful and sunny day in Frankfurt area. Some difficulties with Markus' seat, but the mechanic rectifies. Taxi to the end, cover the checklist and then it is liftoff around 60 knots. Given we are so close to the huge Frankfurt International airport, we need to go around the airport invisible perimeter which extends our travel time. We land in Mainz at a small airport to fill up with gas. I had no idea the gas tanks are in the wings, although it makes sense. Very loud in the cockpit so you wear headphones with a mic to speak with each other. We fly over the Rhine river and Rheinhessen wine area then the Rheingau. Lots of boat traffic on the Rhine today. Of course, the Rhine has many castles along its banks and off in the forest regions. Very cool to see them from this high up. As well, we fly over Lorelei which is a huge bluff at a curve in the Rhine river where there have been many sinkings and deaths over the years. A famous poem has been written about it.

 Markus and our two-seater 1 1/4 year old plane. Very light as he could pull it around to gas up.

 Instrumentation panel

 Pilot controls

 The Rhine below and farmer's fields

Over the Rhine river and Rheingau in the distance.

We flew to Koblenz which is situated where the Mosel river runs in the much larger Rhine river. As well, the Mosel river has another well known wine growing area. We have lunch at a Greek restaurant located at the small airport. Lots of sunshine. Park the plane in the grass. We liftoff and fly back to Markus' club's small airport. I get to handle the controls a few times. Finesse is the best way to try and keep the plane level and in line. It gets bumpy on a few occasions, but no problem. I love flying and the experience is even better being over Deutschland. The Rhine river, castles, vineyards, the Rheingau that we were at previously in our trip. What a great way to end my five weeks in Europe!

 Control tower at Koblenz

 Checking checking checking

 Near the Rheingau

 One of many small villages below

Markus drove me back to the Squaire at Frankfurt Flughafen. Put the two new bottles of wine in my suitcase and navigated to Terminal 2 which requires a shuttle to reach. I am checking in exactly two hours before the flight is scheduled to depart at 7:40 pm. I get a window seat in Row 6 on Air Transat. Grab a quick dinner before I head to Passport Control and then Security.

Last German meal of Frankfurter Wurstsalat mit Krustenbrot

No wait at Passport Control and not much of a delay at Security. For some strange reason at the Gate they asked everyone to get in a queue so we could again present our passports. Oh well, another lineup. All is good and the plane is lifting off the runway at 7:45 pm. Uneventful flight and we land at Vancouver International at 9 pm so about right on time. Lana is waiting with the Smart Car at the airport gas station so I text her and she picks me up.

The end of my five week Europe trip. Good to be back in Vancouver and see family and friends.