Month: January 2006

First of all, a big thanks to all of you for your good New Year messages: more than 200 by today’s count.  Thanks for your unwavering support and the energy you send us, it warms our hearts and today with -2°C and an icy north wind we really need it. 

I would have liked to answer each message and I started doing it but my email is temperamental, so all my apologies and, once again, thanks to you all.

We covered the hilly and winding roads which led us out of the black forest.  Fir trees are everywhere and the immaculate snow looked like all it wanted was for us to put on our snowshoes, but here we are getting off the subject.  Sergio, as many call him, had a visit that boosted him because Rudi arrived in Riedingen by train, from the more southern town of Kempten, where he lives.  Rudi and Serge ran together during the Trans-America 1993.  All the kilometers shared 12 years ago, all the suffering and the joy sealed a friendship that the years have not eroded.  Rudi ran 25Km.  Serge appeared to think only of chatting.  Emotion was at its fullest. 

As for Arlette and Daniel, they wore themselves out caring for Serge all day.  Always patient, they relay each other preparing Serge’s hot coffee, his soup, his bolinos: lots of  heat during this freezing weather.  The 2 liter thermos bottles are barely sufficient.  Anecdote: Serge is wearing three pairs of gloves.

For my part, I run around exploring towns and looking for a place to stay.  Tonight we will be in a Gasthaus, a kind of bed and breakfast where Serge can get warm in a very hot bath.