Dear Malcolm and Pat,

Thanks for the lovely report, it has = restarted all those beautiful pictures in my mind, making me want to do it again and = stay there longer. Now that I bought that camper in Germany, I will go = more often and six month at a time. To me that is the real reason for = having a Westy, being the most practical vehicle for the purpose. Mine = being air cooled, I expect even less mechanical, or should I say, water related problems. The last time I was there, we used a '76 camper with a = smaller engine than 2L. And it was going very well, without the wish for = more speed. Europe is not a speeding place. To many cars, small = roads, mountainous drives. Only the freeways are speedy yet 70 mph is = pretty good speed. Sure, there are the occasional sport cars that swoosh by = you, but that's great. I miss the prettiness of Europe, though for natural = beauty I will always rather travel in the US. The enormous amount of = history that is there and is part of us makes me see all there is and listen and read = about all. It is like pouring gold coins into my pocket. =

Some kind of wealth I can not = loose... And it was only possible with a Westy.

Thanks again to Malcolm and = Pat.

----- Original Message -----

Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2001 = 2:56 AM

Subject: Cairo Report: Trip = home #4

To all of you: We had a great time in Rome, spent 7 hours = in the Vatican, it was great, but the crowds were so big that it really = took the edge off the experience. Then north up through Tuscany = region of Italy (quaintly beautiful) through to Switzerland where = we took the most beautiful road of the trip over the majestic Swiss alps (camped on the 'Sustenpass'). We took list = member Bill Kasper`s advice and went to the Interlaken region and = took 4 cable car rides up the Schilthorn (2,971 meter mountain) and = then walked down (full report to follow), it was GREAT. (thanks Bill) Switzerland is by far the most beautiful country that we have visited. Then again north up through a corner of (20 = minutes) Austria and now north up through cutsie German town = after cutsie Gerrman town (along what is called the Romantic Road) where we are now in Bamberg , = Germany.

The van has been cooperating, no major problems, a = bit of oil seepage but tightening the bolts around the offending pipes = seems to have taken care of that. The fridge fuse blew, but that was = fixed in 1 minute. We have about 10 days remaining and we will = soon be heading west for Belgium to ship the van. Our mood picked = up greatly in Switzerland and we are again enjoying every minute of = the trip.

Just thought you all would like to know, Malcolm = & Pat