1st september - linz; km 2137

it is accomplished. we are home again. aside from a few scars that have long since healed, we are healthy in body and mind as we dock in the rain at the danube quay in linz. during the day the weather clears up and in the evening the sun even shows itself before it sinks glowing behind the pöstlingberg. 10,000 people come in the evening (many speak of it being more) to listen to us. it is a worthy finale and I feel great gratitude towards the fortune that bestowed such a summer upon us and towards the people of linz who welcome us with open arms. I stay on the ship one last night, the first people leave after midnight. I start to permit and feel the exhaustion for the first time. after just 3 hours sleep I get up to say goodbye to darinka, my balkan princess. she goes to vienna on the train and then flies to sofia. I am already looking forward to seeing her again.