This is not the End but just a new Beginning!

I am posting this today, on the 18th of April 2013, as it marks our eighth year since immigrating to Canada. We have had the greatest of times. Our new life began during the economic boom in Alberta, where we quickly found work, built a new life and career, and made new friends.

We explored the mountains, the prairies and the badlands, loved the vastness of the country and its spectacular scenery. We got back in touch with nature, and learned more about vegetation and wildlife, than we ever learned in school. And best of all, we got our work-life-balance back. Yes, we worked hard but there was still enough time in the day for motorcycling, hiking, boating and enjoying life. Gotta love this country.

Three years ago after a traumatizing work assignment in Winnipeg (dark, cold and dull, but mostly cold) we packed up and moved to the We(s)t Coast. Instead of snow we got rain, and lots of it. But wow, when the sun comes out, it's the best place on Earth! With mountains and the ocean in sight and close reach we became even more outdoorsy. We had arrived, or so we thought.

But isn't life what happens to you while you're busy making other plans? Because now time has come to say good-bye, not to the blogger community but to the country we called home for the past years.

We have the desire to be closer to our families, especially with parents getting too old for intercontinental traveling. We had pondered over moving back to Europe for quite some time now, and are sure that this is the right thing to do at this time.

It all comes down to family and friends, doesn't it? And at home we will be welcomed with open arms. We received overwhelming positive feedback on sharing our plans, and were literally buried with offers to help settling in. We have plenty of places to sleep, and people in our professional network have offered their support in finding new jobs.

Of course having embraced the Canadian lifestyle and having been deeply spoiled by it we are curious and a bit anxious too, if we can still fit in and comply with the German way of life. We shall see. For starters I can bring my Sportster along, I take this as a good sign.

This change might put a stopper to this blog since there won't be much motorcycle content while preparing the move and starting up our new lives in Europe but I hope that you will meanwhile continue to follow us on our new blog (it's in English!) as hubby and I rediscover Europe two-wheeled, two-legged or by other means of transport, and make an effort to reconnect with the European culture and the somewhat peculiar lifestyle of the locals.

I am going to miss the ocean and I am going to miss our friends on this side of the world!

Auf Wiedersehen!
So long and see you again.